Finding Neverland Question

[Madalyn C]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 12:32pm

Hi!
I'm seeing Finding Neverland for the first time ever this Saturday, at the 8pm showing. I've been listening to the cast recording and absolutely adore it, but I'm also aware of the fact that now J.M. Barrie is played by Alfie Boe instead of Matthew Morrison.

Hence my question:
Is Boe good and/or better as J.M. Barrie, or do you all feel that Morrison did a better job? And is the current cast better than the original cast in the recording?

I'm sure I'll love the musical no matter what, but I was just wondering what you all think. I saw Wicked, and loved the cast I saw more than the cast recording, and it was the same with Phantom. I was wondering if you all think it's the same case for Finding Neverland.

Updated On: 6/1/16 at 12:32 PM

[loveinnewyorkcity]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 10:15am

I believe Alfie Boe is actually out for a while due to injury so you will likely be seeing an understudy. 

In my opinion though, Matthew Morrison was better in the role. He had more energy and presence on stage.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 10:18am

If anyone was wondering about the injury: https://twitter.com/AlfieBoe/status/738065571623882752

[TheaterGal3]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 10:44am

I haven’t seen Alfie Boe, but I did see it with Matthew, Kelsey Grammer and Laura Michelle Kelly. I thought they were all great with Laura being the one who really stood out for me. She's on the original cast recording and is still in the show. I find her to be worth the price of admission. Teal Wicks, plays J.M. Barrie's wife, is still with the show through this Sunday. She's an original cast member and also very good.

I've seen the show twice (second time was with Tony Yazbeck) and liked it a lot. Hope you enjoy it, too!

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 10:54am

You'll probably see Kevin Kern one of the swings who had been with the show from the beginning and has gone on many many times as Barrie. He does a fabulous job in my opinion and audiences seem to love him. Each Barrie brings his own charm to the production. Kevin's been on practically every show for the last weeks. 

But yes Laura Michelle kelly is the heart and soul of the show and she should be there on Saturday barring any last minute emergencies. 

The kids are all great and many rotate in up to three roles.  The boy who originally played Michael is now one of the Peters. 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 10:56am

We saw it with Kern and he did a great job .The rest of the cast and the show were very good as well.

[all_that_jazz]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 11:04am

I've been a couple times and have another trip at the end of June.  Laura Michelle Kelly really is worth the price of admission.  And the show itself.  I havent seen Alfie yet but I saw Matthew and I saw the second act of Kevin's.  I'm personally hoping to see Kevin go on when I'm there so I can see his whole show.  I thought he was wonderful.  And of course Chris Dean as Elliot is amazing.the entire cast is devoted and energetic.  U will have a great time.  Also looking forward to Mark Kudich as Hook that should be brilliant.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 11:05am

^ are you a fan of Fran and Barry?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 11:43am

Saw the show last night with the hope of seeing Alfie. I wouldn't have returned to see the show again if I had known he would be out, but c'est la vie. I enjoyed the show anyway. As many problems as there are with the show, I do find it very magical. All 3 times I've seen it I've enjoyed the 2nd act SIGNIFICANTLY more than the 1st act. Sylvia's final scene is still one of the most beautiful pieces of stage-craft I've ever seen. 

Kern is even better than the last time I saw him. Laura Michelle Kelly is still a dazzling gem of perfection. Marc Kudisch doesn't have Kelsey Grammer's stage presence, but does a great job in the role anyway. Christy Cates was on as Mrs. Du Maurier, and did a good job. 

Also, I noticed that the ending of the song "Neverland" has been drastically changed. It was quite gorgeous, but really caught me off guard. Does anyone know when this was changed? 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 12:02pm

I saw the show recently with Kern and Kudisch and enjoyed them much better than Morrison and Mann. Kern's voice is more suited to the music than Boe's, and is actually more powerful than Morrison, who did not have the stamina for 8 shows a week.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 12:31pm

JBroadway said: "

Also, I noticed that the ending of the song "Neverland" has been drastically changed. It was quite gorgeous, but really caught me off guard. Does anyone know when this was changed? 

 

"

It was changed after Matthew left and it's been slightly different with the different Barries. Both Tony Y and Kevin sing this different version (which may be the same to each other but not sure). Alfie's version has the biggest change as it showcases his voice - but IMO is not my favorite because he sings the end like a solo, as opposed to the duet is actually is. It's like yes we know you sing but it's written for two characters.

There are also some other differences since Matthew left - opening of Act 2 is different and the end scenes are slightly changed as well.

Updated On: 6/2/16 at 12:31 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 12:35pm

Why is Teal Wicks leaving this Sunday?  I thought she would play out the remainder of the run.  Who is her replacement?

[CarlAlan610]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 12:37pm

The end of Neverland is how it was with Jordan in Boston - Morrison could not sing it. 

[Sunny11]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 1:15pm

Had the choreography for Barrie's numbers changed?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6rXKHd3ia24

This is believe from the White House event and its, naturally, better and more polished than the rehearsal footage from last March.

I know some questioned why Barrie was dancing like Gene Kelly but I liked it. It  reminded me of Burt in Mary  Poppins.  

   

Updated On: 6/2/16 at 01:15 PM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 1:39pm

The White House event is shorter and edited so it's hard to tell but it seems the same as it's being done now. The rehearsal footage that I have seen is not the final product.

Tony Y did the best dancing (I mean he IS a dancer)...you can't beat his version of the "What you mean to me" shadow dance with Laura. No one else came close IMO.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 4:42pm

Morrison IS a dancer too, he stared out on broadway as a breakdancer in the footloose ensemble. 

[ZellMorrowsPledge]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 4:56pm

Im seeing the show for the first time on the 18th. I hope he's back

[Alex10]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 5:08pm

WithoutATrace said: "Why is Teal Wicks leaving this Sunday?  I thought she would play out the remainder of the run.  Who is her replacement?

 

"

Teal had already planned to leave on Sunday before closing was announced, and now has other life engagements that make it impossible for her to stay in the show until closing. Her understudy, Dana Costello, is very very likely to be her replacement.

[TheaterGal3]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 5:16pm

Alex10 said: "Teal had already planned to leave on Sunday before closing was announced, and now has other life engagements that make it impossible for her to stay in the show until closing. Her understudy, Dana Costello, is very very likely to be her replacement."

Oh, I hope it's Dana! I have a ticket for the final show and would be awesome to see her in the role.

 

Updated On: 6/2/16 at 05:16 PM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 5:50pm

Sunny11 said: "Morrison IS a dancer too, he stared out on broadway as a breakdancer in the footloose ensemble. 

 

"

Morrison is an excellent dancer but Tony is a Dancer with a capital D. I don't think that Matthew could pull of the huge ballet that Tony did in On The Town for example for 8 shows a week.  It's not his training. And while all the Barries gracefully climb over the bench at the end of Believe, Yasbeck just sailed over it. 

[non-stop26]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 6:23pm

Also, I noticed that the ending of the song "Neverland" has been drastically changed. It was quite gorgeous, but really caught me off guard. Does anyone know when this was changed? 

 

"

Can someone post a link to a video  or something of the changed finale?

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 8:59pm

"Neverland" that is being referenced is not sung at the end of the show - but the first time it's heard in the middle of Act 1 -  when Barrie tells Sylvia about the place he invented as a child. That is the one that has a vocally different ending.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 10:01pm

Technically Morrison handled more a more  difficult score  in the light in the piazza. I don't see why he couldn't  sing that different arrangement of neverland. I've heard him sing similar sounding songs live and on recordings.

[non-stop26]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 10:18pm

KathyNYC2 said: ""Neverland" that is being referenced is not sung at the end of the show - but the first time it's heard in the middle of Act 1 -  when Barrie tells Sylvia about the place he invented as a child. That is the one that has a vocally different ending.

 

"

Sorry! Misinterpreted that.

 

[Eliza2]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 6:06pm

According to this tweet from Finding Neverland, today is also Marc Kudisch's final performance.

https://twitter.com/NeverlandBway/status/739571004209401859

Any word on his replacement? Paul Slade Smith going to finish it out maybe?