Anyone going to see Wonderland this week?- Page 6

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 6:04pm

Saw the matinee today, and I have to echo the general sentiment of wow, this show needs a lot of work. The story is a mess (and that's during the moments when there is some semblance of a plot going on) and the book is atrocious. I found the songs on the whole to be better than the book, but still nothing all that wonderful (although, I did really enjoy Through the Looking Glass. As other posters have said, Kate Shindle does a great job with what she has to work with, and it seems like the rest of the cast is starting to jump on the "camp" bandwagon. Carly Rose Sonenclar is really wonderful, and I would love it if they gave her more to do. I also liked that the Hatter more or less seemed to morph into the Red Queen by the end, which was a nice touch.

But, frankly, the show was pretty much a complete dud to me. The first act was 75% exposition/introducing each of the main Wonderland characters through their own song and 25% of an extremely rushed "plot/conflict" which pretty much gave me whiplash (suddenly Alice decides to help the Queen of Hearts? The Mad Hatter wants everyone dead?). The second act was even worse- that Lewis Carroll scene does not fit in at all here- and the speed at which everything was resolved had people around me laughing and snickering.

And it's really a shame, because they could have done something cool with the source material (and based on what I've read here about earlier versions, the other drafts that relied more heavily on the Hatter might have been a better way to go). I honestly don't have a good answer for how to fix it, but more Hatter and Chloe would be where I would start (as I was leaving, two mothers with four girls aged 6-10 asked the girls who their favorite character was- Chloe or Alice- and all four replied the Mad Hatter...so the interest is there even with the kids).

But it certainly needs a ton of work, and I highly doubt the book and plot can be fixed at this point without a complete overhaul.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 7:06pm

^ But this book is the complete overhaul...

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 7:13pm

So we know how all of you feel, but I'm interested in how the huddled masses of "civilians" felt about the show. Was the audience feeling it all? Were there people leaving at intermission? Strength of applause?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 7:20pm

So, I'll be THAT guy, but where are the rush seats?

Also, those projections look awful. The design looks so....bland. Like a rock concert mixed with a bad high school production. What's up with that platform being there all the time? Couldn't afford to put in a lift?

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 7:40pm

everythingtaboo: There were a few walk-outs at intermission, the man sitting next to me included. The audience was into the show a great deal more at the outset than during the second act. For example, the various topical references played pretty well during the first act (the Tea Party one even got an applause break), but by the second act the people around me were groaning at the references rather than laughing. And the Lewis Carroll bit perplexed quite a few people according to the chatter after the show. At intermission the ladies sitting by me had this take on the show: the cast is strong, but the plot was completely impossible to buy into and they just simply didn't care about Alice at all (which is one of my central gripes as well- it's hard to like a show when you'd rather watch the villains than the heroine).

At the curtain call, there was a standing ovation by the time the trio of the Caterpillar, Rabbit, and El Gato bowed, but I think a lot of that had to do with a central row standing and blocking a view for a great portion of the audience. But Janet Dacal received a thunderous applause, and the rest of the principals received strong applause as well.

[philly03]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 8:25pm

RippedMan: All production photos & videos are from the recent 2011 Tampa "tech" Try-out... nothing from the Broadway production has been released yet.

There is a lift now in the show... one in the middle of the stage and one on the back wall where a lot of people make their entrances.


I was sitting in the orchestra... audience looked in & out of it. Some really enjoyed it, many looked bored by the second act as the other poster said. Not too many walk outs either. However, there were a lot of complaints that this "isn't Alice in Wonderland" nor anything Wonderland related. I was surprised (& happy) that "One Knight" got a mid-song applause as well, which happened in Tampa with that one and "Off With Their Heads" (which also got a big applause as well)

There was no standing ovation besides some of the producers sitting up front early on, and Shindle got a big applause (though no standing O), and finally people stood for Dacal... but I have to say there was no problem quickly exiting the theatre.

People around me seemed to be fascinated with the older story, mostly the idea that Chloe makes Alice go down to Wonderland.

I cannot stress enough how much better of a storyline that is.. Then you actually care that she is finding her child... not only her physical child, but her child within (which is the only thing she supposedly finds in this Wonderland). Gives a motive and an early conflict, something this Wonderland is severely missing.

[jennafan]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 3:30am

Why is it actors think the show is good just because the audience claps/stands at the end?
I never understood that.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 9:27am

How many previews are there before they open? Do they have time to make major fixes?

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 9:32am

Saw it last night. Can't even pretend I have anything positive today. Those jokes were truly painful, and the sets and costumes some of the ugliest I've seen.

[rougeduck]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 9:52am

Off with your soul!
Can I just say that it was so bad last night, the rear-right orchestra at one point in act 2 just started snickering at how pathetic the show was?

[philly03]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 11:48am

The show opens April 17, with a final preview April 16. It's now had 4 previews...it has time to change.

No doubt the cheesy dialogue will most likely end up staying... but that doesn't mean songs won't be cut, re-ordered, etc.


Personal favourite in this production is *SPOILER* Jack "dies" (I think? through the trap door) and then Chloe not upset or anything just says let's go Home! And a reprise of "Home" comes on and the cast happily tells Alice to go home.... just forgetting that her husband died? */Spoiler* I miss "Heroes"... what a beautiful song!!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 12:05pm

I saw this hot mess last night. I'll post my full thoughts later when I'm home but Holy Christ, that was a special kind of awful. Unsalvageable in every single way, it's the stuff that legendary flops are made of.

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 1:06pm

"Can I just say that it was so bad last night, the rear-right orchestra at one point in act 2 just started snickering at how pathetic the show was?"

Yes, I was there last night and remember this. I think it was at the point where the story literally BECAME the Wizard of Oz except completely off the mark. Alice even sings a song called HOME.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 1:19pm

What makes me bury my face in my hands is the depth of utter idiocy that leads anyone to invest their money in a piece like this that has been nothing but drivel from Day 1, particularly after having seen infinitely better work at BMI, ASCAP, and other places, which can't raise a cent towards workshop or production.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 1:25pm

We were in the mezz and were laughing out asses off for the entire show. It was the most absurd 2 hours I've ever spent in the theater.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 2:05pm

Have the cut the business about the soup yet?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 2:07pm

Yeah, I was wondering that too Michael Bennett!

Jordan- I know you only saw it once, but I'm wondering how quickly they're changing stuff. Were all the lines about iphones, All State, etc still in?

[Kalimba]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 2:39pm

I can't figure out if it's the horrible material she's saddled with or if Janet Dacal is really "presence" free.

[dented146]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 2:39pm

I haven't seen this but I think I can understand the feelings of dramadude after having seen Bonnie and Clyde last year. Most of B&C was far below par but there was a three song segment combined with unusually creative staging which was brilliant.

Putting it all together must be very tough. When you keep falling short with the whole package you must look in other directions for help.

[hyperbole_and_a_half]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 2:54pm

To those who have seen it, does Janet Dacal still have that pinched and squeaky quality in the upper portion of her range that she exhibited on the concept album? I would love to see yet another camp trainwreck this season, but I'd rather not spend two hours listening to a leading lady that sounds like an overinflated rubber balloon being forced through a muted trumpet. Thanks in advance!

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 3:04pm

Ad of yesterday's matinee, the All-State reference (which didn't land at all), the phones/GPS mention (which received a bit of a chuckle), and the soup were still in it- with a strange emphasis on the word "soup" every time they said it.

Janet Dacal seemed to lack any and all personality in my opinion. Granted, Alice's only emotion for the show seems to be "stressed"- which is interpreted by Dacal as whiny alternating with vacant. And her voice seemed very similar to the quality on the concept album.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 3:05pm

I didn't notice anything squeaky about Janets voice.

Last night the iPhone "joke" was still there. I don't remember any All State line but that doesn't mean it wasn't in the show. I really think they tried to put one pun in every single line in that horrendous book.

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 5:32pm

The Allstate line was still in last night. If I remember correctly, it's said when the Hatter leaves stage right with the little girl and her rabbit henchman on that odd tank-like vehicle.

Also, did anyone else think that any emotional impact of the ending was wasted because the entire ending seemed way too rushed? Starting with the odd unexplained "death" of the Hatter and the White Knight through the ending song, the whole things just came to an abrupt finish.

[philly03]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 6:08pm

I don't think the AllState line was in on Tuesday... perhaps it was but it's not nearly as big of a deal as people are saying. "A Nice Little Walk"'s final line cuts it out anyway. iPhone/GPS joke still in, which didn't really get any laughs.

The biggest emotional impact the ending has had for this show was the first go around, where the song's ending was extended so that Dacal finished the last Wonderland note then the music continued to it's ending where the apartment 8A door appeared, Dacal opened it, hugged Jack and I believe Chloe "winked" to the audience and the music wrapped up. Very effective, especially after Alice had told the publisher that she had to go home to her family. I suppose Wildhorn & Co. wanted to have the song be the highlight, however.. which no matter how much I dislike the show on stage I can't help but applaud for "Finding Wonderland"!

Janet's voice sounded a bit strained.. particularly during "Through the Looking Glass" where she has a special new verse (which was cut during the last Tampa try-out in favor for a more "angry" one). It baffles me why they cut the Mad Hatter's verse of that song while she kidnapped Chloe, taunting Alice to come get her.

Dacal's "song" from Wonderland was "Worst Day of My Life".. which has been unfortunately (& wrongly) cut for a new duet version of the song which is terrible. Another was "Down the Rabbit Hole," which has also been altered way too much to feature Danny Stiles, which makes no sense.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 6:11pm

Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait!!!!!!

They cut Heroes?!