Caroline, or Change 12-16-04 evening performance- LONG

[eatlasagna]

Caroline, or Change 12-16-04 evening performance- LONG#0

Posted: 12/17/04 at 2:16am

Just got back from seeing Caroline, or Change tonight at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. I don't quite know how to talk about this show. I certinaly consider myself knowledgeable of theater but not as knowledgeable as pretty much every damn person on this board, so I may say something ignorant or unthoughtful. Anyways, I bought the CD a few weeks ago because I was intersted in what all the hoopla was about. Listening to the CD I found myself listening only to songs with the Radio, Caroline, and Emmie. I hated Veanne Cox on the CD as well as pretty much all those scenes with the white family. I don't want to say I was disappointed but I was hoping for something more because not only do I love stupid fluff musicals, I also love those that are deep and make you think. I think we all do, anyways.

Moving on, the CD pretty much transferred onto the stage, with the exception that I found Veanna Cox to be an excellent actress and performer. I loved the show but at the same time could see why some of you think it "flopped" so to speak. There were times when I was bored during the show and like someone wrote in the other thread, Act I to me seemed long and so disjointed. Act II was short (felt long but in a good way) and almost perfect for me.

I think what gets me is that the music, while beatiful, isn't music sometimes, it's just underscore, if that makes sense. It's nothing really hummable or that has a tune save for a few melodies that get repeated throughout the show until the big number Lot's Wife (in which Tonya Pinkins was INCREDIBLE! Simply INCREDIBLE!).

The audience loved this show. It's always interesting to me as how West Coast and East Coast are just so different. We love shows that most of you hate (good example was The Flower Drum Song with Lea Salonga, had to throw her in there since I love her).

It's also funny because most of the shows I've been seeing have been just fun shows (i.e. Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, etc.) and it's odd getting back into a serious show.

Well to stop rambling, I found Caroline, or Change to be a wonderful show and feel that most people ought to give it a chance and go into it with an open mind.

Whew... now I'm tired.