A Tale of Two Cities First Preview

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 11:40pm

Hey all, ***spoilers may be included***

Just got back from the first preview of TOTC and thought I'd share some thoughts. From some word of mouth I went in expecting to see a total trainwreck, but I can't say that it was a trainwreck in the least. There are still many problems, but this is no Prince of Central Park or In My Life.

To start with a positive, I really liked the story. Dickens gave a lot of good material too work with (perhaps too much material for the author to handle). The plot moves along at such a breakneck speed that there is no time for character develop. How can so and so fall in love when they've had 2 minutes of stage time together? People die right and left, but without much effect on the audience.

Also the characters are fairly one-dimensional. Other than Sidney, James Barbour's character, everyone is either good or bad without much gray are in between.

The biggest problem I had though was with the score. It was very bland, generic and repetitive. The lyrics are as trite as can be and the melodies were often pretty but didn't soar enough to a climax. I often felt like I was listening to the cut songs from Jekyll and Hyde.

James was definitely the standout acting wise. He had managed to develop a character and found quite a bit of humor in his role. His voice was absolutely stunning, and a highlight of the show.

Aaron Lazar sounded great as well, but his character was so underdeveloped (by fault of the book) that he really didn't stand out.

I am in total agreement with WAT that someone needs to hunt down Christiane Noll and get her to replace Brandi immediately. She was the weak link acting wise of the love triangle, and I never really beloved that any of them were in love because of it.

I always took issue with the sets, which seem to be getting a bit of praise. The major problem was that there was no way to distinguish the scenes in London from the scenes in Paris. The sets needed to evoke the two different locations, and show a contrast between the two.

I didn't hate the show by any means, it just wasn't very exciting or moving theater. It's too bad, because with such rich characters and captivating story to work with, the final product was basically boring.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 11:44pm

Hey Ben, it's good to hear that you were surprised and not totally disappointed. It sounds like an interesting and big piece with potential hidden here and there. Anxious to hear more.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 11:49pm

I think the reviews for this show will be very predictable. They'll call the book weak, the score a bad rip-off of Les Miz, and saying the acting was okay. Boring. I hope they step it up during previews. I for one enjoyed the concept album, and I think it's nice to hear a nice, lush type score back on Broadway instead of all the pop scores (nothing wrong with them, but I like some diversity).

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 12:01am

There really is so much potential here...let's just hope they can tap into it before opening night. I will say that they steered clear of dreadfully campy moments a la "Boys Will Boys" or "A fifteenth century man with a twentieth century mind", but ***spoiler*** there was a campy moment near they end that unintentionally made me chuckle. During the guillotine scene there is a huge guillotine that falls across the back scrim in slow motion, and then you hear a sound effect of flesh and bone being severed. It was supposed to be really serious and horrific, but it only made me cringe.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 12:18am

Where oh where is Christiane Noll? Her presence would greatly help this show!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 12:20am

I'm not expecting this to be good by any measure, but really, it can't be nearly at the level of In My Life, being that the source material is so strong.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 12:30am

Christianne Noll? That's kind of random

[massofmen]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 12:31am

Ms. Noll is in Washington DC doing ACE.
She is one of the most underrated talents in a world of Laura Bell Bundy's and Shoshana Bean's.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 12:36am

I'm sorry, what is it that Laura Bell Bundy and Shoshana Bean possess? Your egregious use of "apostrophe-'S'" disgusts me.

[cdawg2]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 12:45am

Thanks for the review. I want to go see this, but I won't be in the city till the first of the year hoping it's still going strong!

Hey, I'm a big fan of MacKenzie Mauzy (Seamstress) how was she?

[massofmen]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 1:05am

th'at's th'e poin't. The'y don't rea'l'ly pose'ss anythin'g.

[trav08]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 1:12am

Thanks for the review. I think this show has some potential. I hope they get it together in previews.

How was Natalie Toro?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 1:24am

Natalie Toro was good but VERY underused. After having heard about how wonderful she was I expected her to actually be in the show a little bit. Her stage time is comparable to Megan Mullally's in YF. Almost non-existent in the first act, and then built up a little more in the second.

That being said, she was great in what she got to do. Out of Sight, Out of Mind was delivered very well and got great applause. Too bad there's not more of her to cheer for.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 1:30am

Any word on a rush policy yet?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 1:38am

It sounds like the show has changed quite a bit from what was staged in Florida. The guillotine scene discussed here was nonexistent in the Florida previews.

Having seen film adaptations and read the book I never really had any real liking for the character of Mme DeFarge. I disliked her through and through. But Natalie Toro made me feel for her. I didn't "root" for her but she brought a humanity to the role that has been lacking before.

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 1:45am

I also saw a preview of TOTC.
With the exception of Brandi Burkhart (adequate but I think it could be a very moving role) the cast was exceptional. James Barbour is incredibly strong and Natalie Toro is on her way to becoming the next "it girl."

If they tighten up the story I think it will be more appealing to audiences....it ran too long and they tried to cram in way too much info. It was the mega musical unabridged!!!

I actually enjoyed the music, not as sweeping as Les Miz but some beautiful melodies.

I'll be interested to see what they iron out between now and opening!!!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 1:50am

It's almost slightly amusing that people are saying that Burkhart is bland in the role. One of my biggest casting gripes from the Florida production was that Jessica Rush made such a bland Lucie. She sang beautifully but she couldn't convey her emotions to even the second row where I was sitting.

What I'd give for Powers or Noll.

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 1:59am

That's surprising....I've heard Jessica Rush is amazing as Louise in Gypsy (when she goes on for Benanti).

Jenni Powers would be faaaabulous in TOTC. Maybe Burkhardt is still finding the character- she seemed a little uncomfortable. She was no match for Lazaar and Barbour.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 2:01am

"I've heard Jessica Rush is amazing as Louise in Gypsy (when she goes on for Benanti)."

I'd heard the same thing but she seemed out of her element in TOTC and overmatched by those around her. If I'm not mistaken other posters who saw the show felt she was rather bland as well.

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 2:13am

Jessica is smart to stay in Gypsy then....I have a feeling it will run longer that TOTC! Just don't think this one will sell.

Could the Hirschfeld be the new cursed theater?! I was shocked when Curtains posted their closing notice there- I thought it would run for years!

[Erin1980]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 2:20am

With the exception of Eris0303's ongoing critism of her, Jessica Rush DID for the most part, get great reviews for what she did as Lucie. She really is an amazing performer, and if you get a chance to see her go on for Laura, do it. The real problem in TOTC lies in the 'bland' way that Lucie, among other characters, is written.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 2:25am

Fabulous show. Will write review later, when I'm not dead tired.

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 2:26am

True- the book IS extremely problematic. Probably a difficult task for ANY actress to do anything interesting with Lucie. But I thought Burkhardt was weak vocally as well.

Was Jessica Rush offered the role or was she already committed to Gypsy and just turned it down?

[Erin1980]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 2:33am

My guess is that she turned it down, probably also assuming that Gypsy will have a longer run than TOTC.

[johnnyg]

Posted: 8/20/08 at 5:46am

please don't take this in the wrong way, Whizzer, because i'm just curious, but have you ever read the novel "A Tale of Two Cities"? i only ask because you comment on the rich characters that the musical might have drawn from and i've both read the book recently and seen the show down in Florida and actually found the musical fleshed out the characters far more than the book ever did. Also, if you have trouble with characters falling in love in two seconds (or even two minutes) i don't suppose you can be a fan of "West Side Story" or "Carousel" or even "Les Miserables". Again, just curious.