Encores! Little Shop of Horrors Review Thread- Page 7

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 10:47pm

Lots of screaming and yelling?

[gleek4114]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:10pm

I'd love to see Bill Hader as the Dentist. If he can sing, that is. But he would knock the over the top comedy out of the park.

[darquegk]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:14pm

Hader can almost certainly sing well enough to do the Orin track. However, he's likely even busier than Taran Killam, as an up and coming film star himself.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:14pm

What about Alan Tudyk as Orin? I can see him have the right energy and charisma for Orin. I'm shocked that John Stamos hasn't played him at all, yet. Too bad he's all booked up with Fuller House

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:14pm

What about Alan Tudyk as Orin? I can see him have the right energy and charisma for Orin. I'm shocked that John Stamos hasn't played him at all, yet. Too bad he's all booked up with Fuller House

[Kad]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:22pm

Man, what an amazing evening in the theatre that was. The sort of thing you'll never forget. The atmosphere in the audience was electric. It was a very appreciate and loving crowd. 

I can't add much to the praise about Greene and Gyllenhaal, really. Greene is definitive and had Gyllenhaal had more rehearsal time, he may have become a definitive Seymour. Killam is a natural comedian and I hope this isn't the last we see of him onstage.

if there was a weak link, it was Joe Grifasi as Mushnik- he was the least comfortable and sure, and his take on Mushnik not particularly inspired.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:37pm

Echoing all of the praise that's already been shared.

In a word:  Wow.

What an amazing treat to see Greene in the role again.  It's hard to believe it's been 30 years!  

[LucyEth]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:37pm

jsg03jd: Let's be honest.  Ms. Greene missed her entrance because, at 64, the notes are beyond her.  She acted the **** out of the book scenes, and her characterization is, without question, brilliant and definitive.  But she ain't got the chops she used to have.  There, I said it.  Gyllenhaal's tender, funny, beautifully sung Seymour was the revelation this afternoon, as well Dick Scanlon's sharp, smart staging.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:45pm

is there audio of Greene's "Somewhere That's Green?" I haven't come across one yet on Tumblr.

[followspot]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:55pm

Saw both performances today.  Matinee was great.  Evening show was electrifying.  Somewhat tentative in the matinee, Greene blew the roof off at the final performance of this run — crisp, assured, in command of an audience completely in her thrall.  Can't say enough about Eddie Cooper — magnificent, delightful.  And WTH? — is there anything Jake Gyllenhaal can't do?!  An adorable, assured lead performance.  An unforgettable event.

 

Updated On: 7/3/15 at 11:55 PM

[Addison D.]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:57pm

"...But she ain't got the chops she used to have.  There, I said it."

Yes--but I'm not sure what it is that you're trying to say.  That Ms. Greene doesn't have precisely the same vocal instrument that she had 30 years ago?  Or that she doesn't have the "chops" to perform the role? 

Those strike me as two very different criticisms--one valid, one just flat-out mistaken.

She is not a robot.  Her physical body has, indeed, aged and she may have diminished range or power.  If you need to hear her sound EXACTLY the way she sounded in 1986, listen to the album.

But "chops"?  As I understand the expression, a performer's "chops" are the professional skill, depth and nuance that they bring to a role.  

I'd say Ellen Greene has chops to spare.

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/15 at 11:58pm

"Ms. Greene missed her entrance because, at 64, the notes are beyond her. She acted the **** out of the book scenes, and her characterization is, without question, brilliant and definitive. But she ain't got the chops she used to have. There, I said it."


LucyMeth, she missed the entrance this afternoon because she missed the entrance. I'm pretty confident that she knows this show better than you know anything in your life. She didn't miss it last night and I asked and she didn't miss it tonight so it was just something that happened.

There, I said it.

Her age has nothing to do with it.

There, I said it.

And if you think a 64 year old is going to sing the exact same as she did when she was 30, you're kidding yourself.

There, I said it.

Maybe next time you think your opinions or thoughts matter, you should count to ten and rethink.

THERE, I SAID IT.

Updated On: 7/3/15 at 11:58 PM

[LucyEth]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 12:18am

Gee, I guess the fact that I said that Ms. Greene's performance was brilliant and definitive means nothing.  Oh, but right, my opinion doesn't matter.  Forgive me for not knowing that this thread is the sole reserve of fawning sycophants.  

Updated On: 7/3/15 at 12:18 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 12:22am

Not a problem.  Now - 

 

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 1:17am

this is 100% not transferring, at least not with Ellen attached her manager said at the stage door "what y'all witnessed this evening is the last time she's ever going to do that part and the love she felt from y'all was overwhelming" 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 1:53am

The show was not as polished as A New Brain (wonderful by the way) but it had heart and the relationship between the audience and the cast was thrilling. Green was fabulous and Jake was very likeable. If he had been given more time to rehearse (and this is being picky) I have no doubt that he would have totally inhabited the role. The work he did between the dress and the final performance was very impressive.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 1:53am

I heard an audio clip from Wednesday night and Ellen Greene indeed hit all her cues in "Suddenly Seymour."  For whatever reason, I surmised she was lost in the moment and not that she was vocally incapable of singing that particular phrase, she just did not at the matinee performance.    

It happens.

I concur that Jake Gyllenhaal's singing was very much a welcome surprise and was glad he wasn't thrown off earlier this afternoon when Ellen Greene missed the lyric in question.  His voice stands over and above several other Hollywood "names" who have done/are doing musicals on Broadway.  

Plus, I finally got to hear him speak without a British accent on a New York stage!  

 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 1:54am

I must say, What a manager says to a crowd at a stage door to make them feel good and go home already doesn't seem to me to prove 100% of anything. I wouldn't be the least surprised to see something happen with this -- even if its just another night of concerts in London or L.A.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 1:57am

Um this was told to us AS she was signing, not some ploy to get us to go away. 

[JPeterman]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 2:04am

I read through most of this thread and I didn't notice anyone comment on Eddie Cooper.  I thought he was fantastic.  I would like to see Eddie in something else in the future. His dad Chuck Cooper was at the matinee on Thursday.  I said hello, he was very nice. 

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 2:16am

I had no idea Chuck Cooper had bowed out of this staging so I was a bit bummed when I saw the names in the program this afternoon.

However, Eddie Cooper sure did well by his father!  He was fantastic.  I wish they used "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space" if only to give Eddie Cooper another moment to shine.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 4:31am

THIS just warms my heart so much.  If I'm not mistaken, it looks like Jakey struggles a bit to let go of Ellen's grip and then walks off stage to allow her to take the final bow (before they all come out to applaud her again and take one last bow).  What a class act he is.  

 

 

THIS should have been this year's Hollywood Bowl musical.  

[carolineorchange21]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 7:07am

 

Somewhere That's Green - Miss Ellen Greene as Audrey - 7.2.15

 

I'm overwhelmed. Goddamn, that woman is a legend in our time.

 

Suddenly Seymour - Ellen and Jake - 7.2.15

 

Edit: found Suddenly Seymour. A second melt down has occurred in the space of 5 mins. My roommate is going to think i'm losing it.

 

Updated On: 7/3/15 at 07:07 AM

[SantanaLopez]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 8:59am

Ellen Greene must be on cloud nine with all the love & adulation she has been getting! Thanks for sharing the audio carolineorchange21! At least I got "a taste" of this staging and her performance.

Jake Gyllenhaal was a pleasant surprise. I did not know he could sing!

 

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 7/3/15 at 10:05am

Now, this is what I called an entrance applause

http://sopranomonroe.tumblr.com/post/123072551897/the-crowd-going-crazy-for-ellen-greene-at-the-july