"Joe Turner," 6/13--thoughts & questions

[karen24]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 6:59pm

I made a special trip down from upstate to see "Joe Turner" on Saturday night before it closed, and I have to say I was a little disappointed. Based on all the reviews, I expected a really almost transcendent night of theater, and I just felt that something was missing. I was wondering if part of the problem was that Chad L. Coleman was out (which really surprised me, considering it was the last evening performance, but who knows, maybe he was really ill or had a prior commitment?)Since this was my first time seeing it and since his reviews were so strong, I was sorry to miss him, and I was wondering if his absence was throwing off the cast slightly. His replacement, Nyambi Nyambi, was good, but it seemed to me based on the reviews I had read that he didn't have Coleman's stage presence. He seemed too small for the role or something--maybe because he just hadn't had time to grow into it. If anyone here has seen Coleman in the role and can comment, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.
I did think that the other actors were excellent, especially Roger Robinson. And I admired Sher's direction, and the set and lighting.
The other thing that kept me from fully enjoying the show was the audience. I have never heard so many cell phones go off in a show--I was in the mezz. and heard at least four. Also, they kept seating people well after the show started in both the first and second halves, which was really distracting. Plus, many people were talking amongst themselves, rustling candy wrappers and were just generally restless. It did run very long--almost 3 hours.
All in all, I was glad I saw it, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
The funny thing is that I made the kind of last-minute decision to see "In the Heights" for the first time at the matinee the same day, and that wound up being the show that really made the weekend for me. Everyone was in and it was just fantastic.

Updated On: 6/14/09 at 06:59 PM

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 7:42pm

While he doesn't carry the show, Chad L Coleman really turns it into what one might call a "transcendent night of theater." He's truly luminous in the role.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 8:38pm

^ I somewhat regret missing Coleman in the role as well. I saw the June 13 matinee, Nyambi's first time doing the full show. I have to say that Nyambi absolutely gave me spine tingles. He did a wonderful job with the part. It would have been great to see it with the full cast, but I feel no less fortunate since the play still came off beautifully.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 8:57pm

Coleman added a gravitas to the Loomis role; he could be downright scary in it. You always felt he could explode and you never knew what he was going to do next.

I haven't seen the fellow who subbed for him.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 9:18pm

Chad took ill during the Friday evening show and was replaced during the intermission by Nyambi, who had never previously gone on. Does anybody know if Chad was back for today's closing performance?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 9:22pm

I also was a little disappointed when I saw it on Wednesday, but Chad was still in it then. Honestly, I thought it to be the single most overrated production of the season. It wasn't bad, but I didn't think it was nearly as glorious as everyone has been saying. And I really don't think it should have won Best Lighting. It looked like a laser tag park with all of the green and orange alien glow lighting.