The Official Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread- Page 34
The Official Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread
#825Eight.
Posted: 9/4/05 at 8:24pm
So, my mother and I took my almost-eighty-year-old grandmother to the show today. My mother quite disliked Chitty the first time around, but now can't stop going on about how much better she liked it this time, and how much better Raúl got since she saw him in April. She had found him to be nothing too impressive, and just totally lost at sea in such a big show. She loved him this time, and during intermission was like "he's got a really cute ass!" heh.
Anyway, his haircut is totally adorable. It's not that sort of "I must have you now" sexy anymore, but it's very boyish. It's not spikey, and there still is that little bit of curl in the front (at least it isn't spikey on stage). It's just... totally adorable. I like it. My mom told me right off the bat that we weren't waiting at the stage door, so I don't know what it looks like off-stage, but it can't really be bad. 
I'll try to find a picture of something that's a little similar, so you can see.
The show today was full of hysterical things - Raúl must be looking forward to his week off, or something. My campaign for entrance applause, however, was thrwarted by *gasp!* a mistake. Raúl flies out on his little swing, as the kids say "with their father..." just like normal. Silence. "What? OH! ... Caractacus Potts!" I was too confused and forgot to clap! My mother was like "*gasp!* Don't you CLAP for him?" I was kind of like "oh, sh*t. He's going to be a mess today," but he was spot-on. Very, very silly, but fantastic.
During the scene changes during which he'd ride on the sets or something, he'd just sing little silly things in his falsetto, or babble about strange inventor topics, or something. Random. Silly. CUTE. I can't remember specifics, but he was just extra goofy and funny today, and looked happier than the last few times I saw it. (The one specific thing I do remember was when he says to Truly about the kids "maybe I should chain them up" he made like he was cracking a whip, as he dragged himself away, pretending to be in chains. gah.)
Random understudy tangents - Ellen Marlow was out, and Jaclyn Neidenthal (sp?) was on. She was cute. Doesn't sing as well, but she was adorable, and far less awkward, since she doesn't tower over Henry and actually looks the proper age. Erin Dilly was also out, and I missed her. She's just so witty and sarcastic, and neither of her understudies seem to be able to emulate that the way she does. Julie Tolivar's vibrato irked me a lot, though.
It was so so SO good to have Marc back. He was hysterical, as always, and will be sorely missed during his break. In the scene where they bring Grandpa by accident, Marc went over and kissed Phillip Bosco to thank him, and then was like "are YOU a naughty boy? Are you?" Then he pinches his cheek and moves his mouth,saying "yes, I am a VERY naughty boy!!" During the party scene, when Caractacus (as the doll) says "we'll give you what you jolly well deserve!" usually Raúl just slams him with a punch. Today he shuffled over sweetly, as if to give him a hug, snuggled for a split second, and then smacked him. Farther into the scene, they chased each other in a little circle, and Marc went to jump on Raúl. But because he's so much bigger, it looked like he was mounting him from behind - you know... He ran away, and then Raúl jumped up on his back, before Marc shook him off. Much more like an innocent piggyback. 
Last thing. After the bows, Raúl gave THE most heartbreaking speech, telling the audience that the cast was collecting money to send to the Red Cross for the hurricane relief effort. He just got really sweet and shy and unassuming, hands in his pockets, swaying back and forth. He explained what they were doing, and said he knows it's not a cheap show to come see, but that if we could, would we please help out, etc. They were selling signed cast posters, and then just collecting whatever people would give. He said something about this being a country where we should all stick together, and just pleaded with the audience for anything they could give. With that sort of speech and those sad, beautiful eyes, I'd give him money to remodel his apartment, or something. He tugged right at the heartstrings. Sigh.
Okay, done! YAY RAUL.
insomniak
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
greatdct
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
#829Eight.
Posted: 9/4/05 at 11:04pmhmmm. I think I actually liked Julie Barnes better. Presence and diction-wise, I found them about the same. Julie T. MAY have had a little bit more personality to her portrayal, but Julie B. can sing better, and she and Raúl had far more chemistry.
gavrochegirl
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/16/05
ElphieDefiesGravity
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/27/04
#833Eight.
Posted: 9/5/05 at 12:13am
*puddle of goo*
I didn't think it was possible for me to be more in love with him.
Note to self: This man has a strange and unusual hold on you. Do something about it before it's too late.
Maybe I can get him to headline my "Raise money for me to take a plane to NYC, see Chitty again, and find a place to stay" campaign.
I thought Julie Barnes was good, but that was before I saw Erin. Then I realized just how funny Erin was and how much she brought to the role. Julie was good, but there's no comparison.
Gah, this computer is slower than my 91 year old grandmother. Each page takes literally 2 minutes to load. *tears out hair*
"Blow out the candles, Robert, and make a wish. Want something. Want something."
Wishes come true, not free.
Wishes come true, not free.
ElphieDefiesGravity
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/27/04
greatdct
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
#838Eight.
Posted: 9/5/05 at 12:50am
I've come to enjoy seeing them too - sometimes it's nice to see a different spin on a role. I used to hate them because I didn't live in the city, and usually when I'd see a show, that was my one and only shot to see who I wanted to see. But now that I can go back cheaply on a whim, sometimes it's nice to mix it up a little bit. I'm a teeny, tiny bit curious to see the understudies for Caractacus, but I feel like a) that's blasphemy and b) about 75% of my enjoyment of the show is because of Raúl.
greatdct
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
Alix7272
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/12/04
#841Eight.
Posted: 9/5/05 at 12:59am
Is Matt Loehr also older? I feel like at least with Rick, he's more like the type that would usually be put into this type of role - the dorky-cute, yet still slightly dashing older man type... still a bit more fatherly. But Raul's spin has really come to work. It's weird and different, but it's funny and he's just so damned cute. I can't imagine anyone else doing it like he does.
I wish Emma'd gotten a chance to go on as Jemima. She missed it by like a week. 
greatdct
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
#842Eight.
Posted: 9/5/05 at 1:02am
I agree. It's so creative and not what you would expect Caractacus to be like. But it works.
Do you have ANY idea when Raúl, Ellen, and Henry will be on the telethon? I have it on but I don't think I can stay up all night with it. We'll see.
Updated On: 9/5/05 at 01:02 AM
#843Eight.
Posted: 9/5/05 at 1:06am
I have it on, too - someone told me he thought he heard it was coming up, but that was like an hour ago. I'm not going to be able to stay awake much longer. I'm sleepy, and I have to get up early.
I love that he's made Caractacus a loving father and an eccentric inventor, but still a bit childish, as well.
greatdct
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
Alix7272
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/12/04
#848Eight.
Posted: 9/5/05 at 2:01am
i was supposed to wake up early tomorrow to help get on the school schedule so maybe i won't be sleeping very much tonight.
well, while we're all here and waiting, i thought i'd share that i finally got the rocky horror and taboo cd's. well, ordered. they'll probably come in about a week. i ordered them from amazon in new condition - rocky horror for $2 and taboo for about 12. hopefully they really will be new. bargains excite me so much and even with shipping it's a good price. i can't wait to listen!
No Child: http://www.epictheatrectr.org/
I Love You Because OCR: http://www.psclassics.com/cd_iloveyou.html
I Love You Because OCR: http://www.psclassics.com/cd_iloveyou.html
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