LEMPICKA Reviews- Page 10

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 4:00pm

Jonathan Cohen said: "I’m at the matinee right now. Mariand Torres is going on for her and has never practiced with the cast. The performance still hasn’t started yet. It’s going to be interesting."

Any update?

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 4:55pm

So today’s matinee was supposed to start at 1pm and ended at 4:15pm. Torres did a pretty good job relative to the circumstances. There was one scene she’s supposed to blindfold her husband and a company member had to help him get to his mark instead because it looked like she didn’t know where it was. 

Torres got an ovation after her “I will paint her” solo that was insanely long, or at least would have been if it was just a reaction to her singing.

Other than that, not starting until 1:30pm and the long intermission, and I think it was Matt Gould coming out at the beginning to explain Eden was sick, the show was just the show.

There are parts of it I really enjoyed but also a lot of mess. The husband was a boring character and kind of dragged the show whenever he was the focus. Amber Iman was great, Natalie Joy Johnson was really good. Obviously, Beth Leavel was great but I don’t know why you hire her for such a small part.

The scenes about art and the underground lesbian scene were engaging. I’m still not entirely sure the show has that much to say about Tamara de Lempicka though.

I was in the balcony which there was no reason to be open. Everyone there could have easily fit in the empty seats in the other two sections. 

Updated On: 4/17/24 at 04:55 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 8:12pm

Matinee attendance was apparently 600 people. 
Any word on the evening show? 

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 10:26pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "Matinee attendance was apparently 600 people.
Any word on the evening show?"

You really have it out for this show, don’t you?

[AlmostFamous3]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 10:36pm

Attended the matinee today for a second viewing and was disappointed to miss Eden, but the performance was ELECTRIC. Mariand was terrific, and it's hard to believe this was her first time in that role on that stage. Her voice was clearly not tired from singing this score for 8 shows a week, so she easily hit all those notes... Incredible energy from a 1 PM matinee audience too, with a mid-show standing ovation (that made Mariand visibly break character and tear up).

I personally love the piece and would get that OBCR as soon as it's out, but one thing I still find upsetting is how terrible Andrew Samonsky's role is (‘the husband&rsquo... he is such a great actor (used to watch him in SOUTH PACIFIC on repeat) but what he is given is just a boring mess. 

I think they managed to get the show right post-previews. Don't understand all the negativity here (and on the critics side), I bet it's mostly from people who just enjoy being negative for the sake of it. But oh well, I'll definitely be returning!

Updated On: 4/17/24 at 10:36 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 11:02pm

Have heard nothing but great things thus far about Mariand’s Tamara.

And I still think Iman, Abud, and Johnson do some terrific work in this show. 

 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 11:16pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Have heard nothing but great things thus far about Mariand’sTamara.

And I still thinkIman, Abud, and Johnson do some terrific work in this show.

"

I really would love to catch Mariand as Tamara and this may be the only opportunity tomorrow night so hoping Eden's out on Thurday. Any reports on Eden being out tomorrow-Thursday night yet?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 11:19pm

AlmostFamous3 said: "Don't understand all the negativity here (and on the critics side),I bet it's mostly from people who just enjoy being negative for the sake of it. But oh well, I'll definitely be returning!"

 

The critics AND many people here didn't like/love it....but it's about being negative to be negative?  Thud.   Hooray that you like it and all, that's terrific - but at least realize people have different taste!

 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 10:18am

Jordan Catalano said: "Eden posted online she’s out of both shows today."

 

 

I really would love to catch Mariand as Tamara and this may be the only opportunity so hoping Eden's out again. Any reports on Eden being out tonight-Thursday night yet?

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 11:06am

I really liked it for what it was but acknowledge it's not perfect. I had one thought that I think would easily fix a major issue with it. She opens the show saying she had "two great loves" but you never really get to see the husband developed at all so it feels like they are focusing on the wrong thing. What if it opened with something like "I remember the faces of people I painted" and it flashes to the baroness, her daughter, Suzy, Raphaela (in a somewhat similar way to how they walk around her at the end). Then it justifies why Suzy and the Baroness get such big moments while having little to do with what is currently the focal plot of the show (the love triangle is what they say it's about).

I also wonder if the show was a little more fragmentary--more cubist--and less trying to be a linear story if that may help with all the random bits thrown in. Again, I liked the random bits they just didn't feel like they were contributing to what we are told the central story is. 

Thoughts?

[veronicamae]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 11:23am

Robbie2 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Eden posted online she’s out of both shows today."

I really would love to catch Mariand as Tamara and this may be the only opportunityso hoping Eden's out again. Any reports on Eden being out tonight-Thursday night yet?"

 

Probably way too early to know about today when there are still 8 hours to go, but if you saw her Instagram Story yesterday, she sounded ROUGH and explained her allergies have her whole respiratory system inflamed, and was only hoping she'd be able to be back today with no guarantees.

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 11:39am

Not a good sign, but judging from the reviews, she may not have to suffer much longer.

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 11:39 AM

[BETTY22]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 12:55pm

I saw Mariand yesterday and it was tough to watch.

The speech before the show by the composer and the 30 minute delay, didn't help.

The poor understudy didn't stand I chance with this awful material. It's not professional. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 1:27pm

veronicamae said: "Robbie2 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Eden posted online she’s out of both shows today."

I really would love to catch Mariand as Tamara and this may be the only opportunityso hoping Eden's out again. Any reports on Eden being out tonight-Thursday night yet?"



Probably way too early to know about today when there are still 8 hours to go, but if you saw her Instagram Story yesterday, she sounded ROUGH and explained her allergies have her whole respiratory system inflamed, and was only hoping she'd be able to be back today with no guarantees."

 

Did not catch her story but if her respiratory system is inflamed no way is she gonna be feeling better so quickly today! I want to see Mariand and grab a $99 seat asap for tonight! Btw, why wasn't Mariand rehearsed properly simply not fair to her and the rest of the cast being put in that situation yesterday!!!

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 1:49pm

Robbie2 said: Btw, why wasn't Mariand rehearsed properly simply not fair to her and the rest of the cast being put in that situation yesterday!!!"

...Because understudies are almost never put in before opening since everyone is just trying to get the show up and running with the regular performers, especially since shows are undergoing changes during previews (as this show reportedly did quite a bit), and the show literally opened two nights before?

 

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 01:49 PM

[yyys]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 1:51pm

u can probably do better than $99 at the box office.

Robbie2 said: "Did not catch her story but if her respiratory system is inflamed no way is she gonna be feeling better so quickly today! I want to see Mariand and grab a $99 seat asap for tonight!Btw, why wasn't Mariand rehearsed properly simply not fair to her and the rest of the cast being put in that situation yesterday!!!"

 

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 01:51 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 1:55pm

Traditionally, understudies aren't really rehearsed until after opening.  With how much more careful everyone is with illness, they (the everyone "they", not this show specifically) really need to find a way to change that.

 

And to say "no rehearsal" isn't necessarily accurate.  I believe she was rehearsed, but didn't have a put in.  (Still, a big jump to performace level.)

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 2:17pm

She probably had music rehearsals, learned the lines, had costume fittings, and has watched the show two dozen times from the audience, from the wings, in rehearsal, etc.

Considering how much a show can change in previews, understudy staging rehearsals can be a little pointless if things are about to change.

9 times out of 10 a special explanation never has to be made that "our understudy is going on for the first time!" It can help company morale and lower the stakes, but that's about it.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 3:33pm

Mariand is on again tonight as Tamara. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 4:47pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Mariand is on again tonight as Tamara."

Yes, Thank you!

My agent friend got tickets for tonight. Looking forward to seeing Mariand!

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 5:06pm

Just to clarify, Mariand is Eden's standby, not understudy. She has no other role in the show, and considering how vocally demanding the role is, I'm surprised that she wasn't already properly prepared, since it was only a matter of time before she went on.

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 05:06 PM

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 5:57pm

People who reacted so intensely to this getting negative reviews...

...sometimes things just get negative reviews. 

We've become too reactionary.

You go "aw that's a shame" and keep moving like we have for DECADES.

It feels like people are more interested in hearing themselves talk and grandstanding when this is what it is. Sometimes shows get panned. 

It's a shame, it doesn't discredit the work that people worked hard on, it's just part of the game.

People making some point about "I don't want to hear a MAN's perspective on why it doesn't work"

...stop being annoying. Sometimes things don't work. Sometimes plots are messy. Sometimes things needed more time in the oven. 

[Wardelljclark2018]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 6:33pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "People who reacted so intensely to this getting negative reviews...

...sometimes things just get negative reviews.

We've become too reactionary.

You go "aw that's a shame" and keep moving like we have for DECADES.

It feels like people are more interested in hearing themselves talk and grandstanding when this is what it is. Sometimes shows get panned.

It's a shame, it doesn't discredit the work that people worked hard on,it's just part of the game.

People making some point about "I don't want to hear a MAN's perspective on why it doesn't work"

...stop being annoying. Sometimes things don't work. Sometimes plots are messy. Sometimes things needed more time in the oven."
 

 

"I don't want to hear a MAN's perspective on why it doesn't work" is as valid a reason for not wanting to hear a majority of the critics response to the show as any. The show is not a story about men,(at least not at the center) its a messy story about a messy bisexual women artists and made as such. While the show might not be incredible, I'm sure queer women/enby critics would have more thoughtful and substantive responses than what some of the men critics have said. 

And for that matter same goes for The Wiz, which is why Maya Phillips review of The Wiz is not what Jesse Green's would have been. This is simple for people who live outside of the cis white male world.

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 06:33 PM

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 6:41pm

My...sounds like someone's been online a LOT.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 6:45pm

Wardelljclark2018 said: "rattleNwoolypenguin said: "People who reacted so intensely to this getting negative reviews...

...sometimes things just get negative reviews.

We've become too reactionary.

You go "aw that's a shame" and keep moving like we have for DECADES.

It feels like people are more interested in hearing themselves talk and grandstanding when this is what it is. Sometimes shows get panned.

It's a shame, it doesn't discredit the work that people worked hard on,it's just part of the game.

People making some point about "I don't want to hear a MAN's perspective on why it doesn't work"

...stop being annoying. Sometimes things don't work. Sometimes plots are messy. Sometimes things needed more time in the oven."




"I don't want to hear a MAN's perspective on why it doesn't work" is as valid a reason for not wanting to hear a majority of the critics response to the show as any. The show is not a story about men,(at least not at the center)its a messy story about a messy bisexual women artists and made as such. While the show might not be incredible, I'm sure queer women/enby critics would have more thoughtful and substantive responses than what some of the men critics have said.

And for that matter same goes for The Wiz, which is why Maya Phillips review of The Wiz is not what Jesse Green's would have been. This is simple for people who live outside of the cis white male world."

Oh just stop. Critics male and female have been doing this job for years, this whole 'man's opinion' is ridiculous. MEN have given rave reviews to female, queer shows for decades. This is a world so delicate and soft that everybody has to be a victim of some thing or some one.