Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
chrisshin
Swing Joined: 4/4/04
#0Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 10:36pm
Saw Brooklyn tonight with Standing room tickets. The first time i've seen shows two days in a row. I figured I should take advantage of free time before school starts next week. So I very much did not want to like this show. Don't ask why. I don't know. Maybe the whole american idol aura people have been giving it. So I went into the theater with not very high expectations. I must say the man at the box office wasn't very nice. Lots of attitude and screaming at people. Even some of the ushers were rude to us. ANYWAYS. to the show. The only understudy was Hanneefah Wood as Paradice.
The show started with Heart Behind These Hands which was very soulful. i didn't like listening to it on the cd, but it started to get me warm for the show. Christmas Makes me Cry was probably Karen Olivo's shining moment. She doesn't do a lot in the show but when she does, she really shines. She's got a lot of spunk and energy that is very admirable. Once Upon A Time was brilliant. Eden has a really amazing voice and she knows how to use it. DAMN that girl can sing. Her acting is another thing. I didn't really feel like she had any intention to what she wanted to accomplish. She commanded the stage, yes, but I didn't see any need for what she wanted. But her vocals more than made up for it. Paradice's entrace was absolutely commanding. I couldn't believe I was watching Paradice's understudy. This chick took command from her entrance to her bow. She had so much confidence and sang beautifully. I really enjoyed Kevin Anderson as Taylor. Vocally he was fabulous and he had great acting to support the character. As the streetsinger, Cleavant Derricks was vocally well. I didn't feel like he had much character.
Ok, so here's what it comes down to for me. I had listened to the studio recordings and the cast recording and wasn't that impressed. Aside from Once Upon A Time, raven, and streetsinger, I really wasn't impressed with the recordings. Seeing the show live, I loved the reverb they used because the cds were so dry and hearing it live made their voices sound effortless. Right up until the end of Once Upon A Time, I thought my mind would change and I'd ADORE the show because I actually started to feel something for the characters. That ended there. I didn't feel sorry for Brooklyn when she realized all that her father had gone through. Or even when her dad didn't show up at madison square garden. I just wasn't feeling it. Even during the song Raven, I LOVED the transition. It was one of the few times the transition was smooth and I could see a character's NEED to sing. A lot of the show seemed like, this is a great place to put a song so let's sing. And that was fine. Just fine.
Yes, I'd see brooklyn again. Never at full price, but if it were last resort to seeing a show or having a very cheap ticket. There is an incredibly talented cast at that theater. Avenue Q last night, I actually felt for the puppets, to Brooklyn and not feeling much. Listening to the Brooklyn cd right now after seeing the show, still doesn't do much for me. It really is a show you see. Oh, and I was expecting the audience to go wild from what i've heard frlom others. (standing ovations during the show, etc.) no standing o's during the show, and the applause were loud but faded out pretty quick. So I'd give Brooklyn a rate of 2.5 out of 5.
#1re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 10:40pmthanks for the review...i think your thoughts are shared by many. But I'm really happy for Hannefah...shes really great (I saw her in rent as a joanne u/s!), and I'm glad they put someone VERY talented under the amazing ramona.
awkward.
"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912
ThePrinceOfHumbug
Chorus Member Joined: 1/2/05
#2re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 10:43pm
I am so jealous that you got to see Hannefah on as Paradice. She is not only vocally strong, but her stage presence is wonderful. The first time that I heard her as SOL soloist for RENT, you could feel the passion behind her voice and in her performance. Glad to see she has found another spotlight to shine in!
edited to say: Thanks for the great review! (forgot my manners)
Talk Hard. Steal the Air.
H.H.H.
Updated On: 1/15/05 at 10:43 PM
#3re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 10:47pmnice review. i havent seen the understudy but i've heard she's very good.
A dancer might dream to see her name in lights and mean it,
but all she really dreams is to make someone
else feel the way she did when she first saw a dancer.
And that is so beautiful-Anonymous
#4re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:05pm
I REALLY want to see Hannefah as Paradice!!
Thanks for the review!
Was the show sold-out today? (because you said you had SRO)
Updated On: 1/15/05 at 11:05 PM
chrisshin
Swing Joined: 4/4/04
#5re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:12pm
I don't think it was sold out. I got SRO cause the only way i can afford to see these shows are with the cheapest tickets and rush was all filled up. 
but even the standing room tickets weren't bad. back of the orchestra and we could see everything.
#6re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:13pmhow much were the SRO tickets??? im on a budget! :)
awkward.
"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912
#7re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:13pm
ohh.. i thought they only give SRO when the show is sold-out..
:)
#9re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:16pm
tiny-toon, can u explain the brooklyn rush process? im cluless about the whole rush thing
26 is NOT bad :)
awkward.
"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912
chrisshin
Swing Joined: 4/4/04
#10re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:20pmoooh, maybe it was sold out. i'm so clueless about these. i just sorta go to the theater hoping they'll have cheap tickets. :)
Amneris
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#11re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:22pm
BOTH shows were sold out today ..
FOR GENERAL NOTES:
Ramona has been out all week.. She came back last night , sounded amazing but, was still very ill.. Karen was out all week too and just came back today.unclear if Ramona will be out tomorrow but, I suggest catching her u/s.
Updated On: 1/15/05 at 11:22 PM
#12re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:23pm
The Brooklyn Rush is the greatest rush!
It's a GENERAL RUSH - which starts at 10am (when the B.O. opens)
there are about 26 seats (boxes, front row side, and sometimes if you're lucky - center seats).
So if you want the best seats, go to the plymouth at about 9:30
#13re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:24pm
and they sell them @ 10?
awkward.
"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912
#14re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:25pm
Great news sammy!! (about the shows being sold-out) 
Jwei123 - yes
Updated On: 1/15/05 at 11:25 PM
broadwaybelter
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/26/04
#15re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:32pmthats good! I 'm glad you kinda liked brooklyn!!
IveGottaBeME
Leading Actor Joined: 1/15/05
#16re: Brooklyn 1/15 Evening Review
Posted: 1/16/05 at 12:19am
i'm seeing Brooklyn in Feb and I cannot wait... brooooklyn in the bloooooooooooooood racing through my veins.......
i'm excited as hell... and i know everyone on this board bashes it... but really, it is what it is.. fun music, soul and pop, belting... people are too picky. it's a different type of show. don't get me wrong, Caroline or Change is probably my favorite show because of the Story and the acting and the emotion... but i love Brooklyn type of music as well. and i wanna hear eden beltttt. thats also very cool about haneefah, i saw her in rent as the soloist and she was pretty damn good...
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