CARRIE Reviews

Today is Thursday, March 1, marking the official opening night performance of the 'revisal' of the original 1988 flop pop musical, CARRIE, based on Stephen King's novel about a young woman with telekinetic powers. In a newly-revised Off-Broadway production, produced by MCC Theater, the staging will play the Lucille Lortel Theatre under the direction of Stafford Arima.

Molly Ranson and Marin Mazzie star as Carrie and Margaret White respectively in the new staging. With previews that began January 31, the production was just recently extended through April 22.

Let's wish the girl luck at her second chance at prom!

Best,
- M

Updated On: 3/1/12 at 04:25 AM

2.5 stars from Matt Windman.

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/theater-review-carrie-2-5-stars-1.3571426

"Alas, Stafford Arima's new Off-Broadway staging is not so much a revival as it is an unnecessary apology for the excess, mess and insanity of the bizarre original production."

What an excellent, accurate description from Matt Windman.

^ That's a great review for Mazzie and Ranson.

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/ob/03_01_12.html

Cranky Murray basically slams Ranson and Mazzie.

Murray is crankier than necessary, but he is also right on the money here.

Just a little flashback to Frank Rich's review of the original:

"As choreographed by Debbie Allen, who shouldn't wait another moment to
return to her performing career..."

Wondering if Brantley will top THAT.

The AP calls it a "bloody mess." Ouch.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/03/01/entertainment/e174519S98.DTL

From TalkinBroadway:

"As played by Molly Ranson, Carrie is now a spiritual nonentity, neither a woman about to break free of her girlish confines or a monster in demure clothing. She comes across as little more than an empty receptacle for schoolmates' taunts in one half of the plot and her mother's dominance in the other. Ranson does little to explain who she is, and hints at none of the playfulness, sauciness, and rage that events demand from the character. Her only adequate singing voice, and an unfortunate tendency to clench her eyes shut while singing, make it even more difficult to relate or sympathize with her.

Marin Mazzie, on the other hand, has consciously chosen to portray Margaret as an Everywoman. That's fine in theory, but it has major deficits in execution, as it does not give Margaret the psychological underpinnings she needs for her increasingly appalling actions over the course of the show. Deploying a careful mix that avoids either full soprano or full belting and thus fails to convey a committed personality, Mazzie's Margaret seems so milquetoast in demeanor and even reasonable in her demands that her behavior cannot stun or outrage, and her songs cannot impress."

Yup.

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Theater Mania is mixed-to-positive
Theater Mania reviews CARRIE

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I was expecting a pan from The Times but whilst not good is not terrible

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I find it hard to believe anyone thought this show would get great reviews.

I just wish they could have found someone with more of a vision and a better understanding of the piece.

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