Caroline, or Change- My Review

[Delphine]

Caroline, or Change- My Review#0

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:12pm

I know stuff like this has been posted before, but I figure Caroline, or Change could always use some more exposure.

Here is my review of the SF production (warning: long and ranty):

Going into the show, I didn’t know what to expect. I was only slightly familiar with the music and the story in hopes that my experience with the show would be most powerful going in as blind as possible.

Fortunately for me, that tactic worked. The plot is simplistic enough that knowledge of it isn’t necessary. On the other hand, it’s exceedingly complex in its metaphors, motifs, and themes. Very Tony Kushner (I wouldn’t expect any less). It deals candidly with things often sugared-up on Broadway; racism, religion, oppression, politics, revolution, and death. It’s raw, it’s real, it’s very, very compelling.

I was impressed by the lyrics of Caroline, or Change. They were unlike anything I’ve ever heard on Broadway before. There was nothing contrived about them. They just flowed, and suited each character individually. It didn’t feel like lyrics at all. It was as is the actors were singing the dialogue of a spoken play. Strange effect, but very interesting.

The music, on the other hand, took a lot of getting used to. All the songs, a mix of jazz, R&B, and soul, seemed to flow together, becoming indistinct. No song really stands out to me, with the exception of Lot’s Wife (which was INCREDIBLE). This actually works to the show advantage, though; it enhances the lyrics and the story.

The cast was, in a word, BRILLIANT. Veanne Cox, Anika Noni Rose, and especially Tonya Pinkins were the real standouts. Tonya was so gripping. The fact that her facial expression (one of anger and distaste) could remain the same throughout the musical yet she could show so much emotion was simply amazing. And that voice! Unbelievable. The rest of the cast was superb too, especially The Radio girls (even without Ramona Keller).

Caroline, or Change is such an amazing show, and it is so very tragic that its Broadway run was as short as it was.

[insomniak]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#1

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:16pm

Thanks Delph. How did you feel about the production's design?

[luvtheEmcee]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#2

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:16pm

I loved this show. Tony Kushner = friggin' genius.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[Delphine]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#3

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:19pm

Nia, the design was gorgeous. Simplistic, and not detracting from the performers, but very pretty and well done. Effective, too.

I agree, Em. Absolutely! Love that man.

[insomniak]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#4

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:23pm

Should I buy the OBCR? Think I'd like it?

[luvtheEmcee]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#5

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:24pm

I have the CD.... and I have trouble really loving it, even after seeing the show. CoC was entirely sung through, much like RENT, but I found that the score gets kind of monotonous because it all bleeds into itself. You really have to be in the right mood to listen to it. It's really eclectic.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[Ellie3]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#6

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:24pm

Fab review, Delph!
Was it a packed house?

[Delphine]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#7

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:30pm

I agree, Emcee. That's the perfect phrase: "everything bleeds together". I loved the show, but I think it is something that is much better live than on a CD. The OBCR is very good, but it can be a bit of a chore sometimes.

And thank you, Ellie! Yes, it was jammed packed. The audience was very good; they responded to the jokes and gave a standing ovation and all. I was so glad to have such a fun, large audience for this deserving show. Updated On: 1/30/05 at 11:30 PM

[Ellie3]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#8

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:37pm

Huzzah!
*makes note,'must fly to SanFran'*

[GovernorSlaton]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#9

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:42pm

The OBCR is probably one of my favorite cd's; glad you had a good time. How is Tonya's voice holding up?

[Delphine]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#10

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:48pm

Thank you, Gov.

Tonya's voice seemed a bit stressed. She cracked a couple times, and had a little trouble with one song (I am completely blanking on which one). This is understandable, though. Her role seems like an incredibly hard one to sing. Nevertheless, she sounded beautiful, as always. Updated On: 1/30/05 at 11:48 PM

[PleaseChangeMe]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#11

Posted: 1/31/05 at 12:07am

Glad you enjoyed Caroline. Truly one of the masterpieces of theatre, better than Avenue Q or Wicked.

I also must say that Caroline has the best Finale, with Emmie, Jackie, and Joe.

[Delphine]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#12

Posted: 1/31/05 at 12:23am

After seeing both CoC and AQ, I would agree and say that CoC is better than AQ (a show that I love very, very much).

The finale was so moving and poignant. I was in tears!

[leomaxfrank]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#13

Posted: 1/31/05 at 2:50am

CoC is one of the best shows I have EVER seen in NY - so my opinion is clearly not surprising - but the collaboration and cooperation of Tesori and Kushner's score is what enthralls me the most. Ms. Tesori took that text - a poem actually - and totally constructed it into a beautifully melodic masterpiece of music (done how it is supposed to be). Putting any of Kushner's words to music would be a task and she does it perfectly. Kushner is arguably my favorite playwright so I have trouble saying this - but I feel that her job was much more difficult and was NO DOUBT robbed of a Tony in 2004. Some of the most compelling and emotionally-infused music I have ever heard. It's wonderful how much L.A. and San Francisco adore this show - I just wish it would have lasted longer in NY. I saw George C. Wolfe and Jeanine Tesori in the JFK airport, waiting to board a flight to L.A., and I told them how much their show affected me and how pieces like this are the reason I, as an actor, am glad I chose this profession. Also, that shows like Caroline are shows that will eventually touch everyone intended. Caroline will persevere through time. They were quite thankful and gracious and it was wonderful for me, as a theatregoer and performer to thank the people responsible for creating such a brilliant and timeless piece of theatre.

But I won't live alone in a house of regret.

[wink]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#14

Posted: 1/31/05 at 8:01am

I saw it two nights in a row on Broadway and still think about it everytime I take change or dollars out pants pockets. I've listened to the OCR so many times I have the entire score memorized. I'm so glad to see a thread about CAROLINE pop up here again.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#15

Posted: 1/31/05 at 9:28am

I love "Caroline, or Change" and I thought Tonya Pinkins was amazing. However, I notice, people are quick to say she screams, the way they're so quick to say Eden Espinosa and Idina Menzel scream. However, her voice has been gone for months and months now, every night, she cracks throughout the entire show. That, my friends, is from singing incorrectly, or from screaming. Unlike Idina and Eden, who have a high belt, not scream...otherwise their voices would be doing what Tonya's does. Still a great show and a great performance, just wanted to say that.

-Vincent

[misterchoi]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#16

Posted: 1/31/05 at 9:55am

fit her character.

"Yesterday is done. See the pretty countryside. Merrily we roll along, roll along- catching at dreams."- Merrily we roll along "The living was the prize, the ending's not the story."- Elegies, a song cycle

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#17

Posted: 1/31/05 at 10:35am

Then why wasn't she singing like that when the show FIRST opened? Her voice wasn't cracking as much as it does now. But, if that makes you feel better about it...hehe

-Vincent

[Staci1818]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#18

Posted: 1/31/05 at 1:19pm

I happy you liked it!

I have to agree about the OBCR. I love it, but I can't always listen to it all the way through, unless I'm in the mood. I stop 20 minutes in, unless I really want to listen to it...

[leomaxfrank]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#19

Posted: 1/31/05 at 3:11pm

Her voice certainly has been cracking since it opened.

But I won't live alone in a house of regret.

[IveGottaBeME]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#20

Posted: 1/31/05 at 5:32pm

Caroline is my favorite show... yes, hte music sounds the same a little bit when I first saw it. but now that i listen to it, it's so different! my favorite songs are: I got 4 kids, gonna pass me a law, moon trio, the song where she flips on dottie!! lol... Lot's wife, I Hate the Bus, 1963 or whatever that song is called lol..... the songs are so moving.. tonya cracked several times wehn i saw her, but ifelt like it made the character sooo much more powerful and real... i dunno i enjoyed it.

[Delphine]

re: Caroline, or Change- My Review#21

Posted: 1/31/05 at 7:10pm

I agree with everybody in saying that her voice fits the character. It's a very different thing than the Elphaba/Idina Menzel debate, which doesn't belong on this thread anyway.