LESTAT REVIEW! Must read.

Great review! Very detailed!

As I said earlier in another thread, it sounds like they are making progess since I saw it (2nd preview). Hopefully, with the talent involved, they can make it work. I'm wondering if Elton will get into town before the official opening to help, maybe a few music rewrites. Especially for Act 1. The book in Act 1 needs some work too. If it opens at it stands right now, the critics are going to kill it.

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I really hope this is the Vampire musical that works.:)

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I saw the same performance last night and I appreciate the detailed review. I wish I shared your optimism that this will get fixed, but I don't. The book right now is a meandering, aimless mess, and the music is with just a few exceptions shockingly dull and forgettable. I have no trouble believing the book was created in four days and the score in ten, as has been reported. That is not something to be proud of.

I have not read the source material, but I can't help but wonder whether the problem is fundamentally that one cannot do justice to the plots of two novels in one musical play (even a 3 hour one). Hardly anything is developed. Lestat becomes a vampire in a scene that is practically a drive-by biting. Just as his relationship with his mother is getting interesting, and she has sung the ONLY good song in Act I, she leaves for good. The best and most potentially interesting sub-plot involving Allison Fischer's Claudia (immortalized as a child) is maybe a third of Act II. The only character besides Lestat that gets a decent amount of attention in both acts is Arnand, which is ironic because that's the role the creative team decided to "take in a new direction," causing Jack Noseworthy to leave (we are told). The producers would be advised to heed the old adage of "do a few things well," because right now this has the flit-through-life plot quality of the last SF-born show to die on Broadway, "Lennon." I never understood why I was watching the scene I was watching, how it fit into the whole, or why I should care.

As for the music, none of us would have ever heard of Elton John if this was close to his best stuff. As another posting (here or elsewhere) noted, most of the music is a kind of recitative that, to my ears, sounded like someone practicing scales. Over and over. This is especially true for Lestat himself, who sings the same riff in song after song. I'm amazed that Hugh Panaro hasn't revolted and demanded some MELODIES. It says a lot about the sad state of the music in this show that Panaro's best song, "Sail Me Away," is even in the show. It is an utterly pointless, almost comically contrived scene (the guys in front of me laughed) that would surely be cut if it didn't mean losing one of maybe three quality songs.

A lousy book and lousy music gives any musical two big strikes. The fine cast and visual elements that are provocative if not always successful can't make up for it. The audience reaction was very tepid, no more than polite applause at the end, no curtains calls demanded or given. So, unless this is destined to "go into the fire" (the only way vampires can be killed) within a few weeks of arriving on Broadway, a fundamental rethinking of the story and a lot of new music will be required. I don't see it happening. I hope I'm wrong.

That was one of the most EXCELLENT reviews I've ever read !!!! Congratulations ! The show sure sounds interesting !

Excellent review, it seems they got the books backwards doing Book II in Act 1 and a part of book I in Act 2. I'm still very very skeptical of this musical since I am a huge fan of the origianl three vampire chronicles. One question how old is Claudia in the play? She stays the same age throughout the play right?

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Well, it still has, what...4 weeks in SF? From reading the reviews on this board, it sounds like the show is doing what every show in previews does...finding it's core, watching audience reaction to know where to trim scenes and songs, and shaping up for Broadway.

I hope to see it next week and find out for myself what the show has to offer. I've seen the program (a friend at work brought it in today) and it's a gorgeous booklet with a lot of information in it; costume sketches, set photographs and a message from Anne Rice. Carolee (the ONE reason I want to see the show!) looked wonderful in her photographs, and I wonder what they will do with the programs now that Noseworthy is out. He is all over the program! What an expensive loss!

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Eug, Thanks so much for your time & effort in giving all of us not able to be in SF right now a glimps of "Lestat" - You did such a wonderful job and I just desire you to know it was so appreciated!
Happy New Year to You & Yours and lets cross our fingers that 2006 will indeed be "The Year of LESTAT!" (I just laughed, if you wanted to you could sing "The Year of LESTAT" to the tune "The Year of the CAT", an old Al Stewart tune from 1976 I believe - I'm a Vampire too, I'm 33 but am supposed to be 46, LOL!)
Thanks again and please - feel free to share your wonderful work anytime! Kudos!

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Thanks for the in depth and well-written review. I really appreciate you taking the time to do a scene by scene rundown of the show for those of us who have not yet been able to see it.

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Eug, Will you be seeing it again before it goes, and - if so, will you write more impressions perhaps? You really gave me a feel of the show! I'd like for you to follow it's progress if possible.
Also, I wish I had that signed playbill you got, and the pics were excellent! Keep that playbill under lock & key, it will be worth a ton soon! Loved your work & observations!

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Someone needs to show that review to the Lestat people. It's so detailed and constructive.

well, good luck, LESTAT
and as magictodo said, "I really hope this is the Vampire musical that works.:)"

Yes, it does. Other people have posted suggestions there, too.
Here be 'Lestatics' (no, really, they say that)

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