CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Begins Previews 10/8/21

My word, this board is spoiling me rotten today.

Did you see the production in London, Jordan? I'd love to know what you thought!

I am also curious to know what Jordan thinks since he is probably the most vocal fan of the show here. I saw The London production twice, on the West end and pre-West end. I haven't seen the Broadway production although of course have listened to the cast recording many times and watched a bootleg that appeared on YouTube. 

In terms of major differences, I would not say to me there is a major difference in terms of tone or interpretation of the show (it is written in such a detailed and complex manner I think there is probably less room for this). But two things stand out to me:

* In terms of staging, it looks like on Broadway they might have done a better job at conveying the claustrophobia of what it was like to be in that actual basement because of the contrast of the set pieces of the basement vs wide open stage while in the house. I don't remember the London production quite having this effect because of the unit house set that is always there.

* Caroline interpretation. In my opinion:

- Tonya Pinkins is the much more unusual/interesting/unique/virtuosic singer who navigates the role in a way that is slightly more devastating and heartbreaking - with much more extremes in terms of emotion of sad and angry at the right moments. That said, Sharon D Clarke is a very strong singer and might be more 'pleasant' sounding to many people, but the texture of Tonya's voice is thrilling
- In terms of acting (and I acknowledge limitations of bootleg here), I thought Tonya Pinkins was relentless in presenting a character who is terribly depressed and fractured, with less range in the character except for in the extreme emotions you see in the argument with Dotty, Lot's Wife etc. It's like the poster image of sitting smoking a cigarette perfectly captures the essence of that performance.
- On the other hand, I thought Sharon D Clarke's character was not quite as broken as Tonya - she reads (and is) older, she is a larger woman with a tired aching body that moves slowly - she is just tired of life and the relentless of it but she not completely broken and can still experience joy in life at times (e.g. giving her children the quarters). So I find that interpretation a little bit more colourful. 

I just find this show so interesting - Tonya Pinkins gave an absolutely devastating performance as Caroline with an 11'o clock number that is not an uplifting anthem about how she will move on with her life, but a devastating portrait of the harsh cold reality that actually when certain systemic/society/life factors lead you down a certain path it is so, so hard to actually do anything about it. I feel that this is a hard swallow for audiences who would have probably find it much more comfortable and uplifting if Caroline were to sing bout how she is 'Here' and going to 'Take a deep', 'hold her head up' rather than how she wants God to 'murder' her so she can stop the pain.

I am a little nervous about whether this show might get a backlash in 2021 because it was not written by POC, but I hope and trust that audiences recognise that this show was once led by George C Wolfe and in my opinion he and team have treated the material with a lot of respect and care - unlike say THE HELP this show does try to mainly focus on the experiences of POC, too. 

Updated On: 6/8/21 at 07:48 AM

This was pretty sh*tty. I mean I get the whole wanting to make money after the pandemic but to offer waayy worse seats this go-round isn't it. The run isn't selling well and I don't think it has the same buzz around it when it was coming over from London. While the Access10 tickets have always been in the mezz of that horrible theatre they were at least more center. For reference my original tickets before cancellation was LL102.

ClydeBarrow said: "This was pretty sh*tty. I mean I get the whole wanting to make money after the pandemic but to offer waayy worse seats this go-round isn't it. The run isn't selling well and I don't think it has the same buzz around it when it was coming over from London. While the Access10 tickets have always been in the mezz of that horrible theatre they were at least more center. For reference my original tickets before cancellation was LL102."

Yeah I think my Access10 tickets pre-pandemic were in row KK. And I've gotten $10 tickets before that were in the mid/rear-mezzanine but center. I don't mind they they were so limited and so far to the side, but it is kind of annoying how they were so tight-lipped about these Access10 tickets. I called numerous times and they couldn't tell me an on-sale date. (I used to get emails about it but that stopped.) Needless to say I missed it earlier today. But whatever. HipTix is still a good deal. I just wish Access10 would have went on sale way earlier so if/when I got shut out I wouldn't have had to wait over a month to pick up HipTix tickets.

(For the record, I'm very grateful for these kinds of discounts programs, but I just wish Roundabout's communication was a little better. I also never received emails about HipTix on sale dates, despite being eligible and in the system. They said they fixed that issue but I've still yet to receive a single email from them.)  

In case anyone missed my update earlier, there are still $10 Access10 seats available for the first 4 previews of Caroline, or Change. Code ACCESS10 on Roundabout's website.

I am going back and forth as to whether I want to see this or not. I saw the original production on Broadway and it instantly became my favorite musical along with "Sweeney Todd". I was devastated when I left the theater. Tissues everywhere after "Lot's Wife". And the show hit me in a personal way as my mother cleaned houses for a living. It's a masterpiece, in my opinion.

binau, I hope there is no backlash against this show. Kushner wrote this from his own experience as a kid and, in my opinion, nailed it.

After seeing the original production I decided that I probably would not even bother seeing any revivals. And then in 2019 it came to my attention that the Professional Performing Arts School was doing a production. I was familiar with the school a bit and it looked like they put on good productions. I was still wary about seeing this but wanted to support the school by buying a ticket. So I went. What I saw that night was nothing short of amazing. It just so happened that Kushner and Tesori were seeing it together that evening. I got to speak to her at intermission and she was speechless and blown away. These kids were singing the show in it's original vocal key (Key. Is that right?). The only negative was that the director chose to speed up the temp of the music so you can imagine how exhausted the young lady who played Caroline, Savannah Henry, was after "Lot's Wife". But she did it. And nailed it.

So I was like "Ok, two for two". I don't need to see it again now. But this revival popped up and turns out someone I know is in the cast. So I want to go and support her. What has me undecided is that I saw Ms. Clarke do "Lot's Wife" and I wasn't crazy about it. It just didn't convey that weariness that Caroline has. But also, it was not done within the show but at an Awards show or Concert.

But with all that said, for anyone who has never seen a production of this show and want to see it. Go for it. The score is incredible. You will have nothing else to compare it too so hopefully it will move you as much as it did a lot of us who love the show.

Jordan, I am assuming you saw this in London and would love to hear your thoughts on it. Does it pack the same emotional punch as the original?

Jordan Catalano said: "I did see it in 2018! Sharon really was remarkable. It’s a much different take on the character of Caroline and the direction/staging is much different as well - which i think will help you not compare this as much to that original we both have on our “greatest of all time” lists.

And i think i know the performance of “Lots Wife” you’re talking about which really didn’t represent what she did in front of the audience when I saw her"

Yeah, I thought after a while that not being in character made it come off differently. I will say I am very curious to see the new staging. And speaking of staging, that performing arts production I talked about ended the show with an incredible visual. By the last note of the show the entire cast had come out and lined up across the stage next to Emmy with their arms straight down their sides and when the last note was played, they opened their hands and pennies fell to the floor. I literally gasped. (Reminded me of "Indecent"

 

Alexander Lamar said: "Here’s some Highlights of that production. Those kids are amazing!!!

https://youtu.be/FwKYTzPUR-g

Do Roundabout revivals usually get cast recordings?"

 

Wow! Thanks for that! Just watched. here is a clickable link to the PPS highlights...

https://youtu.be/FwKYTzPUR-g

 

Yeah, it's selling really poorly so unless something changes, they will not be extending. I hope they don't close it early.