LEAP OF FAITH Previews- Page 6

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 9/18/10 at 7:37pm

And for the record, I haven't been a "young people" in an extremely long time.

Well, there aren't that many local critics. In print publications there's the LA Times and the OC Register (if they cover it). I haven't seen a single ad or anything in the Daily News, and I'm not sure they even HAVE a theater critic. Of course there's Variety and the Hollywood Reporter, but I'm guessing that there will be a lot of out of town critics attending the press opening.

[wonkit]

Posted: 9/18/10 at 7:52pm

If I volunteer to be an "out-of-town critic," do you think someone will pay my plane fare?

No? Oh, well...

[Hest882]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 12:52am

Yeah, that song certainly is no loss. It's sounds likes some awful AM radio duet from the 70s.

[musicalman2]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 2:51am

My partner and his family and I went to see the show tonight in LA. Here are some thoughts (spoiler alert)

Raul is quite exciting to watch most of the time. There are a couple dull numbers, but his big moments are huge and you see clear acting choices throughout with a nice character arc

Brooke is less successful, although I don't believe much of it is her fault. The book she has been given makes her character pretty dull and actionless.

Kendra does a really nice job given her lack of good book, and she has a really nice song in Act II which she delivers well.

the set is really dull looking. most of the time you see the same cornfield, which gets really boring after a while. occasionally, they will throw other things in front of it, but it does not make it visually interesting.

Ashford's use of dance is not successful. WAY WAY too much ballet, which is lovely in a vaccuum, but does little to illuminate the action, and feels mostly transitional and purposeless. It is well executed though, but really causes the show, especially the first act, to drag.

second act is far stronger than act 1. still some tendency towards length and lack of action, but not nearly as much as act I.

Finale Act II is a slow, painfully slow song. But, the ending is very very powerful and provides for a great great curtain.

Raul's soliloquy in Act II may well be one of the best songs ever written for a man, ever.

There ya go for what it's worth. There are some wonderful things in the show, and I hope they make good progress out in CA.

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 11:02am

It's starting to get better. There is a new song (to replace the duet "Something Real") in the second act and it's called "You Can't Get There from Her". It's a much prettier song than the one it replaced and the feeling and emotions it expresses are more in line with the overall arc of their story.

Overall the show is becoming tighter, smoother. Maybe I'm just getting used to it but the dancing isn't bothering me quite as much. It still doesn't belong in the show. They are still having sound problems (come on, guys, it can't be THAT difficult to learn your sound cues??).

Brooke seems to be feeling more comfortable, more secure on stage. Her voice hasn't gotten any better but I think she's learning to deal with that better. Raul is starting to play with the audience in the the first revival scene, interacting with them as if they're part of the Sweetwater audience. He even got one guy to yell "Hallelujah" last night.

I wish they had more time for more previews before it gets reviewed.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 11:10am

A lot can happen in two weeks.

[PK2]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 12:36pm

I will be in LA two weeks after the close date. I hope that there is a chance that it might extend for 2 more weeks. I know the chance is not high but I hope...I hope...

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 1:45pm

It can't extend - Raul is committed to performing a show in Miami on the 28th. Sorry.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 1:56pm

Well, he could miss a show or two. Bryce is more than capable of playing the role. I think if there's demand and it would be good move, they would be stupid to rule out an entire extension because of a single-day commitment. Don't assume that negates the possibility; it's not like he's committed to a run.

Updated On: 9/22/10 at 01:56 PM

[MusicAngel]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 3:33pm

I just can't see this extending for another 2 weeks especially with Next to Normal coming around the corner.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 3:33pm

Other than the technical aspects, what does one have to do with the other?

[wonkit]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 8:45pm

Someone posting on the LEAP Facebook page refers to Brooke's earpiece. Anyone else notice it?

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 9/20/10 at 2:22am

Yes, she's got an earpiece in her left ear. It wasn't there the first couple of shows so I'm assuming it's there because of the new song, and the changes they're going to be making.

I chatted with Alan Menken this afternoon (yes, I'm totally name-dropping) and he said this week they were going to cut act one from 1:40 to about 1:20.

I have a feeling that means that "Slingshot" and "Daddy's Shoes" are going to go. They aren't necessary to the plot.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 1:01am

Damn. I love "Slingshot".

[wonkit]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:05am

I like it as a song but never thought it was necessary to the story development. Jonas makes it pretty clear from his first line to Marva what his MO is.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 11:15am

Yeah. Catchy song but those 20 minutes (at least) need to go. They have been planning to shave time for for a while now.

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 7:45pm

Brooke Shields was on Ellen today (9/22/10) and talked about putting in the new song. Said she had the words taped on parts of her body to help her but couldn't see them and forgot them. Said she actually just stood there without singing. Later someone said to her at Stage Door that she was so reflective in that song; whatever was her response. Was funny but that doesn't seem any different from what I saw when she sang at the 2nd preview.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 9:59pm

More pictures. Some on the unflattering side.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Flash_LEAP_OF_FAITH_Production_Photos_20100922

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:16pm

Also some video footage on CTG's website, under the multimedia tab.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 11:30pm

I was expecting the set to look a lot tackier. Even though it is extremely sparse I think it looks pretty good. The lighting looks nice too.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/23/10 at 2:06am

Brooke actually sounds surprisingly good in the "I Can Read You" clip.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/23/10 at 2:16am

I'm still not thrilled with the look, but it all does look much better in action than it has in the still images.

[wonkit]

Posted: 9/23/10 at 12:12pm

One of Raul's photos looks like a young Al Pacino. Sort of. The kid seems a little older looking than I expected.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/23/10 at 12:30pm

The crazy disheveled one?

[WestwardHoHo]

Posted: 9/23/10 at 12:42pm

I Can Read You is a pretty awful song.