CAROUSEL (2018) Previews — Page 33

little_sally said: "Lindsay is a goddess said: "little_sally said: "Lindsay is a goddess said: "Can someone tell me why their marquee says "Most Nominated Show of the Season" when that's not true...? It got 11 nominations, but SpongeBob and Mean Girls each got 12. And even if that weren't true, The Band's Visit and Angels in America got 11 as well, so...change your sign?"

They might be referring to the OCC, Drama Desks, and Drama League noms too."

But even still, if you count up the nominations from all four, SpongeBob comes out with 35 (12 Tonys, 11 OCCs, 11 Drama Desks, 1 Drama League)while Carousel comes out with 32 (11 Tonys, 12 Drama Desks, 6 OCCs, 3 Drama Leagues). So saying they're the "Most Nominated Show of the Season" is empiricallyuntrue."

Maybe the Chita Rivera Awards too?

"

That would put Carousel just over; SpongeBob got 3 nominations there while Carousel got 7, putting it just over SpongeBob.

Avery Berlin said: "Anyone sat in Row A or Row B right orchestra partial view? Would love to get these tickets but I want to make sure I wouldn't be missing too much."

I sat in ORCH B12. The ticket was not marked as "partial view". I may have missed a few things, such as some of the ensemble members dancing or standing in the back, but no major actions. (As long as I remember, the leads rarely act in the back.) Not the best place to enjoy choreography and staging, but I thought it was a great seat in terms of being able to see actors' faces.

I saw the matinee today. I was unimpressed with most of it. The score is the best part. I felt pretty bored during many of the scenes of just dialogue. Some of the scenery was good, but most was just average. I liked Lindsay Mendez the best of the whole cast. But, I definitely don't care to see this again. I think it is just this production though because I've seen it before and do enjoy the Shirley Jones movie.

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When I was initially planning a tentative trip to NYC in June, I had Carousel high on my list. Then it started previews and the buzz was so bad that I took it off my list. When it opened, some of the reviews were bad as well, but others were more mixed to positive. Then I saw some clips and was impressed with what I saw. So I put it back on my list and gave it a slot for my trip (Saturday matinee before The Boys in the Band that night). But now seeing even more negative posts, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’m seeing a ton of shows this trip and there is not one other new production I’d want to see that I’m not already seeing this trip. So I could just go shopping or to a museum during that time, move Once on This Island to Saturday matinee from its Monday night slot (freeing up my last night for a relaxing dinner) or see a show I’ve seen previously and loved. I’m going to TKTS for both Carousel or OOTI so I’ll probably just see how I feel once I get to NYC. I’ve never felt so conflicted about seeing a show. I'm seeing mostly plays this trip because I’ve already seen (and loved) The Band’s Visit and I have zero interest in the other new musicals (other than Spongebob), which I’ll be seeing. Yeah, I’m surprised by that too). I also have a ticket to see My Fair Lady.

VotePeron said: "Miles2Go2, I totally understand and hear your dilemma. As someone who didn't care for this production but lives here and doesn't have to stress about things like this, I wanted to chime in. If you want to see some gorgeous dancing and (mostly) decent performances - go! But do know thatif you choose not to, your life will in NO WAY be affected by missing this production. The same can be said if you choose to see it."

Thanks! It would be an easier choice if there were other new musicals I’d like to see. This has been a truly disappointing season for new musicals. I was in NYC in November and saw four new (to me) shows - Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress, The Band’s Visit, Come From Away - and two revivals - Hello, Dolly! and Sweeney Todd. I loved them all except for being underwhelmed by CFA. With the exception of Waitress and TBV, these all came out in the 2015-2016 season. I think the last couple of seasons previous to 2017-2018 have really spoiled us in regard to new musicals. The 2018-2019 season doesn’t look much better than 2017-2018. I really haven’t seen that many straight plays before in NYC. But the quality of current revivals (Angels in America, Three Tall Women, Iceman, The Boys in the Band) is so high that most of my slots are devoted to them.

Updated On: 5/6/18 at 01:08 AM

Marianne2 said: "I would definitely never tell people to not see something, even if I didn't enjoy it. Some shows I ended up enjoying a lot were unfavorably reviewed here or in general. If anything, Carousel has a really gorgeous score. Hearing it was the highlight for me."

Thanks. If I go, I’ll definitely be going in with muted expectations. I’d mostly be going for the singing and the dancing (even as I’ve been led to believe the dancing sometimes doesn’t make much sense with what’s happening in the book). I too have enjoyed shows (If/Then, Porgy and Bess with Audra) that many here hated. Hell, I even had a good time at Spider-Man although I agree it was a hot mess. Lol

I was disappointed but I don’t regret seeing it. So many classic songs that I was familiar with but had never seen the show. I was definitely thinking of Barbara Cook when listening to Lindsay sing Mr. Snow. Lindsay sang it well but it was nice to fondly remember Barbara. I miss her.

Which songs are considered 'the classics' just out of interest?

I think this is the only R&H I had not seen before.

I only knew one song, You'll Never Walk Alone and I didn't like the woman's voice who sang it.

^And “June is Bustin’ Out All Over.” If not just for Leslie Uggams’ rendition of it

GeorgeandDot said: "Impossible2 said: "Which songs are considered 'the classics' just out of interest?

I think this is the only R&H I had not seen before.

I only knew one song, You'll Never Walk Alone and I didn't like the woman's voice who sang it."

That woman is opera superstar Renee Fleming, who in my opinion, is the greatest singer alive so you can take your ignorance and go sit in the corner.

The classics are If I Loved You, Mr. Snow, Soliloquy, What's the use of Wondrin, and You'll Never Walk Alone.

"

Gurl I did not insult the woman I just said I didn't like her voice singing that particular song. She had a fantastic voice, I just found it grating on that song. I don't think I had ever heard a woman sing the song before, I have only heard the 'pop' releases of the song which are all sung by men. It was even used in a tv commercial in the UK which was also sung by a man.

I've not heard of any of the others I don't think, maybe If I Loved You which sounded vaguely familiar and was certainly the highlight of the whole show for me.

Wow. Where to start with this mess of a production. This production is a theatrical bastardization. But not one worth seeing even out of curiosity and even at a $40 rush ticket. I'm only chiming in, echoing the thoughts of others, in hopes that someone thinking of giving this production any of their money see's this thread and saves themselves the effort. Let this production close so it's no longer the stain that it is.

Let’s start with the performances, as the only redemption (besides the sounds coming out of the pit) is one performance.

Joshua Henry is really marvelous. It’s a shame that he wasn’t given a director who could give him ANYTHING to push against. The end of act one (which shouldn’t even be the end of act one) is the only high point in a very low evening. It's a shame audiences have to watch his performance while he's wearing an ugly costume and standing on an ugly set.

Jessie Muller… I forgot she was even in this show. I forget that Julie was ever on the stage… that’s how little it registers. And it’s not her fault. It’s 100% the directors for cutting scenes and literally giving Ms. Muller NOTHING to work with.

I thought Ms. Mendez was in a 100% different show than everyone else on stage was in. Her performance felt somehow too “modern musical theatre.” Not damnable bad but not exactly good either. Again… where was the director and what was Jack O’Brien paid for exactly?

The rest of the cast doesn’t even register and that is in part due to the butchering on the story arch through the elimination of text.

Most actors were giving acting performances that you could find in any community theatre production of Carousel around the nation.

The set… woof. Uninspired, lazy, pointless, ugly, and stupefyingly awful. As were the costumes. I really can't say enough bad words about the set so I'll just leave it. Also, was there even lighting in this show? It felt just as lazy as everything else on stage...

The dancing was masturbatory, added nothing to the story, and got tiring after a while. Failing with no point, style over substance to the MAX and the style wasn't even great! I never make little comments during a show but I turned to my friend (what felt like five minutes into the Blow High dance break that went on for what felt like another five minutes) and said, "I've had enough of this." That thought echos all my thoughts about the show

Who stages a dream ballet where part of it is spent with the dancers/actors sitting down? WHO?!?!

It looks like a Directing 101 student at a community college staged Billy's death.


I hated the entire production and found it to be an all together waste of money (both from producers and for the audience), a waste of the talent the cast has, and a waste of time.

I love the score of Carousel and have for many years. I am not a “Carousel Purist.” This is just a less than half baked production and it shows. If I’d paid $40 to see this at some regional theatre in tin-buck-two nowhere… I wouldn’t be harsh. But this is a Broadway show where people have paid $200+ dollars to be there.

The director, Mr. O’Brien, should never be allowed near a classic work again (or possibly ANY WORK again).

Now, I guess, we wait 20+ more years for a competent production to make it to Broadway. What a shame and what a waste.

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Updated On: 5/16/18 at 04:32 PM

Sondheimite said: "Wow. Where to start with this mess of a production. This production is a theatrical bastardization. But not one worth seeing even out of curiosity and even at a $40 rush ticket. I'm only chiming in, echoing the thoughts of others, in hopes that someone thinking of giving this production any of their money see's this thread and saves themselves the effort. Let this production close so it's no longer the stain that it is.

Let’s start with the performances, as the only redemption (besides the sounds coming out of the pit) is one performance.

Joshua Henry is really marvelous. It’s a shame that he wasn’t given a director who could give him ANYTHING to push against. The end of act one (which shouldn’t even be the end of act one) is the only high point in a very low evening. It's a shame audiences have to watch his performance while he's wearing an ugly costume and standing on an ugly set.

Jessie Muller… I forgot she was even in this show. I forget that Julie was ever on the stage… that’s how little it registers. And it’s not her fault. It’s 100% the directors for cutting scenes and literally giving Ms. Muller NOTHING to work with.

I thought Ms. Mendez was in a 100% different show than everyone else on stage was in. Her performance felt somehow too “modern musical theatre.” Not damnable bad but not exactly good either. Again… where was the director and what was Jack O’Brien paid for exactly?

The rest of the cast doesn’t even register and that is in part due to the butchering on the story arch through the elimination of text.

Most actors were giving acting performances that you could find in any community theatre production of Carousel around the nation.

The set… woof. Uninspired, lazy, pointless, ugly, and stupefyingly awful. As were the costumes. I really can't say enough bad words about the set so I'll just leave it. Also, was there even lighting in this show? It felt just as lazy as everything else on stage...

The dancing was masturbatory, added nothing to the story, and got tiring after a while. Failing with no point, style over substance to the MAX and the style wasn't even great! I never make little comments during a show but I turned to my friend (what felt like five minutes into the Blow High dance break that went on for what felt like another five minutes) and said, "I've had enough of this." That thought echos all my thoughts about the show

Who stages a dream ballet where part of it is spent with the dancers/actors sitting down? WHO?!?!

It looks like a Directing 101 student at a community college staged Billy's death.


I hated the entire production and found it to be an all together waste of money (both from producers and for the audience), a waste of the talent the cast has, and a waste of time.

I love the score of Carousel and have for many years. I am not a “Carousel Purist.” This is just a less than half baked production and it shows. If I’d paid $40 to see this at some regional theatre in tin-buck-two nowhere… I wouldn’t be harsh. But this is a Broadway show where people have paid $200+ dollars to be there.

The director, Mr. O’Brien, should never be allowed near a classic work again (or possibly ANY WORK again).

Now, I guess, we wait 20+ more years for a competent production to make it to Broadway. What a shame and what a waste."





Or here's the crazy thought...maybe you just pop a Xanax and relax and let people see and decide for themselves??

"JSquared2 said:
“ Or here's the crazy thought...maybe you just pop a Xanax and relax and let people see and decide for themselves??"

Or

OR

YOU could act like a mature adult and say, “Wow, someone had a different opinion than mine!” and move on to another post without adding a childish response.