Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated — Page 4

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.

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

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

I'm bringing more tissue next time!

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

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

Those lyrics are a treasure!

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

and eagerly anticipate a recording for this cast...

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

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

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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

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

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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.

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