KISMET @ Encores

[Bluewatergables]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:50am

I hear this is going to be a great show. Is anyone going

[IssaMe]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 11:05am

Have flown in from London for today's dress rehearsal - will let you know.

[jasobres]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 11:20am

I'm going tomorrow night.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 11:24am

I'll be there Friday night. Was listening to the OBC on the train this morning...should be a fantastic evening!

[Bluewatergables]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 12:19pm

there is a version with mandy patinkin

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 2:42pm

Going this Friday night. Been humming 'Stranger in Paradise' all week.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:16pm

I'll be there tomorrow evening.

[alli2]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:24pm

I'll be there on Thursday night!

[showinoff]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:52pm

i want to see this show so badly. anyone know what the price range on tix are? could you pm me? thanks.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:58pm

who is playing the Wazir

[Nothatsmrt]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:04pm

Jacobtsf, Danny Rutigliano is playing the Wazir. He is excellent...he replaced Max Casella as Timon in The Lion King back in 1998, and then originated the role in LA. He's also in the "When you do it Ebay!!" commercial. He's a friend of my uncle's, and I am sure he will be wonderful.

[marincrazy11]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:21pm

I will be there Saturday night!!!!!!! I can't wait!

[MissNY]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:47pm

I think the prices are like $25-$90

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 5:23pm

You can get even cheaper prices with the discount code from Playbill on-Line.

You might be interested in reading the interview I did with Marin Mazzie for this site. It's called "This Is Our Beloved". You'll find it on the homepage.

[Bluewatergables]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 6:14pm

you should spend the money to go see this. i think it will be a great success. great music. and the performances i am sure will be right on the "alms"

[feinstein9]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 6:18pm

going sat night, can't wait. these stokes and marin belong together, they are dynamite on stage. sigh. if only they could have a show written for them. will try to write review on sat or sun.

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 7:25pm

going on saturday for the matinee, can't wait. My opera company is actually doing Kismet so we are all going as a group!! It should be fun!!!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 7:28pm

My fella and I will be there on Saturday night.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 9:51pm

Going Sat aft.... anything with BSM is a MUST !!!!

[IssaMe]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:39pm

This is Kismet-lite.

Which is as it should be.

People who know the show mainly through the glorious classically-based score may think of it as a more serious musical than it is - almost an operetta (which is how it started out on the West Coast before author Charles Lederer bought out producing partner Ed Lester and rewrote it as a comedy before bringing it in to New York).

It is really a spoof - like Funny Thing/Forum...sorta the Hellzapoppin of the Middle East.

And that is how it is played at Encores! Stokes is hilarious as Hajj and plays it very broadly. Danny Rutigliano as the Wazir is almost vaudevillian in his comedy and it works. He's a real crowd-pleaser

But the hit of the evening is Marin Mazzie - who constantly stops the show and brings down the house as Lalume - surpassing even the brilliant Joan Diener and Dolores Grey. Everyone was talking about her and cheering her. A performance for all time...making her the reigning Queen of Broadway.

It is a totally enjoyable show...and if it doesn't soar and totally take off like some productions of Kismet have...don't forget it is still a staged concert - a lavishly produced one (41 musicians and 37 in the cast)...but still not the full production Kismet usually sees.

Well worth it all in all...and lots and lots of fun. And, oh that Marin!!!!!!!!!

Encores producer Jack Viertel announced that they were doing Kismet because new conductor of the series, Paul Gemignani insisted that it be the first show he conduct at Encores. Good choice!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:42pm

Anyone going to the Sat matinee should stay for the Talk Back immediately following it. These are always marvelous.

Sadly our schedules have us going to the evening performance this time.

[BumbleWumble]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 12:05am

I just saw the dress as well. I didn't really care for the production all that much... yes, Lonnie Price did a great job directing and extracting the musical comedy from the show. But it was overall just bland.

I agree about Mazzie, though. Spectular performance. And she looked great.

Not the best Encores, by far.

[Bluewatergables]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 10:37am

bumblewumble. i too was there and have to disagree, for a concert version with less than two weeks of rehearsal i thought they did a fantastic job.
i personally was skeptical that Brian Stokes Mitchell could pull this off and was very impressed. I loved Marin Mazzie as Lalume, Danny Gurwin was ok, but not as innocent in ways as i think he should be. The girl playing Marsinah, beautiful voice. The Wazir, not funny at all.
the direction flat and per usual for Mr. Price boring.
However, the overall impact of the show is tremendous, the score the song, the overal ensemble work.
If someone has the money they ought to do a full out revival and dress this show up for all its worth. And the orchestra, led by paul gemingiani (sp) was absolutely beautiful
run to the show...its great fun
p.s. a note to the costume designer..stay away from white

[IssaMe]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 11:02am

Interesting that you thought that the orchestra was beautiful. Quite a debate going on today at City Center before this afternoon's closed rehearsal.... since many comments made after last night about the uncustomarily distant, muted, subdued sound of the very large 41 piece orchestra. New conductor wants a more acoustic, natural sound...many believe that is not the Encores "sound". Stay tuned!
Updated On: 2/9/06 at 11:02 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/9/06 at 11:06am

Great to read all this early praise for Marin!

Atta girl!