"Change" is (damn) good- Page 2

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 2:17pm

I still can't believe so many people say that Tonya's performance is "one-note." Yes, the music speaks a lot for Caroline's emotions for most of the show, but long before Lot's Wife, Tonya's subdued and controlled performance still speaks volumes. Jealous, bitterness, anger, resentment, sadness and survival show in her performance, and Tonya does a tremendous job of showing us that they can be unique emotions. It's so nice to see a musical performance that doesn't have to smack us in the face with happiness or sadness.

I do hope that the show is filmed for HBO, so that it will be eligible for Emmy Awards, and Tonya would surely win.

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 3:02pm

ok this is probably gonna open a can of worms but eh... i don't really care. ok i saw the show perform on the tony's and i am so not a fan. i didn't think tonya did a good job at all... it did seem as if she was singing just one not the entire time. not to mention i did see the show and didn't think it was that great. i was bored with it by the middle of the first act. and could someone explain to me why that noni anika rose got the tony??? i'm sorry but isabel keating deserved it more than i thought she did.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 4:40pm

Caroline is amazing! How can you say it sucked? It was one of the best shows Ive ever seen!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 5:47pm

Oh, why couldn't it be BronxBoundAndGaggedExpress?

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 6:12pm

i'm not trying to start anything. i just wasn't impressed with it. and this is coming from someone who isn't hard to please when it comes to musicals. i love pretty much everything i see. and i didn't like this one. that's just my opinion here. sorry to cause i problem.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 6:12pm

elphaba***,
Although it's a little difficult to decipher your writing, what with the complete lack of concern for spelling, punctuation, and flow of thought....what I gathered you were trying to say was that based on Tonya's performance on the Tonys (admittedly not her best), you've decided to pan the show and everyone in it. Having actually SEEN both shows in question, I'd definitley have given the award to Anika Noni Rose. Both her performance in Caroline and the context in which she functioned, ran circles around the competition. But then again, I would have...based on having seen the shows...voted for Tonya over Idina, as well. Tonya's song on the Tonys was NOT what I would have chosen to showcase Caroline. It was an unfortunate decision, and frankly, Tonya was a little off that night. But then again, the same could be said about Idina's Tony display of nerves. I thought she was painful to watch and listen to... (And NO, I don't dislike Idina...) Fortunately, in theory at least, the award is given based on the voters' observation of actual performances.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 6:24pm

It wouldn't surprise me to have one poster or another raise my past comments regarding CAROLINE and to use them to use them to punch me several times. My comments were carefully worded to express my lack of interest in Tony Kushner's work, and my belief that the show would have no legs.

I also thought but didn't say publicly that the presentation on the TONYS was poor and would have the effect of closing the show.

Boy, was I wrong. I saw CAROLINE, and was very moved the first time. I bought the CD and have grown even more fond of the work. Yesterday I saw it again for the 2nd time and am even more impressed. George's work is to be especially commended. He was robbed of the Directing TONY, in my opinion. I've not seen WICKED so I won't compare performances. I do believe however that Tonya gave quite a nuanced performance both times I saw the show.

I owe a detailed pesonal response regarding CAROLINE to another poster who shared their comments with me privately, so I'll save my further thoughts for now. But I will add them to the thread later.

I'll close by saying to anyone who has not seen it, see it expecting a chamber opera not a traditional musical.

Updated On: 8/1/04 at 06:24 PM

[magruder]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 7:21pm

Jose, good for you. Glad you went to see it in the first place, and that you've warmed to it. I thought it was a true original, myself. I don't even quite understand the claim against it by some reviewers and chat boards that it's a difficult or oppresive experience to sit through. I found it truly entertaining and accessible. I have to echo a comment by Ken Mandelbaum in his review of the cast recording. I came out of Caroline, or Change, reminded somewhat of the work of Gian-Carlo Menotti (The Telephone, The Counsul, The Medium). Yes, there are things that are precious and even a little pretentious in Caroline, but on the whole, I gave it points for utter audacity and invention and was grateful to the cadre of producers who moved it to Broadway.

Updated On: 8/1/04 at 07:21 PM

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 7:52pm

now what i am trying to say is, that i saw both the tony's performance along with the actual show. and i wasn't judging anything on the tony performance. just because i understand that it is a big night for everyone and they generally are nervous from the start. but i just didn't care for the show. i'm the type of person who like's the "catchy, you're gonna come out humming a song" type musical. that didn't happen with this one. along with i just don't like Tony Kushner's work. i've done a few of his plays and just don't like his work. there's something that i can't put my finger on that i just don't like. it might be his style. and as for my comment about anika noni rose, i still stand with that. i didn't like her performance in the show. tony voters may have given her the tony award, but my heart lies with supporting isabel keating. i thought she did an amazing job. few people can tackle judy garland and she nailed it. like i said it's just my opinion but i wasn't impressed with the show. and i think i'm entitled to my opinion.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 8:11pm

Yes, you are. And I take them more seriously now that you've made it clear that you had actually seen the shows involved. Your first post made it sound like your judgements were based solely on what you saw on the Tonys.

I still disagree. But that's what it's (supposed to be) all about here...being able to disagree based on one's own reactions.

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 8:12pm

ok so i hope we cleared up that little misunderstanding there.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 8:14pm

just to say, the Tony preformance wasn't as good as the whole show! the show is amazing! trust me! i don't know how to express how much i love this show. to those who don't, you must be a CAts worshipper!!

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 8:26pm

::::cringe::::: cats.... never. i got the chance to work the tour when it came out to my school (college) and well 1.the tour was a mess, they didn't really have a clue what they were doing (tech crew wise) and the show itself was just bad.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 8:29pm

cats gets on my nerves. what the hell does it matter that they r "jellicle cats"... UGH

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 8:32pm

yes i have to agree with you there.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 10:02pm

Well, the whole Jellicle thing (as well as the rest of the show) came from T.S. Eliot's poetry in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. What you should argue about is whether that book should have been musicalized at all.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:06pm

*cough*...back to caroline


im glad that the show has some sort of support from those interested in seeing broadway tackle more ambitious subjects, in new and creative ways. and for the record, when i saw it, the audience gave tonya and the show a well deserved standing ovation

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 1:19am

haha, i'm just playing wichew guys!

[crp2000]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 10:10am

Finally caught "CoC" Saturday night and LOVED IT!!
I am a BIG fan of Idina, however her "Wicked" performance IN NO WAY tops Tonya's "CoC" performance!
Glad I can finally add my two cents to this topic. Updated On: 8/2/04 at 10:10 AM

[Plum]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 10:21am

Bronx- the whole "going into a thread and dissing the opinion of everyone in it just to get a reaction" game is getting really old. Either contribute to the discussion or stop. Or start a Starlight Express thread or something.

I am constantly short on money and there are several great shows I have yet to see, but I'm still highly tempted to go back to Caroline. That show has too much in it to digest in one sitting. Or three, probably. :) I'll just have to buy the cast recording.

And the show got a very prompt and enthusiastic standing ovation when I went.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 12:43pm

It lately seems like every show gets a standing ovation. Tonya deserves hers, but let's maybe start a thread discussing how to stop fat-assed tourists from standing up like a baseball game 'wave', regardless of performance.

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 12:50pm

yeah midtowngym has a point... alot of shows have been getting standing ovations. some deserve them and other don't. i will admit i was probably one of the first few people standing during boy from oz right after "once before i go" but he damn well deserved that one. but like i saw dance of the vampires and everyone (at least that day) gave them a standing ovation. personally the tech aspects of that show were pretty decent but plot/story wise, very sucky.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 12:57pm

Nonono. There have been 5,734 threads about standing O's already. Keep it to Caroline.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 1:01pm

OK. I must have missed those threads while I was peaking over someone standing up and applauding Farrah Fawcett forgetting her lines during 'Bobby Boland' previews. Back to Caroline (of which, by the way, there have also been lotsa threads, but deservedly so.)