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#51

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 6/25/11 at 7:06pm

Attended the Matinee this afternoon (Sat). rebecca Luker was out. I had no problem with the book. I was told they have been making daily changes. The problem for me was the music. Most of it sounded the same and the songs that seemed to have potential to be interesting went nowhere. I did enjoy "Finally to Know" in Act II and thought that "I thought That I Could Live" would be really wonderful but it just kind of stopped. Stand out performances for me were Julien Ovenden as Death and Alexandra Socha as Daisy.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#52

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 6/25/11 at 7:23pm

This sounds like such a promising show on paper. It's certainly a plot that should work really well in a musical theatre environment. With regards to Julian Ovenden. I personally adore his voice but I think he is what would be best described as an 'old fashioned' musical theatre star. Does that make sense? ie. He seems to fit something like a Rodgers & Hammerstein rather than something like a Tom Kitt or Shaiman/Wittman score.

#53

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 6/25/11 at 7:36pm

I think the plot works out well on stage. It is also well acted and sung. I agree about Ovenden but the entire show seems to have that feel anyway. Ovenden was a lot of fun to watch. Also enjoyed Balgord.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#54

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 6/25/11 at 7:56pm

Does this have any rush? If so how much?

#55

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 6/26/11 at 3:18am

saw the show tonight. i am ordinarily not one to criticize in many situations and i like to give most shows the benefit of the doubt, but 'death takes a holiday' was awful. the lyrics were atrocious. the rhymes were so bad, they sounded as if they were ad-libbed á la who's line is it anyway... and the show was beyond boring. i yawned about fifteen times and rolled my eyes more than i can count. i am shocked that the music was written by mr. yeston and that it included such a star-studded cast. this show does not belong on a new york stage. the concept and framework are solid, but the lyrics, book and acting are absolutely awful and i am truly sorry that i saw this show. i guess it makes me feel a little better about all the other shows that i saw this year and i am glad i got my tickets cheaply through hiptix. i am still in awe of its messiness, what a snoozefest!

Updated On: 6/26/11 at 03:18 AM

#56

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 6/29/11 at 10:54pm

I saw the show at today's matinee and really enjoyed it. The story is charming and quite compelling. The performances are all excellent--especially Julian Ovenden, who is not only good looking but has a terrific voice. I also liked Michael Siberry, Rebecca Luker and Jill Paice. For the little time that Matt Cavenaugh is on stage, he's really fine.

When it comes to the music, I have to say I really loved it. There were really nice melodies and some vocal harmonies that were nothing short of sublime. The set was simple but yielded some visually stunning moments.

I'd like to see it again.

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#57

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 6/29/11 at 11:40pm

Found the score and the book very compelling. Star-studded cast with extensive Broadway experience, exquisite set design, and just all around a winner. Plot kept me guessing back and forth until the final scene, which I certainly will not forget for a while. This is a show I could see again and again. Outstanding performances by the cast and very strong voices. Could definitely see this transferring to Broadway - perhaps at Roundabout's Studio 54 space. This deserves to be seen by a much wider audience.

#58

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 6/30/11 at 12:52am

I guess diverse opinions on this forum shouldn't shock me by now, but the hugely diverse takes on this show--especially given the cast and creative team involved, are fascinating.

#59

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 6/30/11 at 1:13am

Eric -- I agree. The extreme split in opinions on this show are interesting. It appears as if there really is not much of a middle ground. I have tickets for July 13 and from one post to the next I'm either feeling like a genius for buying tickets or wondering if I should have spent my money on a different show!

"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." --Harold Hill from The Music Man

#60

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/9/11 at 11:41am

I saw the show last night, and I should preface by saying that Yeston is a guilty pleasure of mine. That said, I loved the music.

My main problem with the show is that it seemed almost too big to be contained by this small production. Things were described that we just couldn't see. For instance in one scene Luker sings in her lost son's room, but the room is only indicated with a small curtain. And the music was so over powering and "big." It seemed weird for such a small space.

My only other problem was how the story evolved. All of the major plot points took place off stage. Granted I think they worked them into the scenes well, but it would have been nice to see Eric (Matt C) confront Death, or see the Fiance and the girl fighting.

Overall I thought it was great. Ovenden is a star. I could not take my eyes off him. He brings so much joy to the part, and his voice is beautiful. He's just great. Luker's big number is BEAUTIFUL. The only song I would cut is the one in Act II with the older couple that doesn't really say anything important.

#61

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/9/11 at 12:32pm

You are all talking about a show that is is still "in progress". I just learned that the opening number has been drastically revised to show an episode that had previously been discussed in the play.

It's called "preview" folks. Don't forget it!

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#62

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/9/11 at 2:41pm

I haven't seen TITANIC or NINE yet. But I did see the Roundabout productions of NIGHT MUSIC and MILK TRAIN, and DEATH made me think of both -- NIGHT MUSIC for the weekend in the country and MILK TRAIN for the themes explored.

In fact, if I could find my Playbills, I'd check to see if any of Olympia's Italian servants are also in this. One guy looked mighty familiar.

#63

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/9/11 at 9:00pm

It did looked like they recycled the set for "Milk Train."

And I know it's still in previews, but what's wrong with offering up an opinion?

The show def. has a weird flow to it. Matt C's character has a big number in ACT 1, but maybe has like 5 lines in the whole play. It's odd to give a minor character such a big, dramatic number (It's a great song, and goes over well). It's like Kerry Butler's song in Catch Me. It just seems an odd fit considering nothing comes of Matt C's relationship with Death - at least nothing that we see on stage.

Also the show seems to go from big number to big number. I loved the trio of girls number in ACT II. I think the show needs more moments like that instead of big power ballad after big power ballad.

#64

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/10/11 at 9:09am

I found it very compelling and the more I think about it, the more I want to see it again. I was a bit concerned at first, as I found the opening a bit just blah, just kind of there. But from the moment Ovenden came on stage, I become invested. He and Jill Paice are truly singing some of the most beautiful music I've heard in a show in quite a while, especially "Alone Here with You" and "More and More."

I was not at all familiar with the movie, so I really did not know what was going to happen at the end. There was a discussion with the cast after the show which made me think and contemplate the show even more. I highly agree with what the cast said about walking the fine line between romantic comedy and the serious issues of death and living your life to the fullest while you are here. This is a potentially dangerous fine line, on that could be a real mess, if not done carefully. I think it works VERY well.

Matt Cavenaugh knocks his song out of the theater and into the Hudson River as far as I'm concerned. I do wish that he and Max von Essan had more to do, but the truth is, they are secondary characters and it would be forced to give them more songs. As it is, the songs, for the most part do a good job of advancing the story. I would love to hear this over and over, and would be thrilled if it was recorded. If you have a chance to go, it's well worth the time and ticket price, even to Just hear Mr Ovendan sing for about 2 hours (I actually didn't want it to end, because I didn't want him to stop singing!)

"The price of love is loss, but still we pay; We love anyway."

#65

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/17/11 at 10:37am

Saw the show yesterday. runnning time is down to 2 hours 30 minutes. While I did find it a little slow at moments I quite enjoyed the show. Cast was great, book was compelling and the score was beautiful. Julian Overden was the standout star of the show. I have put him on my list of Broadway dudes to drool over. He is perfection.

The show opens in 4 days. Wonder how the critics will feel?

#66

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/17/11 at 10:45am

I would like to hear Ovendon in a theatre with better acoustics. The Laura Pels obviously wasn't built with musicals in mind.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

Updated On: 7/17/11 at 10:45 AM

#67

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/17/11 at 11:28am

I had absolutely no difficulty hearing the actors at the Pels. Never have.

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#68

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/17/11 at 11:36am

And tell me that this man in not delicious

http://www.fanpix.net/picture-gallery/julian-ovenden-picture-15860369.htm

Cheyenne Jackson move over!!!

#69

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/17/11 at 11:36am

I didn't have any trouble HEARING the actors (maybe because the show is overmic'ed), but the theatre's acoustics aren't as good as others that were built with musicals in mind. Ovendon's voice is quasi-operatic (he trained as a classical singer) and was often overpowering in such a small space.

#70

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/17/11 at 3:31pm

I think the show as a whole is too big for that space. I don't know why they decided to do it at their off-Broadway space.

#71

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/17/11 at 4:03pm

I saw the show yesterday afternoon. There were lots of critics there, and it was a full house.

I have to think that many changes have been made since some of the early previews discussed in this thread, because what I saw yesterday was very far from a mess or a bore. For me, the score was the show's biggest asset - one of the most beautifully melodic I've heard in a long time. The Act Two trio for the young women starts out with a simple, almost trite melody but builds into a remarkable multi-layered explosion of longing for imagined ecstasy before once again fading gently away. That's the best song I've heard in a new musical since Piazza, and there are several others that are almost as good.

I can see the point of some others who have complained that Matt Cavanaugh's song is a little off-topic, but what a song! Its rather ominous tone stood out from the overall texture of the show up to that point, and the music and lyrics added up to an almost disturbingly vivid sketch of a particularly horrifying point in the character's young life. Just as chilling was Rebecca Luker's song in Act II, which could have been hackneyed or sentimental, but was very powerful because it was so subdued.

#72

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/17/11 at 7:58pm

As much as I enjoy the play, I've not been too fond of the various movie versions (MEET JOE BLACK, anyone?), but I have to admit it didnt strike me as fodder for a musical. Were I to look at that kind of theme, I might lean more towards the play INTERMEZZO (known in France as THE ENCHANTED) by Giraudoux, which has scenes that could be quite wonderful as musical set pieces.

But I'll be curious to see what they did with this one.

http://docandraider.com

#73

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/17/11 at 9:25pm

I saw this show on July 4th weekend, so they may have made changes since then. I found the whole thing to be a big bore. The major problem for me was the central love story, which I simply did not buy. There was one good song that Rebecca Luker sang in Act 2, other than that, forget it.
Unless they make MAJOR changes and rewrites, this show will not go beyond its present run.

#74

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/17/11 at 10:03pm

To Ripped

It makes sense to use a smaller theater. Get the show ready for broadway in a smaller less expensive house all the while getting audience feedback.

If it does well, investors will be easier to get & the cost to mount it will be much less.

Poster Emeritus

#75

Death Takes a Holiday

Posted: 7/21/11 at 1:04am

I saw it tonight and was totally charmed. I found it delightful and entertaining. It was such a nice change to go into a brand new musical not knowing the story beforehand and to be kept guessing as it unfolds. I thought the music was pretty beautiful and I would love to hear it all again. I think the critics' opinions will be as divided as ours have been in this thread, but I hope it does get a number of favorable reviews. I'd also love to see the show in a bigger space with a bigger orchestra. This score would sound even better with a full string section and a huge orchestra. I would definitely see the show again and will hope for a Broadway transfer. I'm glad to see that some others enjoyed the show as well!

ETA: Julian Ovenden was out at tonight's show and his role was played by Kevin Earley. It was a bit odd because Earley wasn't listed in the Playbill so his announcement and bio were stuffed in. Isn't it a bit odd that Ovenden was out right before opening? Kevin Earley was very good and if he learned the role in a hurry, he did a phenomenal job.

Updated On: 7/21/11 at 01:04 AM

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