CAROUSEL on Live At Lincoln Center Tonight at 9PM!! — Page 2

Latitudex1 - THANK YOU!!!

This is simply glorious. I am speechless. The talent, the orchestra, the set, the lights, the costumes, and the staging... everything is absolute perfection.

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OK it wasn't just me. It's one of my favorite musicals but it was just sort of "off"...So many amazing voices - but dramatically, it just didn't really catch me the way I expected. I can't even explain why..

Nathan Gunn has an amazing voice but I don't see him as Billy, wrong personality. Same with Kelli and some of the supporting characters - I don't know.

Tiler Peck as Louise was my favorite part of the whole show - she was captivating in every way.

Oh, thank the Heavens... I thought I was alone in my opinion, too!

I agree with DAME and KathyNYC2

There are some really fine moments:
* The ballet is beautifully performed by Tiler Peck
* I was very moved by Kelli O'Hara's monologue to Billy just before You'll Never Walk Alone
* John Cullum was very enjoyable as Starkeeper

But for the most part, I found the performances stodgy and wooden (especially Nathan Gunn, who never seemed to know what to do with his hands, other than to point his fingers at everything). Stephanie Blythe (as Nettie Fowler) wasn't able to emote beyond the choreographed arm gestures and blocking she was given.

In the park bench scene, Kelli O'Hara is the most morose Julie Jordan, ever. Her "If I Loved You" is so melancholy that you can actually see the tears welling in her eyes at the end.

Overall, I thought all musical aspects were too dark and "Wagnerian" sounding. The Carousel Waltz lacked any feeling of "lilt" from the orchestra, and the vocals from the ensemble were also consistently overly legato, and lacked emotion (all the 'rhythmic speaking' seemed particularly robotic). The operatic vocal heaviness of the ensemble also added to the feeling of "darkness". "Clambake" was so drowsily legato I thought I'd fall asleep! I mean, I get that they're all full and probably ready for a nap, but this is the opening number for ACT II... Without the visuals of lighting and set pieces to create mood, this was just boring.

On the technical end, the sound is atrocious! Even if I ignore the wooden, operatic acting, I could not listen to this as a recorded concert. The chronic >CLOMP<, >CLOMP<, >CLOMPING< of feet, and the hissing from mics when there was no dialog is so distracting! It's as loud (and in some spots louder) than the performers' vocals.

I didn't hate this concert version, but I wouldn't feel badly if I'd missed it.

Updated On: 4/27/13 at 08:15 AM

>> "It was nice to hear Jigger's music sung well, especially after the croaking of Fisher Stevens (who was great, acting-wise) in the last revival."

Yes! I also enjoyed Hensley's underplayed humor, particularly his delivery of the line regarding Jigger's mother.

Gunn has never been much of an actor--either on the operatic stage or singing Broadway in concert--but his voice is damn perfect for this music. It was great to hear Billy's songs elevated to a higher level. His voice and O'Hara's blended beautifully. Honestly, I can't think of anything I've liked O'Hara more in.

The smaller roles were so luxuriously cast, as only a concert can do--Cullum, Burton, and Hensley were all superb. I found Blythe to be a more than capable actress, and she sang the hell out of Nettie's music.

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I've been trying all morning and can't get it to play either... Every other PBS video will play except that one. I've even updated all my software. Fingers crossed it'll get fixed...

I am having the exact same problem Bruce, every video is playing BUT the one we want!

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Here's my theory: miscasting is becoming more of a problem as these kind of concerts have become more like fully staged productions with minimal scenery. Nathan Gunn might be just the guy you want to hear singing Billy -- but he's totally miscast once it turns into a full production. For my money, every single person in this one seemed wrong for the part except maybe Blythe, mostly because they all read as too urban and literate for the parts they're supposed to be playing, esp. Mueller and Danieley, who seem like they've wandered in from Park Slope.

Mueller was awful.

Just to say that the video didn't play for me either earlier in the day, but it seems to be fine now. Look forward to watching it!

Carousel - PBS

Updated On: 4/27/13 at 02:59 PM

Why did they cut the "Entr'acte"? I's one of my favorite parts of any musical, and with the NYP It could have been wonderful...