BARE cast- Page 76

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 12:54pm

Yes, much love to the fabulous Trisky!

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 12:55pm

*jumps onto Trisky love wagon*

I love me some Trisky

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 12:59pm

It was the Plain Jane Fat Ass in me that really enjoyed Plain Jane Fat Ass! It helped that I don't think Love, Dad is very strong, or rather that it's placement in the show seems very out of nowhere. At least with PJFA it makes sense to follow up on Nadia's disappointment at not having been cast as Juliet (and it's also a spiritual/tonal twin to Spring, which is good consistency). But I can see where they thought they needed to give Jason more to do in that exchange between them, to establish him as a character.

Oh stop it! :P And I guess the problem I have with it is that I never got a sense that Nadia was all that disappointed not to win Juliet. A bummer, yes but it just didn't seem like a big deal.

And since Jason really was underdeveloped in Act I, "Love, Dad" helps to establish a little about his family life and explains a bit about his closeted nature.

Maybe I need to channel my inner Plain Jane Fat Ass to appreciate it more. :P

Seriously, that must be him and if it's not that's really quite amazing that the voices match so well. I know he didn't perform it in L.A. but he may have done the workshop.

That HAS to be him. We should ask an Aaron Lohr fan. They would probably know.

Well to be fair, it's only Act I and as we know even in NY, Act II is 1,000 times more emotionally involving. I can't really say what my reaction would have been to this Bare without the bias of having seen the NY version/cast. It may have been just new and different enough that I would have loved it just the same. I may have even loved L.A. Peter. Okay maybe not... :P

I know it's unfair of me to judge based on just one recording of Act I but whatevah.

And when I listened to Michael sing "Role of a Lifetime" for the first time, I was so moved. The power of the vocals, the intesity, everything about it was amazing. I just don't know if I would have felt that with this version or this cast.

Yes, that's what I was mostly basing my reaction to him on. I wonder if he's like John, needing certain songs to really shine on. In the way we say not to judge John from the 11 song sampler, it may be the case with him. All that said, thank you John for taking the role because I adore you less than MoG, but still adore you lots and a hell of a lot more than L.A. Jason!

I'm sure I'm just clouded by my "John Hill is the best best to ever best in bestville" but there's something about the L.A Jason's voice that still doesn't work for me. He's a good singer and all but...oh I don't know.

And Trisky knows how much I love her!

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 12:59 PM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:12pm

It helped that I don't think Love, Dad is very strong, or rather that it's placement in the show seems very out of nowhere.

Yeah, I felt the same way. It wasn't a big deal because the score is sung-through, so you're bound to have these "sung dialogue" moments rather than memorable songs, but I felt the set-up of Nadia and Jason's relationship with their parents rather awkwardly done. But the one good thing that comes from this "number" is how it establishes the close brother-sister relationship between Jason and Nadia.

The rumour mill tells me that this song will be replaced by a new one, though. (You know who you are, sexy rumour mill.)

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:18pm

Trisky, I could not agree with you more on your reaction to the LA cast lyric changes, I do think that the LA version has some really great spoken words that seemed to have been cut from NY, that really help with some of the character development

ITA! Firstly Claire is hysterical in Ephiphany - "Peter is turning cartwheels on the lawn". Lyric wise, really "he's on his way to supergay" is hysterical. What really strikes me is Portrait of a Girl and what a huge difference that little exchange with Ivy trying to show Sr. Chantelle the sketches she drew and being rejected makes for the character and the song. Whereas in NY, it just seems kind of la-di-da she's singing about her costume, in L.A. the song seems to have more weight.

I am just hoping that when it comes back in Oct. there are not more lines that i have to let go of

I'm already dreading this since I'm bad with change, but I'm also strangely looking forward to seeing what they think needed more work and whether it's in tune with some of the stuff we've discussed on this thread.

Oh stop it! :P And I guess the problem I have with it is that I never got a sense that Nadia was all that disappointed not to win Juliet. A bummer, yes but it just didn't seem like a big deal.

Ah, see, I did get the sense that she was really disappointed because I think it was just another moment of her not being pretty/perfect enough, in her mind. She also sarcastically refers to "all Juliets" in A Quiet Night at Home, which made me think it was still on her mind.

And when I listened to Michael sing "Role of a Lifetime" for the first time, I was so moved. The power of the vocals, the intesity, everything about it was amazing. I just don't know if I would have felt that with this version or this cast.

I know, it's hard to imagine. And also this seemed to be just a reading, not the actual staged version, so who knows what differences there were between that and the actors actually having a set, costumes, etc. But definitely the cast makes a huge difference, especially Michael. I can't get past the warble on L.A. Peter and the fact that he doesn't look at all like an adorkable school boy, but the school hottie which really throws the dynamic of Peter/Jason off a bit.

Thanks for the love guys! Totally undeserved, but sweet nonetheless. Just give me a while to piss you off. Heh.

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 01:18 PM

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:23pm

The rumour mill tells me that this song will be replaced by a new one, though.

Yup, I've heard the same thing and that Best Kept Secret is being worked on and revised too. That makes me very sad if it's true.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:25pm

Oh no! "Best Kept Secret" is beautiful, I hope they don't change too much.

(Maybe that weird rock bridge that's in the middle of the song and spoils it a bit....yes, that needs to be changed.)

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:28pm

Yeah, I felt the same way. It wasn't a big deal because the score is sung-through, so you're bound to have these "sung dialogue" moments rather than memorable songs, but I felt the set-up of Nadia and Jason's relationship with their parents rather awkwardly done. But the one good thing that comes from this "number" is how it establishes the close brother-sister relationship between Jason and Nadia.

I think the thing that made it awkward was the blocking and not necessarily the song itself. Is that strange? It was the way they just pulled out the chair and started singing, like there was some transition that should have been put there, but they couldn't think of one, yet knew they needed to establish this relationship. Maybe Love, Dad would work better with the rest of the students still around but Jason/Nadia singing on the side, sort of a port in the storm relationship/moment for the two of them as brother and sister and then end with Peter calling his mother and Peter/Jason walking off together.

Oh no! "Best Kept Secret" is beautiful, I hope they don't change too much.

I think the rumor was just that the arrangement of who sings first would be changed.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:32pm

Am I correct in assuming we're getting all these rumours from the same source? (I hope they don't change the order - I like Jason singing first - but they really do have to either get rid of that bridge, or change it to something that fits better with the melody.)

Maybe Love, Dad would work better with the rest of the students still around but Jason/Nadia singing on the side, sort of a port in the storm relationship/moment for the two of them as brother and sister and then end with Peter calling his mother and Peter/Jason walking off together.

I kinda liked the fact that Jason and Nadia were onstage alone. It seems that their sibling relationship is much closer than one might think if the scene wasn't there (and thus making Nadia's final statements in "No Voice" all the more powerful), or if they were surrounded by their friends - which would mean that their bond is always in relation to everyone else.

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:40pm

I have no idea if the source is the same. LOL Probably not though.

I kinda liked the fact that Jason and Nadia were onstage alone. It seems that their sibling relationship is much closer than one might think if the scene wasn't there (and thus making Nadia's final statements in "No Voice" all the more powerful), or if they were surrounded by their friends - which would mean that their bond is always in relation to everyone else.

I can see your point, but perhaps they could just shuffle everyone to the other side of the stage behind a locker, as if they're backstage and Jason/Nadia are onstage or something. It's the chair that's the real sticking point!

Speaking of blocking, what do you think of the blocking of You & I? When everyone just freezes for a moment while Peter/Jason sing, a couple of times in the song?

And also when Peter/Matt fight in rehearsals, little dorky Peter standing behind the locker, seemingly too scared to come out. *snicker*

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 01:40 PM

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 2:18pm

Okay, I knew something was bothering me about this whole L.A. thing, namely that I'm not entirely sure this actually *was* the L.A. version. I don't know if it was a transition version from L.A. to N.Y., but it's definitely not the original L.A. version, it seems.

The reason it was bothering me is because I remember having read that Portrait of a Girl and 911! Emergency didn't exist in L.A. I finally found the thread on Barees that confirms this:

http://www.thebarees.com/bare/index.html?fuseaction=forum.viewtopic&t=106

This would also explain why Aaron Lohr is on this version. Is it possible that this is actually some kind of in between version?

ETA: Sorry that link doesn't seem to be working, but here's the relevant part:

As a fan of the LA production and having just seen the NY production, there are quite a few substantial changes that might interest BARE completists. I'll try to mention the big ones below. (SPOILERS AHEAD -BEWARE)

The opening piece in mass is new - more traditionally Catholic in tone, and the dream sequence is far more harrowing

"Plain Jane Fat Ass" has been removed and replaced with a song called "Love Dad" which explains Jason and Nadia's relationship to their parents.

A new song "Portrait of a Girl" features Ivy singing about how people in school view her compared to how she views herself, and Matt joins in expressing his affection for her, though she doesn't really notice him.

The music during the rave sequence is new

"Mother Love" is now a new song called "911 Emergency" and though it gets the same points across, it's a much more upbeat gospel-like song - more rousing

And also this:

A lot of changes in the feel and tone of the play are there because of the new (fantastic) actors. There are lines that are funny due to their delivery in NY that didn't even register in LA and jokes/innuendos from LA that come across differently in NY.

It depends on how well you know the show.

A few more minor (but significant story-wise) changes - (MINOR SPOILERS AGAIN)

During "Auditions" - in LA, Jason's role had him coming onstage and taking over the proceedings - this time it's more of a tug of war with him and Matt vying for the part of Romeo - resulting in some great harmony with Hill and Lohr

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 02:18 PM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 2:24pm

"Curiouser and curiouser..."

[KarenNYC]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 2:55pm

Also in Best Kept Secret there are a few lines that i loved like jason saying "I know I should be the hero to fullfil your dreams but some ever afters just cant be", although I am torn with this one because I think the NY version is perfect as it is!!

I'm a little late on this thread, but I noticed the discussion of the LA cast. I've been listening to an LA "recording" for about four years now and I just checked, and the "ever afters just can't be" quote you mentioned there was actually in the song "Once Upon A Time". If it's in "Best Kept Secret" you might be listening to a more recent recording. In the recording I have, "Once Upon A Time" came after "Cross" instead of before like in the NY production.

Also, talking about "Plain Jane Fat Ass," I'm sure that many people here saw the show in previews at ATA like I did, but just to clarify because I don't remember seeing it mentioned -- that song was still in the show during previews and was taken out shortly before opening. It was followed by "Love, Dad".

And if you're hearing Aaron Lohr on your recording, then you might not be listening to LA because as someone posted the cast list from the LA cast, Matt was played by a different guy, and by my ear he doesn't sound that much like Aaron.

Just a few observations. Back to the program...

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 3:05pm

And if you're hearing Aaron Lohr on your recording, then you might not be listening to LA because as someone posted the cast list from the LA cast, Matt was played by a different guy, and by my ear he doesn't sound that much like Aaron.

I definitely think it's not the L.A. show, but it's not the NY show either. I wonder if it's a workshop that was done before the reading back at the beginning of the year with the NY cast (if I remember correctly Michael/John both participated in that), but obviously after the L.A. run ended.

Now I wonder who the other actors are?

[SCBWannabe]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 3:36pm

Joining the LA discussion late---where can you listen to this on the web? I am glad you all like my song.... :) Figured I was at work and might as well be paid to be creative

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 3:59pm

I wonder if it's a workshop that was done before the reading back at the beginning of the year with the NY cast (if I remember correctly Michael/John both participated in that), but obviously after the L.A. run ended.

Yes, Michael and John (the entire NY cast, actually) were a part of that. This IS weird. I didn't know that BARE was performed or workshopped at all between the LA and NY runs. This recording is definitely from a reading, though - the beginning of Epiphany begins with dictated stage directions.

Newcomer, what song of yours are you referring to?

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 03:59 PM

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 5:06pm

I just feel the LA Cast didn't have strong singers. The NY Cast is much better vocally than the LA Cast. The LA Peter does not compare to Michael. Michael sings with much less effort and his technique is more appropriate to the style. Pop operas are entirely sung, which means the singing has to be like dialouge in some parts. The LA Peter seemed to be singing everything as if it was a full solo, or he just spoke lines. The LA Jason isn't as vocally strong as John either.

There's my vocal rant

<-----------------NEW ICON!!! Updated On: 8/29/04 at 05:06 PM

[KatePrinceton]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 5:09pm

Just thought I'd throw in a few thoughts about the L.A. cast since I actually saw the show out there a few times.

Aaron Lohr was NOT in the LA cast. It was Wallace Smith and he was quite good, especially during "Are You There?" However, the role of Matt was very different. Matt NEVER kissed Ivy and he was also much more religious than he is in NY, which added many other levels to his interactions with the various characters.

While I enjoy Natalie Joy Johnson, I absolutely adored Keili Lefkovitz. Her voice was extremely unique and interesting sounding and her acting was spot on. It was very disappointing that she did not come to NY with the show and surprising since she was the critical darling in LA and she was nominated for (and won) a few awards for her portrayal of Nadia. Yes, she looks skinny in her headshot and she did wear padding on her body for the show, but it looked completely natural because of the shape of her face. You can see what she actually looks like in the movie "Malibu's Most Wanted" if you really care. She's one of Jamie Kennedy's poser friends.

As far as the roles of Peter and Jason, both Michael Arden and John Hill are much better suited for the roles than John Torres and John Griffin. They were fine in the roles, but nothing exciting or memorable.

"Plain Jane Fat Ass" was my favorite song from the show and I think cutting it was a huge mistake in NY. It really set up Nadia's feelings about Ivy and her brother and family and by cutting it, her character's motivation is severely short-changed.

I enjoyed the NY production and I look forward to seeing it again when it re-opens. However. Many of the problems the show had in LA seem to have been ignored and some of the changes in NY seem to add more structural problems instead of addressing issues that were already there. I hope they can iron out the kinks during the next run because the show is really fun and has a lot of potential. Updated On: 8/29/04 at 05:09 PM

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 5:11pm

I'm not liking "LA" Epiphany right now.....*sticks tongues out in disgust*

That's an.....uh, interesting icon, AG

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 5:12pm

where can I get clips of this?

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 5:15pm

Whoa, my rant was shot down

Thanks for the info KatePrinceton, it's interesting to hear from someone who saw the LA production. Afterall, if the LA production never happened we wouldn't have BARE at all!

Oh, about the lyrics. It seems like the lyrics in some of the LA songs are almost harder to comprehend or say. The one that sticks out is the whole "you're cute, and it's hard to argue with a ****." They had this witty, though very lengthy thing in LA that I had to stop and replay to actually get. The line in NY is very short and to the point. Most of the changed lyrics for the NY run are better suited or easier to comprehend.

EDIT: Ok, they starred out the obvious word...blegh
due to immediate response (2day4u) I've changed the icon again :-P Updated On: 8/29/04 at 05:15 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 5:21pm

is no one going to answer me? WWWAAAAAHHHHH

[KatePrinceton]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 5:26pm

Yeah, the lyric changes do make certain parts easier to understand, but some of them also make the lyrics more simplistic and less visual. I always laughed at the "You're cute..." line because you immediately knew exactly what Peter was talking about. There are a few lines that were changed that I really miss. Especially during "All Grown Up." Those lyric changes make me sad.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 5:29pm

Does anyone know where I can find the NY Workshop CD?

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 5:33pm

Workshop? I don't know of any workshop CD.

The New York Cast can be heard on the Sampler CD at the link below:
Bare Sampler CD