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A Raisin in the Sun Previews

Sweetpsmom Profile Photo
Sweetpsmom
#50A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/10/14 at 3:09pm

The change in Walter Lee's age does not matter. His age does not take away from the storyline at all. Ask my 12 year old son. We dissected and analyzed the play this past year, and he was able to relate to each character.

I saw an interview with the Director, Kenny Leon, and he said that there are some slight changes from the original (ie Walter's age, and even what we hear from Travis' character).

Again, I am looking forward to taking him to see this performance.

wonkit
#51A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/10/14 at 4:48pm

The director is changing dialogue, too?

Depaultheatrekid Profile Photo
Depaultheatrekid
#52A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/12/14 at 4:52pm

Has no one seen the show this week, or would care to comment on Mr. Washington? or the overall production?

kidbroadway2
#53A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/12/14 at 9:29pm

Can't wait to see this!

iluvtheatertrash
#54A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/12/14 at 9:40pm

So, now we're just going to start changing dialogue so people who are wrong for a role can play them anyway? Who cares? The playwright's dead! Let's do whatever we want!

Ridiculous.


"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

Kad Profile Photo
Kad
#55A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/12/14 at 9:45pm

None of the regular preview-goers here have seen this, and the only two reviews are from someone who won't share details and another who left at intermission?

Wheee!


"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Updated On: 3/12/14 at 09:45 PM

AC126748 Profile Photo
AC126748
#56A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/12/14 at 10:19pm

Well, I'm going next week, and I'll gladly post thoughts then if anyone is interested.


"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

PlayItAgain
#57A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/12/14 at 11:54pm

snagged a ticket for 67 dollars yesterday as I was walking out Denzel and two other cast members were just hanging outside the stagedoor, i began to say hello to Mr Washington but before I could get a word out he goes NO (assuming i wanted a photo/autograph) and I went oh i just wanted to say I just bought my ticket and im looking forward to the production (at which he had a big smile on his face) he shakes my hand and says thank you, i say break a leg and begin to walk away and he shouts "Put a coat on!" (i was wearing a shirt and shorts) it was 55 degrees out.

Depaultheatrekid Profile Photo
Depaultheatrekid
#58A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/13/14 at 1:02am

So he was basically an ass to you, until he realized you just bought a ticket, and hadn't seen the show yet?

PlayItAgain
#59A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/13/14 at 1:02am

^yep lol

CarlosAlberto Profile Photo
CarlosAlberto
#60A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/13/14 at 6:30am

i began to say hello to Mr Washington but before I could get a word out he goes NO

What a presumptouos @ss.

PlayItAgain
#61A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:29am

^ thus why i continued what i was going to say regardless, not everyone wants a photo with you dude some folks just want to say hello and wish you luck with your show lol

Depaultheatrekid Profile Photo
Depaultheatrekid
#62A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/16/14 at 4:23pm

Did no one on the boards see the show this week? is this revival going to be that much of a Non-event? sad, for such a wonderful maybe the perfect play.

WiCkEDrOcKS Profile Photo
WiCkEDrOcKS
#63A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/16/14 at 5:20pm

Please post your thoughts, AC! I always love reading your posts. I'll be going later in the week.

Sweetpsmom Profile Photo
Sweetpsmom
#64A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/16/14 at 5:43pm

There is not much feedback on this board. Going to Twitter ; )

mikem Profile Photo
mikem
#65A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/16/14 at 6:16pm

Unless Raisin starts getting must-see buzz, I don't think it's going to be a big topic of discussion on these boards. I can only speak for myself, but I've seen Raisin before, and I've seen Denzel before. There are no discount or rush tickets. Initial comments are lukewarm. I'm not racing to buy full-price tickets to see this production, and I'm guessing a lot of people feel the same way.


"What was the name of that cheese that I like?" "you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start" "well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"

Phyllis Rogers Stone
#66A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/16/14 at 6:27pm

I'm waiting for Sweetp to post so we can ask him about Walter Lee's age.

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RippedMan
#67A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/16/14 at 7:03pm

You're offended by "Cp time?" Really? Please. I was in Gospel Choir in college. Rehearsal started at 7pm. No one ever showed up until about 7:45pm.

Sthunderrocker
#68A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/17/14 at 4:31am

I saw the second preview. Overall I got the feeling that it could be really good before its done, if they work at it. There were some obvious tiny line flubs, moments of reaching for the lines, and spots that just didn't gel, but I guess that's to be expected two public shows in. I'd agree that Anika and Sophie were fantastic and LaTonya shines as well. I wasn't 100% happy with Jason Dirden as George... partly a directorial thing. Sean Patrick Thomas was pretty good as Joseph... and was popular at the stage door. Denzel was great to see... fun to watch. My criticism would be that he could be better. His version of the character is one that he could do in his sleep. He didn't seem to have challenged himself to portray the kind of drama that you expect from him. That's unfair, as this is stage and not film, but such is life. Also, whether due to the audience I was in and their responses, or due to the acting that inspired those responses, the show came off a little more on the gospel side than I am used too for this play... if you understand what I mean. So in all, it could be really great if it can tighten up...
S

Updated On: 3/17/14 at 04:31 AM

PlayItAgain
#69A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/17/14 at 6:18am

gospel side meaning it was a mostly black audience who wouldn't shut the **** up for some reason, seriously every-time theirs a show like this, this happens...WHY?!??

CarlosAlberto Profile Photo
CarlosAlberto
#70A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/17/14 at 7:28am


Updated On: 3/17/14 at 07:28 AM

darreyl102 Profile Photo
darreyl102
#71A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/17/14 at 12:11pm

A Raisin in the Sun Previews


Darreyl with an L!

Sthunderrocker
#72A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/18/14 at 4:49am

Lol... yes the audience was involved (not really in a bad way), but the acting leaned in that direction too. Its hard to explain. Played to stereotype a little? As opposed to a more stolid performance relying on the dialogue to push the points? Hard to put my finger on. Just my impressions.
S

Updated On: 3/18/14 at 04:49 AM

ray-andallthatjazz86 Profile Photo
ray-andallthatjazz86
#73A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/18/14 at 9:26am

Have the (non-black) people who complain about black audiences at Broadway shows written by and for black people ever thought that maybe they are the ones who are intruding on other peoples' experiences rather than the other way around? And really, if you are gonna complain about black people, just say it, rather than doing this whole "it was very gospel, if you know what I mean" sort of thing; because FYI, not mentioning the word black, doesn't mean your comment isn't asinine.
And PlayItAgain, next time you attack black audiences, maybe you should use a basic dictionary so at least you sound smart while doing it; in other words, at least those audiences might know the difference between "theirs" and "there's."
I wish BWW threads about, say, Tom Stoppard plays fell apart even half as quickly as threads about anything remotely involving race.


"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

Depaultheatrekid Profile Photo
Depaultheatrekid
#74A Raisin in the Sun Previews
Posted: 3/18/14 at 10:17am

Thank You ray-andallthatjazz86, for calling a thing a thing! So often people say racist things on this board, and they get looked over or played off as witty banter or jokes, when in fact they're not either.

Anyway, Sthunderrocker thanks for your review of the show. Just still can't believe everyone seems to think he is kind of average and not good. So unfortunate that he chose to do this play, instead of a NEW play or letting an age appropriate fresh new leading man take on the role to ReDefine it for another generation.


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