Anyone going to FELA! tonight (first preview)?- Page 2

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 2:36pm

"What did you think of the rest of the show, Trace?"

As soon as I walked into the theater, I noticed that there were christmas lights throughout and pictures and things all over the walls of the entire theater. It immediately reminded me of when the Broadway Theater was transformed in 1972 to accomodate DUDE: THE HIGHWAY LIFE. I thought it looked very tacky, though I do understand that they wanted to allow the audience to have a "full experience" at the show.

The music was not my cup of tea. The sets and lighting and ambiance were very distracting. The audience participation needs to be cut. I found the storyline very hard to follow (especially in Act 2, which was like a free-for-all acid trip). I enjoyed the choreography of both MEMPHIS and FINIAN'S RAINBOW more than the choreography of FELA! The show also ran three hours and needs to be cut by half an hour or so. It really dragged at times.

The ensemble is excellent and they work their butts off, but nothing about this piece moved me.

Saycon Sengbloh has a wonderful voice, but did not have much stage time...I wanted to see more of her.

Lillias White had virtually no part at all, but the few times she was on stage were my favorite parts of the show. Sadly, she is very underused and this role does not show her potential (she was brilliant in THE LIFE and Cy Coleman's songs actually showcased White's talents).

I know I'm going to be in the minority on this one, but I hated Sahr Ngaujah. He cannot sing or act, in my opinion, but he does play a mean Saxophone!

I will not be seeing this show a second time.

[Trish2]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 3:02pm

Well withoutatrace, your review of Memphis and it being panned by the critics didn't quite "pan" out now did it?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 3:08pm

What does that have to do with anything...? If he didn't like it, he didn't like it. He's not saying everyone else can't enjoy it or that the critics will pan it.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 3:10pm

While WithoutATrace didn't say the critics would pan FELA!, he certainly did say it about MEMPHIS, as did you, WiCkEdrOcKS.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 3:11pm

I predict across the board raves for FELA! (just like the across the board raves for PASSING STRANGE and SPRING AWAKENING - two other shows i despised).

I can only stomach these things once.

MEMPHIS, on the other hand, I've already seen twice and will be going back again within the next week or so.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 4:00pm

WithoutATrace, he's not really playing the saxophone. He just mimes it while the sax player in the band plays.

[broadwayrocks2]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 4:22pm

Who really cares what withoutatrace thinks .Anyone who decides to go or not to go based on what one person says on BWW is silly . Such egos out there !!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 4:27pm

"Who really cares what withoutatrace thinks .Anyone who decides to go or not to go based on what one person says on BWW is silly . Such egos out there !!"

I care. While I agree you should decide for yourself to see a show, it is nice to see what others have to say about productions.

[broadwayrocks2]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 4:35pm

Do you relize how much a show will change between now and opening . To make up your mind after one preview and then post it like you are some sort of critic and then say i will not be seeing it again is a little pompice in my book . Its not his cup of tea . We got it . They have already changed the show considerably today in rehearsal !!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 4:38pm

Who really cares what withoutatrace thinks .Anyone who decides to go or not to go based on what one person says on BWW is silly . Such egos out there !!

Who said I or anyone else would base their decision to see the show on what withoutatrace, said? I was going to see this show regardless of his thoughts, or anyone else's for that matter. Trace and I often disagree, but that doesn't mean I'm not interested in his opinion.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 4:39pm

Somethingwicked, so we were wrong...it's not like we're not admitting it. I acknowledged multiple times that MEMPHIS got respectable reviews and that I wouldn't wish bad reviews on any show. A wrong prediction is nothing to be sorry about or be called-out-on, especially when I recognized MEMPHIS' reviews were not all that bad.

What does MEMPHIS' reviews and the critics have anything to even do with this topic anyway? No one said anything about the critics review,s until trish did, regarding FELA! but there was still a connection made to the reviews for MEMPHIS...

We were wrong in predicting that MEMPHIS would get panned. ...So what?


Updated On: 10/20/09 at 04:39 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 4:44pm

"Do you relize how much a show will change between now and opening . To make up your mind after one preview and then post it like you are some sort of critic and then say i will not be seeing it again is a little pompice in my book . Its not his cup of tea . We got it . They have already changed the show considerably today in rehearsal !!"

If you don't want to read a review, why are you posting on this thread? You think we don't know it will change? It is nice to see what people have to say at different stages of the show. Go away.

[broadwayrocks2]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 4:47pm

Oh Millie dont encourage me please . We have to listen to your dribble you have to listen to mine . "GO AWAY " Yeah that will work . What are you like 12 ??

[theatreguy]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 4:47pm

broadwayrocks2,

1. I'm sure most of us are aware that a show can change during previews. I haven't seen anyone here write that this is how it is and this is how it shall be forever. We all know these reviews are based on one performance.

2. Why shouldn't one make up their mind about a show after seeing a performance (first preview or otherwise)? If they paid their money, it wasn't their cup of tea, and they don't feel like spending more on it, isn't that their prerogative?

3. P-O-M-P-O-U-S.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 4:55pm

"What are you like 12 ??"

No.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 5:50pm

theatreguy- I'm almost positive you are wrong about him playing the sax. He most certainly was playing it last night.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion of a show, even after the first preview. Should I not be able to LIKE a show after the first preview? Must I wait til after opening to decide?

I usually agree with WAT about shows, but we happen to (very much) disagree about Fela!. Does this mean I don't respect his opinion or mark it as invalid? Don't be ridiculous. If WAT doesn't want to see the show again to see the changes it hardly means we can't listen to his point of view.

[dave1606]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 10:50pm

Whizzer, I can tell you, since i was in the second row Orchestra (thanks TDF!) that he was indeed only fingering, if very accurately. I didn't really notice it until the second act where it got more obvious. If you go back this weekend to see the show I think you will notice it more.

So here are my thoughts. Disclaimer: I knew nothing about Fela before seeing it, be it historically or the show itself. I went on a whim, and am really glad I did, especially due to the energy in the house during that first preview. Clearly most there had seen the show off-broadway!

I found the show to be flawed, but strong. Even with its issues it still easily tops most shows I have seen this season. Walking into this theater for the first time really took me bye surprise. It literally is an explosion of color and sound. I loved the band getting to jam out before the show! to add to that the band is HOT! the tenor sax player alone is worth seeing the show for.

Sahr knocked it out of the park. I thought he was fantastic. The ensemble is extremely tight and really puts out an incredible energy for the show. Lillias and Saycon were fine, but honestly nothing to really talk about because neither have much to do.

People have mentioned in this thread how shows change in previews, and I hope they can tighten this up because it has potential. It just doesn't quite get there just yet.

My problem with the show is that it isn't a coherent whole. It is very good at evoking the time and place, but the specifics are where we run into trouble. Characters aren't clearly defined and no one but Fela really gets any depth. I felt like the show just didn't convey events very well.

The lighting, projection, and set design are dead-on. I loved the murals, projections and lights all over the house, from the boxes to the back of the mezzanine, it really is a visually stunning show. The dance numbers are electric but I worry about the audience participation. Making an audience get up that early in the show doesn't seem like it is going to work on a Wednesday matinee. It was great in a first preview with fans there, but I doubt that the tourists are going to be too keen on that.

Overall I think the show is great and I will absolutely see it again, but I do worry about it finding an audience. It found one off-broadway, but are we about to see a repeat of Passing Strange?

[Testing1232]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 11:03pm

<< I know I'm going to be in the minority on this one, but I hated Sahr Ngaujah. He cannot sing or act, in my opinion, but he does play a mean Saxophone!
>>

Wat..I have to say... I am not surprised at all that you didnt like the show. Could have bet the house on that, knowing (from the boards) your taste. But you really thought Sahr cant act?

Had "Fela!" opened ON Bway in time for the 2009 Tony Awards, I think he would have won. Just my .02

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 11:45pm

Now that I hear that it wasn't actually him playing the saxophone, I am even more disappointed.

Yes, I honestly thought Sahr was a bad actor...this show was just not my thing. Like I said, I know I will be in the minority on this, and he will probably get across the board rave reviews.

I'm just grateful this show has been checked off my list and that I never have to see it again.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 1:16am

My friend apparently walked out at intermission tonight.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 9:53pm

It's really a shame that Jones did not make substantial cuts after the off-Broadway run. Having studied Fela himself as a historical figure, and having a major interest in African History, I still found this to be self-indulgently long on Jones' part.

Were he to cut 45 minutes, this would be fine. Were he to cut an hour, it would be even better.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:55am

I just have no interest in seeing this show. I loved his choreography in Spring Awakening, but the material here just doesn't interest me at all, but I guess I should give it a shot.

Don't you think it's a little weird to base your opinion of a show, though, off of one preview performance? I'm not condemning, but if you're going to the first preview and making up your mind, then you're missing out on a lot because - as you all know - a lot changes from the first preview to the opening. Just saying. I was burnt out on going to first previews because I realized that I didn't like the majority of the stuff I was seeing, but kept thinking "oh, it'll be better once they've gotten more comfortable."

WAT, If you didn't like Memphis why have you seen it so many times? Just curious.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 12:12pm

My wife went last night- she had not gone to the Off-Bway run. She said it was WAYYYYY too long, and fell asleep for part of the show during the 2nd act.

I really enjoyed it off-bway, but they really should have cut some of it-

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 12:57pm

Wasn't a big complaint Off-Bway that the book sucked? From what I've heard and what I've been told, it sounds to me like they just kept writing more and more trying to make the book better. Maybe they should, instead, take the parts of the book that were criticized OUT so that the show isn't like 3 hours long.

Testing, this may be a stupid question but did your wife dislike it overall?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 1:42pm

"WAT, If you didn't like Memphis why have you seen it so many times? Just curious."

I'm a flop fanatic. If I sense that a show will flop, I see it multiple times. Some examples:

WOMAN IN WHITE 4x
TALE OF TWO CITIES 5x
STORY OF MY LIFE 5x
CRY BABY 4x
PIRATE QUEEN 4x
TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN 3x
HIGH FIDELITY 2x
MEMPHIS 2x and counting...