Carnival at Kennedy- Page 2

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 6:05pm

Thanks, D2. I have no idea why they said eleven. My first reaction was, I sure hope not.

[D2]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 6:10pm

You're welcome, Dottie. It was such a fun show to do. I did it in high school - I designed the sets and Robert Cuccioli played Marco. He was, and is, a terrific guy.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 10:55am

Nice review in today's Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/25/AR2007022501333.html

[philcrosby]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 11:51am

What a lovely review. Exactly what I would hope to hear about this show!! We see it this Saturday.

[spellbee]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 11:21pm

Is this production supposed to move to Broadway?

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 1:03pm

What a wonderful production. Gorgeous to look at, gorgeous to listen to (a 24-piece orchestra -- YAY!)

Other than Jim Stanek's bland Paul, the principals were all top-notch as well, es[ecially Ereni Servasti's Lili.

[JMVR]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:09pm

Saw it yesterday. Here's my review as someone who had never seen the show before:

1. The set was very effective and well-designed. It does not make the Carnival explode with color and flair but then again this is a circus that has seen better times, so it all makes sense.

2. The performances: Lili was very good all around. She is a convincing ingenue with a lovely voice. Jim Stanek sang beautifully but he just never comes across as "menacing" or even really mean. His face works against him as he has boyish charm and his acting seemed sincere, just not mean enough. I got the feeling that Paul was just bored and pissed, but the deep emotional scars just don't seem to be there.

Marco the Magnificent acted and sand very well. He is hot, too! But he was so over the top that I just assumed he was a gay character and was surprised to see that he actually was quite the ladies' man. Michael Arnold was amazing. Great acting and dancing. He really brings the "Grand Imperial Cirque De Paris" number to life. Rosalie was played beautifully by an actress who reminded me of a young Rita Moreno and I enjoyed her comedy bits very much.

3. The music: gorgeous and the orchestra sounded truly beautiful.

4. The story: this is where things get tricky. You never get the feeling that Lili is falling in love with Paul through his puppets. I was actually quite surprised when it was explained late in the second act. I don't know if this because of the rewrites or if the performances just didn't come across as they should. It just seemed that she was so lonely that she allowed herself to believe the puppets were real.

Also, there is not enough character development for Lili. Yes, we get she's naive and alone in the world, but we never learn much else about her untiln the end, when we realize she is not that dumb and knew that the puppets were not real but Paul's way of expressing himself.

5. Puppets: beautiful, funny, instantly likeable.

6. Design: the lighting design worked beautifully with the set, it was truly a collaborative effort. Costumes were nice too, nothing particularly memorable, but I liked them. The choreography was at its best in this number too.

The only real problem I have with this production is the same I had with the KC Mame. Their shows are great and millions of dollars are visibly invested, but since the show runs for a few weeks only, the performers always seem to be very good and you can't help but feel that given a few more weeks to grow into their roles, they would be perfect. I thought so with Christine Baranski and this was my general feeling with the leads in Carnival.

My favorite parts were the musical numbers with Rosalie and Marco performing magic while singing and the Grand Imperial CIrque de Paris number, where the whole circus emerges from a box center stage.

Clearly, this review is not very inspired nor thorough but I am not really creative right now. I just wanted to post my impressinons for those of you who missed this fun, charming and touching production.

Another bad thing is ther are no souvenir brochures and obvioulsy no recording so you see the show and the memory better be very vivid forever because you have nothing to remind you of what you saw. I wonder why PBS doesn't broadcast these shows once their limited runs have concluded. Scratch that (I want to avoid the whole Broadway Treasures DVD debate). Make that "I would like it vey much if PBS would tape and broadcast these shows".

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 6:24pm

Dottie, I read that Lilli is supposed to be 16.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 6:43pm

Mr Cuccioli is finished his run in Brel so move this to Broadway & let him star in it again

[wicked_mimi]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 6:57pm

I've seen the show twice now (2/22 and 3/4 evening) and I thought it was an alright show, definitely better the second time.

I think the cast is very good. I LOVE Sebastian La Cause as Marco. I, in all honesty, didn't feel he made the character gay at all. I thought he was hott and felt attracted to him. Also, his performance in "A Sword, A Rose, and a Cape"... LOVED IT!

Natascia Diaz is AMAZING as Rosalie. She plays it so cool but you can see the underlying fear she has of losing Marco and I thought her and Sebastian had a cute little chemistry together.

I also thought Jim Stanek did a very good job as Paul. I completely agree with you, JMVR, about his boyish charm though. As good as he is in the role, it's hard to see him in the part. He plays the role much more hurt and dreamful though, which works. He could make it mean but I don't think it has to be mean. He plays it as someone who believes Lilli could not love him because of his injury and who he now is.

Ereni gives a great performance but I do not like the character of Lilli. She annoys me to no end. I am not sure why... but the character just gets under my skin and I want to smack her. It wasn't as bad the second time around though. I just have a hard time seeing a 16 year old as being that stupid to actually talk to a puppet. I do agree that you need to see her falling for Paul a bit more. The first time I saw the show I was completely caught off guard with the love story towards the end, but it isn't horrible.

The orchestra is great though, all their voices are wonderful. I love Michael Arnold as Jacquot! He has a wonderful performance with the company for "Grand Imperial Cirgue De Paris." The whole company is very talented. Some of the pony dancers need to work on their faces when dancing though, they make it look too difficult (they're pros, high kicks shouldn't require a dirty look). The puppets are also very likable. I think they are some of the best characters in the show and the most believable, even though they aren't real, funny how that is!

The story, I am not a huge fan of, but it's a good show. They do it well and it is worth seeing. I do not think it'd be much of a success on Broadway though, even though there is talk of taking it there. I guess if they sold it as a family show and could attract the Disney audience it'd be ok... but as is I don't think it'd find an audience on Broadway.

Also... I think it could use an intermission, no? Not quite sure where'd I'd put it, perhaps after "Everybody Likes You", but I def think they audience needs one. There were some people around me drifting off....

Overall, worth a see if you're in the area! Fun show, nothing awe-inspiring, but a good night at the theatre!

[JMVR]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 12:49am

I agree with WickedMimi that the show is not very transferable. It demands a huge amount of suspended disbelief which I don't think Broadway audiences of today are able to do unless there is a great deal of spectacle, which is not the case here.

I think it would fail in capturing Disney audiences because it is too dark for kids and a little too sophisticated.

I don't see many parents willing to go see an adult love story which happens to have a few puppets for the same price as they could see Mary Poppins flying and Bert dancing on rooftops and around the proscenium or Simba reclaim Pride Rock.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 12:59am

I'm taking my kids to see it this week.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:20am

Miss P, you will be delighted. I can't say I am as enthusiastic about Jim Stanek's Paul as others are ... I found him bland and colorless (though he sings beautifully), so it hurts his chemistry with Lili. (And just what is going on with that awful hat-hair?)

But all the other leads are just top-notch and the production values amazing. And a full 24-piece orchestra! A lovely show all around.

[flossie2]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 9:42am

Bob Cuccioli was a terrific Paul a few years ago in a production at the Shakespeare theatre in NJ.
To Mr Roxy----did you know he is going to be Claudius in Hamlet at the Shakespeare theatre in Washington DC this summer?

[thtrbear]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 10:49am

I think someone mentioned this- ereni savasti, who plays Lili, has only about 11 references on Google. It's like she just stepped out of the woodwork. Very odd.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 11:47am

I am seeing this on Thursday and very much looking forward to it.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 12:02pm

Ereni Sevasti is wonderful as Lili. Her bio in the program is very short, but she sings beautifully and embodies the character as well as I could imagine, especially in this cynical day and age. You absolutely buy Lili's naivete.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 5:55pm

KC, we are going either Wednesday or Friday. Not sure yet. It figures!!!

Phil, if you say I'm going to like it, I am sure I will! (Too bad about Jim Stanek. I really like him. We'll see. I'll post my impressions. You too, KC!)

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 5:58pm

It would be interesting to see Cuccioli in a non musical role

He is very underrated & he should acquit himself fine. He needs to be back on Broadway

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:05pm

I've seen Cuccioli twice in non-musical roles: Brutus in JULIUS CAESAR and the title role in MACBETH. He was terrific as the former, but I found his Macbeth lacking. Both were presented at the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ. His Lady Macbeth was his real life girlfriend Laila Robins, who was fantastic.

Updated On: 3/6/07 at 06:05 PM

[skingdom]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:33pm

sebastian lacause hello!

[flossie2]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:51pm

I loved that production of Macbeth and thought Cuccioli did a great job. Since leaving Jekyll & Hyde he has done quite a few plays and some directing. He and Laila also did Antony & Cleopatra together at the Guthrie and Fiction at McCarter. They are both very talented. I loved him, Natascia and Jim in Brel. I can't get to Carnival but will definitely look for Jim and Natascia when they are back in the NY area.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/9/07 at 11:38pm

Just got home. LOVELY production. Completely enchanting from start to finish.

I will write more later, but let me just say that my kids were completely enthralled for two straight hours without an intermission, which says a great deal because it's not a show "for children."

We love you, Mike Mossallam! Congrats on your AEA membership!!!

[bway7]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 12:56am

FYI, Paul (Jim Stanek) does ALL of the puppet voices, as well as physically working many of the puppets at different points of the show (and usually two at a time). He is brilliant at it. Half (or more) of the character of Paul IS the puppets, so if you loved the puppets, you loved Jim.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 10:22am

I saw the show on Thursday night, not knowing much about it other than a few songs. I must admit I was not wowed by the plot (it required too much of a suspension of belief for me) or lack thereof, but the performances were first rate and the set, direction, and orchestra were also of a high quality. I had seen Sebastian in Arena's Stage "She Loves Me," and found him to be a scene chewer, but very much liked his take on the character here. I think the part suited him more. Like others, Lili as a character grates on my nerves, but the actress had a lovely voice and sense of naivete- which is required for the role. I primarily went to see the show to see Diaz in the role of Rosaline and she did not disappoint (well, that and see a show directed by Logbottom- I am a Side Show uberfan, ok?).

All in all, it was a solid production and I am glad I went. I don't think it would fare too well on Broadway, but it is always good to see a show in these parts that has sort of that old fashioned quality to it, breaking up my usual list of shows I see at Studio, Woolly, or Signature.

I heard a lot of complaining about the lack of intermission prior to the show, mostly from the older crowd. I prefer intermissionless shows and I don't think there is a suitable breaking point in this show. It kept me engaged (though I usually don't have a problem with that at any show, even ones I don't really like) and the kids around me seemed to be too. Selfishly, I appreciate it because it gets me home earlier because I need to get up very, very early for work.

Anyway, a good outing for the Kennedy Center. I am glad they do shows like Mame and now this and not simply bring in tours. As usual, the orchestra did not disappoint.

Updated On: 3/10/07 at 10:22 AM