I saw this last night, and I have to say I was disappointed by intermission. But Act Two was spectacular.
After the undiably spectacular opening number--the momentum crashed. The only real problem I saw was in the direction. As long as they were singing an uptempo song, things were great. But in ballads and scenes, it became stagnant. As in, there wasn't any blocking in act one. Paulette's song about Ireland, which already has the most mediocre lyrics in the show, has no staging. This should be a hilarious character number. Right now it's cute, not hilarious. She sits and and sings to Elle, looking her right in the face; crosses to center; crosses back to Elle, sits down and sings to her face. The song should be a showstopper, and Orfeh does great work with what she's given. But there is no behavior happening in any scene or song (except the dorm room) in Act One. Everytime the sorority leaves the stage the momentum dies--not due to any performers--they are all great. But there is no life in the staging. And back to Ireland--the tag at the end of the scene ends with a throw-away line and a transition that leaves Orfeh without a much-deserved applause break.
Ditto for no behavior happening in these songs: Michael Rupert's god-awfully staged act one solo (The most interesting thing happening was the woman in front of me using the light of her cell phone to find out who that actor was), Elle and Warner's duet at the party--that whole scene can be reduced to a crossover. And Christian Borle's number on the bench after the party--again--turn and sing in her face. That song sequence is better once it moves to the dorm room, but still.
I was so sad at intermission. And then act two happened. Once the too-long jump rope sequence ended, the show was fnatastic.
I hope the dead spots get cleaned up in previews. Because it could be an excellent show--but as is--no way this is getting raves, except for Laura Bell Bundy.
Updated On: 4/8/07 at 03:38 PM
