CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago- Page 7

[HorseTears]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 8:50pm

"Then you should really get on that!"

 I would, but I'm losing my wifi for about an hour tonight due to some construction nonsense.  Enjoy the stream, y'all.  

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 8:52pm

I hope so. Jenn Gambatese's voice is so fluid. She sounds beautiful

[gleek4114]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:00pm

Ok, my review is still to come (getting back home from Chicago had been crazy). I am recording the live stream with my computer, so be assured a recording of good quality will exist. To answer the stage door question, it is located on the front of the building at the door oppisite the front door. There was an opening night party last night so no one came out to sign until very late (I did not have time to wait), but via tumblr people have been posting pics with Laura, so I know she at least comes out. 

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:06pm

Give us a soundtrack or a Broadway revival. This is glorious

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:11pm

Received a mailer from them a couple weeks ago, actually. If anyone's curious: THE KING & I will be going up in a year's time.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:37pm

I saw this afternoon's performance, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I wouldn't give it the "bring this straight to Broadway!" endorsement. Stephen Pasquale was as glorious as I hoped, but I was not quite in love with Laura Osnes's performance. She was fairly plain and conventional for someone commonly described as "a queer one"--I felt like the qualities that make her a perfect ingenue got in the way of this role. She gave a lovely "What's the Use of Wondering?" though.

Rob Ashford's choreography is pretty much what I've come to expect from him: the ensemble constantly climbing on top of each other in needless feats of physical exhaustion. However, the big ballet in the second act was a surprising and very welcome break from that, it was a really lovely highlight. The same could be said of his staging; he frequently tends too far to the big and grand (there was a distracting and unnecessary scene shift in "Soliloquy," for instance) but then came "You'll Never Walk Alone" in which he simply placed the characters onstage and let them do their thing, and that really worked. I haven't ever been Ashford's biggest fan, and this production demonstrated a lot of my issues with his work, but then there were some really lovely moments when he broke from that.

I felt it was rather jarring to cast one lead as a major opera star, while the rest of the cast was musical theatre performers. Denyce Graves was very good, but she really stuck out and felt like she was from a different world from the rest of the piece. I really didn't buy her as Julie's cousin.

I've seen pretty much all of the shows in Chicago that were said to possibly be eying Broadway, and while I mostly really loved this production, I wouldn't put this at the top of the list, especially after Brigadoon last summer. But then again, I'm not a producer who has the power to make such a transfer happen.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:56pm

Just listened to Pasquale's "Soliloquy" on the radio webcast.  Magical, beautiful, glorious.  If this production and cast don't transfer, I hope at least this production is recorded. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:59pm

I just heard it to.  God, that man....

 

Yes, a recording (like they did with West Side Story in San Francisco) would be amazing.  

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:06pm

I know they are used to radio broadcasts of opera, but to explain the complete plot before each act for Carousel is hysterical to me.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:27pm

I think it's ridiculous, and spoils it for people who have never heard it.  

[tgrabon2]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:27pm

Not a fan of Lyric's Showboat or Oklahoma!, I found their Carousel pretty spectacular. The set design especially outstanding. The lounge restroom/area in the lower level is decorated entirely with the design of the show including framed costume and set sketches, and a model of the set. The detail of the entire display is impressive.  

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:28pm

Yeah, the detailed plot synopsis is interesting. I haven't been listening to the entire thing too intently because I'm recording it for a more detailed listen later. 

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:29pm

send it to me jimmy!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:31pm

I will also be contacting you for the recording, if possible.  Thank you.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:52pm

I'm recording as well, but if mine fails it's good to know there is a back up!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:28pm

I know it's off topic a little, but if anyone has a copy of Lincoln Center's Carousel with Kelli O'Hara, please pm me.  I will pay whatever for a DVD copy of that glorious production.  I have checked many torrent sites and cannot find it anywhere.  Thanks!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:32pm

I found a torrent of it just two weeks ago...  I'll try to see where I found it (I did have to look.)

That was--aurally anyway--beautiful.  Some of Laura's scooped notes bugged me, but it's just a quibble.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:36pm

Jenn Gambatese is so talented!! She comedy and voice is wonderful!!

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:40pm

Carousel is seriously crazy as ****!! This is the type of stuff i don't understand/like about R&H. Why are they playing the love music after he just slapped his daughter??? That is crazy as hell!!! I do not approve!!

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:41pm

Steven's voice is gorgeous!!!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:48pm

"Carousel is seriously crazy as ****!! This is the type of stuff i don't understand/like about R&H. Why are they playing the love music after he just slapped his daughter??? That is crazy as hell!!! I do not approve!!"

Wait wait wait...  Aren't you the person going on and on in this same thread about how this NEEDS to come to Broadway etc etc etc?  You didn't even know the show??

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:51pm

Seriously Philly.....W T F

[Fantod]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:59pm

If you've only seen the cut down movie of Carousel I understand that one might think that the show excuses abuse, but really the musical is about how humans have an unprecedented capacity for forgiveness, and the musical never tries to argue that Billy is a good person, but merely that he tried to do his best. Billy failed to be a good husband to Julie in his life, but in death he begins to make reparations towards his daughter, giving her strength. The slap that didn't hurt line is pushing it, but the musical also was written in 1945.

Updated On: 4/12/15 at 11:59 PM

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 4/13/15 at 12:00am

lol no i know the show, and the whole score, I've just never seen a production of it. I didn't know he slapped her, and then the If i love you music is being underscored right after that. wtf???

[Fantod]

Posted: 4/13/15 at 12:01am

Well if you ever have the opportunity to see the show, I suggest you do so. I was very lucky to see a wonderfully traditional production of the show in Michigan some years back, and since then it has been one of my very favorite shows.