Anyone go to VANITIES tonight?- Page 3

[Sauja]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 11:11pm

I saw this yesterday evening and found it pleasant, but it's the kind of show that doesn't hold up to scrutiny. Once I started to parse it out in my head, it occurred to me how much I thought was wrong. The first scene is bizarrely directed and choreographed. Lauren Kennedy seemed out of her league (I know each of these women has fans and detractors--I've never seen any of the three before). Anneliese van der Poll was completely fine. Only Sarah Stiles really popped for me. The second scene was better than the first, but still familiar. The third scene was by far my favorite, but even then...there seemed to be a ton of subtext that didn't necessarily go anywhere.

But as many complaints as I have, I didn't hate it and don't want to trash it. There are really strong moments in the book and in the score. It just doesn't feel like they've been done their fullest justice. The main problem is that the show is poorly directed. Lots of distracting stage action with no purpose that undercuts the songs. Some truly strange choreographic choices...

I got $15 tickets through a Facebook discount. I'm glad I saw it but gladder that I only paid that amount.

[joanntom]

Posted: 7/7/09 at 1:08am

Ill post on Weds. My friend surprised me with a ticket. Ironically it's sold out tomorrow. Which is good in this day and age, and my friend was told by an employee at 2st that they are making some major revisions. I'll report soon.

[pretendworld]

Posted: 7/7/09 at 8:19pm

Anyone checking out the post show tonight?

[joanntom]

Posted: 7/7/09 at 11:38pm

Watching a show during previews can be a very interesting thing for the theatre goer. Seriously, I asked myself ,during points in the evening if something was a fix because it worked so well or if something will be fixed because it just didn't seem to be in par with the rest.

the play has always annoyed me because it's about these women who through their selfish lives have remained friends out of need?. In the original they remained selfish and unresolved. Tonight , their was an air of hope at the end, and that i found myself thinking about why certain people are in my life. Was this Director judith Iveys goal? I doubt it. But for me to have moments of thought is not a bad thing. I just crave more moments ..

Tonights audience seemed responsive to the cast during its 100 minutes .

The music is really great. Yes, a few songs did not enhance the action or elaborate on a thought .. but with a few line tweaks they might be stronger. I loved the transition songs and Let Life Happen and the finale. The sound mix was a bit off.

The cast was really great. From the obnoxious and delusional cheerleaders to the self evolved and more experienced mature women they really did evolve. Sarah Stiles Joanne is dead on hilarious, Annelise van der pol went from obsessed to warmth organically. Her voice is really special, theres a richness present thats commanding and Lauren Kennedy who ive alway thought of as a great singer tonight was a really grounded actress who didnt rely on a song for that big moment. Her last scene was simple and true.

The prologue? opening? whatever that is it just doesnt have anything to do with the show. I cant really explain it because all of a sudden i find myself in the middle of a great 2nd song that i couldn't figure out how i got there. I literally said WTF is this? I'll be optimistic and hope thats on the todo list. Not the other.

Why aren't they at their vanities setting up and prepping like the play? So simple

The set worked well. Someone posted about wigs. Tonight there werent any. Except for a few hair pieces which were fine.

Part 3 was quite a theatrical event with a fight song that really showed me that if the rest of the show can be on par with this number , then this show will have some strong legs.

My friend summed it up best by saying that somewhere in the middle of this piece she found herself actually liking and feeling for these girls.

Sometimes you've got to work through the ugly to be pretty. Now i'm really curious to hear others thoughts....I remember WIcked during previews and 9 to 5. Keep those fixes coming.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/7/09 at 11:42pm

joanntom, the show opened in Pasadena with a terrific number called "Who Am I Today?" that showed each of the women at their vanities talking about how they only truly feel like themselves before getting made up and having to encounter the pressures and expectations of the world each day.

When the concept of how the chronology would unfold was changed, the song (unfortunately) was cut.

Updated On: 7/7/09 at 11:42 PM

[joanntom]

Posted: 7/8/09 at 12:13am

Would that number work with them sitting at their vanities in this production? I really liked the number that the girls did as cheerleaders.. it just didnt flow well at all

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/8/09 at 12:24am

The number would no longer work in the context of this production because it doesn't establish the "flashback" device now being used to convey the passage of time (though I still think it added much needed depth to the story's message.)

Updated On: 7/8/09 at 12:24 AM

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 7/8/09 at 12:34am

"I merely meant to convey that work is very much actively being done. Hopefully the creative team takes note of what continues to be problematic at Second Stage and addresses these issues accordingly."

Sweet. But first you have to have taste, talent and dramatic insight. Good luck, VANITIES.


Mama-say, Mama-sa, MaMA-ku-sa
Neverland






Updated On: 7/8/09 at 12:34 AM

[joanntom]

Posted: 7/8/09 at 12:42am

wish i could hear it. The music is really good. Those girls have some serious pipes

[pretendworld]

Posted: 7/8/09 at 7:16am

Any news on the cast recording?

[joanntom]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 12:17am

I forgot to mention , probably because it's still foreign to me but in Sarah stiles bio
it mentioned her Twitter -- lulubellestiles

is that the new wave in lieu of a website? i barely understand why everyone is obsessed with Facebook

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 3:57pm

In case anyone was curious, they've decided to ditch almost all of the wigs as of Sunday and only go with a few hair accessory pieces here and there.

While I'm not sure how I feel about Sarah Stiles' hair in the third scene, this change gives the girls a different look that I think works much better on the whole (especially for Anneliese van der Pol.)

Here are the new press shots via Second Stage.

http://www.2st.com/index.php?option=com_plays&task=viewPlay&Itemid=0&id=128&saction=pic

Updated On: 7/9/09 at 03:57 PM

[pretendworld]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 2:44am

she has amazing hair!

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/14/09 at 12:29pm

Bumping to inquire about the availability of $15 youth rush for this show. Normally, I'd just buy the $30 advance tickets, but money is a little tighter than usual for me right now, but I'd still like to see this production. Have they been available and, if so, are they easy/difficult to get? Thanks.

[sweeneynut]

Posted: 7/14/09 at 1:03pm

I went on Thursday and Saturday (mat), and asked for Student Rush at both. I arrived about 30 minutes to curtain, and they were sold out both times and I was put on a cancellation list. Thursday, no one got tickets, but Friday, all three people on the list did. We all wound up in the balcony; chairs on the side if you've ever been to Second Stage before. I was last on the list and wound up in the chair closest to the front, with about a 1/4 of the stage obstructed. It was mostly fine, I still saw the majority of the show.

Hope that helps. It's a great price for the show, although I don't know if I'd be satisfied paying $30 for it. They announce ticket availibility about 5-10 minutes to curtain.