LEAP OF FAITH Previews- Page 4

[knicks5219922]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:43pm

SInce the show pretty much has a stationary set, why don't they put it in the richard rogers assuming In The Heights closes

[LALALand]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:47pm

I do like Raul's voice and he is very good in the part. He does come off a little too "New York" as my friend said. They need to cut his hair and shave the beard. The look doesn't work for the character. Although, it totally works for him!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:49pm

Listen, it is VERY hard to find name actors who will commit to doing a Broadway show. There are at least half a dozen A list titles (dramatic plays and musicals, both new and revivals) that have producers attached and yet are 'waiting in the wings' because the producers can't find name actors who are willing to commit to starring in them.

When you can't find a name actress who will commit to a role like Blanche DuBois or Billie Dawn or Miss Mona, you can only imagine how hard it is to find a name star to play the female lead in LEAP OF FAITH.

Its no diss to Miss Shields to say that I'm quite certain hers was not the first offer to play her current role.

But this show needs some real star power (beyond Kelli and Sutton). Raul isn't a recognizable name nor is LEAP OF FAITH...

Producing theatre on Broadway is a very tough thing..

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:52pm

Absolutely. To find someone who's a name, who's willing and who's right is a huge battle. Unfortunately the latter is the one that's often sidelined, but so it goes. And I know they need her; the show won't sell itself, and Raul can't sell a show on his own. (I adore him, but that's not to be mistaken for delusion that he's a marketable star.) That's one of the reasons I ultimately came around to the idea, because as much as she wasn't what I envisioned the part to be, bitching about the choice wasn't going to do anyone any good.

I haven't seen any photos yet, but on a completely superficial level, I also think facial hair doesn't really fit Jonas. Longish hair I can live with, though he had it really short for the workshop I saw and that worked best, I think.

Updated On: 9/14/10 at 04:52 PM

[LALALand]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 4:58pm

I agree about Ms. Sheilds being the draw. I just wished that once they heard her sing, the creative team would've tailored the role to her limited ability. I saw her in Wonderful Town and thought she was fine with the music. They should take a cue from that and give her something easier. Other than her crying scenes, she was a very servicable actress.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:13pm

I liked her in Wonderful Town. She just shouldn't be doing a show where the part was clearly written for someone who could SING. So their options are either to re-write some of the music (which they've already done a bit, but not enough), or get someone who can sing what they have (and it's fair to assume they're not going to get rid of her). Right now it's not working.

No one has answered my question about the chemistry, which I will take to be a bad thing.

Updated On: 9/14/10 at 05:13 PM

[wonkit]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:50pm

I'm a little concerned about "People Like Us" which is one of my favorite songs in the show. But it is a duel of the belters. Pity if it has to go in order for Brooke to survive as it has a wonderful, dramatic impact. (All of this based on prior incarnations, not the LA production, which I haven't seen. Sigh.)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:53pm

Well, I think they could construct something that suits her voice better and still has the same plot-driving impact. The sound of that particular song isn't really what's important.

[broadwayboy987]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 6:17pm

"So, was Brooke Shields better/worse/about the same as Allison Janey? I fast forward through her songs on the 9 to 5 CD."

IMO Allison was much better in 9 to 5 than Brooke is in LOF. I saw the second preview of 9 to 5 and Allison was already not bad at all.

Also, I never said I didn't like the show. I found it enjoyable and it was great for a first preview! It actually ran really well. And I agree that Brooke isnt Bad she is just mediocre. She is a great actress IMO though.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 6:25pm

He does come off a little too "New York" as my friend said.

Isn't Jonas from NYC? Or did they change that?

[garnerfilms]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 12:56pm

Here is my take on the show from last nights performance. The story is very good but the music is not. I love Alan Menken but the music just wasn't memorable beyond the title track Leap of Faith. None of it stood out in my opinion. I was fortunate to see Sister Act in Pasadena years back and the music was awesome. Every tune was in my head as I left the theater. So not sure if he lost his golden touch or was going for something different here.

Raul was over the top amazing vocally and in terms of acting. Brooke was very pitchy but it kinda worked for her character. Kendra was forgettable. Loved the young african-american preachers voice. Sets were minimal but impressive. Loved the ending. Didn't feel long or boring. Moved along very briskly.

I have seen Curtains, 9 to 5, and now Leap of Faith at the Ahmanson as pre-broadway engagements. So far I haven't thought any of them were Broadway worthy. Why isn't Sister Act in NYC? That show rocks!

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 2:26pm

While I haven't seen a show where Brooke Shields "sings", I do remember a Bob Hope special during the 80's or 90's when she did "sing". It was excruciating, as I remember it. Would it be appropriate to say that Brooke Shields' vocal ability is somewhere between Glenn Close and Lauren Bacall (tho the absolute worst is Katharine Hepburn doing anything from "Coco".) Also... I hope that Raul Esparza takes this show to Broadway and gets Tony nominated (maybe he'll pray that David Hyde Pierce will not be in the Tony running as well).

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 6:22pm

She's not as bad as I would have expected, but doesn't have the kind of voice this music was written for. She can kind of carry a tune, her voice just doesn't have much color or spark to it at all. She has bad moments, but overall I wouldn't say it's horrifying; just bland.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 6:53pm

Updated On: 9/22/10 at 06:53 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 7:24pm

You can definately tell this show was created with him in mind. It perfectly shows him off.

It wasn't, really, but it's been developed around him over the past several years. I think his involvement is going on something like three or four years at this point. He was definitely workshopping it while he was in Company.

His chemistry with Brooke is very much like his chemistry was with the lady in chitty (whose name I can't remember at this moment).

Bleh. A huge part of the show lives and dies by that relationship. You have to believe 100% that he is SO IN LOVE with this woman that he is basically willing to sabotage his entire livelihood. Hopefully it will get better.

[MusicAngel]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 7:40pm

My turn to see it all this myself tonight! Will compare notes later.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 7:45pm

Have fun! :)

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 9:22pm

Ok, Brooke sounds fine. It's not the disaster some people are making it out to be. She does need work though. I hope she gets it. I agree that they should try to create something new to suit her voice better. Her character's songs don't sound like they're anything that special anyway.
Updated On: 9/15/10 at 09:22 PM

[pli1018]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 10:26pm

I also heard a bit and she's definitely not as bad as people are making her out to be. She needs work and hopefully will grow into the role.

Side-question for those who saw the workshop: How was Elizabeth Stanley in the Marva role? I was really hoping to see her and Raul together again, but obviously that won't be happening in this show.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 10:31pm

I didn't see her (I saw Sutton Foster), but she's on one of the demos and she sounded fantastic. She and Raul are great together.

[wonkit]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 11:29pm

I thought Stanley was just about perfect in the 2008 incarnation, someone who was probably a softie but had been hardened by hurt. She certainly could handle the music.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 11:38pm

My only trouble with the idea was that I don't know if I'd have bought her having a twelve-year-old son. Oh well, though, no matter now.

[MusicAngel]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 3:38am

Ok, I'm back! The show was just ok for me. You know, it didn't feel as long as I had anticipated. Of course there is definitely room for editing. For example, I just didn't think the dancing was necessary even for the transitions. Yes, they were the town folk but a lot of their numbers were empty fillers IMO. I personally even think the first 10 minutes could have been done without as well.

Stage was VERY minimal, more like empty! Other than the tent scenes, a lot of it was mostly looking at a very empty stage with actors standing around. It was even worse when you would only see 1 or 2 actors on stage and nothing else. Were they all having most of their discussions in the corn field or what?!?! To me it looked like a rehearsal without props on stage or that they were just stage blocking.

Singing wise, oh Ms. Shields, she just didn't stand a chance with the rest of the power houses especially when singing duets with Raul or Kendra. Brooke can carry a small tune, however you can tell that she couldn't really belt out. I was actually afraid for her if she even tried! I caught her sounding pitchy. Cute Nicholas.. I just wanted to hear more of him actually. I did get chills when Leslie Odom sang his first song.

Oh yeah, and that ending. Now that's a first especially at the Ahmanson!

Well, these were the main things I thought about throughout the show. Honestly, I can't see this on Broadway but who knows. They will need to do some serious tweeking before then. They just have to!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 5:21am

I'm thinking maybe 2013 with Ashford's schedule.
That's time to get a singer in Brooke's role,
and build some scenery.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 10:54am

This assessment is based on some fuzzy images I saw, but I'm not really digging the set. I'm a minimalist girl, but not really for something like this. I wanted it to be big! Then again, big costs money, and they probably spent a ton of that getting it to rain.