LEMPICKA Previews — Page 10

Oh I think there’s plenty of substance. The thing I really appreciated about it was how queer it is.  I don’t think I’ve seen a musical lean in this much into a lesbian love story.  I thought it was beautiful and unapologetically progressive.  Even smaller things like the character who starts out as a waiter/bartender and then opens her own club.  The second act number Women is a showstopper.  Follow your dreams! Be you!

I second the comment about hoping Eden starts transitioning to plays. While she was a phenomenal voice in BKLYN and Wicked (on Broadway), everything after that has been a bit rough. Which is no surprise as that’s the same journey as other OG green girls (Idina & Shoshana) after multiple runs and years of overdoing it. 

This is not to bash her. She’s a great actress. I find her to be incredibly charismatic and engaging. I don’t think we need to keep forcing her to hits notes that she was struggling with even 15 years ago. 

TaffyDavenport said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I second the comment about hoping Eden starts transitioning to plays. While she was a phenomenal voice in BKLYN and Wicked (on Broadway), everything after that has been a bit rough. Which is no surprise as that’s the same journey as other OG green girls (Idina & Shoshana) after multiple runs and years of overdoing it."

Shoshana Bean is in amazing voice right now in Hell's Kitchen,so there's very little similarity between her and Eden's "journeys."

Totally agree that Shoshana Bean is still in amazing voice in a way that Eden is not and that it’s not the “same journey,” but I do think it’s a valid point that most of the early Elphabas have at least had to make adjustments to their voices, technique, and what they sing (e.g. Shoshana Bean has in recent years leaned far more into her mixing, head voice & riffing vs. screlting - and I think has done so *masterfully*). I think she, Idina, Julia Murney and some others have had (to varying degrees) to “adjust.” Perhaps part of the issue is that Eden’s technique/approach has not adjusted in these ways. But yeah, I agree it’s not the same in that Shoshana Bean isn’t struggling and her pitch isn’t suffering. I think the wear & tear exists for a lot of early Elphabas, but some of them have adapted to the wear and tear more successfully. That said, I remain a huge Eden fan! Also, I too am interested to see how Mariand Torres fares when she steps in :)

 

Updated On: 4/4/24 at 07:58 PM

I take it once they open Eden will go to 7 shows a week with Marian doing 1 a week so do you think Sunday mat or Tuesday night? I feeloff Sunday mat after a 2 show Sat-day for Eden would be the better route for vocal rest. On another note, is Eden always flat and has this been addressed before?"

I’ve been to multiple performances of the various iterations of Lempicka and I’d say it’s always been a “thing” but some performances are, pitch-wise, much stronger than others. My first Williamstown viewing and second La Jolla were near flawless. Other performances have felt like more of a struggle. Admittedly I’ve always loved her even on “off” nights. 

 

I wasn’t saying that those performers have forever ruined their voices and can no longer sing. My point still stands that each of them had years of very rough vocal performances, during and post-Wicked.

Shoshana vocally struggled through her stint on the national tour (after straining her vocal cords on Broadway), same for Idina in London, and Eden in LA & SF but has yet to make the full arc that the former two have with their adjustments. 

Regardless, thank you to somecheapfrenchthing for helping flush out what I was trying to say. 

Half of the plot seemed unnecessary?  Theres a big journey this show takes us on.  Which musicals are necessary to begin with?  

BrodyFosse123 said: "Via Instagram:

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some of these arent criticisms, just admissions that they couldnt follow what was going on and that they were desperate to nitpick (the ensemble changed their costume too many times... sick burn).

show wasnt perfect but yikes. to each their own. 

Love the show's tweet regarding the earthquake.

i thought she sounded fine last saturday night, a little raspy but impressive.

Intermission now.  So far I’m really enjoying this!  The whole cast is so, so talented.  Amber Iman really is stunning, and even though Eden is definitely pitchy, her voice is still thrilling; I thouggt my head would explode when she belted “your heartbeat” at the end of “Woman Is”.  It is a weird show and seems to be a bit all over the place at times, but so far I’m having a great time.  I’ve heard that Act 2 is even better, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the evening.

Absolutely ADORED this. Extravagant, thought provoking, beautiful. It is a show that I love in spite of its flaws. Flaws which do not include Eden’s voice when I saw it last night, she was on FIRE. There were so many highlights and so many wonderful moments, but I especially want to call out Natalie Joy Johnson who turned a tiny role into a character I could not get enough of. And Amber Iman… I mean, come on. Phenomenal.

I think it’s a bit too long, and the husband is woefully underwritten. (Although Andrew Samonsky, wow what a VOICE). While you understand why she stays with him (survival), you never quite understand why she loves him in the first place. I also think as far as relating the queer/jewish narrative of hiding your identity, it’s 3/4 of the way there… but something is needed to really hit home in the end, because frankly the moral seems to be “hide yourself for your survival” which… I don’t think is the intention. What it’s should try to go for is “you can still have your identity despite hiding for survival”. 

While these are wishes I want, the show is still phenomenal as it is. Just loved it. Chavkin is truly such a master of musical theater. Audience was loving it too. 

Updated On: 4/6/24 at 09:25 PM