ACL revisited 5/4 matinee – LONG with SPOILERS- Page 2

[itsagift]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 10:22pm

So profound WESTVILLAGE! Love the way you quoted me out of context.
Times have changed. Unfortunately? or Fortunately?
Hopefully the integrity of the "piece" hasn't been injured as much as you seem to think.
It would be a shame to NOT bring such an ARTISTIC TREASURE to the live stage just because something isn't presented exactly as it was in the original.
I also have seen the show at least 7 or 8 times. I love the show and the art itself, too much to sit anywhere in that theatre just to "observe", with the obvious intent to find as much fault as possible.

Preserving the integrity of the story is extremely important.

But try not to lose sight of the fact that the performers on that stage are there, because of their love for their art. And delivering the individual stories respectfully and passionately I believe, preserves the integrity. Give them some credit.

Maybe Mario will grow to be as professional and respectful of this brilliant show as they all are. He will be an asset if he does.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 7:34pm

Went back to the show today. Yikes.

The rest of the cast is in great shape, as usual.

Lopez, however, was not so good. His dancing is passable, although not even close to the technique level of his cast mates. His acting was atrocious. Flat, dull, boring, no command, no stage presence... I could keep going. Read some of his lines as though he was in a rush to get home. He looks very awkward with Charlotte d'Amboise. I do find the changes that he made to be a bit of an insult to the production, but I'll just leave it at that.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 10:52pm

Yeah, sadly Lopez really brings the show down and it's a shame he's with the show till the end.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 11:45pm

I saw the show tonight. It was my first time back since last year. Orchestra pretty full, mezz was deserted, which looked really awful when the mirrors were onstage.

I didn't hate Lopez like some others did, but I agree that he certainly doesn't possess the technical skills that his castmates do. He's a competent dancer, but not a great dancer like Zach kind of should be. I didn't mind his line readings that much, nor did I notice him fooling around at the back of the house, but I wasn't really looking.

Overall, the show felt very ho-hum tonight, which is much the way I felt about it last time I saw it. It was lacking in excitement and energy. The whole thing felt like a paint by numbers piece.

Charlotte was all over the place- her voice just isn't that good, and it drags down Music and the Mirror. The other big disappointment tonight was Natalie Cortez as Morales. I don't know if she was tired or battling illness, but Nothing was a very big letdown.

The standouts in the cast for me were Bryan Knowlton (Paul) and Deidre Goodwin (Sheila). Everyone else was fine, but again, it just lacked any sort of zest of oomph.

I did want to add though that there was not a single understudy on tonight, which sort of shocked me for this show. Every time I have ever walked by that theater, there has been understudies on (which you would expect, since I am sure injuries are quite prevalent).
Updated On: 6/5/08 at 11:45 PM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 9:50am

Cortez wasn't in at the matinee (Michelle Aravena was on in her place), so that may have had something to do with it.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 11:21am

Cortez has been sick for a couple weeks now, on and off and has been put on vocal rest twice during her time with the show. Out of the entire cast, Cortez is likely out the most.

[Kev]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:36pm

Cortez has been sick for a couple weeks now, on and off and has been put on vocal rest twice during her time with the show. Out of the entire cast, Cortez is likely out the most.

Not surprising. From a technical standpoint, Cortez' vocals give me pause.

And agreed with adamgreer, Knowlton and Goodwin are the two highlights these days.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 3:53pm

Along with Knowlton & Goodwin, I'd add Goldyn & Lone to that list of the stronger performers. The last time I saw it, everyone else was flat.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 12:24am

Along with Knowlton & Goodwin, I'd add Goldyn & Lone to that list of the stronger performers

Agreed.

If anyone is looking to see the show to see Lopez (or without him, as the case may be), Telecharge is saying that he will be missing both shows this coming Saturday.

Also - instead of starting a new thread: Are the partial view orchestra seats $66.50 or $86.50?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 11:32am

from telecharge.com:

Orchestra: $111.50
Orchestra Partial View (Rows C-L): $86.50
Mezzanine (Rows A-F): $111.50
Mezzanine (Rows G-J): $86.50
Mezzanine (Row K): $66.50
Mezzanine Partial View (Rows B-C): $66.50
Box Seats Partial View: $86.50

There are discounts available also.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 11:36pm

Telecharge's list is incorrect. That's why I asked. They listed partial view orchestra as $86.50, but when you went to buy them they were only $66.50. I went to the box office, they are $66.50.