I saw the last performance of Woman in White

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:33pm

IT was excellent. Maria Friedman was very tired you could tell. She was worn out they all seemed very sad too. I talked with Jill Paice, she said that she will be auditioning for other shows as well did Angela Christie. Micheal Ball was replaced by an understudy, he got sick and went home. Maria Friedman did not come out so I had to leave because it was getting cold. Sorry this is very amature but I am very shaken by the performance Maria gave.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:37pm

This is SO sad! What exactly do you mean by you are still shakek by the performance Maria gave?

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:38pm

I just thought that it was amazing. She was so devoted and you could tell. I had fourth row seats and she was crying during All For Laura.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:44pm

OH! ok, great! I was worried you were shaken b/c she didnt seem to be in the greatest of health. I wonder why everything went wrong with this show...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 7:49pm

Nobody wanted to see it?

[EganFan2]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:00pm

>>she was crying during All For Laura.

Aw, bless her heart. I hope she gets completely better and does the tour.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:13pm

man, wish this show would have lasted. I'm sorry, i know i'm out of the loop but what is exactly is going on with Michael Ball? What is he sick with? thanks for the info.

[jo]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:30pm

This is a very sad ending to a great show!

Michael developed a serious viral infection and when he came back for a few performances he also developed laryngitis and had to be put on complete vocal rest. I think he has alluded to the use of the fat suit as part of the problem.

I wish Maria and Michael the best in terms of regaining their health back.

I hope we can see these actors/actresses back onstage sometime in the future - the show had one of the most excellent singing and acting casts in recent memory.

Updated On: 2/19/06 at 08:30 PM

[bwaybabe85]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:32pm

Maria was on FIRE tonight. After All For Laura, she burst out crying, and there was applause that lasted for a good couple of minutes. Curtain call was really emotional too.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:35pm

yeah curtain call was very sad. i couldnt hear what they were saying though. i was too close. they were just all crying.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:37pm

I'm so sad to see this show go. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to see it with the entire original cast, though (a very rare occurence). I'm glad it went well tonight and I wish everyone involved the best of luck in their future projects!

[Cat2]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 8:40pm

I am very sad this show had to end so soon. Maria Friedman is amazing! Good luck to the entire cast.

[AnotherDay46]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:13pm

It was an amazing night, the show was wonderful and a little bit different. Everyone knew it was their last night and tried to make it their best. Norman really let loose tonight as well. ^_~

[kasim]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:30pm

dang i didnt realie it was ending i really wanted to see it

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:44pm

Was there. Incredible, mind-altering experience. Missing that show already!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:53pm

this is def. the performance of her career, I wish she'd tour with the show, but I know she won't for personal reasons.

Its strange that all these illness came from this show.

[chernjam]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:54pm

I'm so sorry I missed tonight's performance. And I'm so aggrivated this beautiful work is moving out to make way for more fluff pieces and jukebox musicals... That's what's truly Sad.

[timote316]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:58pm

"And I'm so aggrivated this beautiful work is moving out to make way for more fluff pieces and jukebox musicals..."

Drowsy Chaperone?

[sharon1]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:58pm

Very sad all the way 'round on this one. I loved the entire cast.

[broadwayman]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 10:05pm

The performance was very emotional but they were all on fire. I waited for Maria and she did come out. She was one of the nicest people. She was so sweet and was very friendly. I was soo excited to get to meet her.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 10:13pm

I was there this afternoon as well - it's the first time I've seen the entire show, and I knew I would regret it if I didn't see it.

Well, let me just say that I found it to be one of the most trite, boring, direction-less piece of theatre I've seen. The harsh reviews were not harsh enough. Lloyd Webber's score is the absolute worst of his career - there are about 4 melodies in the show, and they are recycled with different lyrics, a la SUNSET BOULEVARD.

The cast was all around fantastic, but the material is just so dreadful that I couldn't get past it. Maria Friedman was great, and I consider it an honor to have seen her perform, but she's in no way a revelation.

Charlotte Jones' book along with Trevor Nunn's direction have provided for a huge mess of a show - they barely tell the story. I can't say how many people around me - including myself - were saying "Wait, what's happening?" "Why is this guy going to the house?" "How did he fall in love with this girl he's only known for one scene?" "Why is he so mad when he finds out she's engaged if he barely knows her?" "And why does Maria Freidman's character care what's going on?" It was the most utterly confusing show I have ever seen. It wasn't until I got home and read the synopsis in the CD booklet that I even sort of began to understand what was SUPPOSED to have happened - although is seems that what I've read bares no resemblance to what happened on stage.

Webber should be embarrassed by this show. It seems as if this show were put together in one day. Why would they ever open this show, let alone waste millions of dollars to bring it overseas?

The only rewarding aspect of the evening (besides seeing Freidman) were the projections/videos/sets. I don't know how functional they really are, but I was fascinated with the concept. They set the mood perfectly - I truly loved the projections that so many complained about. This musical has absolutely no emotional core - nothing about this show is accessible to ANYONE in the audience, because it is so dreadfully poorly constructed.

I really wanted to like this show, but my friends and I just left frustrated and confused. Thank the lord that this was the final performance - something this terrible should never have a professional run.

Yuck.

[My Strongest Suit]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 10:32pm

i think if you have something that harsh to say about a show that has had such a tragic run with the illnesses and bad reviews, you should either keep it to yourself or sugarcoat it a little. i believe this show was not the best ever but it wasn't horrible or a waste of space and money. the cast was amazing and despite the material, they were able to shine.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 10:35pm

Okay, I'll sugar coat my words before the show sucked. Good logic.

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 11:02pm

I was there tonight too...they weren't crying! Maria was laughing at one point! Everyone was sooo amazing and it was soo sad seeing the final show...talk about lots of applause. We did leave however before we met Maria...it was tooo cold and we had already met her...MANY times but we still love her.

^^ edited b/c i spelt something wrong
Updated On: 2/20/06 at 11:02 PM

[harris007]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 11:25pm

it sucks it didnt run till may, found out a good friend whom i lost touch with was in this, would have loved to finally see him on b-way sigh