Here is my 10 commandments review...

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:18pm

I know I said I'd wait till opening night but it's more than obvious that this fiasco isn't getting any better, so...

In a word, AWFUL! I agree with much of what DAME said, as I suspected I would, but to further elaborate, you never quite know what the heck is going on, on stage. You have one highly synthesized, boring ballad, after the next, after the next. Val Kilmer mopes, aimlessly around the stage singing all five notes in his range, badly, I might add. I was never sure of what/who I was supposed to care about. The choreography is way too 2004, for a "period piece", and as I previously mentioned, the barely there orchestra sounds like the top 40 from the 80's. The performances were mediocre at best and I realize this has more to do with the source material than fault on the actors' parts. Many people left at intermission. I stayed because I had to and no, it doesn't get any better in ACTII. I could go on and on but I think you all get my point. It was more of a "what just happened?" night for me, than anything else.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:31pm

"there orchestra sounds like the top 40 from the 80's"

I would count that as a plus. Who doesn't love 80s pop?

[laactress]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:33pm

Awwwww, that is so sad. A friend of mine plays Val Kilmers sister, her name is Alison Porter, do you remember if she did a good job? I am curious. I didn't expect much from the show, but I know how talented Ali is so I thought maybe that could make it better. I am seeing it next month. I now know not to expect much.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:36pm

Thank you, Al "the anti-shill" Dente. But I agree with Matt. 80's Pop? When does the recording come out? Can't wait!

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:39pm

Yes MM, I love 80's synth pop as much as the next guy, but not with Val Kilmer singing trite lyrics such as "My father is gone..." over and over and it doesn't lend itself to the size of the house. The Kodak theater makes the Gershwin seem tiny. As for Alison Porter, yes, if I HAD to pick a stand-out, she'd be the one. She danced and sang her liliputian behind off, but again, the material was so gawd awful, that I wasn't even thinking about that. She played Moses' sister, Miriam.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:43pm

those POOR actors.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:45pm

You can't even imagine BG2.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:46pm

I loved Alison Porter!! She was on PeeWee's Playhouse and I believe won the big prize on Star Search as a little one, no?

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:49pm

I remember her being "Curly Sue". And yes, she's definitely one of the many musical theater munchkinlanders. Teeny.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:50pm

How was Kevin Earley? I've never seen him do something bad before.

[Dawg]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 1:00pm

I hear Val has a teleprompter cuz he can't remember lines...

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 1:02pm

Absolutely true.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 1:10pm

Since the Kodak was built for the Oscars isn't it required that all productions staged there use a tele-prompter? At least that is what I heard.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 1:17pm

I meant "absolutely true", about the fact that there is a teleprompter, don't know how necessary it was for Kilmer.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 1:34pm

This is all Too True To Be Good (to use a little known Shaw title).

I really can't wait. I am worried the show might close before it plays Radio City in the winter. It has been ages since we've had a real stinker.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 2:19pm

Frankly I am starting to wonder if it will even open in LA. I mean, it makes Bobbi Boland look like I Am My Own Wife.

[DAME]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 2:52pm

Al dente; did Kilmers song with the burning bush get unintended laughs like it did when I saw it?

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 3:03pm

So we're talking the Carrie of this decade?

[Iris Chacon]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 3:05pm

It brought down the house when I saw it. It was the only time something came to life. I left at intermission. All you people that say you want to see this now out of curiosity.... All I have to say to you is; unless you get comped you will pay about $90.00 for your stupidity.

Posted: 9/23/04 at 3:34pm

I think they should record it on DVD~~

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 3:39pm

Well, the original French version is on DVD in Region 2 format.

[laactress]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 3:55pm

I am really glad that Ali stood out to you. It's not her fault if the materiel is bad. She is one talented little girl. Yes, she was in Curly Sue, and Pee Wee's Playhouse and she was also in Parenthood, anyone remember that movie? It is SO good. Well, thanks for that little bit of good news that Ali was at least good.

[leefowler]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 3:56pm

I saw the first preview of this debacle, so let me share a few thoughs:

I sat in the first few rows, and was able to see a teleprompter on the extreme left and right. It only lit up for Val Kilmer, and when he wasn't on-stage, its screen went dark. Sometimes, to make the evening go by faster, I would read the lyrics along with Val.

In the first half hour of the show, when Moses is thought to be Egyptian, Mr. Kilmer doesn't wear a shirt, exposing his 40-ish body. All I could think was, "wow, Moses really needs a personal trainer."

Sometimes you never really see how good a show is until you see a seedy imitation of it. I didn't really appreciate Les Mis until I had seen some terrible imitations. By the same token, the score to "Ten Commandments" most reminds me of the "Aida" score, as they both are pop-rock scores with Egyptian elements thrown in. I'm no fan of the "Aida" score, but it's West Side Story" compared to Ten Commandments.

After seeing "Bells Of Notre Dame", "Romeo And Juliet The Musical", "La'mour", and now this, maybe it would be a good idea not to import any more musicals from France.

[zepka102]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 6:57pm

wait... lets go back... teleprompter...?

[Iris Chacon]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 7:57pm

YEP. Saw it too. Teleprompter.