Fiddler on the Roof Previews- Page 13

[joeyv2]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 8:26am

Saw this last night and could hardly stay awake! 

 

For so much happening on stage, the energy was so so so low. Part of that may have been sound issues: the orchestra registered very quietly (I was sitting in about the 6th row) and there may have been mic issues because the vocals on the actors was dim too. 

 

Danny Burstein is a pleasure to watch but he basically carried the entire show, which was weirdly exhausting for me to watch. His performance of "If I Were a Rich Man" was misguided. He's permitted (or asked to) indulge the "daydreamy" nature of the song far too severely and he winds up kind of mumbling throughout the entire thing and his cutesy dancing during it overtakes the content of the song. Lots of turning his back to the audience while he's singing and with the quiet vocals and mumbling affect, it just didn't work.

 

There was also zero chemistry among the performers. They all felt like they were doing their own thing at all times. The casting is just off. "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" for example was, to my mind, far glummer than it should have been and the actresses seemed so far from one another when they sang this song. Perhaps that's how they were directed to behave, but it seemed a strange choice. I think there's a valid point to be made that the matchmaking is a depressing notion, and obviously much of the plot rests on tradition and its tensions/rebellions, but still, the number set a troubling tone. It kind of announced there'd be little joy in the show and that proved true.

 

There's a big opening visual ala "King and I" that was really breathtaking but apart from that, the staging was unimpressive. Whoever commented on here that the men in black t-shirts moving parts around the stage was jarring and amateurish, I'm 100% with you. Every time it happened - some middle-aged dude with a head set literally shoving a tree on wheels to the corner of the stage - I became more and more infuriated. I've never seen that before in a large scale Broadway production. Cast members moving things about is one thing, but this was straight up crew guys trying, and failing, to sneak around stage and it didn't work. There's no reason those trees and doors couldn't have been on tracks and moved themselves to and fro. VERY weird. 

Updated On: 11/25/15 at 08:26 AM

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 8:30am

Darn. This sounds like a very messy and unfocused show. But I love Danny so I'll still see it on Saturday.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 8:34am

You really seem to like cherry-picking the opinions that line up with your worst assumptions, don't you?

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 8:50am

I wouldn't think so. Many have laid out the problems they have with the show and I accept that this won't be on the level of Sher's South Paific and King and I. And that's okay. 

[PianoMann]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 9:13am

Hamilton22 said: "I wouldn't think so. Many have laid out the problems they have with the show and I accept that this won't be on the level of Sher's South Paific and King and I. And that's okay."

 

No offense, Hamilton22, but it really does seem like it to me. You quote and comment on all of the negative reactions in this thread, but you ignore almost if not all of the very positive-to-rave reviews given by veteran BWW posters including PalJoey, Whizzer, and WiCkEDrOcKS.

 

And I thought you said you were seeing it last night? Did you attend? What are your thoughts?

 

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 9:27am

Pianomann, I don't believe Whizzer has given his review yet. On first reading the reactions from this thread, I won't lie, the visible stagehands, the frame device and the flying fiddler definitely through me for a negative loop. Almost as if  Sher is trying too hard with this one. I'll just have to see for myself if I like it or not. I have no agenda, it just sounds like there are many positive things to this production and many negative things.

 

From reading every review of the show ( the positive ones and the negative ones) it doesn't sound like this will be a slam dunk like Sher's King and I and South Pacific. Which makes sense because Fiddler is a much harder show to pull off.

Back in the summer I wondered why we needed yet another Fiddler revival. I will find out saturday if this was needed.

 

And yes I was supposed to see it last night but as I mentioned on another thread, I had to withdraw my tickets and pick a different night. Saturday should be fun.

 

[PianoMann]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 9:31am

Fair enough, I do hope you enjoy it when you see it on Saturday. Please let us know what you think!

 

Also, Whizzer did post limited feedback because he missed the first 20 minutes of the performance and will be returning soon to see it in its entirety.  But he did say:

 

I don't feel right commenting on a production that I didn't see in its entirety, but I do plan on going back tomorrow night and catching the full show this time. I will briefly say that what I saw I adored and will share more detailed thoughts (hopefully) tomorrow. 

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 9:41am

I'll definitely let you know what I think. I'm excited to see Danny in the role. I really hope he nails Tevye. I'm a little worried about the orchestra though. In the new sitzprobe video, the orchestra sounds very tiny and small. Hopefully it sounds different live.

And I'm glad Whizzer adored it. He's very honest in his reviews so I'm looking forward to hearing the full one. 

.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 9:42am

Whizzer will see the show in it's entirety tonight. So excited.  

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 9:44am

Musical Master, I take it you don't live in New York City and it's very difficult for you to see Broadway shows? 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 9:46am

Yep. I live in the south, so it's very difficult to visit NYC often.

[JayG 2]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 9:51am

Anyone who thinks Fiddler is a harder show to pull off than an old creaky chestnut like South Pacific has NO IDEA what he's talking about.

 

 

[holdyourbatboy]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 10:37am

Saw it last night, and I thought the entire production was stunning and heart-wrenching.

The "refreshed" choreography is a revelation.  There is a new "movement" language throughout the entire production that was quite special.  The iconic Jerome Robbins moments are still there, don't worry.  

The first 5 minutes alone drew gasps from the audience - it was breathtaking.

It was only the 4th preview, so some of the small tech snafus should be fixed. Yes, they need to deal with those stagehands lazily strolling across the stage with headsets on.  Kinda took me out of the village...I look forward to seeing it once it's frozen. 

Overall though - I've seen many productions of this show, and this one was the most deeply moving. Much of that is due to Danny Burstein's beautiful performance.

It was magic and I highly recommend it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 10:40am

How were the accents?

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 10:55am

I'm glad you liked it holdyourbatboy. Do you think the Chava Ballet was done justice in this revival?

Updated On: 11/25/15 at 10:55 AM

[holdyourbatboy]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 11:19am

The Chava ballet was 99% the original Jerome Robbins choreo with the scrim and all.  You could hear people crying.  They did a beautiful job of incorporating new movement while keeping the original iconic Robbins moments.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 11:40am

That's a relief to hear that Bartlett Sher and Hofesh Schecter have left the Chava Ballet as it was originally intended and let the beauty and sadness of that sequence speak for itself.

[OMG2]

Posted: 11/25/15 at 11:50pm

Very anxious to read Whizzer's comment. Someone who saw it last night said they didn't take individual bows at the end. They loved it, weak accent from Danny. Will see it next month.

[pippin423]

Posted: 11/26/15 at 12:08am

There were no individual bows. The cast came out as a whole, took a bow together, and that was that. It was like WTF was that. They shortchanged a lot of talented people by not giving them their due. Really loved the show but that left me cold.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/26/15 at 12:15am

I believe Sher usually takes his time implementing a proper curtain call during the preview period. 

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/26/15 at 12:29am

Excuse me, DID SOMEBODY SAY "WEAK ACCENT FROM DANNY?"

 

Boy, nothing will kill a show around here faster than that.  AND FROM THE LEAD!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/26/15 at 12:43am

Hehehehe Zero's accent was pitch perfect!

 

[OMG2]

Posted: 11/26/15 at 12:53am

I was told that about his accent. It's that persons opinion. I will see it next month and decide what I think.  Over all she raved about Motel the tailor performance, as well as the daughters.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/26/15 at 1:07am

 

I was told that about his accent.

 

I found Danny's accent to be be a little more Minsk than Pinsk, and a little less Omsk than Tomsk.

 

But at least it was not Vitebsk, like so many lazy Tevyes you see.

 

Am I right?

 

[OMG2]

Posted: 11/26/15 at 2:12am

Far from any knowledge of accents. Minsk or whatever. It would be hard to believe it was great.

maybe Whizzer is so ferklempt from production, he is overwhelmed

All of you are counting on his thoughts