How was Tale Today?

The theater was mobbed with celebs: Regis Philbin, Oliver North, Rula Lenska, Sean Hannity, Martin Tankleff, Soshanna Bean, Cloris Leachman, Emeril Lagasse...I could go on!

There were lots of people crying; mostly because the speeches were so long.

After the show , I saw the police escort James Barbour from the stage door in handcuffs. He kept saying, "No, not again!"

Sad, really.

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Ha! That was hilarious Dolly!

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Well, the audience was enthusiastic, for sure. As soon as that logo popped up with the big orchestra swelling up, people went bananas. Lots of cheering and hooting and whistling for everyone.

The cell phone's timing was FUNNY. There was another point, I forget where, where Barbour made a goofy face. Don't think he did that usually. Other than that, everything was perfectly normal.

Barbour was solid and powerful, as usual. He made a lovely speech at curtain (the only one - we only stayed an extra five minutes or so) and became emotional, which caused everyone else onstage to well up with him. Brandi Burkhardt has improved since I saw the show in previews - her part was underwritten, but there is a warmth to her and to her voice that I enjoy. I hope to see her back on the boards soon, and not necessarily in a Wildhorn piece. Same with Aaron Lazar - underwritten part, untapped talent. Best wishes to all of them.

I thought Natalie Toro was overrated when I saw it before, and she didn't really change my mind this time - great big belt, but for playing such a psycho character, she comes across as kind of...tepid. (Probably Santoriello's fault more than hers.) Still, she got every note, and was sobbing from the moment she stepped out for her bow at the end. I felt for her. She has spent a lot of time with this piece - closings are always emotional, and to suddenly be jobless in these troubling times to boot, it's gotta be hard.

But the show is done, a beautiful story that I think could still make a much better musical than this. I wish the performers well and, while it wasn't as good as it could have been, I hope nothing but the best for Santoriello and that legion of producers. Reading their biographies - "invested all of his life savings...", "he predicts with confidence that not even wind, rain or fire will get in the way of TALE being a smash hit!" - is just depressing now. But that's what the show needed - an experienced hand to guide it into a better direction. An untrained creator with green producers was not bound to end well.

(ETA: As for attendance, I was in the Mezz and it was only about two-thirds full. There were a ton of empty seats on the sides - six or seven rows apiece.)

Updated On: 11/9/08 at 07:30 PM

Oh BWW. You never change.

I was on one of the extreme sides in the orchestra, which was sold-out. It was a great show, and I forgot how much of it I enjoyed. There's still one too many power ballads, but a lot of the bigger numbers - Out of Sight Out of Mind, Without a Word, Can't Recall - were still moving and beautiful. I noticed a few changes from the last time I saw it (which was in early previews). Was the grave robber song finally cut? I know a lot of people on the boards said that they should cut it, and I didn't notice it in the Playbill. Either way, I think the last 15 mins of the show are beautiful and breathtaking. If they could have taken that sort of idea and creativity and flushed out the rest of the show, it would have been stellar. I think the show is a hard sell anyways. It could have the best score of the past 10 years, and still, I think it would not have been a hit. Nobody wants to go see a musical version of an epic Charles Dickens novel. But who knows, maybe it would have? I think it will be very popular if it tours, though.

The critics killed another good show IMO

It is so bad that backers are putting money into it to tour.

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That is the most convoluted logic I have ever heard . You missed the point. If it is dreck like you & others say, why would more money be poured into it to tour? I think it is great it is toruring & others will get a chance to see it.Many times critics have their head you know where & would not know a good show if it came & bit them in the ass.

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Updated On: 11/9/08 at 08:09 PM

I was there as well. It was truly fantastic. James, Natalie, Brandi and the rest of the cast were giving it their all. "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" was the best I had ever heard it...true brilliance. "Without A Word" was absoutely incredible...Brandi hit is out of the park. And all of James' songs were perfection...he is a Broadway star, and a wonderful leading man.

I was fortunate enough to speak to Jill Santoriello, Warren Carlyle, and Tony Walton. When I told Tony, "I'm so sorry that the show closed," he responded with "At least Obama won!" I thought that was cute.

It was a very emotional afternoon and I was honored to have been present at A TALE OF TWO CITIES' 60th and final performance. Conngrats to the cast, crew and creative team for putting on such a wonderful show. I feel privileged to have seen it 4 times in previews, see the show evolve, and see its final Broadway performance.


PS: Spotted in the audience...Joanna Gleason looking fabulous as always.

Updated On: 11/9/08 at 08:10 PM

So sorry " Tale" - - as they say " There's a broken heart for every light on broadway "

I thought Without A Word was the highlight of the show! I had completely forgotten about it from the first time I saw it. Brandi was fantastic and completely won me over.

And yes, stagedoor was crowded - I was surprised. I decided not to bother.

It was a pleasure to see the differences from the previews to the final performance. I think it will do well on tour, and I wish them all the best.

"But I really just want to give props to Natalie Toro. She's a class performer who really deserved after all these years of doing tours, regional/etc. to finally originate a role on Broadway."

This is why it was so heartbreaking to see how hard she was crying. She was REALLY having a tough time.

Updated On: 11/9/08 at 08:17 PM

Wat- so glad you loved as much as we did !!

I assume that you went by stage door? My wife was there, and got some cool pics (you might have seen her with Catherine Missal (giving her flowers)-

Child is an angel !!!

"She said that we could expect another recording of the show in the next 6-12 months."

This is the best news I've heard in weeks.

Including the presidential election.

Here's hoping that happens... and ew, I'm sounding disgustingly desperate on all of these ATOTC threads.

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Updated On: 11/9/08 at 08:24 PM