Jekyll & Hyde (Broadway Previews!)- Page 3

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 9:23am

^ What exactly do you think a pre-Broadway tour is? There was more than one of J&H, and in the one with Linda Eder in it, she did sing it night after night. Your point on that matter is moot. The rest is a matter of opinion.

[TheresaG]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 9:36am

You missed my point - read up thread. And I agree, this is opinion based as is everyone else here.

[elphaba.scares.me]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 9:53am

Strange that such small things make a difference, but although I like "BOTM", I think they suffer from cutting the "Lucy Meets Jekyll" recit. It really helped establish both characters and the relationship. Unless they've put it back in...?

Do we still see Spider hit Lucy? Is there still a Spider? Lol.

They sliced that scene up so much that by the time Lucy went to Jekyll's, it felt really random. The original Bway production was far from perfect, but we met Lucy in "No One Knows Who I Am", then her big number, then she sat with Jekyll for a couple minutes. You need that to establish the character, or else she doesn't have the emotional impact the show needs.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 9:58am

Personally, I think a carefully blotted and restructured combo of the FCLO version and the Resurrection recording would have done the trick.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 10:03am

WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel, Sorry to hear you did not like it your reviews never disappoint. I just love your opening comments "I was there tonight and what can one possibly say? It was trash. Pure trash. Trash that stunk so badly even the great Nell Carter herself wouldn't have advised to get any cash for it. Burn the damn thing and start all over again."

I plan on seeing this later in the run but grabbed a ticket on TDF for this weekend out of curiosity.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:05am

I grew up with Robin Phillips running our regional theatre in Edmonton. I thought everything he touched was AMAZING. Jekyl was the first (and so far) only show even at 15 I didn't get. As uch as I love Deborah Cox, it sounds like things haven't really changed--Phillips' over use of white is now replaced with projections.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:09am

Linda did have fun with the song on both the concept album and pre-Broadway tour.

Oh, she did indeed! The song was in three productions (world premiere and 2 tours) before it was woefully replaced with Good 'N' Evil for Broadway.

Maybe I was reading too late but I thought you meant that she had done the song in performance when she played in the show. Big difference between doing it twice in the recording studio and doing it every night on stage. I doubt she could have pulled it off in the manner Deborah Cox has done. Deborah not only introduces the character at that point but also gives an opportunity to see a more playful side of the life that eventually becomes so much a part of the darkness.

Sounds like you never saw how Eder performed it in every night three different productions or how it was staged, so I'm not sure how you're making these assumptions. The second pre-Broadway tour, thestaging changed a bit and I didn't care for it as much, but the previous two productions, the number was reminiscent of Don't Tell Mama. It was seedy, saucy, racy, sexy and Eder was impossible to resist. The number was a HUGE crowd-pleaser and it didn't need anything other than some sexy costumes and chairs. There were no other props or gimmicks. Later, the more elaborately the creative team tried to dress up the number, the less interesting it became. The audience truly didn't need to have the lyrics so blatantly spelled out for them. It took all the fun out the song.

[jekyllforever]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:10am

I just love it when a bunch of people who can't sing or act think they can critique a show, because they think they know everything. The place was packed last night, even though you say there were so many empty seats. And the "tepid" audience? Do you have a hearing problem? The audience was SO enthusiastic. This makes me think you just decided you hated the show, so you aren't even being honest.

And you can stop with the comparisons. Linda Eder isn't in this show. She's too old to play Lucy - although, she is definitely the best singer to ever play the part.

I loved the show. I saw it several times on the tour and I'm going to see it on Broadway soon. I love the show and the music and so I was willing to go see it with an OPEN MIND. I never would have thought of Maroulis or Cox to play those parts, but I think they were great. Maroulis' acting really caught me by surprise, because he was phenomenal. He showed a LOT of emotion.

It must be hard to put all your heart and soul up there night after night, only to have a bunch of people who pretty much know nothing, call it trash. If you don't like it, then stay home.

And as for the sets there is so much commotion about - high tech. Loved it. This is not 1997. This is 2013. I loved the changes they made. But then, I didn't go in there expecting to see the original actors.

I really hope nobody reads your review and doesn't go see it because of it. And by the way, if you are going to write reviews - learn your grammar. "It's" is a contraction for "it is." And tons of other mistakes you made.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:31am

"It must be hard to put all your heart and soul up there night after night, only to have a bunch of people who pretty much know nothing, call it trash. If you don't like it, then stay home."

It is all part of the job. We work in a business that critiques your work. And some times people/productions give their all but it is still trash at the end of the day.

Also if you stay home how will you ever know if you don't like it?

[AntV]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:32am

Updated On: 4/6/13 at 11:32 AM

[philly03]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:33am

EricMontreal - Did you even see the Broadway production (or even the second national touring production)? There was virtually no use of white, it was a mixture of blacks, reds, purples set on a "red box" platform.

TheresaG - Cox missed more than 3 performances... Not sure where you are getting these numbers. The role is very vocally demanding. And while she did perform a pop show in Chicago, still doesn't account for colds/allergies/flu/etc.

Elphaba: The scene is spoken now... Lucy has Nellie read the card, to make it more explicit she's illiterate. The Spider also has a scene with her before "Dangerous Game."

[mar6411]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:35am

"The place was packed last night, even though you say there were so many empty seats. And the "tepid" audience? Do you have a hearing problem? The audience was SO enthusiastic. This makes me think you just decided you hated the show, so you aren't even being honest."

And then in the same post:

"I loved the show. I saw it several times on the tour and I'm going to see it on Broadway soon."

So how can you speak to last night's show with such authority - and dispute Whizzer comments - if you weren't there?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:46am

I was in no way implying that only Linda Eder could and should perform Lucy. I just remarked that she had fun with the song (I saw her on one of the pre-Broadway national tours), and Cox didn't seem to know what to do with it; same goes for the ensemble.

Mister Matt is correct- it felt like a saucy Don't Tell Mama number before and now it's a wannabe Weill prostitute dirge.

jekyllforever, I'm confused. Did you see the show last night or not? You said you saw it many times on tour and plan to see it on Broadway soon, yet you acted like you were there last night to see the packed house and hear the audience response. The theater was indeed NOT packed. I was in the mezz and there were rows of empty seats. (It was quite easy to move to better seats after intermission.)

I love a good high-tech set. Matilda has a pretty genius one. The J&H set is ugly whether it's 2013, 1997 or 1947.

Edit: mar, you beat me to it!

Updated On: 4/6/13 at 11:46 AM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:49am

It's very obvious that this show has its crazy, psycho fans, and they are coming out in droves, here.

The whole comment about staying home if you don't like it, is silly. I wanted to like it. I paid full price to see the show and found it was so bad that I left at intermission.

But then I was told I probably wasn't paying attention...

It's fun watching the Hyde-Heads twist themselves into a frenzy trying to make everyone believe how wonderful the show is, and that the people who didn't enjoy it must not know what they are talking about.

Updated On: 4/6/13 at 11:49 AM

[jekyllforever]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 12:07pm

I know several people who saw it last night. I did not mean to imply that I saw it. All I see is person after person who,saw it years ago and went to see the show now without an open mind. I get sick of the comparisons.

Twist it around all you want. I saw the show with an open mind. You did not. I'm not in a frenzy. You are trying to twist the truth. I simply loved the show and I thought it was very well done. Why you want to trash this show, I have no idea. But IMO, it's very good. I go to see shows to be entertained. I don't love each one, but I try to be fair. And I don't try to ruin a show because I don't happen to like it.

You intimidate so that people won't give their opinions. Well, I have an opinion. Done.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 12:10pm

"I saw the show with an open mind. You did not. "

Really? Again, how do you know this?


And I saw it two months ago.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 12:42pm

I just love it when a bunch of people who can't sing or act think they can critique a show, because they think they know everything.

There is absolutely no logic in that hyperbolic statement. First, it makes assumptions about people you don't know. Second, it implies that only professional performers can voice opinions as audience members. Thirdly, you haven't established yourself in any way as having a more valid opinion than anyone else who has seen the show, even based on your own criteria.

All I see is person after person who,saw it years ago and went to see the show now without an open mind. I get sick of the comparisons.

Unfortunately, that is your problem, not anyone else's. If people have seen various productions of the same show, comparisons will be made unless they've had their memories erased. Just because this is a different production doesn't mean they have to praise it.

It must be hard to put all your heart and soul up there night after night, only to have a bunch of people who pretty much know nothing, call it trash.

That's exactly how this business works. But I am curious how you know the personal lives and experience of these people. Or how many people attended a performance you did not. You seem to feel some great injustice in the criticism of a show you enjoyed, but have no problem in criticizing those who don't share your opinion. If you want to discourage people from posting their opinions on a show they see, then be fair about it and say nothing yourself. But I doubt that's what you intended. Sounds like you just want the conversation to reflect your personal feelings and nothing of the contrary.

Updated On: 4/6/13 at 12:42 PM

[TheresaG]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 12:54pm

"TheresaG - Cox missed more than 3 performances... Not sure where you are getting these numbers."

Philly - I follow her on twitter and I read her fans remarks when out and also from friends who were there when she wasn't in.

Where are you getting your info from and what was the number of outs?

I also spoke to a friend who was there last night and also said the place was packed. She was in the orchestra section and she said she specifically looked up at the mezz several times and there was a good crowd there.

So why did Linda Eder say what she did at that concert back last fall at Town Hall about wishing she had gotten to sing Bring on the Men?

Always fun to read this board. Loads of opinions and I learn something new about theater once in awhile especially from the more down to earth posters.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 12:59pm

This will be one of my favorite threads and I will check it often and savor it every time I do so.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 1:01pm

Theresa, I think what Eder meant was she wished she had fought to keep Bring On the Men in the Broadway production instead of letting them replace the song after the pre-Broadway tours.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 1:02pm

Oh Jordy, this is going to be epic!

[TheresaG]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 1:34pm

Whizzer, that makes sense what you said about Eder. I was confused as I had not seen the pre-Broadway tour. Originally, I thought you meant there had been a CD from tour as well as a concept CD since it seems like Wildhorn did a lot of CDs back then.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 2:02pm

A person who chose to advertise their love of Jekyll and Hyde in their username went to see Jekyll and Hyde with an open mind?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 3:49pm

bwayphreak, Other than Cox everyone else sounded fine vocally. My issue was they weren't interpreting the songs. No phrasing. No relating the lyrics to the audience. They just stood there and gratuitously riffed there way through each number. This is why I said if I hadn't been familiar with the show I would have been at sea to find the plot.

Okay, I see what you're saying. This production definitely played more like a concert in some areas. I agree to an extent actually. I also agree about Murder! Murder! I didn't care for the new arrangements too much either. I'm sad to hear Cox's voice is tired, because she was on fire at the beginning of the tour when I saw her.
How was the view from the mezzanine? I saw the show from the orchestra off to the side in San Diego, and am considering sitting in the mezzanine if/when I get to NYC this summer!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 4:06pm

This thread is Trash. Pure trash and I'm with Jordan...