Bonnie & Clyde -- 1st Preview Today — Page 8

These reviews are making me SOOOOO glad. I really hope this will catch on, find and audience, and have a good run.

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I too was pleasantly surprised by the show - I actually want to see it again after it is frozen. I really thought the acting was great (with the exception of the sheriff) and the songs were appropriate and often touching - I wasn't expecting so many quiet moments from Frank Wildhorn, they were just gorgeous.

I think the show could do with a little trimming - namely, that first song the sheriff sings when Clyde is in jail has to go, it puts the brakes on the first act. I think they establish that he likes her well enough without that song - and to be honest Louis Hobson isn't really strong enough in the role to make a case for that number.

I also think they could shorten or trim the scenes where Bonnie and Clyde are visiting their families in act II - you could make it clear what was going on there (family upset, reluctance to take money) without delving into it that much. It would then be more interesting later when Bonnie's mother is sweeping the porch and starts going on to the sheriff about how much they are home.

Things I loved?
The use of projections (I usually hate projections but these worked) - the fact that everything projected was real (fingerprints, mugshots, candid photos, newspapers) was very effective. Osnes and Jordan are fantastic, as is Melissa Van Der Schyff. The scene during the shoot out where Clyde stops the action is exceptionally well done. Loved the way the show opened. And I loved the use of Bonnie's real (and terrible) poetry throughout.

I keep thinking about it and humming the music, I hope this gets a cast recording and I think the show is really promising!

I saw the third preview and was very impressed with this show. Some of the songs (How Bout a Dance, Dying Ain't So Bad, etc.) are going to become very well known. Laura Osnes, Jeremy Jordan and Melissa van der Schyff are perfectly cast and their singing was spectacular. I predict this will do really well.

Just got back, and I rather enjoyed it.

I think the beginning needs some more flourish. It just sort of starts. I need some sort of big musical moment, and maybe have some of the gun shows bring up the floor (like in the ending shoot-out).

The biggest problem for me was the pacing. Luckily, it wasn't ballad after ballad, but I think the cop's song has to go. It's not an awful song, and he sounds great, but if you're not going to give the character any sort of pay off in Act 2 then what's the point?

Act 2 needs a better ending. I think what should happen is a reprise of "Dyin' Ain't So Bad" - which they do - and then lead into the Act 1 finale song and while they're singing that last line have the bullets fly and the blood go everywhere so they end up like they do at the beginning. Right now the ending is too "sweet" for such an intense show and everything that precedes it.

Jeremy Jordan and Lauren Osnes were both phenomenal. I'd hate to see Jordan get bought out and jump ship to Newsies because this show relies so heavily on their chemistry.

To me, though, the biggest stand out was Melissa Van Der Schyff! Her Act 2 song is just beautiful. Understated - not a lot of heavy belting or crazy riffs - just a great delivery of a beautiful song, and I thought she gave her character a real body and arc.

The theater was packed, and seems like everyone was enjoying it.

First can not wait to see this musical, it seems like a little work here and there needs to be done. The two out of town tryouts actually really helped. Plus I love Laura and Jeremy.

Just to get it over with because we know people want to know, does not matter to me. How is the Stagedoor like ?.

I think the reason people want his (& Jordan's) song to be cut is because it was done so soul-lessly. Did Calhoun intend the character to be boring? It's actually a good song, Lanning did a great job with it (when it was a solo) on the original demo recordings.

I was hoping for more gun fire at the end to be honest. The "fairy-tale" ending was cute, but anticlimactic.

I saw the show last night and I absolutely loved it. And in all honesty, I can't think of anything in it I didn't enjoy. It's definitely the best new musical since BOOK OF MORMON and one of the best new works of the past few years.

Also, I'd just like to say that I am in love with Melissa Van Der Schyff after last night.

I also wonder if this will be the first Wildhorn musical that is "frozen" to the world.. ie: The directors won't be given the normal liberties he grants.

The cast recording deal was being discussed within the past couple of weeks, and I'm sure with the reviews and early good word of mouth will help guarantee it will happen. Though every Wildhorn Broadway musical has found itself on recording in some way.

It just amazes how much a Wildhorn production changes from theater to theater. Did the audience really want a Fairy-Tale ending? We already know what happens to them given the beginning of the show, so why not make it some big epic moment? As it is now the ending comes after 2 ballads, so it just sort of fizzles out. I'd like a bigger moment. Maybe the two of them in the car, bloody and wounded, while the ghosts of the people they effected are in the background. I know Calhoun loves a back-lit ensemble pose (see "Made in America" in Bonnie and Clyde - and the end of "Wonderland").

I think the Pracher's songs will be called out in the reviews for being a little silly.

^EXACTLY. I loved it. We already see what happens to them in the opening. Why shove that image in our face again?
It's a clever ending.

I just think for such a "shoot 'em up" musical the ending is a little bit of a yawn. We need a reprise of "Remember Us." It just makes sense. Their whole motivation is to be remembered, so it makes sense.

I agree that having another shooting scene at the end would be pointless. My friend also pointed out that doing that would echo the movie too much, as that's how it ends. It also needs to end with Laura singing/the orchestra playing "How 'Bout a Dance?" because that's what the show opens with, and I think the contrast between "Remember Us" and the shooting at the beginning wouldn't be as jarring as it is currently. Personally I think they should have ended with the parents waiting by the tree and the headlights coming into view and then maybe you hear one gun cock, and a black-out. That would keep the sweetness of the current ending and remind you of what's about to happen.