A few people saw it over on ATC. Word was it was an amazing evening. Hopefully, it's just not a case of first-preview-itis. I've seen so many shows on first preview nights that felt like the greatest thing ever. Once the friends, family and well-wishers disappear, it's often another story.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this one. I have a soft spot in my heart (some would say my head, too) for MAME.
TT
"Me flunk English? That's unpossible!" - Ralph Wiggum
seeing this weekend, I can get back to you if you like.
Rosencrantz: "Be happy - if you're not even HAPPY what's so good about surviving? We'll be all right. I suppose we just go on."
- from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
I hope this works out and comes to Broadway! I know there are no helicopters or flying witches or screaching singers but there is a great score.
"I've lost everything! Luis, Marty, my baby with Chris, Chris himself, James. All I ever wanted was love." --Sheridan Crane "Passions"
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"Housework is like bad sex. Every time I do it, I swear I'll never do it again til the next time company comes."--"Lulu"
from "Can't Stop The Music"
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"When the right doors didn't open for him, he went through the wrong ones" - "Sweet Bird of Youth"
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"Passions" is uncancelled! See NBC.com for more info.
Yes, please let us know. Im so sorry I cant make it to DC when the show is playing...hopefully, hopefully it makes it to NY! What a cast, what a show! Keepin' my fingers crossed on this one.
Amazing, amazing, AMAZING production. The entire cast from top to bottom is stunning. Emily Skinner delivered the best "Gooch's Song" I've ever heard. Baranski's stirring "If He Walked Into My Life" brought tears to my eyes. If this doesn't come to New York, there is no justice in the world.
I saw it at the Kennedy Center last night and can agree that it is a very rousing production. Baranski has a pleasant singing voice, although she does better with the softer songs than ones that require some belting. Her enthusiasm in the part is contagious and her comic timing is impeccable. Harriet Harris is a scream as Vera Charles and Emily Skinner really bats it out of the park in Act II as Gooch. Harrison Chad has a lovely singing voice as Patrick Dennis and shares a nice chemistry with Baranski. Max von Essen, as the adult Patrick, also has some nice moments to show off his great voice, but as he only appears in Act II he is underused. Jeff McCarthy is a suitably dashing Beauregard Pickett Burnside. The production itself is nicely directed and quite lively. I could see it transitioning to Broadway, although I am not sure what the reaction would be there. It is more in line with old-style musicals a la The Pajama Game than the revival of Sweeney Todd (I freely admit it - I don't get the thrills people are having over this clumsy staging). The audience gave a very long and robust standing ovation at the conclusion. I have been attending shows in DC for years and can attest that this is a rarity for the sticks down here to give a standing ovation to much of anything no matter how hard the cast kills themselves. So that, in itself, must certainly demonstrate their affection for this production. Still, the official reviews are not out yet and it is amazing how quick bad critical buzz can kill a show. Hope this is helpful to you.
Please let those reviews be out of the ball park positive this week and transfer it to Bway...the Palace, the Barrymore, hell - the Cort - I don't care just get those great folks on a NY stage.
well i've worked with peter marks (the lead critic for the post and man with the most theatre clout in dc) for the past year. he is very excited about this production on a whole. i also have sat in on meetings between him and michael kaiser (president of the kennedy center, this production is his labor of love)... peter really loves musical comedies and not musical dramas, so the potential is there for this to be a homerun.
Oh Miss P you know we are all champing at the bit to read your review! Of course I'd MUCH rather be there with you, but reading your reviews lets me dream I'm in the next seat!
I want so much for this to be wonderful! Well, maybe I want there to be couple problems so they decide to take the show to CHICAGO for a brief shakedown before Broadwy!!
Can't wait to go down and see it. Can someone who saw it look in the program and tell me who the Music Director & Conductor was and if there was a Music Supervisor? Also how many people in the orchestra. I hope it was a good size. Thanks in advance.
TalkinBroadway.com now has a few more audience reviews - from people who seemed to still enjoy the show, but are more critical of Baranski in the title role.
I am not sure Baranski is any more miscast than Janis Paige, Jane Morgan, Ann Miller, Ginger Rogers, Juliet Prowse or Celeste Holm were, who all played MAME following Lansbury. (And the front-runner before Angela was Nanette Fabray, who might have been quite good.)
In addition to her moderate-to-good singing (at the time) and dancing chops, Lansbury was a brilliant actress and a huge stage presence. Can Baranski top Lansbury? Probably not. But she will certainly be the equal or better of the ladies who came after.
I totally disagree that Celeste Holm, Juliet Prowse and Janis Paige were miscast. In their day, they all had a warm sophisticated elegance that was perfect for the role. I've read several reports that said Celeste Holm in particular was marvelous in the role. And I saw Prowse, who was pretty ideal.
Ann Miller and Ginger Roger's suitability is certainly debatable. I'll give you that. Though certainly Miller will sing it better than Baranski and Rogers will dance it better, if that is what you mean by "better than the women who came after Lansbury."
But none of these women had the problem of being inherintly a "Vera" which is the battle Baranski seems to be up against.
