The Official Adam Pascal Love Thread, part eight- Page 89

[To The Stage!]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 11:37pm

aww thanks goodnight.

[Billboard Girl]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 11:52pm

Hi everyone! DRS was a lot of fun (even though when I called my mom on the way home, she yelled at me for spending 60 bucks to see a show we had already seen). It was interesting to see the show a second time around when I knew what was coming, and since Norbert was out sick when I saw it the first time, I was glad I finally got a chance to see his performance.

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 11:53pm

I'm glad that you had fun!

[Chloe]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:00am

How was Jonathan Pryce?

[Billboard Girl]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:08am

I thought he was pretty good and played the part differently than John Lithgow did - more of a dry sense of humor, whereas Lithgow seemed to use more of a winking at the audience, in on the joke style. Vocally, he seemed a bit stronger than Lithgow, but not quite as relaxed, if that makes any sense. The one thing I don't get is why so many people on the board think he looks too old for the role - Lawrence is supposed to be the older, wiser "gentleman," after all.

[Zyla]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:12am

Sorry to throw another question at you, BG, but how was Norbert? (I just want to know because he was out when I saw it.) I agree with your observations of Pryce - dry humor, strong vocals.

[Dramatic_Irony]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:20am

Oooh, BG, glad you had fun!

Just saw Rent tonight- and now I'm currently fangirling Tim Howar! I'll write up a review in a moment, but right now I just want to throw this out there:

Does anyone find it ironic/disturbing that in La Vie Boheme, Mark is grinding with the same person that's playing his mother?

[Billboard Girl]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:23am

Norbert was excellent. He's just this human fireball of energy (literally, in a couple of scenes) flinging himself across the stage. You can tell he's having a blast and you can't help but smile watching him. Vocally, he was in fine form - that riff he does towards the end of Dirty Rotten Number absolutely brought the house down.

Which understudy did you see when you saw the show, Zyla? Jason Gillman was in for Norbert the first time I saw DRS, and I thought he was fantastic as well.

Edit: Ooh, D_I, did you win the lotto? I'm happy that someone from BWW did - I've tried 4 times this week, with no luck.

Updated On: 3/18/06 at 12:23 AM

[Dramatic_Irony]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:27am

Yep, I won the lotto.

It's my first time seeing Tim as Roger, and I *really* liked him. He's been getting a mixed response, but I think he's my favorite Roger I've seen live. Yes, that means I like him better than Will Chase.

And I'm *dying* to see DRS.

[Zyla]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:31am

BG - I saw Jason Gillman. He was great, especially with the physical comedy.
D_I, congratulations on winning the lotto! Sounds like you had a lot of fun.

[Dramatic_Irony]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:49am

I talk a lot....

TIM HOWAR- With Will Chase, I think he’s a better actor, and obviously a fantastic singer. He’s got great stage presence, and really captures the frustrated side to Roger. However, Tim captured *all* of Roger, in my opinion. His rough voice got some getting-used to, but I was used to it by One Song Glory. Also, I think he had better natural chemistry with Karmine Alers (Mimi) and Matt Caplan. I felt for Tim’s Roger a lot more than I felt for Cary or Will.

MATT CAPLAN- what can I say? I hate you, I love you. As I said, he had fantastic chemistry with Tim, and he seemed *comfortable* in the role. Not comfortable to the point of goofing off as he was with Cary, or afraid, like he was with Will as some points, but perfect. The closest to in-character I’ve ever seen him. His Tango: Maureen was a little off, per usual. He seems to be trying to intimidate Joanne, rather than sort of warn (that’s not exactly the right word) her. La Vie Boheme he pissed me off greatly. He doesn’t seem to understand that there’s a difference between being funny and acting just for laughs. He needs to steer away from the latter. But I did appreciate the way he looked at Maureen directly at the “starving for attention” line, and other various little things. My eye twitched a little at his “Mucho Masturbation” enactment, though. The LA Vie Boheme B was the best performed I’ve ever seen it. It was so powerful, and gave me major chills. I think he was best in Tune Up # 1, Finale A, etc. Just very simple, some good acting quirks without being too goofy, and beautiful singing.

DESTAN OWENS (COLLINS)- Not much to say on him. Beautiful voice, not so amazing acting. He did manage to blow me away with his I’ll Cover You: Reprise, though.

D'MONROE (BENNY)- Um…I loved him. His You’ll See was actually very good. Taye was charming, but in a slick, greasy business man sort of way. D’Monroe’s Benny seemed genuinely passionate about Cyber Arts (weird, I know) and also a little desperate to get his old friends on “his side”. His “Happy New Year” was good, too. I actually felt bad for him when everyone was pushing him away/ ignoring him. Plus, his Contact was *hot*. He wasn’t under the sheet with the others, which surprised me, but his grinding against the wall was amazing. He actually sort of climbed up the wall and did some moves in the air. I was impressed.

WHAT YOU OWN; GOODBYE LOVE; RENT- Yes, these three songs need their own category. Rent blew me away- Tim and Matt’s voices blend surprisingly well. They got very close to each other at some parts, too- closer than Adam and Anthony and closer than Will and Matt.
What You Own was…godlike. Everyone kept raving about Will Chase and Matt’s What You Own, but I didn’t like it. It wasn’t until I saw it again tonight with Tim that I figured out why. With Will and Matt, they seemed to be rocking out on their own, even at the end when their voices are supposed to be connected. (I am not explaining this well….) Tim and Matt, I really got that feeling. It was amazing.
Goodbye Love (Mark and Roger’s fight), Tim brought out better acting from Matt, I think. You could really feel his pain, while in previous productions, Matt was pretty unconvincing.

[Zyla]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:57am

That's a great review! I'm intrigued by your description of D'Monroe's Benny; I've always thought that the character must have some passion for CyberArts, or else he would not have sacrificed his friends, his lifestyle, his morals, etc. to pursue it.

Indulge me in a complete threadjack, please? I'm looking for a story fragment that I wrote a while ago, and I cannot find the damn thing anywhere. It's so frustrating! It's probably the last good piece of prose - hell, the last decent piece of writing - I've produced in who-knows-how-long, so I really want to find it and work on it (dare I say finish it?). Ugh! Knowing me, I probably threw it out by mistake. :/

Back to topic, whatever that may be...

[Billboard Girl]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 1:00am

Good review.

He doesn’t seem to understand that there’s a difference between being funny and acting just for laughs. He needs to steer away from the latter.

That's the best description of the issues I have with Matt's portrayal of Mark that I've seen.

My eye twitched a little at his “Mucho Masturbation” enactment, though.

Heh. Poor table.

D’Monroe’s Benny seemed genuinely passionate about Cyber Arts (weird, I know) and also a little desperate to get his old friends on “his side”.

Interesting that you put it that way. The way D'Monroe plays Benny, you can't help but sympathize with the character to some extent. I kind of see Benny as a cautionary tale of sorts about the danger of focusing too much on dreams to the detriment of reality - Benny is so enchanted by his grand plan for a cyberstudio to support the arts that he's lost sight of how it will affect the real live artists he actually knows.

[Dramatic_Irony]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 1:01am

I'm sorry you can't find you story. I lose everything. My MetroCard, my glasses, my iPod (found it, thank God), my student I.D.

I lost all of that this year. It's sad.

And I didn't even review everybody. I'm just too tired to write something on Maureen, Mimi, Joanne, Angel, and Ensomble people.

And yeah, D'Monroe actually makes me like Benny. It's nice.

Updated On: 3/18/06 at 01:01 AM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 1:03am

D_I, I'm curious that you only reviewed the men in the show.... especially since Karmine and Caren are in for a limited amount of time as Mimi and Maureen. I haven't seen Karmine, but I thought that Caren Lyn Manuel was stellar as Maureen.

Edit: Already answered. Updated On: 3/18/06 at 01:03 AM

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 1:06am

I saw Caren a few months ago. I really liked her.

[Dramatic_Irony]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 1:07am

Thanks, BG. I'm glad you liked my description of Matt- I really do like him as an actor/singer, just not as...Mark.

And sweetsiren, I'm writing up a review on everyone else rightt now. I'm too hyped up to sleep anyway.

Updated On: 3/18/06 at 01:07 AM

[Bohemian1232]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 1:13am

Nice review. I haven't gotten around to seeing Tim yet, but I want to. I also love the way that you spoke about Matt. Very well said.

[Billboard Girl]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 1:21am

Thanks, BG. I'mI'm glad you liked my description of Matt- I really do like him as an acto/singer, just not as...Mark.

Same here. I think he has a great voice and sings the role beautifully, but the way he chooses to portray the character of Mark just seems wrong in some ways.

[Dramatic_Irony]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 1:22am

CAREN LYN MANUEL (MAUREEN)- Wow. I’ll admit- when I first saw her Over the Moon, I had a “ugh” moment. In the beginning she seemed to be playing for laughs just as much as Ava. But she sort of built in passion as the number went on, and was wonderful by the end. The audience being very receptive definitely helped. (More people mooed than I’ve ever heard before!) I’m not sure exactly where she won me over, but somewhere in-between Over the Moon and Take Me Or Leave Me, I fell in love with her. Speaking of which, Take Me Or Leave Me brought down the house. And rightfully so. It was *powerful*, Caren’s voice is much stronger than Ava’s, and blends much better with Kenna’s (Joanne).

KARMINE ALERS(MIMI)- Her voice surprised me. My mom commented in the beginning of “Light My Candle”, ‘She sounds like Rosario,’ and I missed about 60 seconds of the show staring at her, bewildered. She sounds nothing like Rosario, or any Mimi I’ve ever heard (not that the list would be extensive). Mot that this is an insult- she has a slight nasal quality, but sounds absolutely amazing. I find that her voice isn’t how I would picture the ultimate Mimi- almost as if her voice isn’t in-character. But that’s unfair and doesn’t even make sense, so I’ll move onto her acting. Her Light My Candle was more playful and mischievous, and I really felt as if she was 19. She was still seductive and tough, but also had an edge of innocence that I’ve never seen in any Mimi before. Her Out Tonight was *hot*. Her high notes has, again, a surprising quality to them, one sounded a bit like yodeling, but even if she had sounded horrible, I wouldn’t have cared. She seemed a bit more timid to stand on the bars than Ava or Daphne did, but her dancing was much more seductive than Ava’s. Another Day, I loved her and Tim’s interaction. Tim seemed more angry at himself than at her (much different from Will Chase’s interpretation) and didn’t seem actually angry at *her* until she opened the baggie of smack while still in his apartment. Not smart, Mimi. The only thing I didn’t really like was her ‘Without You’. She wasn’t singing full out, in my opinion, and there wasn’t enough emotion in it. I hate to say this, but it’s the only time (movie or play) that I haven’t cried during Without You.

Still haven't gotten to everybody, but I will. I suck at compressing my thoughts, in case you haven't guessed already.

[Dramatic_Irony]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 2:11am

JUSTIN JOHNSTON (ANGEL)- I love him, I really do. Part of it may be theater acting, but he seems a lot more...over-dramatic than Wilson’s Angel. Quite a lot of high kicks as well- I was impressed. He also played Angel a little more…girly? I don’t know how to phrase it without seeming stupid, but Justin’s was a little more hyper, and giggly, and a little overdramatic. I definitely like Justin, and his Contact was amazing (those high notes!) but he’s not my favorite. I also wasn’t feeling the chemistry between Collins and Angel *as well* as I did with other members of this cast. Without comparing (which is hard) they were okay. But, when it comes to Collins and Angel, “okay” doesn’t cut it.

KENNA J. RAMSEY (JOANNE)- When I first saw her in February, I wasn’t blown away. I didn’t *not* like her, but she didn’t impress me at all. Tonight, she was much better, and “saved” the Tango: Maureen from Matt Caplan. She gave all she had in Take Me Or Leave Me (and proved she had *a lot* to give) but still overall didn’t impress me. Good, great even, but not fantastic.

I’m way too tired now to do the Ensemble one-by one, but they were all excellent, adding *so* many layers to all of the big numbers. Special mention to Frenchie Davis for blowing me away as always in Seasons of Love.

In conclusion, this performance might not have the best actors, I've seen play the parts live (except maybe Tim as Roger and Caren as Maureen), but they're the best ensemble I've seen - working together and building off each other and just with great chemestry, especially Tim/everyone, Matt/everyone. (I'm not counting the OBC in this, as I haven't seen them live.)

Notes: After the performance, Destan Owans came out and made a speech about Rent raising funds for two organizations- one was Friends In Deed, and I didn’t catch the name of the other one, but it was for helping women with breast cancer and cervical cancer. They were selling scarves and hats the cast made themselves, playbills signed by the whole cast (partly to limit the stagedooring, I’m guessing ), pictures with Tim and Matt, and posters signed by the main cast. I got two signed playbills- one for my friend’s birthday, and one for me. They were $20 each. I didn’t get a poster ($50 each) or any of the knit items, but they looked well-made. So, just wondering if anyone that’s seen Rent recently has had them do the same things, or if tonight might be the first night/a special occasion?

Updated On: 3/18/06 at 02:11 AM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 8:56am

partly to limit the stevedoring, I’m guessing

Sorry, stevedoring?


Oh, and I love Karmine. I'm glad she's back as Mimi for a while.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 9:44am

SO i went to bed at midnight...which is really early for me, so of course I get up at about 830. I am glad you had a good time and thanks for the review!

[opiv]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 9:49am

Great review D_I.

[guitargeek0624]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 9:52am

Dramatic_Irony - I saw Rent on Sunday, and he made the same speech and they had all that stuff available. I bought a scarf. It was about $30 (gasp!) but it was going to charity, so it was all good.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who liked Tim! In the weeks leading up to when I saw Rent, I'd heard people say that he screams and growls and that he's not that good. But I really liked him. True, his Roger was angrier than others, but he made it work. His chemistry with Karmine was great, I thought. And he didn't growl or scream, except for once in "Goodbye, Love."