Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated- Page 4

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 6:23pm

It is a small theater & Cuccioli has a strong set of pipes so...

See it Sunday & will weigh in with our thoughts afterward

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 7:06am

I LOVE the addition of the new song in Act 1. And some of the changes that have been made... but, oh, the journey that is Act 2! It just gets more powerful every time I see it.

My continued congratulations and thanks to the enormously talented ensemble.

Updated On: 3/31/06 at 07:06 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 8:51am

So I was enjoying the second act, trying to ignore the sniffling, sobbing and outright weeping of the two companions to my right, when Nastascia Diaz began to sing "Love, You Are Not Alone" to Rodney Hicks and a catch caught in my throat and my eyes welled up with tears and I started sniffling, sobbing and outright weeping, and I grabbed the hand of the companion to my left and he was sobbing too..

By the time they got to "If We Only Have Love," I was as much a mess as the companions to my right.

A good time was had by all. When do we see it AGAIN?

Updated On: 3/31/06 at 08:51 AM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 8:59am

and again and again... new layers every time I see it.

I'm bringing more tissue next time!

[DG]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 9:31am

How are audiences responding to this?

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 11:18am

So I should bring a whole box of Kleenex for this?

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 12:35pm

Audiences are jumping to their feet at the end.

I bumped into a friend at the theatre last night, and she was just gushing at the end about how she wanted to see it again and that we should plan to go back with some mutual friends...

It's that kind of experience. You just can't get enough, and you want to share it.

Cookie, depending upon who you are seeing it with, you might want to be prepared.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 12:38pm

I might need to wear waterproof clothing then....

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 2:14pm

No, love, you're not alone.
It's all right if you cry
If things don't turn out right.
All we can do is try.
We'll see a show tonight.
There's something we can buy.

No, love, you're not alone.
Don't let it get you down.
It's just another day,
And everything's turned brown.
You've walked your bloody mile.
I'll hold you for a while.

No, love, you're not alone.
I swear the sun will rise.
I promise you you'll laugh.
Here, love, dry your eyes.
Come on.

Come, we've got each other now.
That's got to be enough.
Pretend you're really tough, love.
Come on, love, come on.
We've got each other now,
And it that's not enough,
Remember being young:

The days all strung with bells,
We caught the sea in shells,
We conquered wishing wells
And songs of carousels, love.

And if you still feel sad,
Remember making love--it really wasn't bad,
When that was all we had.
The paradise in bed: remember that instead.
Instead of all these sorrows.
So rest here in my arms,
For we still hold tomorrow.

No, love, you're not alone...

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/31/06 at 4:56pm

Those lyrics are a treasure!

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 10:38pm

Saw it tonight. Just terrific all around - Diaz was out, but Jayne Peterson was excellent. Favorites were Cuccioli's "Fanette", "Songs For Old Lovers" and the delicious "Funeral Tango", Hicks' searing "The Stature","Next" anbd "The Bulls", Peterson's heartbreaking "Old Folks" and "My Death" and everything Gay Marshall touched.

Inexcusable artistic decision: the cutting of the final half of "The Desperate Ones".

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 12:42pm

I can't stop listening to OCR that I was given...

and eagerly anticipate a recording for this cast...

[NYadgal]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 8:02am

I saw it again last night and was moved once again at the depth of each of the performances!

I continue to see new layers of character in each of the performers and songs, and find that the songs become more emotional and profound each time I see it.

I am heartened to see audiences - young and old - embracing this show. The performances and the musicians are all outstanding, and they bring the words and music of Jacques Brel to life in a very special way.

I want to share this with everyone I love...

And, my thanks to two special people for making the visit last night so magical. One on stage and one sitting next to me. My thanks.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 5:21pm

Reviving this somewhat older thread because I returned to JACQUES BREL for my third viewing a little over a week ago. It's simply the best musical in New York right now, if not the best show PERIOD. Kevin Del Aguila was on for Rodney Hicks, and he was sensational. The other three-Cuccioli, Diaz, and Marshall-were all at the top of their game and really sold every song. The performance was nearly sold out (probably about 90% full) and there was an immediate, enthusiastic and DESERVED standing ovation at the end. If you have not seen it yet, you MUST go.

Master-I'm so jealous that you got to see Jayne Paterson. I vividly remember her crystal-clear and stunning voice from JANE EYRE. She's quite the talent.
Updated On: 5/30/06 at 05:21 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 5:41pm

I too saw it with Kevin Del Aguila and thought he was great. The show was superb and has really lingered in my consciousness.

I always knew the young David Bowie was a huge Brel fan, but never knew (or realized) until I saw the show that he was quoting Brel directly in his Ziggy Stardust finale, "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide," which in turn inspired Hedwig's "Midnight Radio."

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 5:56pm

When we saw it (Sat matinee) my wife's Playbill had the insert saying the understudy was in it. If Cuccioli was not in the evening show, I think it was a planned absence

We saw it with all 4 leads. Diaz was crying at the end. The small band sounded much bigger. We like the Zipper Theater. It is unlike any theater you can imagine. The staging was great also especially on such a small stage

May be forced to see it again in September for our anniversary if all goes well with the medical stuff starting tomorrow

[chenofan]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 6:22pm

Just so you all know, Natascia called today and they are going to be recording this show!!! Not sure if that is old news to all of you but I had to let you know that it now is a for sure go and all the current cats contracts go through sept. Look out for the cd!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 9:57pm

Re-reading this thread (thanks to MEF for bumping it) I was reminded how much I've wanted to see it, and caught tonight's show.

While I wasn't completely sold on all of the directorial/musical direction choices, there is indeed something very special going on at the Zipper Theatre and I would urge any of you who have any interest in vocal performance to check this out. All you college students - rush is only 20 bucks - do yourself a favor and GO!

The show is a veritiable master class in song interpretation. Jacques Brel's music truly is genius, and you would have to go far and wide to see it better performed than by this sensational cast.

Gay Marshall, a kind of mix between Sissy Spacek and Edith Piaf, gives one of the most thrilling performances of the season. She is more than ably surrounded by terrific work from Rodney Hicks, Bob Cuccioli and especially Natascia Diaz who has some heartbreaking moments in the second act.

The show is so extraordinarily well performed, I wish it hadn't been so amplified. I think if I hadn't been so familiar with Brel's work I would have missed a lot of lyrics - and several people complained that the music was drowning out the voices.

It's a tiny space - they don't need the volumes so high.

Can't wait for the cast recording. It should be fantastic.
Updated On: 5/30/06 at 09:57 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:14pm

Bitch hasn't called me yet to tell me about the recording. Natascia is SO off my speed dial now.

MB, I was wondering if the show was miked because people in the mezzanine section are directly even with the band, and without the mikes no lyrics would be audible up there?

I agree with Roxy that the Zipper is unique and makes a great home for the quirky and off-beat. I saw BETTY Rules at both the Magic Theater in San Francisco and a significant amount of time later at the Zipper, which brought its own eccentriticies to the proceedings. Having said that, it is not without its problems and challenges for those who are mounting productions there, I'm sure.

Updated On: 5/30/06 at 10:14 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:34pm

The area is not the greatest & at night I would go with a number of people

Gentrification has not hit the area where the Zipper is

[rosem7391]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:40pm

Yeah...I saw this a couple weeks ago.
Amazing.
Loved it loved it loved it.
So good.
I highly recommend it.

But uhh yeah, the area's not *terrible*
And there's a reeeeally cute little something-or-other restaraunt right next door (I think it's south american??)
But it's great. And the people there are really nice.

So yah.
(hee hee..I'm listening to Madeleine right now..well, the actual recording of Jacques Brel himself, but yah know.)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:51pm

That might be one reason Namo - I was initially sitting in Row C on the aisle (house left) which is close to the band, but then - it felt like the band was amplified too. I mean there is only a combo - and for a lot of numbers there is only one instrument like an accordian which should be no problem for a singer to perform over unmiked.

I did hear better after I moved to the other side of the theatre during the second act, but I definitely think the group harmonies don't sound as balanced with the sound system they've got going on right now.

As a post script to what I wrote above - I keep thinking how really wonderful the Brel material is and how privileged the cast must feel to have such great material to 'act' every night.

I hope the show runs long enough to have replacements. It might even be fascinating to have a revolving door policy much like they did in the original production - I would love to hear any number of people interpreting these songs - from Carolee Carmello to Cyndi Lauper to even Rita Gardner, Chita Rivera or Elly Stone who all appeared during the initial run.

They would all bring something great to this show.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 2:23am

I know this is an old thread but I thought I'd just show some love for this show. I saw it the other day and I thought it was just incredible. Every single song is a contained dramatic moment and the actors are wonderful at interpreting the material. The music is sexy, lively, heart breaking, whatever you want to say about it. If the lyrics are occasionally a little off the mark they are also often quite astute and piercing. This show has so much to say and it's one of those rare musicals that achieves real poetry. One of the best evenings at the theater I've had in a while. Sure, it's a little loud, but that's all right!

[broadwaybound882]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 9:12am

How good are the Student Rush seats? Seeing it in one week with the AMAZING Drew Sarich!

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 4:03pm

I'm sure it depends on the night you go. When I saw it we moved down into the front row at intermission, but the "nosebleed" seats weren't so awful.