IN MY LIFE REVIEWS- FIRST PREVIEW

[BroadwayKate]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 10:49pm

Well folks, its official. I think I have just spent 2 hours wishing I had a spork. That’s right...wishing I had a spork so I could jab my eyes out and just stop the madness. As a professional actor this show simply killed my soul. All I could think as I watched it was, "These people have talent. They are attractive. Why would they sign to do this show? They are not going to have this job for long...."

Honestly, I am horrible at writing reviews so I won’t even try to put my emotions into words. However, I wanted to start, what I am sure will be a thread that will live in infamy. Though there were a few shining moments...well namely Chiara Navarra (who has a beautiful voice and smile to melt your heart!)...I just don’t know how to describe this show...well maybe I just better say it...the show is lemon...bitter sweet but mostly just sour.

I think the end of the show...when the gigantic cut out of a cardboard lemon comes down for the wedding (yeah you heard me right...)...well that pretty much just says it all.

I know there will be much better reviews...but I had to get this party started.

with lemony love,
kate

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 10:52pm

at last, a review! hallelujah!

a giant cardboard lemon... oh my.

[BroadwayKate]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 10:54pm

oh i kid you not...

let me make a list:
dancing skeletons
cardboard lemons
projected scenery
tragic lyrics
and worst of all a song about dr. pepper

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 10:56pm

i LITERALLY just laughed out loud. a song about dr. pepper? how could that have possibly tied into the show? was that part of his tourette's. randomly break into song about a popular beverage?

i'm soooo curious for details!

[ShuQ]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:03pm

KATE I pmed you!! I wanna talk to you! It's John from LLC

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:08pm

I just got back, all I can say is... no there is nothing I can say.

I have never seen such a disaster, and I am talking ANY medium, TV, movie, stage, children's romper room improv.

The Dr. Pepper song was in fact, sung by God, as an audition. I sh*t you not.

I (and I'm sure everyone else, especially Margo, please come soon Margo I need your review) will try to organize whats left of our synapses and write a detailed review, right now I just need a stiff drink... or 300.

[liotte]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:12pm

You guys forgot about the pirates!!!

[BroadwayKate]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:14pm

How could I forget...the tragic dancing pirates...who seduced the gay opera angel...I do apologize....

kate

[Katecab99]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:15pm

a review! and just what i was expecting!!

i REALLY hope that it lasts the week so that i can see it for myself!

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:20pm

Yes, the pirates... I think that was the moment when I realized that this show was going to be even worse than I thought it would be. Actually it was before that when J.T. spoke for the first time and I realized that this was not only going to be bad, but offensive as well.

Poor Chiara Navarra has a great voice, but has obviously never been directed to do anything. She just looked uncomfortable most of the time.

The dancing skeletons were at least funny, but not in the way I think they were intended to be.

Unfortunatly the Dr Pepper song was the highlight of the show for me. It was the only song I came close to enjoying.

I really don't know what else to say. That was without a doubt the worst show I have ever seen.

[liotte]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:28pm

Ok, I am going to post positive stuff.

The cast I thought was very talented. Christopher Hanke did a great job acting as though he had Tourettes, not too over the top (although the few f*ck-suck-ducks were interesting), and his voice was great. He is cute and you can really feel for his character. Jessica Boevers was wonderful as Jenny, her voice is sweet and beautiful, and she has a great wardrobe. Her acting was straight on and I thought she did a good job. Chiara Navarra's voice was amazing, that kid is only 13 and she will definitely be going places. David Turner's Winston role- he looked like he was having a great time, his costumes were great, and he really hammed it up in his flambouyant gay opera role. Michael Farina as Al made the most of his role, he was energetic and showed a lot of heart in his more serious moments. Roberta Gumbel has a beautiful operatic voice, she has a small part but it sounds wonderful.
Michael Halling and Laura Jordan (Nick and Samantha) had smaller supporting roles, but were fine.

The set- I really liked the studio apartment coming out from the wall, and the apartment number was the same as mine which made it a bit fun. Heaven was a bit much with the filing cabinets, it looked very sterile and lots of blue. I was in the front row, so I couldn't really see when the people were standing on top of the lights that came down, but it looked like an interesting effect. I didn't care much for the big lemon at the end though.

The costumes- Christopher and Jessica had great everyday clothes, though Chris needs a belt to hold up his pants, they kept falling down. David (winston) was very flashy and over the top, as were his supporting characters, but he got a lot of laughs for it.

The songs- there was some very nice pop ballads that I enjoyed, although most of the songs are repeated by different characters numerous times. A few songs (Volkswagen, Dr. Pepper Song) were kinda random, but many were sweet.

My opinion is keep the love story, it can be moving and deep and meaningful and a beautiful story. Get rid of the God Opera, skeletons, pirates, big lemon, and all the other randomness. These actors are talented people, and they deserve a chance to be in a show that has potential to be much better.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:30pm

The Set looked like a concentration camp.
The Show was horrible.

Updated On: 9/30/05 at 11:30 PM

[liotte]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:30pm

Oh, and I want to add-

I stayed and got autographs from everyone at the stage door, and the whole cast was very nice and sweet and definitely appreciated everyone's support. Many of them had never signed playbills before, so they were excited to have this opportunity and that people wanted their autograph.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:33pm

At first I thought it might turn out okay. The cast was pretty good overall. Christopher Hanke and 13-year-old Chiarra Navarra has very nice voices and Jessica Boevers was better than I expected (my only previous experience with her was her completely un-funny and just plain bad performance in OKLAHOMA!).

But after the pirate song . . . oh my.

It wasn't good but it definately wasn't boring either.

And also, did anybody get why the mother's song was in Italian?

[Kicks8567]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:35pm

Everyone stole my comments....it was just horrible unfortunately. The fact that people left the show during the middle of songs can explain something. I wanted to stay for autographs, but I had a train to catch

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:36pm

Tiny-Toon - Like a concentration camp? In what way? Which camps have you been to? Was it fences and tents? What?

[wicked4life51]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:37pm

KATE

YOURE SUCH A TOOL HAHA

LOVVVVVVEEEEEE YOUUUUU

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:37pm

Yeah, I agree, I haven't seen the show, but I say stick w/ the love story and get rid of the other 'god opera' stuff. It sounds interesting. Can someone elaborate on the technical aspects? I mean was there a show curtain? was the theater filled? Etc. I'm not interested in this show. I hope they get an OBC!

[liotte]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:39pm

No curtain.

Almost totally full tonight, though many may have been comps...

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:40pm

wow.

"the tragic dancing pirates...who seduced the gay opera angel"

now if thats not enough to get those seats filled, i just don't know what is.

and yes, was the theater full? can someone talk about the sets more, please?

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:40pm

For the first previews of shows, do they usually not have curtain call? I am going to my first preview experience on Monday for Sweeney and I really hope they do!

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:41pm

I CAN NOT WAIT!
hopefully tomorrow.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:41pm

Sporks!! That's all.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:41pm

True. I hope it at least makes it to opening nite so I can see the opening night video on broadway.com ... how does the studio apt set work? I didn't quite understand the description - sorry i'm just trying to visualize since i live in ol' bama.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:42pm

I found the love story the most inane and trite ever. If it had been all there was the show would have been not only bad, but deathly boring. These songs are simply ridiculous. Half the lyrics were things like "I have tourettes, I hope she likes me. In My Life I've seen bad stuff," or worse yet, "I used to have a bicycle, I have a favorite pair of jeans."

The cast has talent, I feel bad for them. This show has no potential.