Just back from the invited dress rehearsal of LOVEMUSIK

[leezwerk]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 7:40pm

Wow!

They're still working out a few bugs in LM at the MTC, particularly in the first act...but it doesn't really matter, there was magic on that stage!

I was told they just had their first real run-through last night, apparently due to an abbreviated, not-for-profit, rehearsal budget. Again, it doesn't really matter. If true and if this is just the 2nd real run-through of the show, it makes it all even more amazing.

The bugs are minor and understandable. It seems like a few cuts to come (1:20 1st, with room to cut) and scene change technical issues in the 1st act. They had some sort of "quick" change problem that resulted in Donna Murphy being delayed offstage for an entrance (by a looong minute or so).

First act is a bit of a play with music. Second act is the reverse. It is slighly unbalanced (like Grey Gardens) between the acts with the 2nd act "stronger" if that is the word. Although I think once the "fixes" are in and the glitches are out of the 1st, it may be exactly what it needs to be to set up the 2nd act.


In the other highlights category.. before the show, Hal addressed the audience (after a rousing, spontaneous, ovation) and mentioned that in the history of that theatre, it was the FIRST musical ever to be staged in the house. It was a star studded audience for an invited dress (heck, for most openings!). Lauren Bacall, Joel Grey, Alfred Uhry, Hal Prince all standing and happily chatting down in the center aisle for 5 minutes after the curtain.

I haven't even mentioned the lead performances! Suffice it to say, "wow" doesn't quite do it justice.

[Danielm]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 7:45pm

How are the songs used? Do they try to make them advance the plot or are they just used as songs he wrote? I'm hoping they avoid those horrible lines to lead into songs (like in Mama Mia). What is the general tone of the show?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 7:46pm

"Hal addressed the audience (after a rousing, spontaneous, ovation) and mentioned that in the history of that theatre, it was the FIRST musical ever to be staged in the house."

Well, that's only kinda true. It's the first musical to be staged in the Biltmore since its renovation by MTC a few years ago, but in the decades it was opened before that it hosted several musicals including the original productions of HAIR, THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM, DOONESBURY, STARDUST et al.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 8:47pm

Now, you see. Due to my idiocy...I thought that "staged in the house" meant that the show took place in the house and not on stage.

Which would have been supremely weird.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 8:49pm

How were the leads? But I'm so glad for the positive notice!!

[folkyboy]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 9:42pm

omg this makes me super excited!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 10:06pm

*Dies* Song list...anyone?!!

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 11:25pm

Song lost and understudy list!

[stephen3]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 11:31pm

WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW.WOW.WOW.WOW.WOW.
OH MY GOD~
Were we seeing the same show today at 2 at the Biltmore theatre???
Isn't it interesting how two people can have such RADICALLY different responses to a show? I thought (and my companions thought) that this show was so tragically misguided, ill conceived, and poorly executed that one can only respond with abject bewilderment at how such an impressive array of theatre professionals could have gone SO HORRIBLY AMISS.
The show started promisingly (albeit with a lumbering first scene) but then quickly derailed into the land of rambling, laborious dialog coupled with out of nowhere songs that rarely failed to elicit any sort of response whatsoever-heartfelt, sympathetic, apathetic or otherwise.
By Act 2 the thing was so off the map that I forgot that I was supposed to be interested because the show had splintered off in so many curious directions that the only point of interest was to try to figure out what the hell I was trying to be interested in.
Predictably, I stopped caring about a thing said or done on that stage and started to wonder WHO THE HELL thought that this was a good idea?...and admiring the beautifully reovated Biltmore theatre.

I felt like I was watching a summer stock production of GEORGE M. except that it was called KURT W. and there was no Joel Grey to carry the day ( but at least when George M. lumbered on the musical numbers were entertaining. Not the case here.)

Eeekkkkkk! THIS IS WHAT ALL THE FUSS HAS BEEN ABOUT?

and...let the contrary opinions begin (5-4-3-2-1) NOW!


Updated On: 4/12/07 at 11:31 PM

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 11:34pm

And they say I'M tough! Yee-haw!







Jerusha Bromley
Walpole, Mass.
Updated On: 4/13/07 at 11:34 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 11:38pm

Well, judging from Leezwork's join date and posting history here at BWW I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he was on the payroll. SHILL ALERT!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 11:43pm

Updated On: 4/13/07 at 11:43 PM

[myManCape]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:03am

Wow, now were giving negative reviews of a dress?
What is this ATC?

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:10am

no Pirate Jenny? Man, it would've been KILLER to hear Murphey sing it

[C is for Company]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:19am

Wow, I'm loving the track listing. How did Michael and Donna fare against Ella Fitzgerald on that one?

I'm shocked there is no Solomon's song. I really wanted some Threepenny in there, but the Tango Ballad is one of my favorite songs in any musical.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:19am

I was at the first preview tonight.

Handfuls of audience members in the Orchestra scattered out during Act I. Then there were a bunch more empty seats after intermission. I was sitting directly in front of the creative team, and they kept making pissed off noises.

The show needs work. It's damn long. Act I belonged to Cerveris. His characterization had depth. Murphy seemed to be channeling Olive Oil from "Popeye" for the entire first act. It was as though she and Cerveris were in two completely different shows.

Act II belonged to Murphy. She began acting like a human being. Cerveris, on the other hand, stood still for Act II.

I agree with whomever made the comparison of Murphy's performance to Ebersole's, only there's one difference. Ebersole is playing a different character in Act I than she plays in Act II. 30 years separate Act I and Act II in GREY GARDENS. Murphy is playing the same character in both acts, with no time separating them. It is a very uneven performance.

Updated On: 4/13/07 at 12:19 AM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:22am

There is NOTHING wrong with sharing your reactions to a dress rehearsal.

I can't STAND people with that mindset. It's JUST an opinion. If you would go out and tell your other theatre loving friends about it, you can post it here. Just because it's typed rather than said doesn't make it any more official, threatening, or wrong.

Oh, but that's right - you can only share your opinions on a dress rehearsal if they're positive, right? Okay, I get it now.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:22am

There were 2 THREEPENNY songs in the show and


***SPOILER***























The show ended with an instrumental "Pirate Jenny" which was breathtaking.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:25am

I'll also add that the Overture and Entr'acte are each beautiful.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:27am

oh gosh i pray for a CR

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:32am

Oh, one more minor thing:

MTC didn't spring for color Playbills.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:32am

I would hardly call what most of us post on here "reviews"! I think we're lucky to be able to read what people think after the invited dress. I find it helpful but also fascinating to read people's early reactions and also track the progress from previews to opening night. That's one of the best things about being on the board. Opine away!!!!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:33am

As always, I agree.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:34am

I agree, don't let the whiners of spreading your opinion on a show spook you away! I love reading these! Same with Deuce last night.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 12:36am

Aww, Munk, you really do love me!