Bonnie & Clyde -- 1st Preview Today- Page 11

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 2:31pm

Just thought of another great moment, book-wise and staging-wise...
Clyde's soliloquy at the end, with everyone frozen around him, and that one lamp swinging from the ceiling. I don't think I breathed through that entire moment.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 2:58pm

Sounds to me like there are plenty of Tony-worthy performances in this show - personally, I'm very much hoping for a win for Laura.

Osnes is good, but she's not giving a performance that's even in the same league as the one Jan Maxwell gives every night.


Updated On: 11/13/11 at 02:58 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 3:06pm

The chances of Laura even being nominated are slim. Not when we have performances by Peters, Maxwell, McDonald, Roger, O'Hara, etc.

Laura is giving a nice performance, but as AG said, she can't even touch Maxwell.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 3:06pm

The chances of Laura even being nominated are slim. Not when we have performances by Peters, Maxwell, McDonald, Roger, O'Hara, etc.

Laura is giving a nice performance, but as AG said, she can't even touch Maxwell.

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 3:09pm

I think Roger is going to be very much in contention.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 3:27pm

^ Agreed.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 3:35pm

Though, in fairness, we have no idea what O'Hara's performance in NICE WORK... will be like yet, except that she is playing at least somewhat against type. I wouldn't count Laura out for a nomination just yet, but in the face of Maxwell, Peters, Rogers and McDonald, I agree that I do have a hard time seeing her winning.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 3:52pm

O'Hara is a critics' and Tony nominators' darling. Even if the show stinks, she could be their pity nominee, like Beth Leavel last season.
This is only speculation on my part.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 4:17pm

I think that's totally valid, but I think this year might have too many legitimate performances for there to be a pity nomination. I have faith in O'Hara being worthy of a nomination, but I'm waiting for the spring to make that call.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 5:45pm

It's way too early for Tony predictions. But this season isn't exactly bursting with fantastic leading man roles in musicals so if Jordan gets nominated the voters might very well want to nominate Laura alongside him.

[NovaNurse7]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 5:55pm

Saw the show last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Was it perfect? Definitely not, but there's still time to make changes.

SPOILERS AHEAD.

The score was great. I was familiar with some of the songs from demos and rehearsal footage, but I still left the show with four or five songs stuck in my head.

As for the cast, Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan are giving fantastic performances as Bonnie and Clyde. Individually they are wonderful, and together they are just phenomenal. Their chemistry together, both singing and acting, is amazing. They both sung the hell out of the score, and it was mesmerizing. Melissa Van Der Schyff is also giving a stunning performance. Claybourne Elder and Louis Hobson are both turning in great performances, but I wish they both had more to do. Louis's character (Ted Hinton) in particular was really only about his love for Bonnie, and I wish they had given him a bit more motivation as a law enforcement officer who believed in catching criminals, not just that he wanted to punish Clyde for taking Bonnie away. There were hints of his moral code, but I think he still came off a bit one-note.

My least favorite part of the show was those two numbers sung by the preacher. I saw Michael Lanning's understudy (Sean Jenness), and while he did a fine job, the songs themselves just didn't do it for me. I get that they're trying to offer a counterpoint to the violence and anger of Bonnie and Clyde's criminal ways, but it honestly just comes off hokey. In lieu of the first number (God's Arms Are Always Open), I'd like to see a bit more perspective and POV from Buck (Claybourne Elder) about him going back to jail and finishing his sentence, and I think the second number ("Made in America") could be better served with giving some perspective to the Barrow parents. I was personally interested in their POV, since they were both portrayed as law-abiding citizens whose sons were both criminals. The dynamic there could be very interesting, and I think exploring it a bit further would suit the purpose the song is trying to achieve while also giving another layer to the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed the show. I look forward to seeing it again.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 6:30pm

Has anyone seen the show for a 2nd time? I wonder what changes have been made.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 7:14pm

^Someone on twitter mentioned a reprise for Ted in the second act, but I think they may have been referring to the his brief reprise right before the "Picture Show" reprise which was already there when previews started.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 10:37pm

We saw it yesterday & really enjoyed it.

This is his most polished show to date in every aspect. Regretfully, the critics will give it the same treatment as they do all his shows. Hopefully, it will have a longer life than Wonderland.

One day Frank will lash out at the critics because right now he does not fight back. What does he have to lose? Will they give him a bad review?

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 11:00pm

Mr. Roxy - why do you think the critics will pan it? It's been just about universal praise from everyone. I think people think the critics have some sort of vendetta against him because his shows have often been confused, misdirected, and sometimes just flat out a mess (WONDERLAND!!).

I don't think it's against him personally - what did he ever do to the critics? I'm really hoping for some good reviews.

[CukorLover]

Posted: 11/13/11 at 11:47pm

It's way too early for Tony predictions. But this season isn't exactly bursting with fantastic leading man roles in musicals so if Jordan gets nominated the voters might very well want to nominate Laura alongside him

My guess is that Jordan will get nominated, but it won't be for Bonnie & Clyde.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 12:02am

1.) I think it's doubtful that Newsies is transferring at this point.
2.) In all likelihood, even if Newsies did transfer, I think Bonnie and Clyde stays open at least through the spring making it impossible for Jordan to switch due to contractual obligations even if he wanted to (which I don't think he would!).
3.) I saw both only a few weeks apart from each other and thought Jordan was far better in Bonnie and Clyde. He wasn't bad in Newsies, Bonnie and Clyde just had far more opportunities for him to be brilliant and he seized them all.

[staunchcharacter]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 12:13am

I've always found this subject matter interesting. The songs sound great! I really hope this is a success, I really want Wildhorn to have a critically acclaimed musical for once. I know he has a good score in him.... somewhere...

[philly03]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 4:33am

B&C is wonderful. Frank Wildhorn always finds the best leads (with Laura, Jeremy & Melissa the new best)... (look 10 years ++ ago with Linda Eder, Christiane Noll, Robert Cuciolli; Doug Sills, Terrence Mann, Rachel York, Christine Andreas, Marc Kudisch, Carolee Carmello, Ron Bohmer; Tom Hewitt, Melissa Errico, Kelli O'Hara; Brandi Burkhardt, Kate Shindle, Rob Evan, Lauren Kennedy, Norm Lewis, James Barbour; Janet Dacal, Darren Ritchie, Kate Shindle, Nikki Snelson, Karen Mason, Jose Llana, etc etc etc) with the best voices around - it's a shame that many of the "mainstream posters" on here are finally & just giving them credit.

He does find incredible talent.

And also just want to point out how many of you have bashed Frank Wildhorn for YEARS over his scores which, with this one, you are giving large accolades... This score seems (to me) like a typical Wildhorn score with contemporary orchestrations (with ballads turned into duets) that I hope people will become interested in his other scores.

Updated On: 11/14/11 at 04:33 AM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 11:31am

And also just want to point out how many of you have bashed Frank Wildhorn for YEARS over his scores which, with this one, you are giving large accolades... This score seems (to me) like a typical Wildhorn score with contemporary orchestrations (with ballads turned into duets) that I hope people will become interested in his other scores.

This score is infinitely better than anything Wildhorn has written, which is why people are enjoying it. All of his other scores, save for a song or two (Someone Like You, In His Eyes, Candle in the Window, Into the Fire, Gold, etc.) are crap. People like this score because it's much better than anything he's ever written before. He's finally tried to write something resembling period music (and for the most part, ditched the generic pop sound he's always gone with). No one is suddenly jumping on the bandwagon- this is the first time he's writetn anything of note.


Frank Wildhorn always finds the best leads (with Laura, Jeremy & Melissa the new best)... (look 10 years ++ ago with Linda Eder, Christiane Noll, Robert Cuciolli; Doug Sills, Terrence Mann, Rachel York, Christine Andreas, Marc Kudisch, Carolee Carmello, Ron Bohmer; Tom Hewitt, Melissa Errico, Kelli O'Hara; Brandi Burkhardt, Kate Shindle, Rob Evan, Lauren Kennedy, Norm Lewis, James Barbour; Janet Dacal, Darren Ritchie, Kate Shindle, Nikki Snelson, Karen Mason, Jose Llana, etc etc etc) with the best voices around - it's a shame that many of the "mainstream posters" on here are finally & just giving them credit.

Giving who credit? Those performers? Are you suggesting Wildhorn introduced those performers to us? Because a number of them were Tony nominees before they ever appeared in a Wildhorn show...

[broadway7117]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 12:08pm

I agree with Philly. While this score is really good, in my opinion, it's no better then some of Wildhorn's other broadway scores. Songs such as "Too Late To Turn Back Now", "Dyin'aint so Bad", "You Love Who You Love" etc.. are quintessential Wildhorn.

[cfm3]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 12:27pm

I also agree with Philly. The score for B&C is good, but I would not discount Wildhorn's prior efforts. I personally felt the scores (not necessarily the shows themselves) for Pimpernel, Civil War, and Camille were very good. To each their own.

On another subject, what's the recent running time of B&C these days? Are you out by 10:30 for evening performances? Thanks.

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 12:31pm

Did anyone do the rush yesterday? (I know it was busy on Sat., and I was going to try next Sunday possibly, so I wanted some idea of how early to get there.)

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 12:34pm

The score for B&C is good, but I would not discount Wildhorn's prior efforts.

When his prior efforts contain lyrical gems like "They murdered dear old Bessy; I hear extremely messy", you can pretty much discount them.

[philly03]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 12:40pm

Running time: You'll be out of there by 10:35 the latest, they're doing some trimming of course too.

Frank doesn't write the lyrics, besides some additional stuff (such as for Jekyll), so I'll never understand why you judge the lyricist for the music.

I actually don't care all too much - I'm glad that Wildhorn has reached a new base and is getting some respect as a writer. Songs like "You Can Do Better Than Me," for example, was originally written as a solo.