A TALE OF TWO CITIES- An evening of average yet solid theatre

After reading everyones reviews of TOTC I was curious as to what I would see last night. The show is not a mess by any means it is a solid production. I will be interested to see how well it sells in the coming weeks. It deserves something although what I a not sure.

The show is solid yet average. I enjoyed myself and the cast is superb! Each character I found interesting. However the material is beneath the performances. It is not bad material but its not strong either which is a pity because the performers are. To begin with that prologue needs to go away. I think the orchestra striking up with the title image projection was thrilling. That is how it should start. The prologue was confusing and boring.

The show does have many moments that are so Les Mis-esque that it almost makes you chuckle. However I do not believe that is the shows fault. They do exist in the same world. I think the problem is the dull spots of TOTC are duller than the dull spots of Les Mis and the exciting parts of TOTC are not as thrillng as the exciting parts of Les Mis. It is this reason that it ends up being hurt by the comparisons.

However that being said the show has some wonderful moments. As many have said James Barbour turns in a solid star performance, although I have to admit seeing him since a song about his love of the little girl did make me a bit uncomfortable. It is the character but still.

The supporting cast shines just as brightly though. Natalie Toro and Nick Wyman are both wonderful standouts. Warren Carlyle has done a great job staging some that needs sprawling epic granduer. He keeps the stage very open giving the actors a lot of playing space and it pays off well.

The audience seemed to like it and its been a while since we had a sweeping epic like this. So although the show is average and by no means something for the ages it is no trainwreck. Which is great since so many predicted it would be awful. It is fine. So it will be interesting to see how audiences take to something that is just okay but has not extra pull such as a star or gimmick. Just a solid yet average telling of a great story. How will that far in the current broadway climate? Look forward to seeing.

Y'know what I think? I think ATOTC is going to be the new 'Marguerite'. It's not *bad*, per se. It's even quite good, and the cast are certainly doing their damnedest. But at the end of the day... will it be good *enough*? 'Marguerite' wasn't. Let's see how ATOTC goes.

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It's been in the West End over the summer, but it's closing early, because while it is *good*, it is just not good *enough*. It's quite uncomfortably in-between those two viewpoints actually; if it were rubbish, it'd be much easier for me to discuss it with the people who think it and star Ruthie Henshall are OMG the greatest things EVAR!!!. Ah well. ^_^

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I'm considering going in October, but still have bad dreams about The Pirate Queen, which is the last "epic" show I saw. Is this anything like it? Have enjoyed the occasional Les Mis rip-off (La Cava anyone?)

Tonight (by my cheap watch):

Act I: 7:05-8:30

Act II: 8:46-9:40



p.s. Audience loved the show tonight, and the actors noticed.

Thank you for cutting the resurectionist number. I'm so glad the creative team is doing everything they need to do to make this show even better! Can't wait to go back on Monday night!

Updated On: 8/27/08 at 01:07 AM

shira 467: "The prologue, however, confused the HELL out of me, especially as I've never read the book. And please, don't yell at me to read the book."

You shouldn't have to read any book to understand any show that purports to tell a story. Nor should you have to see the show twice to finally "get it."

And, to all of you Les Mis-maniacs, not everyone has seen Les Mis (yes, hard to believe, I know), so comparisons to it are really beside the point. If more than one show is depicting the peasants' revolt of the French Revolution, those depictions are likely to resemble each other in certain predictable ways. Leave it alone already.

It sounds like great news they cut the resurectionist number. I don't really like those numbers in epic shows. I LOATHE Master of the House and Boys will be Boys. So it sounds like a huge step in the right direction!

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Updated On: 8/27/08 at 04:08 PM

Very interested to hear that they cut the graveyard number. They had to. It was comic relief that did nothing in the way of plot, character development, anything. "No Honest Way" is enough in that genre, and it serves the plot.

If I could make one change, and it'd be a big one, I'd knock out one of the ensemble numbers. Maybe axe Until Tomorrow, the Act I closer, and move things around so that they could end with one of the early versions of Out of Sight, Out of Mind or one of the other innumerable ensemble pieces that are all quite similar in tone.

Hey all, I went to see the show again yesterday, having seen it in the first week. They had cut Dr. Manette's opening song, but Edelman told me at the stage door that they are changing that opening every day, and it could just as well be back in today. The graveyard scene cut is a good one, and they moved Lucie's Act II song up to let the ending flow better.

My first stage door experience, lots of fun.

I wrote posts on my blog if anyone is interested in lots of detail. Not trying to self-advertise or anything (it's a low key personal blog), just don't want to bore people with huge posts on here.
http://liberalreader.blogspot.com/2008/08/tale-of-two-cities-part-xvdci.html
and about the stage door experience:
http://liberalreader.blogspot.com/2008/08/stage-door-jane.html