Caroline, or Change- May 23rd

[Elphie]

Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#0

Posted: 5/23/04 at 10:59pm

Well today I rushed out to the city after a callback for a show I auditioned for to see Caroline, or Change. I really didn't know what to expect because I heard mixed reviews. People on this board seemed to really see something in this show, but from others I heard it was dry and boring. They said it needed to be spiced up. Well its no Wicked thats for show, but I dont think I've ever been so emotionally stirred in any other musical before.
I was there with Caroline, like I felt I could connect with her and the performance Miss Pinkins delivered is indeed Tony worthy. The fire she puts behind all of Caroline's sarcastic remarks and the power and emotion she puts into her singing is incredible, a true Broadway diva. Her voice is really unique and she sang all the songs with different twists, doing different things with her voice. I could hear her voice was a little strainied because she cracked during the opening number and went a little scratchy but its perfectly acceptable for these things to happen- well its bound to, doing the show 8 times a week. Her superb acting and stage involvement made up for it. She didnt have a dry moment. Her singing got more and more strong as the show progressed. She showed a lot of character and really made Caroline real. I felt like I knew her. I teared up during Tonya's compassionate show stopper in Act 2 (There are no song titles credited in the Playbill so I cant be very specific) as she makes her way to church. It was one of the best songs I have heard all year on the Great White way. She really impressed me.
Aniki Noni Rose took me by suprise. That voice that girl got on her tore up the house. Its full of youth, but its also mature which fit her role perfectly. She gave an outstanding performance and I hope she gets the Tony award. Harrison Chad was adorable, a really gifted child actor. He got more and more into his role as the show moved a long. I could see how lost he was and I felt for him because it got to be hard to grow up with out a mother. Harrison's voice got to me a little bit (he carries a good portion of the singing of this show) but I dont think any little boy could do any better. His voice was just very nasal, which is natural for a lot of little children singers. Caroline's two boys played by Marcus Franklin and Leon Thomas were awesome. They had such great energy on stage, not to mention they were so adorable. I loved them and they really played off one another- great actors at such a young age. I also loved Chandra Wilson. She was adorable and with such a voice. She reminded me of the urchins from LSOH. I thought she was a very powerful supporting role. Veanne Cox was out for my performance and her standyby Sue Goodman went on. I want to say I liked her because her voice was very good, its just that her face wasn't involved. I look at that a lot with performers. I think its very important to have facial expressions because who cares how well you can sing if you dont deliver it with interest. I just wish I saw Veanne Cox, having seen her before in The Dinner Party and in ABC's Cinderella, because I could see her playing the role with ease because she has great comedic timing and stage presence.
The rest of the cast was splendid as well I'm just too tired to write about all of them. The voices in this cast are amazing. Chuck Cooper is just wow along with Capathia Jenkins and Aisah de Haas. And I loved the radio girls- Gave you that Supreme feeling and whisked you back in time to 1963.

I really loved this show. It was the most real life experience I've ever had in theater. Things really dont get better for Caroline, but thats life. Not everything has a storybook ending, not everyone goes from rags to riches. Some just stay as rags. Caroline is great role, probably one of the most strongest female characters to be created. I actually liked the fact that everything was sung- I thought it worked well and it kept the show moving. I thought the music was beautiful and I cant wait to buy the cast recording in June. In some places the show dragged, but all around it was a great show. I recommend it. Its nothing like the other new shows this year. Its a step away from the big elaborate sets and outrageous costumes. Its more normal. I liked how it was like real life.

The cast was also very courteous afterwards at the stage door, especially Tonya- very sweet woman. Harrison Chad cracked me up afterwards with his sunglasses hooked on his shirt and his hair slicked back- It was so cute- I called him a little stud. Haha. It was a great evening and I really enjoyed myself. I give this show a 9.4 from a 1 to 10(10 being the best.)

How long do you guys think Caroline will last on Broadway? Did anyone see Veanne Cox to give me any feeback on her?

Thanks!

"They hear drums. We hear music."

[JakeB]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#1

Posted: 5/24/04 at 1:10pm

I thought Veanne Fox was brilliant, shame she didn't get nominated for Tony supporting.. she stood out for me.

[FindingNamo]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#2

Posted: 5/24/04 at 1:16pm

Great post, Elphie.

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

[MargoChanning]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#3

Posted: 5/24/04 at 1:21pm

So happy that you enjoyed it -- I had the same reaction. A wonderful show that I hope finds an audience. It's doing OK at the box office now and has a relatively low weekly running cost so if it can pick up a couple of Tonys, it could last through the end of the year and maybe even beyond that.

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

[Mister Matt]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#4

Posted: 5/24/04 at 1:46pm

If we see Caroline or Change, I hope to see Veanne Cox. She's a friend of a friend and I met her during The Dinner Party (cute story) and she was very sweet, though I kinda caught her off guard. I was really surprised she wasn't nominated for The Dinner Party. Her work in that role was FABULOUS! She and Henry Winkler really played off each other well and delivered the best performances in the show. I really liked it as well as Proposals and was surprised that neither of them did well.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[Auggie27]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#5

Posted: 5/24/04 at 2:50pm

Yes, Veanne is an unsung heroine of this complex piece. That challenging role has been underappreciated, and Cox just broke my heart. I think her crises in the play is lovely counterpoint to Caroline's, and appropriately, she gets the penultimate curtain call. It's great to hear that the understudy is accomplished. Let's hope many people will play these rich roles.

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

[Elphie]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#6

Posted: 5/24/04 at 3:38pm

The house was pretty packed, well at least in the ochestra. I didnt get to see up in the mez. Really great show though- I hope more people get around to seeing it. A lot of people, even though it got nominated for Best Musical, still havent heard of it who go to Broadway. When I told some of my friends I was seeing it, they looked at me with blank expressions. Its a shame too. Caroline is great!

"They hear drums. We hear music."

[wickedfan]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#7

Posted: 5/24/04 at 6:18pm

Elphie- very nice post. I too saw CAROLINE. And I too was impressed/surprised by Anika Noni Rose. I didn't think Tonya's performance stood out until Act 2, then she was great. Veanne Cox was brilliant, just brilliant, I was superbly pissed when I saw she wasn't nominated. The musical isn't a traditional musical. It's very different, which is refreshing. I thought it started out a bit slow, but quickly became wonderful. In terms of comparing it to WICKED, material wise it's much stronger, performance wise it's a bout the same. i thought that the leads in WICKEd were great with people in the supporting areas good enough to stand out but not outshine the stars. But in CAROLINE, I couldn't keep my eyes off of Anika, she was just amazing.

"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

[Sumofallthings]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#8

Posted: 5/24/04 at 6:35pm

Excellent review!

BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

[bobbystrong]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#9

Posted: 5/24/04 at 7:39pm

How was the audience response?

Did Tonya's "Caroline's Turn" in the second act get a big ovation?

[NuggetMonkeys]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#10

Posted: 5/24/04 at 8:09pm

"Caroline's Turn" is called "Lot's Wife"
-d.b.j-

Vary My Days.

[bobbystrong]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#11

Posted: 5/24/04 at 9:18pm

I've heard different dates - does anyone know when the CD is coming out?

[nystateomind04]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#12

Posted: 5/24/04 at 9:28pm

i hope the show makes it till september

[Elphie]

re: Caroline, or Change- May 23rd#13

Posted: 5/25/04 at 4:30pm

The applause lasted a good minute after "Lots Wife." It was amazing. I really wish I saw Veanne Cox!

"They hear drums. We hear music."