"Civil War" reviews

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 5:00am

Well, I got to see "Civil War" in DC and, I must say, it was a very smart production. Not having seen the Broadway version, I cannot compare. But, according to one actor who was on Broadway with the original production, the director's interpretation of the material had much to do with how the show came across, and possibly failed to engage the audiences. Besides being a heavy subject, he says that a lot of "slow motion" acting frames were used, as well as a bit too many rifles and guns (not "kid friendly" at all). It was interesting to hear this point of view from someone who was actually in the original Broadway version, and his reasons for the short success there were sensible and most probably correct.
The DC show was altered a bit: The band still sat in the middle of the stage, but the actors came down stairs on either side, and dressed in modern clothes. Against the backdrop of actual Civil War pictures, some quite disturbing to watch. They used a moving circular stage as well, and without giving too many spoilers, I just have to say that the scenes protrayed on this were quite effective, and beautifully mounted.
The best part of seeing this show at Ford's Theatre (that is why I made the effort to travel there to see it), was when the lights dimmed, and the Presidential Box where Lincoln sat last was iluminated! What a thrill to be there at these moments!
The actors (a little less than half were black Americans) were all great singers, and they did their parts with touching sentiment and engaging enthusiasm. Overall, it made for a great night at the theater, and well worth the trip.
Let me see...the actors were all great in their parts, but I particularly thought that these shone the brightest: Michael Lanning, Darryl Reuben Hall, Elliot Dash, Bligh Voth, Sean Jenness, Kingsley Leggs, Eleasha Gamble.
Bellow is a review I found, with a lovely photo from the show.
http://www.thesentinel.com/pgs/Review--Civil-War

[rentheadca]

Posted: 5/3/09 at 7:12am

I loved when they would light up the Presidential Box too!
I thought it was really good

[Ashley4Tale]

Posted: 5/7/09 at 7:33pm

Here is a recent video for those who can't go. I was blessed with the opportunity to see this show, and I was rather pleased with how it was produced. After having heard how bad it was on Broadway, I had doubts. But, it made for a great evening at the Theatre. I recommend it to anyone visiting DC.
http://www.fordstheatre.org/event/civil-war-0

[philly03]

Posted: 5/7/09 at 10:33pm

Good to hear you like it. Haven't decided (and time is running out!) if I'm going to get down to D.C. to see it.

Was Michael Lanning the one you were referring to in the beginning of your post? Him and Frank Wildhorn seem to be friends to say the least, and I wouldn't be surprised if he (as all actors/actresses it seems from Wildhorn shows) has a strong opinion about it!

Hopefully he'll be in Wonderland - Alice's New Musical Adventure later this year too! (As the Caterpillar!)

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/7/09 at 11:57pm

Right, philly03! Michael Lanning is the only original cast member from the Broadway production. He is also the one who commented about how the show was interpreted by the then director, which perhaps led to the quick demise of the show on Broadway.
My take: It is a hard subject, and no matter how it is interpreted, it will be a sad story to tell. People, perhaps, cannot take sitting there watching the subject matter without feeling uncomfortable at some point (I had a hard time watching the actual Civil War pictures portrayed on the back wall of the stage, myself =[...). It is still, in my view, a story to be told to generations to come, so they know what their country went through to get to where we are today.

I really enjoyed his performance and singing, so I would love to get to see him in another project! (at this rate, I'm going to have to get a budget plan for all the travelling to and shows I want to see =O!!!
BTW...I had never seen any of the black actors in this show, but I would really love to see more of them! IMO, they shone the brightest!

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 5/8/09 at 12:26am

I was lucky enough to see the original workshop in Houston and thought it was great. It really just consisted of bleachers and uniforms, if I recall. I didn't see the Broadway production but I definitely agree that once you add guns and such, it becomes much less conceptual and a much harder sell.

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 5/8/09 at 12:50am

Check all the DC reviews of The Civil War in THEIR REVIEWS at DC Theatre Scene.
ALL THE CIVIL WAR REVIEWS ON DC THEATRE SCENE

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/8/09 at 6:49am

Thanks for the link, hockeynut2!
I just wanted to say that I disagree with the reviews stating that the characters in the show lacked definition. This show is in the format of vignettes which convey different situations people found themselves in during the Civil War, and the underlying sentiments they carried. Each character is defined by the situation they endured, not by character traits per se. The audience, in turn, should recognize that the character is representing, not an individual, but everyone else who went through the same experience at this trying time of history. Thus, we get a series of excerpts from the various emotions the author wanted to convey to his audience.
Honestly, I'm not sure why the Wildhorn antipathy is there in critics. But, I think I am gettin it, after what you said, philly03, that he and, his actors also, tend to be very outspoken. I think he is coming across as self absorbed, or too strong for their liking, maybe...?

[kec]

Posted: 5/8/09 at 8:44am

I'm seeing this on Sunday. Thanks for the info.

[philly03]

Posted: 5/8/09 at 7:34pm

I just think it's a bizarre concept for a "musical" anyway. I like some of the songs, but most people (including) myself aren't fans of that whole cycle-song thing.

Reportedly, when it wasn't selling too well on Broadway, some Touring company had an opening slot in it's 1999-00 lineup that began in the winter and they just decided why wait for word of mouth -- just close and tour. Probably was a bigger hit on the road than it would be on Broadway anyway. That's the big rumor anyway..! It did have a nice tour that ran for a while, if I recall correctly!

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 5:25am

Did anyone who saw the show in their recent DC run seen Civil War on Broadway also...? I'd like to get some input as to how they differed, besides the guns not been used in the recent one.
Thanks :)