Caroline or Change "Lot's Wife" question

[bschneid76]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 10:28am

The more I listen to Lot's Wife, I keep thinking, why didn't this show last longer, i don't remember if it was just a limited engagement or was it better off staying off-broadway? I love the song, and loved the scene from the Tony's. Are the other songs blah, or did it just come at the wrong time?

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 10:32am

I don't think it was a limited engagement. It only ran for a few months, may to august i believe.

The show is, like others that close prematurely, brilliant. I guess Audiences didn't know what it was. It wasn't recognizable and poorly advertised.

[bschneid76]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 10:33am

It sounded like it was a magnificent show. I need to get the CD and hear the rest of it.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 10:42am

Honestly, I didn't like it all that much, although there are a few things that are pretty good in the show. I thought the music was pretty good, but the lyrics were my main problem with it. Lot's Wife was a great sequence thoug

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 10:45am

Screw Lot's Wife. That's just a good song. The entire show is song - very little dialogue. It's sort of like an opera.

You can't experience what the show was by listening to the cast recording. You probably wouldn't be able to understand what was going on. "Lot's Wife" is a good song, yes, but it's such a integral part of the show. Taken out of context, it's a torch song. But in the show - it's just a heightened moment built from the second act. You have to BE THERE to understand it.

I think it didn't suceed because of competition. It got lost in the hype over WICKED and AVENUE Q. Then there was WONDERFUL TOWN, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, TABOO, THE BOY FROM OZ, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and ASSASSINS. All new shows that season.

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE should have won the Tony over WICKED and AVENUE Q should have won the Tony over CAROLINE, OR CHANGE. And AVENUE Q won. Which is a hard statement to make because AVE Q and CoC are both wonderful shows but so different. I'd give AVE Q the upper hand, though, because it was so radical and had puppets. Plus, it was smart and it worked.

CAROLINE *DEFINITELY* deserved more recognition and closed WAY TOO EARLY!! So go ahead and add it to the list with RAGTIME of "Shows That Closed Prematurely Because Others Had Better Hype." RAGTIME lost to LION KING and it was an expensive show. CLOSED. CAROLINE lost to WICKED and AVE Q et al. CLOSED.

[children&art]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 10:49am

as much as i love this CD i do feel that i am definitely missing that last little piece that comes from seeing it live.

there were so many different shows the year this came out, but i think it was at the top of that heap.

while i agree that "ave q" is smart, "caroline" is vastly more intelligent and emotional - why is broadway afraid to embrace the serious dramatic show over the fluffy hype?

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 11:03am

I think the show was brilliant. I would go as far as to call it a masterpiece. I also think it is a show that needs to be seen twice. I was going crazy until the OBCR was released because I was not able to see it again. And it closed before I got back to New York. As fas as the OBCR, I think it is done very well. And I also think you can very easily tell what is going on. I made a copy for a good friend and he picked up on the story line after one listen. It has been announced that it is opening in London in the fall with Mr. Wolfe directing. No cast announced yet. I am seriously thinking of vacationing in London at that time just so I can see this brilliant show one more time. There were rumors going around that HBO was going to air it or release it on DVD. I have read nothing about that happening though.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 1:37pm

yes definately a brilliant show, all the lyrics have deep meaning behind them and it really makes you think, perhaps a little too sophisticated for today's audiences? It closed too soon, wonderful all around. I would go buy the cast recording right now if you don't have it

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 1:50pm

I don't know if it was too sophisticated as much as a majority of theatergoers don't like to have to "think" when they go to a show. Not only did you have the main story about the money, but you had the whole civil rights unertones going on. I enjoyed the entire show, but it was worth full price for me just to see Anika Noni Rose stand there and sing "I Hate the Bus" and "I Saw Three Ships" (momma, there's money down in the laundry. Sublime), the "Moon, Emmie and Stuart Trio" and of course the powerful "Lot's Wife", which in my opinion takes it's place right up there with "Rose's Turn" and "And I Am Telling You". It left me stunned.

Updated On: 2/22/06 at 01:50 PM

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:01pm

I KNOW!! Same here! I left shaking after the performance!

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:11pm

Thank goodness I brought it to work today! Putting it in now!!!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:12pm

One of the best pieces of musical theatre that I have ever seen - captivating, wonderfully written and performed.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:13pm

What's up with the title of that song? I mean, was her husband's name Lot? That's an odd name.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:14pm

It is a biblical reference.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:19pm

hehe yes it is a biblical reference, (I dont know the story exactly) but its something like a village is burning and Lot and his family are forced to run away. He tells his wife not to look back and she does and she turns into a pillar of salt..something like that

[bschneid76]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:21pm

Dang it, i wish i could have seen it. It sounds like a great show!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:25pm

Amazing show. Tonya Pinkins was outttathisworld good. I think I might get her new book and read it.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:25pm

Lot's wife - (Old Testament) when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his family were told to flee without looking back; Lot's wife was disobedient and was immediately changed into a pillar of salt

[bschneid76]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:41pm

I just find it such a thrilling number, almost like Rose's Turn where the music starts one way, then dramatically changes to a differnt syle..."murder me now..."

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:44pm

"Lot's wife - (Old Testament) when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his family were told to flee without looking back; Lot's wife was disobedient and was immediately changed into a pillar of salt "

hehe thanks!!

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:45pm

That part just tears my heart out.

[hen88]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 3:25pm

In the Bible, Lot is basically told to make this enormous change in his and his family's life by leaving behind his home and his past. In telling Lot that he musn't look back as he is fleeing, God is asking for him to have faith in his new direction and accept change. When Lot's Wife looks back, it implies that she is unable to let go of her past, and therefore is unable to change. Kushner uses this biblical reference to mirror Caroline's struggles and inability to change.

[X x Fiyero x X]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 8:08pm

Lots Wife is defenatly one of my favs!