#1
Posted: 4/13/07 at 11:59pm
Just got back from tonight's first preview and I must say, it is in *excellent* shape. This was my third first preview performance in a row this week...and it was certainly the best one!
The sets were gorgeous...Roundabout definitely didn't skimp on this one. There is a huge sun that rises and falls and changes colors depending on the mood of each scene. There is also a turntable, which allows for wonderful staging in a bunch of the scenes. There is also a piece of the center stage that folds out and is used extremely well in two scenes in Act 2. The rain scene at the end of the show was brilliant...love what they did with the buildup and then when it finally started raining, the audience burst out in applause. It was so fun! I also loved the lighting...the different colors of the sun and the spotlights during "Little Red Hat" stood out for me.
The show itself was very cute. I only knew the score going in (which I love) but didn't know the book. It is about a rainmaker (who is really a conartist) and he promises the people of the town he can make it rain. They were all complaning because it is so hot there...and I think the makeup on everyone reflected reddish skin from sunburn, which was a nice touch! And of course, there is a love story in the show as well, but I won't give it away.
Besides the three leads, there were 13 other cast members (as opposed to the pathetic 8 other cast members in THE APPLE TREE), and it definitely worked. The ensemble was extremely strong vocally and the stage never looked empty (even with Audra alone on stage at some points). Standouts were Christopher Innvar as File, Bobby Steggert as Jim Curry, and Carla Duren as Snookie.
Steve Kazee was great as Starbuck. His characterization at this first preview was spot on and his singing was great too. His big song "The Rain Song" got tons of applause and his rendition of "Melisande" in Act 2 was beautiful. He was sporting long shoulder-length black hair and a nicely trimmed beard and wore black. His scenes with Audra in Act 2 were wonderful as well.
John Cullum as H.C. Curry was great as well, though he didn't really have *that* much to do. It was wonderful seeing him on stage again and so great to know that he has been doing this for decades...he's still got it. "Lizzie's Comin' Home" and "Poker Polka" were so much fun...he looked like he was having a great time up there on that stage. Congrats to Mr. Cullum on yet another Broadway credit!
Audra McDonald as Lizzie Curry, of course, was brilliant. I must admit it did take me a little bit to warm up to her, but when she got going, I was hooked. Her rendition of "Raunchy" got loud, extended applause from the audience. She was incredible in this song, and she even did a cartwheel on the stage! It was thrilling. Throughout that entire song, she had the audience in the palm of her hands. Another high point for Audra was "Old Maid" at the end of Act 1...wow, just wow! Her duet with Christopher Innvar, "A Man and a Woman" was also gorgeous. And you know the cover of the poster/playbill? The picture of Audra tilting her head up toward the rain? That is the final scene in the show...brilliant. I hadn't seen Audra on stage since RAGTIME in 1998, so it was thrilling for me to see her on stage again, and she did not disappoint.
The stage door was a wonderful experience as well. The crowd was very controlled and the stage door guy ws really nice. John Cullum came out first and was so sweet...signed my playbill and my CD covers of ON A CLEAR DAY, SHENANDOAH, and ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. Audra was next and was just so adorable up close and couldn't have been sweeter. She signed everyone's playbill "Much Love, Audra McDonald" and she also signed my CD covers of RAGTIME and MARIE CHRISTINE.
I would definitely recommend this show for the music, the book, the sets, the lighting, the performances and of course, just to see Audra on stage singing and acting the hell out of this show. Congrats to Audra, and the cast and crew, for an extremely successful first preview. Can't wait to see this one again.
The sets were gorgeous...Roundabout definitely didn't skimp on this one. There is a huge sun that rises and falls and changes colors depending on the mood of each scene. There is also a turntable, which allows for wonderful staging in a bunch of the scenes. There is also a piece of the center stage that folds out and is used extremely well in two scenes in Act 2. The rain scene at the end of the show was brilliant...love what they did with the buildup and then when it finally started raining, the audience burst out in applause. It was so fun! I also loved the lighting...the different colors of the sun and the spotlights during "Little Red Hat" stood out for me.
The show itself was very cute. I only knew the score going in (which I love) but didn't know the book. It is about a rainmaker (who is really a conartist) and he promises the people of the town he can make it rain. They were all complaning because it is so hot there...and I think the makeup on everyone reflected reddish skin from sunburn, which was a nice touch! And of course, there is a love story in the show as well, but I won't give it away.
Besides the three leads, there were 13 other cast members (as opposed to the pathetic 8 other cast members in THE APPLE TREE), and it definitely worked. The ensemble was extremely strong vocally and the stage never looked empty (even with Audra alone on stage at some points). Standouts were Christopher Innvar as File, Bobby Steggert as Jim Curry, and Carla Duren as Snookie.
Steve Kazee was great as Starbuck. His characterization at this first preview was spot on and his singing was great too. His big song "The Rain Song" got tons of applause and his rendition of "Melisande" in Act 2 was beautiful. He was sporting long shoulder-length black hair and a nicely trimmed beard and wore black. His scenes with Audra in Act 2 were wonderful as well.
John Cullum as H.C. Curry was great as well, though he didn't really have *that* much to do. It was wonderful seeing him on stage again and so great to know that he has been doing this for decades...he's still got it. "Lizzie's Comin' Home" and "Poker Polka" were so much fun...he looked like he was having a great time up there on that stage. Congrats to Mr. Cullum on yet another Broadway credit!
Audra McDonald as Lizzie Curry, of course, was brilliant. I must admit it did take me a little bit to warm up to her, but when she got going, I was hooked. Her rendition of "Raunchy" got loud, extended applause from the audience. She was incredible in this song, and she even did a cartwheel on the stage! It was thrilling. Throughout that entire song, she had the audience in the palm of her hands. Another high point for Audra was "Old Maid" at the end of Act 1...wow, just wow! Her duet with Christopher Innvar, "A Man and a Woman" was also gorgeous. And you know the cover of the poster/playbill? The picture of Audra tilting her head up toward the rain? That is the final scene in the show...brilliant. I hadn't seen Audra on stage since RAGTIME in 1998, so it was thrilling for me to see her on stage again, and she did not disappoint.
The stage door was a wonderful experience as well. The crowd was very controlled and the stage door guy ws really nice. John Cullum came out first and was so sweet...signed my playbill and my CD covers of ON A CLEAR DAY, SHENANDOAH, and ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. Audra was next and was just so adorable up close and couldn't have been sweeter. She signed everyone's playbill "Much Love, Audra McDonald" and she also signed my CD covers of RAGTIME and MARIE CHRISTINE.
I would definitely recommend this show for the music, the book, the sets, the lighting, the performances and of course, just to see Audra on stage singing and acting the hell out of this show. Congrats to Audra, and the cast and crew, for an extremely successful first preview. Can't wait to see this one again.
Updated On: 4/14/07 at 11:59 PM
