Alice Ripley to star in NYC production of "Baby"

[SomeOtherMe]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 3:29pm

Taking place in a midtown Manhattan loft.

Updated On: 11/4/19 at 03:29 PM

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 4:34pm

The rest of the cast doesn't look too shabby either....

[JSquared2]

Posted: 12/10/19 at 2:23pm

Has anyone seen this yet?  Any reports?

[PeterC6482]

Posted: 12/10/19 at 2:56pm

I saw it last Sunday, 12/9, 7 p.m. I thought it was glorious! It was such a pleasure to hear that wonderful score again, live, for the first time since 1984. The audience was very enthusiastic. I hope it's reviewed in one of our local outlets. I'm not a new member of this board. I haven't posted in about 10 years. I had to "rejoin" to post. I have absolutely no connection with the show.

Updated On: 12/10/19 at 02:56 PM

[Samanthacq]

Posted: 12/10/19 at 2:59pm

To anyone who has seen this production, how much do you miss in the partial view seats? 

[PeterC6482]

Posted: 12/10/19 at 3:05pm

The space is very small..about the size of a studio apartment with chairs around the perimeter. You won't miss anything. Probably the least desireable seats are in the "kitchen area" of the loft. Almost all of the action takes place in the "living room" or main stage area.

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 2:20am

I saw this yesterday and thought it was an absolutely EXQUISITE production. Top to bottom! What an incredible cast and the direction was...indescribable really.

I personally think the pleasure is being anywhere in the playing space and would think the bank of seats behind the couch with the seats toward the wall would be least desirable. But I’d be curious to hear other reports. I am basing that almost entirely on the fact that a fair amount of Patterns (Alice’s act 2 number) takes place on the kitchen.

[magictodo123]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 8:13am

I've never seen a production or know anything about it. But reading the first few lines of the plot on Wikipedia, I'm intrigued. Would I be okay seeing it if I know next to nothing about it? 

[PeterC6482]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 9:06am

yes..definitely! Go!

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 10:33am

magictodo123 said: "I've never seen a production or know anything about it. But reading the first few lines of the plot on Wikipedia, I'm intrigued. Would I be okay seeing it if I know next to nothing about it?"

I would also say yes. The music is Maltby and Shire (Closer Than Ever, Big). Very enjoyable score with songs that you'll remember after you leave the theater.

You've already read a bit about the plot, and you've read about the theater space (above), so you can probably tell that this is an intimate show. I love Baby!

[JSquared2]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 11:57am

PeterC6482 said: "The space is very small..about the size of a studio apartment with chairs around the perimeter. You won't miss anything. Probably the least desireable seats are in the "kitchen area" of the loft. Almost all of the action takes place in the "living room" or main stage area."

 

Sounds very interesting! I bought my ticket for the last weekend in the run. I've never seen the show live but have listened to the cast album ever since I had it on a cassette tape!

Question for those who have seen it -- are the actors very much "in your face" (like in the recent off Broadway Sweeney Todd)?  Or do they leave the audience alone?  I assume that the house lights are on for most of the show (like in Oklahoma)?

I was wondering about "Patterns", since they don't list it in their online playbill.  I was hoping it would be included.

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 12:39pm

Patterns is in this production.

The lighting is very nuanced and effective,

No the actors leave the audience alone. It is as if you are a fly on the wall watching these characters in their home. It’s brilliant.

And no you do not need to know a thing to enjoy!

[PeterC6482]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 1:20pm

They are using the 2004 revised libretto. "Patterns" has been restored to Act 2, the story of the older parents, Arlene and Alan, has been expanded, and the new song "End of Summer" has been added to Act 2, also. 

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 1:51pm

Nope, end of summer was cut

[PeterC6482]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 1:57pm

"End of Summer" was in Act 2 when I saw it on Sunday evening, but it seemed to have been shortened.

Updated On: 12/11/19 at 01:57 PM

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 2:03pm

It’s just the intro which is just Lizzie and then Arlene doing a little reprise of the bridge of I want it all. The song itself was cut.

[PeterC6482]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 2:06pm

Thank you.

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 12/11/19 at 11:02pm

Does anyone have the link to the playbill? I can’t find mine...

[27DinnerPlates2]

Posted: 12/12/19 at 1:53am

This was just painful to sit through. It was vocally all over the place, with melodies going completely wayward and harmonies being muddled. I'm "The Story Goes On," one of the more popular songs from the show, being belted out powerfully and hitting you with a wall of sound. Here, it was sung purely in a shrill head voice by Liz Flemming with the high notes being completely missed. She is the Artistic Director of the company, which makes me wonder if an audition process was even held for the role. Definitely the weakest link in the cast.

The direction had no clear point of view. The decision to update it to 2019 (Pam and Nick as a lesbian couple, switching genders for the smaller roles, changing parts of the book/lyrics) seemed admirable, but not enough work was done for it to make sense during several parts of the show. I kept trying to justify certain changes, but it was clear that they weren't fleshed out thoroughly.

There were some positive aspects. Evan Ruggiero was incredibly charming and the highlight of the show. Alice Ripley, though her "Patterns" was rough, had lovely stage presence and was emotionally grounded. Christina Sajous and Gabrielle McClinton had great chemistry. Overall a lackluster performance. Pretty upset as I've loved the score for years.

[Samanthacq]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 2:40pm

Anyone know the running time of this show? Thanks.

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 2:42pm

It started 5 min late and came down a little before 9:30...so 2:20ish with intermission.

also, what show did you see?