I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 10:09pm

Renee Elise Goldsberry was amazing tonight. Whatever flaws this show has, and there are many, she was sublime. Her rendition of "Old Friend" was flawless and received deserved sustained applause.

The rest of the cast was strong too. Jason Rabinowitz sang a lovely "In a Simple Way I Love You" with just him and his guitar. It was sweet, and you could have heard a pin drop.

The show itself is hopelessly dated. Maybe it was revolutionary when it first came out, but the feminism presented her plays like a museum piece. Also there are no characters- everyone is just a symbol for something. It's all ciphers and obvious stand-ins for ideas.

There are some nice songs, and the best way to experience the show is probably through a recording sans all dialogue. I've never been a fan of the OCR, and although I doubt that will record this, it's a shame we won't have a clean copy of Goldsberry's performance.

Definitely worth a visit for the leading lady.

[dave1606]

Posted: 7/24/13 at 10:20pm

I agree with Whizzer. I LOVED Renee. She is giving a fantastic performance, and elevates material that doesn't always work. I really enjoyed the score, and loved "Old Friend" and the final song. That said, whenever they stopped singing and we hit a book scene things got deadly. The book scenes are not particularly well written and frankly the show is mostly dramatically inert. (On a side note, I have to say I found the suicide jokes in the second half of the show tacky and rather offensive).

That said, I really did enjoy the music, and I thought Renee and the cast were excellent. (Always happy to see the talented Christina Sajous onstage.)

Overall I don't think I am crying to see another production of this show, but if Encore's put out a cast recording of this out, I would buy it.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 12:03am

Whizzer, did you think the themes of the show were relevant? I agree that the writing of the book scenes is creaky at best, but I think so much of what the show says about feminism is still very much a part of the conversation that's happening in today's society.

So happy you loved Renee Goldsberry. She's an astonishing talent, and I hope this exposure leads her to get the star vehicle on Broadway she so deserves. With that voice (which can sing anything) and that acting ability, it's a crying shame that's yet to happen. I've now seen her do material from Shakespeare to RENT and everything in between and she never disappoints.

Updated On: 7/25/13 at 12:03 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 12:21am

Wasn't she a major part of Color Purple but got pregnant and left?

I'm sad I'll miss this. Sounds interesting and fun.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 12:24am

RippedMan, Goldsberry originated the small role of Nettie in THE COLOR PURPLE and did leave when she got pregnant, yes.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 12:38am

So she's had substantial success, I'd say.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 12:41am

I wasn't saying she hasn't had substantial success. She's had even more success on television, but she has yet to have a starring vehicle on Broadway and deserves one. That was my point.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 12:51am

I'm curious as to what Renee's major TV success has been? I absolutely adored her on One Life to Live--and she had many chances to sing--but soap opera success, unless you're Susan Lucci, doesn't seem mainstream to me (and she was unceremonious let go of the show under really questionable and controversial issues--some of them seeming to be her own doing.) Has she had lead roles in other shows I haven't seen?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 1:13am

Eric, she has a major recurring role on The Good Wife. She also just did a multi-episode arc on The Following and has had multiple other episodic guest starring roles outside the soap.

[Sauja]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 8:56am

I hate to be that guy, but can someone tell me the running time on this? I'm so exhausted today that part of me is wondering if I should grab tickets for the weekend and skip it tonight.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 8:59am

SomethingWicked, I guess I found the feminist talking points to be very basic. They served more as a history lesson for feminism 101 than something to create a dialogue about the state of the modern woman.

I feel like everything discussed in this show had already been covered by Friedan in The Feminine Mystique, and that was published in 1963. I'm not trying to say that all is equal between the genders, because I know that's not true, but great strides have been made since then a new set of issues has arisen.

A big problem with The Feminine Mystique is that it can come off very much like "white people problems." Most of what this country focuses on as feminism you could pick up from a good episode of Mad Men: bored housewives longing for more, women not being seen as equals in the workplace, sexual harassment, etc. It's the plight of middle class white women, and a plight not to be ignored, but there's SO much more that feminism encompasses across different colors, creeds, nationalities and religious beliefs.

I think the casting of a Black woman helped bridge that gap and made you think about the work in a different light. Obviously the text couldn't be altered, but there was an unspoken struggle last night that this just wasn't a woman trying to break the mold, but a strong Black woman sick of the system and she was ready to blow it up. (Just those lines at the beginning about her hair not being straightened took on different meaning when spoken by a White man to a Black woman. What was originally a joke now carried a racially charged undertone that was interesting, but would take an overhaul to the book to really delve into.)

I have been a big fan of Goldsberry's for years, but last night really did feel like she was coming into her own. Such excellent casting.

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 9:05am

I was on the street at 9:05 last night. It's performed without an intermission.

It's an excellent production--easily the best of the three this summer, and nice to see that they actually set a mood with period-specific costumes and an appropriate set. I was dreading that the cast would be doing their rock-n-roll schtick in evening dress after THE CRADLE WILL ROCK and VIOLET.

Goldsberry is unbelievably good. The songs fit her voice as if they were written for her. She's pretty much completely off-book (even when it was in her hand, she rarely ever consulted it), and has obviously done a lot of work creating a credible character. She's been such a reliable performer on stage for so many years; it's nice to see her finally get a big role that suits her well, even for just a few performances.

Christina Sajous and Jennifer Sanchez were great as her back-up singers. (Sajous was especially good in "Strong Woman Number"). Fred Weller seemed a bit tentative at times, but he's getting there. I was on a cloud for most of the performance, though--Goldsberry's singing was that phenomenal.

As to the questions of whether it feels dated: yes and no. It's a piece of its time. While some of the issues are still very relevant today--obviously we've come very far, but still have far to go on women's issues and social issues--some of the dialogue and interactions between Heather and Joe that would have been electric in 1978 seems quaint now.

If you're on the fence--go. You're not likely to hear this score sung so well any time soon.

Also, it was lovely to see Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer brought on-stage for the curtain call.

Updated On: 7/25/13 at 09:05 AM

[sowren1020]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 10:33am

I wish this musical was dated but in listening to songs like the Strong Women Number, it sadly reinforced the reality that women are not equal partners. The part of the story line I really wish was dated was the male manager "managing" the playlist for the character Renee Goldsberry played, as long as the songs were about him or happy love songs they were ok'd. The best direction of this Encores season so far, Kathleen Marshall staged it simply with a leading lady who was performing it as a play and not a reading. The band and two back up singers, Jennifer Sanchez and Christina Sajous were terrific. Frederick Weller was still learning the role but did an interesting voice and acted it well in the non singing role. It was great to see the '70's but the realization of progress today for women was dismaying. Great voices and orchestration, for $25 you can't beat it in NYC this week.

Updated On: 7/25/13 at 10:33 AM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 10:59am

It's a very dated piece. Clearly a product of the 1970s / avante garde / off-Broadway movement, but the themes of the show remain just as relevent and current, so the show makes a great statement there.

Goldsberry is FANTASTIC and "Old Friend" is an absolutely perfect moment. She is in fine voice, but that one moment... You forget that you are in City Center and feel as though you are alone with her sitting on a stoop. Hard to fo, but dhe does.

Agree on strong casting, especially Rabinowitz and Sajous. The lighting was slso lovely.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 12:14pm

Somethingwicked--thanks for those details. I don't watch The Good Wife (though I always intend to start,) but completely forgot about her role in The Following. At any rate, I agree with your opinion on her.

Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford's musicals have long fascinated me--particularly Now is the Time for All Good Men, which is my favorite score by them and probably the most hopelessly dated of all their shows (I get the impression that when it premiered in the late '60s it was even seen as dated by some--and I admit part of what I like about the show is a sorta camp take on how melodramatic it is.)

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 12:17pm

I. NEED. TO. GO. SEE. THIS.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 10:01pm

If Stew and Heidi wrote Passing Strange in 1978 this might be what it looked like. While the "feminist" issues might read dated (or creaky in Isherwood's terms) - this is really about an individual trying to find oneself - to find their personal "real"...an ageless concept. It's witty, endearing and hummable. I recommend it to all.

Updated On: 7/25/13 at 10:01 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 10:02pm

90 minutes - no intermission

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 11:53pm

I saw this tonight and I agree that the book isn't really anything extremely special but the music and lyrics are. I thought the songs were really beautiful and powerful at times. I think the musical is actually a really great history lesson, especially in times like these. Not worthy of a run on broadway but it was really great to hear and see something that ran for 1,165 performances and probably made a huge impact on many lives.

Now on to Ms Goldsberry. I had no idea what this person was capable of musically and emotionally. It was a flawless performance. You can't keep your eyes off of her, she is 100 percent present, her voice is crystal clear and she is full of emotion, passion and spark! WOW! She has turned me into a true fan that will see anything she is in now and root for her to star in something on broadway soon. This was a exceptional star turn! I recommend people go tomorrow just to hear her sing this music. It feels like it was written for her.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 1:32am

NYC4Life,
City Center has posted the rehearsal footage of her performing "Old Friend" - whole song. I may or may not have watched it more than a handful of times already.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 11:08am

Thanks for letting me know! I know the odds are not likely but I really hope they do a recording. If not, I hope Renee Goldsberry records a few of the songs. She is just sublime.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 11:22am

Lord, this was dated back in 1989 when I worked on a community theater production of it. I'll never forget the headline of one of the reviews: "I Am Woman, Hear Me Bore."

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 11:48am

"Lord, this was dated back in 1989 when I worked on a community theater production of it. I'll never forget the headline of one of the reviews: "I Am Woman, Hear Me Bore.""

Well last night was far from a bore and I don't think the story of one trying to found their own voice will ever be dated. I don't think the book is great but I do think the message still rings true. The gender balance in the world is still extremely off in the world and last nights performance was a reminder of that.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 1:09am

I saw the final performance today and I enjoyed it. Again, like VIOLET and CRADLE, I have some problems with the show itself (the book scenes are awfully clunky and repetitive), but the score is pretty excellent and sounded wonderful this evening.

The show was absolutely well worth my $25 for Goldsberry's performance. She was just as fantastic as everyone has already said. She rocked the bigger, louder numbers, turning in some rousing moments...and then would slip into the quieter, more subdued songs with an even more impressive delivery. For a brief run where most of the cast had the script in hand, she gave a fully-realized, soulful performance that proved how capable of a performer she is. I loved her in GOOD PEOPLE (she was robbed of a Tony nod) and in TCP, but I was thrilled and ecstatic to see her tackle a lead role (she literally never leaves the stage) with such ferocity and ease.

The production itself was probably my overall favorite out of the "Off Center" catalogue, but it wasn't without its flaws. It's a very interesting program though, and I am anxious to see what they do with it in the future.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 4:27pm

Sorry to rehash an old thread for a very simple question. I’ve been thinking about this show a lot lately and the memory of Renee singing “Old Friend” is still seared in my head. My question is about he staging of that song. I remember Renee and the manager sitting on the ground while she sang it to him. Is this wrong? Did she play the piano for the whole time (like it says in the script) and he just sat close by? Or did someone play the piano for that song, which just doesn’t seem right because I believe it is supposed to be just the two of them onstage.

Thank you!