Caroline, or Change is back!- Page 5

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 11:32am

And another rave from Broadway World's own Timothy Kuryak who calls it a "masterpiece" and "a revolutionary and truly original show, without equal in the world of musical theatre in the past 25 years":
http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=1583

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 11:35am

How DARE that Hollywood reviewer call Caroline a FABLE????? "Fable" is Brooklyn's word.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 12:04pm

And from the LA Daily News:

"Tony Kushner may eventually have to return to the stratosphere to live among all those playwrights of ordinary to good abilities, but I sincerely hope that doesn't happen anytime soon. Here's earnestly wishing that the man's dramatic Midas touch ("Angels in America,' "Homebody/Kabul,' "Caroline, or Change') keeps up for a few more years.

"Caroline, of Change,' Kushner's collaboration with composer Jeanine Tesori and director George C. Wolfe, is a musical in that instruments play and characters sing. But it is like no other musical you have ever seen or, likely, will ever experience. Utterly free of spectacle and bombast (a la "Wicked') or hip, angst-ridden puppets ("Avenue Q') "Caroline' is neither old-fashioned nor derivative. There is no simple way to brand or categorize it. It's simply a challenging and important work that absolutely must be seen. And thanks to vacancy opened up by a collapsed tour of "Wonderful Town,' Ahmanson Theatre patrons have just that opportunity.....................

Kushner's is a story of commerce, of social change or loss, and of suppressed rage. Caroline's dilemma over how to dispense with the change (which Noah is leaving for her deliberately) mirrors what's going on in the world outside the Gellman household. Much can hinge on a civil-rights march, a decapitated statue or, as it turns out, an errant $20 bill.

In this story, no characters are perfunctory or cardboard archetypes. Stuart, who is miserable, will get his moment. Cox's Rose has her own issues and is in a highly unenviable position. The performers playing furniture may not be fully drawn characters, but they establish mood and showcase the brass of Tesori's soaring score most effectively. Sung dialogue has rarely resonated with such power as it does here.

Drama critics figure to be probing the workings of Caroline Thibodeaux for years to come, but only a certain fortunate few will be able to say they saw Tonya Pinkins in the role. Pinkins has played hot, dangerous and glamorous before.

Now 42, she brings the same fire to a character who can't transcend being ordinary. In her white uniform and unremarkable hairstyle, she makes Caroline a tower of uncertain strength and shifting principles. There's a moment toward the end of the play where Caroline breaks down and lets us inside her psyche. The scene is called "Lot's Wife,' and it's terrifying. Also exhilarating.

Kushner's writing -- now set to music -- has that effect. It makes you think, suffer, hope and, above all, makes you look for what he has up his sleeve next."



LA Daily News Review of Caroline, Or Change

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 12:28pm

It is truly an amazing show. I am so glad to have seen it on Broadway this past April. And I hope to be able to see it in San Francisco. I have said before that this show should have, in my opinion of course, taken the Tony for best musical. I agree with a review I read that said this show should be seen by audiences for years to come. It just annoys me that this show did not last on Broadway and shows that are not using original music are packing them in (Mamma Mia, Movin' Out for example). It just seems that anything challenging doesn't make it. And I wonder if this could be because of the state of the world and that people want uplifting feel good theatre as opposed to something like "Caroline"? Just my thoughts.

I haven't been on here in a while so....Margo, love the new pic!

Updated On: 11/16/04 at 12:28 PM

[TonyInATL]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 1:04pm

Updated On: 1/17/05 at 01:04 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 1:12pm

I just did a search and found that she is doing the new Jason Alexander show "Bob Patterson". She is playing Claudia. I would suspect she is filming.

[TonyInATL]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 1:19pm

Updated On: 1/17/05 at 01:19 PM

[Donna D'Luscia]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 1:22pm

i loved the acting. the writing and music and direction were not the greatest. there were some good moments.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 2:49am

I saw Caroline, or Change tonight and I can't wait to see it again.  It's a real shame that it didn't last on Broadway.  I loved Wicked and Avenue Q oh so very much, but it's not fair that this amazingly beautiful "sung play" closed so quickly, especially after positive reviews and Tony noms (and one award).  But NYC's loss is LA's gain.  It is moving, funny, and original, and exquisitely written, scored, and sung.  There's not a weak link in the cast, and Tonya Pinkins deserves the acclaim she has gotten.  A modern history lesson which is also a piece of great musical theater. 

Posted: 12/21/04 at 3:07am

When we were in NYC last April, Caroline had ended its Off-Broadway run and hadn't started previews yet for its Broadway debut. We were therefore unable to see it at that time. Our first encounter with the piece was Ms. Pinkin's' unfortunate presentation at the Tony award show, which didn't inspire much motivation to see it. We did then see Ms. Rose and the boys on their Today Show appearance, which at least made us think that there might be something to it after all. When it ended up being our first show of the new Ahmanson Theatre season, we were resigned to seeing what there was to see.

Well, now we've seen it. While I actually did enjoy our evening at Wicked (we're not immune to spectacle) and I did truly laugh uproariously at and appreciate the wit and ingenuity of Avenue Q, it is beyond my comprehension how this piece didn't get the recognition it deserved. This is the type of work that can remind you of the power of theatre in general, and the specific gifts of musical theatre in particular.

The themes and subject matter covered are staggering to the mind, and as important in today's times as anything I've encountered. Musically, it is truly inspired in its scope, and the book and lyrics by Mr. Kushner only give further proof that he is the premier theatrical writer presently working.

As for this particular production, thank the theatre gods that we were able to see much of the original cast. Overt talent and stage awareness do not begin to cover what we witnessed this evening. Seamless artistry and deeply felt passion moved an entire audience to experience the very core of these character's existence. And while the entire cast was inspired, special mention must be made of Ms. Pinkins' performance, which will surely live in my memory as one of the greatest I have ever seen in a theatre.

Bravo and brava to the men and women involved! You made me remember why it is imperative that we keep this art form alive - as you surely did this evening in a way that I haven't experienced for a long, LONG time.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/21/04 at 3:08am

Glad to hear you're liking it out there. It is a shame it didn't last here. Loved it.

Posted: 12/21/04 at 3:13am

I know that the critical reception to this particular run has been pretty wonderful across the board. And all I can tell you about the audience reaction is what we experienced this evening, which was complete engagement from the opening curtain until the final note - and capped by a thunderous, stomping, cheering and screaming standing ovation from the appearance of the first cast member at curtain call - finished off, of course, by an almost overwhelming reception for Ms. Pinkins.

This is one of the best nights of theatre I've experienced for years. A truly magical event.