Caroline, CHANGE!

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 11:00am

Saw "Caroline, or Change" last night. Superb direction by Mr. Wolfe, great lighting, great voices and performances...but the show needs work. I thought that it would have been much better had it not been entirely sung-through. Who knows? It might have worked as a straight play with some music. Some of the segments just dragged (zzzzzzzz) and I was waiting for some big musical number to pop up. That's probably why they don't list song titles in the Playbill. Some of the lyrics need reworking. At one point, the word "program" was forced to rhyme with "the bomb."

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 11:12am

I thing the word you were thinking of was "pogrom", which does rhyme with "the bomb".

I saw it last week and thought it one of the most gripping and exciting nights of musical theater I have spent in a long time. I am still digesting it, and will post my thoughts about it later this week.

And - sorry, Indina fans - I think the Tony belongs to Tonya.

Updated On: 4/21/04 at 11:12 AM

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 11:47am

In a previous post about Caroline, or Change, I mentioned that the show completely draws you in. In the beginning of the show, I thought I was going to hate it and I wasn't pleased with the washing machine, radio and dryer singing. Each of the characters in the play are so real. The liberal Jewish Gellman's relationship with their Black housekeeper rang very true to me. If you are looking for a "musical" maybe this won't be your cup of tea but it was unforgettable to me and the music took a second place to the story. Tonya Pinkins is magnificent in this, I agree. Updated On: 4/21/04 at 11:47 AM

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 11:58am

Thanks for clearing that up, Master.
Thirdrow - I agree. The music took second place. The story was very moving, though. I felt Caroline's pain. Indeed, each of the characters seemed real, including the washer, dryer, and radio! I loved that personification.

Imagine if this was shown on TV. It could be "Oprah Winfrey Presents the Wonderful World of Disney's Caroline or Change."

[Al Dente]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 2:17pm

I agree Master, as much as I disliked the show itself, there's no denying Pinkins' work in it...far more poignant that Menzel or any of the other possible nominees, for that matter.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 2:55pm

Pinkins work in it is exquisite. I do suspect that Best Actress will be the award the show gets.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 3:29pm

I wouldn't be surprised if it wins Best Book as well. Wicked is clever, but far too many holes in the plot. Avenue Q is a possible contender.

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 3:34pm

I'm not a fan of Indina. I don't know her.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 4:30pm

haha, nice NYCbabe! I've tried to correct that mistake many a time.

[JakeB]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 4:40pm

I also thought as a straight play it would work better - but certainly would have preferred much more speaking, so much chance for confrontations that didn't happen.

I preferred the book to Wicked, it was very funny, even if it is on an entirely different footing to Caroline. I thought it was tight in its transition from scene to scene - at moments Caroline, or Change had quite dodgy scene changes, but it was first preview..

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 5:20pm

There were several confrontations: Carolinewas very confrontational on a nasty subdued scale. When she unleashed her suppressed anger on little Noah, she knew she was in a bad place emotionally. Updated On: 4/21/04 at 05:20 PM

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 5:26pm

Wait -- is this show entirely singing?

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 5:38pm

all singing

[Elphie]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 6:02pm

Oh wow- I didnt even know that. I'm excited to see this show! I'll give my take in May.
I mentioned this in another post that the Tony Awards really have it rough this year. The four main musicals- Wicked, Bombay Dreams, Avenue Q, and Caroline, or Change are all equally as entertaining and moving but all stress different themes and do so in completely different fashions. Its hard to compare these shows. I loved Wicked, Bombay Dreams, and Avenue Q all for their originality. But I could not pick a winner. Puppets vs. Bollywood vs. Oz vs. Caroline. Its so hard to pick my favorite. Right now- I'll say Avenue Q just because no one has ever broughten puppets to the stage with such knee-slapping humor and Wicked has some glitches and Bombay Dreams offers an often repetitive story-line. Its so hard. There isnt one category this year that I'm sure about besides Best Actor in a Musical- Hugh Jackman.
Like did any one think last year that Frong and Toad would win against Hairspray?

Updated On: 4/21/04 at 06:02 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 6:41pm

I'm pretty sure you could say Mummenshanz have broughten puppets to the stage. And downtown this season, The Long Christmas Ride Home brang some stunningly beautiful puppets to the stage.

[Elphie]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 7:00pm

Did these stunningly beautiful puppets sing about how much "it sucks to be them?"

"I'll say Avenue Q just because no one has ever broughten puppets to the stage with such knee-slapping humor."

[citylights]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 9:37pm

Has anyone seen Caroline both off-Bway and on? I'd be curious to know what they've changed.

[secret-soul]

Posted: 4/21/04 at 11:13pm

i don't think "broughten" is a word :)
Yes, this year's selections is quite an eclectic one...i'm excited to see caroline, or change though. From what i hear of it from the inside...sounds great.