CABARET at the Kit Kat Club Previews- Page 10

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/5/24 at 3:40pm

Meant to say stint. That was a typo. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/5/24 at 4:18pm

This tape thing is interesting. Don't understand why they just don't us Yondr pouches.

[inception]

Posted: 4/5/24 at 5:00pm

uncageg said: "This tape thing is interesting. Don't understand why they just don't us Yondr pouches."

Probably a greater expense to use those.  You need staff there after the show to unlock each pouch.

[djoko84]

Posted: 4/5/24 at 5:42pm

For the record, I'm not addicted to my phone at all. I'm actually the opposite. I would leave it in my car, but that's where it was stolen from last week so I had to get a new one. I just don't want it to be ruined. I'd rather a pouch that doesn't damage my phone than glue that may stay on it for good. And I have no qualms about lying to the people at the theatre.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/5/24 at 5:50pm

inception said: "uncageg said: "This tape thing is interesting. Don't understand why they just don't us Yondr pouches."

Probably a greater expense to use those. You need staff there after the show to unlock each pouch."

 

I am sure they are but this tape thing doesn't seem worth it. I just worked a show that used them and Yondr supplied staff. They walked the line with cards that they put seat locations on. Patrons scanned their tickets, put their phones in the pouches and presented the cards to the ushers. The Yondr staff was there for the walk out also. 

 

[henrike]

Posted: 4/5/24 at 11:58pm

I caught the show tonight, and overall, it's solid. But given that Cabaret is produced everywhere (colleges, community, regional), it's been explored to death. And this production wasn't revelatory for someone who has seen multiple productions of it.

One thing must be said: Ato Blankson-Wood gives the most amateur acting I've seen in a principal role on Broadway.

His book scenes with Sally in act 2 were just truly awful. Basically ruined the emotional impact of the show at the end. Giving no hint of "the moment before" the scene, running with generic emotions at 60% intensity, speaking with the 2024 contemporary affect/cadence, and gesturing in a distracting manner.

I'm guessing he was an offer-only for the role. But the producers should really hold auditions for it. They'll find over 500 actors in New York City who can bring the same level of intensity that Gayle Rankin is bringing in Act 2. But I'm guessing that could lead to bad publicity (akin to Mandy Patinkin/Oak Onaodowan debacle).

Updated On: 4/6/24 at 11:58 PM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 12:30am

I saw it tonight from the stage mezz section

I am truly shocked by how bad this production is and the fatal flaw truly is the casting of Gayle and Ato who have almost no chemistry or any sense of their characters and grind the show to an absolute halt when they are both onstage together.

The direction is also phenominally baffling, say what you want about the Mendes version but atleast the end of that production was haunting and had a clear vision. 

This should be electric and dangerous and instead the staging is so contained (except for one moment at the top) and lifeless

Also Eddie Redmayne is going to win the TONY for this? GTFO. He is good but TONY front runner, why because he dresses like 6 different version of emo Ronald McDonald?

Do yourself a favor don't spend $300-$700 on this, the preshow stuff and the immersiveness is cool but it seems to have been prioritized over a solidly directed and conceived production.

Updated On: 4/6/24 at 12:30 AM

[tacotheatrelover]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 12:53am

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Also Eddie Redmayne is going to win the TONY for this?GTFO. He is good but TONY front runner, why because he dresses like 6 different version of emo Ronald McDonald?"

I love emo Ronald McDonald, That's going in my quote book.

 

I still think it should be Fra and Amy opening this but Because i've only seen bootlegs my opinion is apparently invalid.

Goodnight :)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 12:57am

Fra was my favorite so far in this production. He was so damn good. 

[Ensemble1696584123]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 1:28am

Is it bad that I'm completely dismissive of 'reviews' where even simple words can't be spelled properly?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 11:32am

I don’t know if “bad” is the right word, but dismissing someone’s opinion because of what could be a typo is a bit silly. 

[somecheapfrenchthing]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 1:24pm

Ensemble1696584123 said: "Is it bad that I'm completely dismissive of 'reviews' where even simple words can't be spelled properly?"

..."bad" in what sense? It doesn't really affect anything here so as long as you're okay with it, cool. 

Disappointed to hear early reports re: Sally & Cliff chemistry :( Those are really terrific scenes. For those who have attended, what did you think of GR's rendition of the title song? 

 

[Rex Ere]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 1:39pm

Why is it that the negative responses get more engagement here than the positive ones, especially the thoughtfully written ones? This isn't even a brand new production. It comes with precedent for people and critics loving it, even beyond what MIGHT be casting issues (that could also be resolved, since that's an actor who has proven himself elsewhere). 

And there's been a gulf in responses to it here and outside, and I don't mean with just general audiences, but regular, discerning theatergoers I know, going so far as to saying it's the best production of Cabaret they'd seen. 

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 1:40pm

I think we're all being too harsh on this production, as with Sweeney Todd. Reviews are probably going to be even better than they were in London. 

[Rex Ere]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 2:41pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "I think we're all being too harsh on this production, as withSweeney Todd. Reviews are probably going to be even better than they were in London."

Yes, might as well be, but there was a review from yesterday that actually had given a moment's thought to the director's choices, for stuff like the ending, which is trashed above (and I read some reviews from London, esp. from American critics, so I do have the sense of what is going on). That review was also positive about Blankson Wood, but unlike the negative ones which inspire more people to ask them about him, that one didn't. 

[east side story]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 4:22pm

Updated On: 4/6/24 at 04:22 PM

[B212323]

Posted: 4/6/24 at 9:20pm

Ensemble1696584123 said: "They've extended a bit, and wouldn't be surprised to see them extend further. From the site.

Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin star as the Emcee and Sally Bowles through Saturday, September 14, 2024. All star absences will be posted on the specific SeatGeek performance page. Casting for performances beginning September 16, 2024 will be announced soon.

Eddie won't too many other commitments - Gayle might. 

"

 

[binau]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 4:33am

Heard from someone who saw it in London (Eddie & Buckley) and they seem to suggest it's all gone down hill a bit and odd chemistry between the leads, except Bebe Neuwirth. So It's currently unclear to me whether some of the surprising criticism this time round reflects inherent flaws in the production or an actual difference experience (perhaps both!).

Updated On: 4/7/24 at 04:33 AM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 7:02am

Making no comments on this cast having not seen it. I did see Wicked Little Letters today and couldn’t help thinking how amazing it would have been to see  Jessie Buckley in this, however. I’m sure she was quite a thrill to see live in the initial run. 

[Ensemble1696537960]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 7:33am

I don't really post here anymore, just occasionally read. Some of this thread reminds me why, because I can't help but feel some sort of bandwagon-ing or a version of tall poppy syndrome. There's a vehemence here (and over at Lempicka) that's off-putting. I too saw this production with its original leads, sometime in January 2022 and then is August of that year with Lennox and Fee. I was head over heels with it, especially the original run and got tickets to this run the day went on sale. 

I saw this last night and Gayle Rankin is a wonderful Sally Bowles. She is bawdier and more impulsive than Buckley, and got big big reactions for Don't Tell Mama that Buckley didn't. Her Maybe This Time is so devastating and hypnotic. And together, her and Ato BW got bigger laughs on Perfectly M.

Buckley's Mein Herr was dynamite though. Maybe that one will not be equaled, and that is perfectly fine. Ato is fine. He supports her ably and that is more than enough. And given that they are still making changes to the staging over the course of this week (as I've heard from other people) things are still in flux.  They are also doing essentially a two week preview only, since the third week press will already be coming in. I can't even imagine how punishing the preview rehearsal process is. 

All the supporting cast are just as good; of course Bebe is a great stage presence and I really liked Natascia Diaz. She could do venomous so well.  Eddie Redmayne is even better this time round, because he seems so much more confident. 

I genuinely feel that this one of the those productions that is put together with so much care and detail. But, it is absolutely strident about its choices, and to me, that's what makes it worth watching, especially because I feel it nails those choices. To those with the means and ability to be able to see it, I would suggest that you go and make up your own mind. 

Updated On: 4/7/24 at 07:33 AM

[Feidlimid]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 8:30am

Simply don't see the point of posts which go, heard from so-and-so and they had this to say. At least a personal opinion can be given more credence. 

[east side story]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 8:34am

Buckley’s vocals are killer here, too.

[binau]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 8:37am

Feidlimid said: "Simply don't see the point of posts which go, heard fromso-and-so andthey had this to say. At least a personal opinioncan be given more credence."

I understand and I wouldn't normally, but at least it can add a further perspective that you can choose to ignore or not.......the reaction to this revival on this board has been a bit confusing and odd to say the least. It's also all over the place in terms of mixed reactions, it's really hard to understand what is going on in that theatre right now! 

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 9:23am

Re: sticker-gate: When I saw it in London, i got the impression that the stickers on the cell phones were meant to create the atmosphere of being in a Berlin club like Berghain (which admittedly was not around in 1929) which also puts stickers on the front and back of phones, and not necessarily to prevent bootleg recordings from getting out. I absolutely loved the atmosphere that they created in the West End production and I can’t wait to see next week how it’s been replicated on Broadway. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 9:40am

Sounds very unlikely.... Few Americans would have that as any point of reference.