#1
Posted: 8/21/08 at 2:01am
*Spoilers*
We all know the saying "Third Time's the Charm." Well, for me, when it comes to A TALE OF TWO CITIES, Second Time's the Charm! After seeing the show Monday and being confused through some of the book and thinking that the show was a bit too long, I was eager to see it a second time for clarification purposes. After talking to friends who had seen it with me on Monday and others who had seen the first preview on Tuesday night, I had more of an idea of the story going into tonight's performance. Also, since I had already seen it once, I was much more attentive to the lyrics and all the recitative. Well, I have officially joined the revolution. I love A TALE OF TWO CITIES.
I do not mind at all that the show doesn't open with the famous line from the book. It is still in there, which is what counts. The prologue, very recently restaged by director Warren Carlyle, brilliantly sets up the storyline by showing the Marquis when he kills Madame Defarge's brother and sister and shows Dr. Manette being arrested when he is held in the Bastille for almost 20 years. This immediately draws the audience in and makes them want to know what happens next.
This show works, not only because Charles Dickens' source material is so brilliant, but because Jill Santoriello has taken this long novel and paired it down into a 2 hour and 50 minute musical and has included everything the audience needs to fully understand the story and to really feel for the characters, esepcially Sidney.
The book to a musical, in my opinion, is the most difficult aspect to get right, but Jill has done a wonderful job here. While I was somewhat confused the first time around, I paid full attention tonight and all my questions were completely cleared up. I fully understood that Madame Defarge's brother and sister were the ones who died all those years ago. I also fully understood that Sidney and Charles were supposed to look the same (though James and Adam do not look alike, which I think added to my confusion the first time around). Lastly, I now understand that the lower class French peasants were just so enraged at the upper class, and since there were more of them, they started the revolution against the upper class and beheaded them to make a statement. (I should have known that last statement beforehand, but I was *horrible* in history in high school and learned the material only for the exams) Jill's book makes all this completely clear...I am just a stupid guy who never paid attention in history.
The score is wonderful and I can't wait for the cast recording...I sincerely hope it is recorded and soon! Standouts for me include "You'll Never Be Alone," "Reflection," "I Can't Recall," "If Dreams Came True," "Little One," "Until Tomorrow," everyone's favorite "Out of Sight, Out of Mind," and my personal favorite "Without A Word." Songs that I didn't care for were "No Honest Way" and "Resurrection Man," which really needs to be cut (sorry, Jill). I just don't see the point of that entire scene other than to give those three men a song. Maybe that was a scene taken right from the book or something.
Warren Carlyle's direction was spot on for the most part. I felt some of the staging was a bit static, but loved the Prologue, the scene when Lucie found her father, the Act 1 finale, the James/Aaron switch in Act 2, the Act 2 finale...wonderful job, Warren.
The sets were perfection. Tony Walton outdid himself with those four movable set pieces, which were used in multiple settings. Also loved the large centerpiece with the two lion heads on top...and that willow tree set piece was stunning. The lighting was also fantastic (even with the tiny lighting mishap in Act 1 today). I especially loved the projected starts during the Act 2 finale and much of the lighting throughout was very appropriate.
Now onto the actors, beinning with the ensemble. I thought they were all very strong singers and actors...it was so nice seeing Drowsy veteran Jannifer Smith in the ensemble, who showed a lot of emotion and was really into it. Other actors who had smaller roles were Nick Wyman, Kevin Earley, Les Minski (who was very evil as the Marquis), and Katherine McGrath, who will absolutely be remembered by critics with her brilliant line deliveries as Miss Pross.
Gregg Edelman as Dr. Manette. He gives a good performance. This was only my second time seeing him on Broadway (the first was Into the Woods) and I felt he was better in that. His voice seemed a bit off both tonight and Monday, but his performance did improve as the night went on.
Natalie Toro as Madame Defarge. She is an excellent actress and singer. I was just surprised that her stage time was so limited. When she was on, she was great, and her show-stopping number in Act 1 was brilliantly delivered. I am certainly a fan and will be following her career from now on. She is on the concept album (which was done back in 2002) so I'm glad she was able to stick with the show through its Broadway incarnation!
Aaron Lazar as Charles Darnay. I first saw Aaron in The Light in the Piazza, where he was fabulous, and he has only gotten better. Besides being a bit underused, since the show focuses more on James Barbour's character, he was perfect. I love his singing voice and his acting has improved even since Monday. As my friend Michael said "he really gave the character class." Great job, Aaron.
Brandi Burkhardt as Lucie Manette. Brandi Brandi Brandi. Well, she was significantly better than Monday night, but I can just see Christianne Noll knocking this role out of the park. Brandi was fine. She's not the best actress or singer, but is far from the worst I've seen. However, she nailed my favorite number in the show "Without A Word" and I got chills during it. I have a feeling she will not be replaced, but I sincerely hope her acting improves as previews go on. She is gorgeous (I can see why Frank Wildhorn and any other straight man would be attracted to her) and such a nice person too.
James Barbour as Sydney Carton. Perfection. He has complete understanding of his character and delivers. His acting is spot on and his voice is glorious. He deserves to get rave reviews. I am so happy that he has put his past behind him and is moving forward with his career...in a wonderfully written role that he is brilliant in. Thank you, James, for making your return to Broadway, and for wowing this audience, and many audiences to come.
I did notice a few slight changes since Monday night...all for the best. When the first woman was beheaded on Monday night, a fake head fell down to the ground. That fake head has now been cut, since it was just too gruesome. Another part that was even more disturbing has also been cut. On Monday night, at the very end of the show, a little girl walks up the stairs and is beheaded. That has been cut, thank goodness. However, if I recall correctly, when the people who are going to be beheaded are walking DOWN the staircase earlier in Act 2, they introduce number 21 and her daughter...I think if the daughter is no longer going to be beheaded, maybe they shouldn't introduce the daughter earlier in that scene.
There were a few minor glitches today, which I will touch upon. Besides some minor sound issues, there was a strange lighting mistake during Act 1, in which the lights took focus away from Lucie and Dr. Manette and instead lit the audience! I was right where the light hit too! Also, during the switch in Act 2, when Nick Wyman picked up Aaron Lazar, his hat fell off and it took a while for someone to pick it up. The hat was down stage right for most of the rest of the act. I was worried when the hat fell off because it is needed in the following scene, when Lucie doesn't recognize Charles until she reads Sydney's note and then takes the hat off of Charles, and embraces him. Brandi played it off well though, and just didn't look directly at him until after she read the letter.
Overall, the show was absolutely brilliant tonight, and if the audience reaction was any indication, the majority of them would agree with me whole-heartedly. This show tugs at your heart, gives you chills, makes you laugh, is stunning to look at, has fantastic acting and singing, and is a big musical that Broadway has been missing for a while. Congrats to Jill, Warren and the entire cast and creative team. I look forward to seeing the show again this Friday and many more times in previews to see the show evolve into what will be a wonderful crowd-pleasing show that I sincerely hope the critics will embrace. I urge you all to go see this show with an open mind (twice if you have to) and I hope you all end up loving it as much as I did.
We all know the saying "Third Time's the Charm." Well, for me, when it comes to A TALE OF TWO CITIES, Second Time's the Charm! After seeing the show Monday and being confused through some of the book and thinking that the show was a bit too long, I was eager to see it a second time for clarification purposes. After talking to friends who had seen it with me on Monday and others who had seen the first preview on Tuesday night, I had more of an idea of the story going into tonight's performance. Also, since I had already seen it once, I was much more attentive to the lyrics and all the recitative. Well, I have officially joined the revolution. I love A TALE OF TWO CITIES.
I do not mind at all that the show doesn't open with the famous line from the book. It is still in there, which is what counts. The prologue, very recently restaged by director Warren Carlyle, brilliantly sets up the storyline by showing the Marquis when he kills Madame Defarge's brother and sister and shows Dr. Manette being arrested when he is held in the Bastille for almost 20 years. This immediately draws the audience in and makes them want to know what happens next.
This show works, not only because Charles Dickens' source material is so brilliant, but because Jill Santoriello has taken this long novel and paired it down into a 2 hour and 50 minute musical and has included everything the audience needs to fully understand the story and to really feel for the characters, esepcially Sidney.
The book to a musical, in my opinion, is the most difficult aspect to get right, but Jill has done a wonderful job here. While I was somewhat confused the first time around, I paid full attention tonight and all my questions were completely cleared up. I fully understood that Madame Defarge's brother and sister were the ones who died all those years ago. I also fully understood that Sidney and Charles were supposed to look the same (though James and Adam do not look alike, which I think added to my confusion the first time around). Lastly, I now understand that the lower class French peasants were just so enraged at the upper class, and since there were more of them, they started the revolution against the upper class and beheaded them to make a statement. (I should have known that last statement beforehand, but I was *horrible* in history in high school and learned the material only for the exams) Jill's book makes all this completely clear...I am just a stupid guy who never paid attention in history.
The score is wonderful and I can't wait for the cast recording...I sincerely hope it is recorded and soon! Standouts for me include "You'll Never Be Alone," "Reflection," "I Can't Recall," "If Dreams Came True," "Little One," "Until Tomorrow," everyone's favorite "Out of Sight, Out of Mind," and my personal favorite "Without A Word." Songs that I didn't care for were "No Honest Way" and "Resurrection Man," which really needs to be cut (sorry, Jill). I just don't see the point of that entire scene other than to give those three men a song. Maybe that was a scene taken right from the book or something.
Warren Carlyle's direction was spot on for the most part. I felt some of the staging was a bit static, but loved the Prologue, the scene when Lucie found her father, the Act 1 finale, the James/Aaron switch in Act 2, the Act 2 finale...wonderful job, Warren.
The sets were perfection. Tony Walton outdid himself with those four movable set pieces, which were used in multiple settings. Also loved the large centerpiece with the two lion heads on top...and that willow tree set piece was stunning. The lighting was also fantastic (even with the tiny lighting mishap in Act 1 today). I especially loved the projected starts during the Act 2 finale and much of the lighting throughout was very appropriate.
Now onto the actors, beinning with the ensemble. I thought they were all very strong singers and actors...it was so nice seeing Drowsy veteran Jannifer Smith in the ensemble, who showed a lot of emotion and was really into it. Other actors who had smaller roles were Nick Wyman, Kevin Earley, Les Minski (who was very evil as the Marquis), and Katherine McGrath, who will absolutely be remembered by critics with her brilliant line deliveries as Miss Pross.
Gregg Edelman as Dr. Manette. He gives a good performance. This was only my second time seeing him on Broadway (the first was Into the Woods) and I felt he was better in that. His voice seemed a bit off both tonight and Monday, but his performance did improve as the night went on.
Natalie Toro as Madame Defarge. She is an excellent actress and singer. I was just surprised that her stage time was so limited. When she was on, she was great, and her show-stopping number in Act 1 was brilliantly delivered. I am certainly a fan and will be following her career from now on. She is on the concept album (which was done back in 2002) so I'm glad she was able to stick with the show through its Broadway incarnation!
Aaron Lazar as Charles Darnay. I first saw Aaron in The Light in the Piazza, where he was fabulous, and he has only gotten better. Besides being a bit underused, since the show focuses more on James Barbour's character, he was perfect. I love his singing voice and his acting has improved even since Monday. As my friend Michael said "he really gave the character class." Great job, Aaron.
Brandi Burkhardt as Lucie Manette. Brandi Brandi Brandi. Well, she was significantly better than Monday night, but I can just see Christianne Noll knocking this role out of the park. Brandi was fine. She's not the best actress or singer, but is far from the worst I've seen. However, she nailed my favorite number in the show "Without A Word" and I got chills during it. I have a feeling she will not be replaced, but I sincerely hope her acting improves as previews go on. She is gorgeous (I can see why Frank Wildhorn and any other straight man would be attracted to her) and such a nice person too.
James Barbour as Sydney Carton. Perfection. He has complete understanding of his character and delivers. His acting is spot on and his voice is glorious. He deserves to get rave reviews. I am so happy that he has put his past behind him and is moving forward with his career...in a wonderfully written role that he is brilliant in. Thank you, James, for making your return to Broadway, and for wowing this audience, and many audiences to come.
I did notice a few slight changes since Monday night...all for the best. When the first woman was beheaded on Monday night, a fake head fell down to the ground. That fake head has now been cut, since it was just too gruesome. Another part that was even more disturbing has also been cut. On Monday night, at the very end of the show, a little girl walks up the stairs and is beheaded. That has been cut, thank goodness. However, if I recall correctly, when the people who are going to be beheaded are walking DOWN the staircase earlier in Act 2, they introduce number 21 and her daughter...I think if the daughter is no longer going to be beheaded, maybe they shouldn't introduce the daughter earlier in that scene.
There were a few minor glitches today, which I will touch upon. Besides some minor sound issues, there was a strange lighting mistake during Act 1, in which the lights took focus away from Lucie and Dr. Manette and instead lit the audience! I was right where the light hit too! Also, during the switch in Act 2, when Nick Wyman picked up Aaron Lazar, his hat fell off and it took a while for someone to pick it up. The hat was down stage right for most of the rest of the act. I was worried when the hat fell off because it is needed in the following scene, when Lucie doesn't recognize Charles until she reads Sydney's note and then takes the hat off of Charles, and embraces him. Brandi played it off well though, and just didn't look directly at him until after she read the letter.
Overall, the show was absolutely brilliant tonight, and if the audience reaction was any indication, the majority of them would agree with me whole-heartedly. This show tugs at your heart, gives you chills, makes you laugh, is stunning to look at, has fantastic acting and singing, and is a big musical that Broadway has been missing for a while. Congrats to Jill, Warren and the entire cast and creative team. I look forward to seeing the show again this Friday and many more times in previews to see the show evolve into what will be a wonderful crowd-pleasing show that I sincerely hope the critics will embrace. I urge you all to go see this show with an open mind (twice if you have to) and I hope you all end up loving it as much as I did.
Updated On: 8/21/08 at 02:01 AM
