LOTR the day after

[JRTO]

Posted: 3/25/06 at 11:11am

Many critics reviews have been posted here, but I though I would add an ‘average theatre goer’s response from the day after opening. I saw the show last night (tried to avoid reading reviews before going)

The trouble with this show is that every aspect of the show is brilliant- but ends up missing the mark. This is one of the most mis-cast shows I have ever laid my eyes on. Almost every principal with the exception of Sam, Frodo and Gollum are awkward, over acting and un-enjoyable to watch. Of special note is Brent Carver who is clearly too young to be Gandalf and should have turned in a much better performance. He almost becomes frustrating to watch after you realize how wrong he is for the role.

The set is wonderful, but becomes boring very quickly. Twigs cover the proscenium when you enter the theatre, and you don't go a moment without seeing twigs for the next 4 hours. Twigs are the legs of the stage, the background, a forest and on and on. The projections used on the back scrim are amazing when used in the right scenes, but there are projections that are there for the sake of being there and again ruin the good moments.

You can have too much of a good idea. And that's just how I feel about the rotating stage. There is a point in the second act where Sam says " I feel like we're going round and round in circles" and I laughed really loud- I felt the same way. Every time someone walks, the stage moves. Parts go up, they turn., they go down... all very impressive, but very over used. You've seen the stage turn and rise so many times by the point where Gollum falls that it becomes such a non- event, even if it is horribly staged.

That also describes a number of fight scenes. Instead of trying to recreate actual fighting- which would have been very effective (and is effectively done during Helm’s Deep- one of my favorite moments) the company far too often breaks into a modern dance version of a fight reminiscent of The Lion King. It worked in that show, but is completely laughable in this one.

The story is manageable- and this is from someone who is not a LOTR fan or intimately knows the story. Basically if you know that there is a ring, it is evil and they try to give it back, you’ll be fine, but that doesn’t mean it’s good. The narration used at the beginning and end of the show is fantastic and should have been used throughout to drive the show forward. Sam and Frodo are unable to do this themselves, especially since it does not seem that there is any real threat to them at all throughout their journey. The narration voice over could also have helped to cut the story down and remove some principal characters that have minor roles that only serve to fragment the flow of the story.

Although purist would be upset if Galadriel and the Lothlorien scene where missing, simple narration could have summed up a very boring start to the second act. Little cuts like this, both for scenes and characters, would have been welcome to move the story along. The book overall is far too weak. The first act shines, but as soon as the second starts, the story crumbles. The fellowship just disappears (and to my knowledge, weren’t even mentioned as ‘the Fellowship’ at any point). Other scenes drag and the story seems to wander with no end in sight.

I was very disappointed with both the dragon and spider. Both scenes look great at the start, but soon fell short. The wind in the dragon scene (and throughout in other places) is a wonderful effect and perhaps is the only one not overused. The dragon itself looks cheap, as does the spider that is hollow and has people moving its legs. For a $30 million production, I would expect better effects.

Which is really the whole problem with the show. For the amount of money spent, you expect more. Acting, dancing, story and effects all are let downs in the end. The only high point of the evening is Gollum. Every time Michael Therriault came on stage I was mesmerized and instantly engaged. When he left, it was the only time the audience ever showed any real appreciation for the show.

So if you're going to lay down the money to see the show, let me say this: Michael Therriault is brilliant as Gollum, but don’t expect too much from everything else.

[broadwaybounddh]

Posted: 3/25/06 at 11:13am

im so exccited to see it

[ally_kay_on_broadway]

Posted: 3/25/06 at 11:20am

awesome job on the review. I think most people on this board-myself included-felt the same way.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 3/25/06 at 12:22pm

JRTO - I totally agree about Mr Carver. I was so excited to see him and I thought he was the weakest link. He couldn't remember any of his lines the day I saw the show and if I were a producer he would've been gone instantly. It became frustrating to us when he even forgot the beginning line to his only 'song'. Terrible performance indeed. I hoped he had gotten better. If not for his audience then at least for his reputation.


I think the solution to Galadiel's scene is cutting two versus of her song. We can't understand her anyway. Its just very pretty and when we see the fellowship fall asleep we want to as well. She has an amazing voice, but the scene needs to pick up quicker and move on.

Updated On: 3/25/06 at 12:22 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/25/06 at 12:26pm

Wow- that was a great review. Thank you for your thoughts! I loved the "going around in circles" comment. DId the rest of the audience laugh as well?

[JRTO]

Posted: 3/25/06 at 9:25pm

No, it was just me that laughed. Not even my girlfriend. I don't think the audience was totally engaged at that point...

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/25/06 at 9:26pm

Haha- After 3 and a half hours, even my friend, the LOTR worshiper couldn't keep her concentration.

[MissElphie]

Posted: 3/25/06 at 9:33pm

Very good review. It doesn't sound like a lot has changed since I saw the first preview (other than the fact that there were no tech problems and it was shorter than 5 hours). I have been debating over seeing it again as I felt the preview did not give it enough of a chance, but so far have read nothing that makes me want to shell out the $ again...

Anyway, very well written review. Thanks for that.

[JRTO]

Posted: 3/25/06 at 9:36pm

My suggestion: wait for the discounted tickets starting in the fall. That's when I'll go again- and trust me, they will be discounted. September is horrible in Toronto. Both shows I worked on at the Princess of Wales took a week off in September. There will be lots of cheaper tickets is suspect.