I saw the first preview, indeed. I am new to the show, so I experienced this production with particularly fresh eyes.
Adamgreer - Your comment that Catherine was "merely very good" is verbatim what I said when I got home last night. She is in character and convincingly so, but her comic timing is severely lacking, although she is trying. She is not getting the laughs where she should be getting them, at least most times, and her "Send in the Clowns," while lovely, was not heartbreaking or even heartrending.
mw212, I agree with Catherine's lack of chemistry with her two male co-stars. I found myself in the middle wishing I believed more in this love triangle, that it made me feel more than just a little anxiety. I also found her comic timing off; she didn't land laughs where she was supposed to in many spots. Hopefully she will improve.
ljay, I agree about Leigh Ann's accent. I noticed it coming and going often. I still think she upstaged just about everyone. She was absolutely fantastic and came off as effortless.
Mywonderwa, I would not say Hunter's "replaceable bad." I agree that he shouted too much, and also toward the end of "Later" he did not project; I could not hear him and I was 5th row. However, the character is supposed to be a volatile mess of suffering and yearning to break free under terrible confinement and constraint, and while he overacted I think he was generally appropriate for the part. He was always engaging when he took center stage. I don't want to put in any spoilers for those who have not seen the show at all or only know the score, but suffice it to say if any actor in a production of this show gets license to overact a little it should be whoever plays Henrik.
GYPSY1527 - I agree that Davie played up the emotions a little too much, especially in the first act, but I was very impressed by her singing and dedication to the character, and I cannot disagree more about Larkin, although I have not heard another performer do that number.
Patash - I agree about Zeta-Jones in "Chicago." That's how the role was supposed to be played. She deserved her accolades for that part. Still, I wish I'd seen Bebe perform it.
Mikem - I agree about stage door policy. It's rude to ask for something non show-related to be autographed only if they say in advance they would prefer not to. There's nothing wrong with asking for a signature on a genuine piece of memorabilia - if your intention is to keep it - as long as you are tactful and polite and prepared to accept the fact that it may not get signed.
I should add that I thought Leigh Ann Larkin was absolutely sensational. Every moment she was on stage, even when she in the background, she begged attention. She definitely seemed more at ease than most of the actors who work directly with her, which doubtless aided how she commandeered the stage. I though her performance of "The Miller's Wife" was absolutely electric; it wiped Zeta-Jones' "Send In the Clowns" right out of working memory. I wanted to leap to my feet and applaud. She impressed me in "Gypsy," but I think if this first preview is any indication of how she'll perfect this part then bigger and better ones are going to come her way.
I was also impressed with Davie's singing and dedication to her character, and Lazar and Hanson were, as far as I'm concerned, sublime in "It Would Have Been Wonderful." The two of them singing that song was pure pleasure for me. I wholeheartedly disagree that Lazar was subpar. His character is written in a cartoonish vein, so how can he be faulted for that? I think the real problem is that the love triangle cannot be felt yet. When he succumbs to fits of jealous rage it's hard to believe them, but that's as much Zeta-Jones' doing as his own. Hopefully they will work it out.
Also, of course, I thought Lansbury was absolutely a pleasure and totally in-character. She landed every laugh she was supposed to land, and I agree with whomever said she successfully sheds every last ounce of her loveable persona. As someone new to this show I did not notice a single line flub, which is more important than the instance of someone who knows the material already noticing flubs; it shows they were covered up perfectly. "Liaisons" was superb, although I think it would have more impact if she were to perform it center stage. I thought to myself toward the end of the show that there is no way for her to win or even get nominated for a Tony for this part, even with her skill in the role, with a cast of such talented featured actresses surrounding her singing more songs and doing more physically-demanding work - and I know Hermione Gingold was nominated for it - but perhaps I am underestimating the significance of Madame Armfeldt.
Finally, Catherine indeed came out to sign, but she ignored the 5 or 6 rude, crude ("vultures" is how I refer to them) autograph hounds who, of course, were only there to get autographs on eBay glossies and had not seen the show and instead only signed a few playbills, including mine. Lansbury slipped out another exit.
That's all for now!
P.S. There were no windowcards for sale as of the first preview. Also, last night BroadwayWorld was down for a long time, so that would explain why no comments were posted for quite some time.
2010
Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)
Updated On: 11/25/09 at 06:34 PM
