LEMPICKA Previews — Page 9

ok, saw this tonight and oof… was a trainwreck for me. It was all over the place tonally and never found its stride. At times it felt like it was trying to lean into the camp, but as a whole felt like it was going for a Les Mis/Evita/Miss Saigon epicness, which imo it did not earn. 

Amber was great with what she was working with, Beth and Natalie too, but this was such a catastrophic misfire to me. At the core I just didn’t feel for any of the characters, and Beth’s 11 o’clock number felt so unearned that it was laughable. I love Eden so much (she was my first Elphie when I was a kid!) but boy, they really need to rework the keys of almost everything for her :( I feel bad, but her pitch problems were so consistent that by the end of the show my ears were so used to them that I had stopped wincing to them and was just numb... Musically, I just kept hearing the “Greatest Showman” sound that is currently plaguing bway scores, and lyrically I found myself laughing at moments that were not supposed to be camp. I just feel like I saw a totally different show from what I’ve heard from others…

My friends and I all agreed that we preferred Diana to this… at least in its later iterations it was camp and self aware with some bops and thrilling vocals/ a point of view :P I wish the best for the creative team, cast, and crew, but oy, I have no clue how this iteration of this show is on Bway. Hoping it’s just my taste/ others connect with it more.

I really enjoyed this musical!  I thought the show was on firm ground when the direction matched the writing. All the progressive scenes, the Rafaela number in Act 1, Perfection, the lesbian number in act 2 called Women, the second act in general.  Eden was fine, the triangle projection things were ugly, the blank color scrim terrible. What happened to backdrops?  I liked much of the score, and book. I’d recommend, go see it!!

There’s no greater artistic failure than crafting a role around Eden Espinosa over the span of six years, and the fruit of that labor is a bland performance of a poorly written character, a score she cannot sing (she is nails-on-a-chalkboard flat multiple times per song), and no chemistry with her two (three?) love interests. Eden also reads waaayy too old for the part: this is a young woman’s story of Tamara from 18-33. Even if there was a magnetic starmaking performance at the center of the show it might only improve things by 10%, but at least the songs would be listenable and we might want to root for her more. After the one-two punch of this and GARDENS OF ANUNCIA, I struggle to see why anyone would ever cast Eden Espinosa again…her voice is shot, her acting is surface-level, and she's a black hole of charisma.

Every actor feels like they’re in a different show (a mix of problems with writing, acting, and directing), the ensemble has no function, and the design looks better in pics. There is an interesting musical about a love quadrangle buried in this misguided love triangle. Beth gets the eleven o’clock number bequeathing her husband to Tamara, but there’s no setup so no payoff. Samonsky is a wet blanket and their non-monog marriage would be interesting if actually explored. Amber Iman’s voice sounds great but her performance is of a different show. George Abud radiates presence even when standing still but his intensity feels out of place.

If I had to play show doctor, I’d say move the press opening back 10 days (the final day of the season), fire Eden immediately and replace her with literally any other Elphaba or Angelica Schuyler, refocus the beginning of the show and final third, and try to shave the show down to focus on Tamara + her three loves. But if they couldn’t crack that over the past decade I don’t see it happening in 20 days.

See, I actually thought that off key tone was kind of intentional.  I feel like she does that when she sings her other songs, including defying gravity.  I also did think that she was too old.  Beth Leavel looks younger than her.  The clothing of Lempicka in the first act is ugly and she looks lumpy.  I understand she’s poor, but I want her to be a poor girl who’s resourceful and still finds ways to look chic.  Slimming down would help.  I do agree, the musical is all over the place, but I still enjoyed it.  

Broadway Flash said: "See, I actually thought that off key tone was kind of intentional. I feel like she does that when she sings her other songs, including defying gravity. I also did think that she was too old. Beth Leavel looks younger than her. The clothing of Lempicka in the first act is ugly and she looks lumpy. I understand she’s poor, but I want her to be a poor girl who’s resourceful and still finds ways to look chic. Slimming down would help. I do agree, the musical is all over the place, but I still enjoyed it."

Not only is this person a troll poster, now they are making nasty comments about people's appearances. 

Trashing someone’s voice, their livelihood is okay, but appearance is off limits?  Theatre is a visual medium. 

I did not see this yet, but I did see Eden in Gardens of Anunsia at Lincoln Center, which she was in. I wrote in my review on Show Score that her voice was in bad shape. She was pushing, she wasn't breathing properly, she sounded like she might not make it though the run. I don't know what she sounded like as Alphaba (in a show I am not a fan of) but she sounded like she needed vocal rest and to start over with her technique.

Yeah tell that to all the directors and casting directors who only cast hot gay guys in the chorus. 

Stock and amateur rights can be extremely profitable. Ask Andrew Lippa (Addams family) and F&A (Suessical). I think the show will have a very healthy life in stock and regional and school productions. With a great cast album.

Yeah I think we’re picking up on different things.  My big takeaway was the survivor aspect of her life. And the creation vs war theme.  Others seem to be really focused on her relationships between the two lovers.  To me, that was all a subplot.  

"I struggle to see why anyone would ever cast Eden Espinosa again…her voice is shot, her acting is surface-level, and she's a black hole of charisma."

 

I agree that the years have taken a toll on her singing voice and perhaps there are issues with technique but I disagree about her acting and charisma. I left both Anuncia and Lempicka hoping that Eden eventually dips into some play acting. I thought her scenes in Gardens of Anuncia were the some of the most compelling. I also thought her Flora the Red Menace was stellar back in her Elphaba days. 

Updated On: 4/4/24 at 02:09 PM

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Jesus Christ I hope Eden doesn’t read this thread. If I were hedging my entire career in starring in $20M Broadway musical and this was the reaction I got you’d have to put me on suicide watch. Take it down a couple notches, people."
 

I would never expect any actor to read these forums, but if they do, actors are a resilient bunch and comments about their onstage performances in a big, expensive Broadway show are completely fair game. The bottom line is Eden is being set up for failure by the authors and the creative team, and at the same time her performance is not transcending poor material. These are the types of blunt convos that her own agents will have to have with her if the grosses don't skyrocket post-opening.

Perhaps the lead producers will consider some of the comments, though, if they're not preoccupied with Stereophonic, Illinoise, Enemy of the People, and Queen of Versailles.

Updated On: 4/4/24 at 02:15 PM

I wanted to love this show....very disappointing. 

The book is a mess..........style over substance.