Leap Of Faith Previews- Page 6

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 2:16pm

"the Raul"....haha, love it!

Yes, Raul and Rosie O'Donnell had a disagreement at Taboo which was covered by some theater media.

[TheLadyoftheWood]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 4:29pm

So I have been doing this for years but I keep getting Raul Esparza mixed up with Gerard Butler! I would scream out during movies What is Raul doing in this. Only to find out it wasn't actually him.

I really wanted to see this show, but alas my NYC trip almost a month too early for me to have a chance. I love Kecia Lewis Evans and hope that I get a cast recording in order to see her if it does not last longer than the fall (When I can come to NYC again).

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 4:49pm

What kind of merchandise are they selling?

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 5:06pm

I forgot to check the merch stand after the show because I went backstage, but from a distance I saw black t shirts.

Posted: 4/5/12 at 5:28pm

Magnets were $15.
Are they friggin crazy?
Get em on discount when the show closes in 2 months

Also. It's very tacky that at the end of the show. Cast members go around with baskets asking for money.
I know. It's part of their character.
But so tacky
I felt embarrassed for the ensemble.

The show was just. Ouch!


Baby it's you. Was better.

That says a lot!!

[BwayTday]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 5:43pm

It was uncomfortable with the baskets at the end (and it goes along with the whole concept that I really dislike) but, I mean, all the proceeds go to Broadway Cares so it isn't the worst thing in the world.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 5:57pm

Ooof. I hate when ppl ask for money.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 6:08pm

Jan and Marc were both riotous in Chitty, though Jan clearly ran away with the show. There car was magical and the rest of the show was a sheer delight. I honestly never understand the casting of Raul in Chitty. It was a bizarre choice and not a good fit. Did Raul really resent it enough to let it affect his performance and treatment of others? If so, that pretty sh*tty.

Ooof. I hate when ppl ask for money.

I feel like it's rare I see a show where they don't. If it's for BC/EFA, I love it and I always donate.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 6:10pm

Do they do a Broadway Cares announcement? I think it is quite a clever way for this show to collect money. JMO

[littlebutterfly10]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 7:26pm

There was no announcement (at the first preview, at least), but on the Musical Numbers page of the playbill, it says, "All proceeds from the revivals' collection baskets will be donated to BC/EFA."

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 7:26pm

^There's a note in the playbill.

How many read that, of course, is another matter entirely.

[rjm516]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 8:22pm

I saw it last night. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't very good. I didn't care about any of the characters one iota (even the boy...and we SHOULD care about that boy! That's his purpose!) and the songs were soo blah. I don't remember any of the songs. I'm really disappointed in Menken. It seems like LA had some better songs but they were cut? Dumb. The dancing wasn't very inspired either. The cast was uniformly great (it was amazing to see such a varied cast, with people actually looking different from each other. Never seen such diversity in shape size age ethnicity. That was pretty great.) but it was just...boring I guess, because I didn't care. Ugh. Hopefully it will improve 10fold by opening.

Oh and in response to a poster on the last page who said his mic went out at the end - He actually dropped the mic. I was up close and the cameraman handed him the mic right when Raul stepped out of the rain, but Raul let it slip right out of his hand as soon as he made contact. It wasn't clear whether he dropped it on purpose (like all rockstar, I don't need this kinda thing) or (what I think) that it just slipped out because his hand was wet. It was funny though as everyone around me was laughing.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 11:12pm

I saw it tonight and I didn't find it to be the disaster many are claiming it to be, although is certainly nothing anywhere near great. It is, at least, mildly entertaining and is lifted to heights it wouldn't be able to reach without the always magnificent Esparza. Is this is best stage performance to date? No, but then again, it's also not such a great role. But he sure as hell makes the most of every second he's onstage. He's fantastic. So is Jessica Phillips, who makes a nice impression in her first leading lady role.

The music is fine. Sure, a few of the songs sound the same, but I at least left the theater humming a few tunes, which is more than I can say for most new musicals lately. The book is problematic, as are most of the lyrics, but I wasn't exactly expecting perfection here. It's deeply flawed, but I was at least entertained by the slick dancing, strong performances, and the wonderful orchestra. I enjoyed myself for what it's worth.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 11:35pm

"Did (The)Raul really resent it enough to let it alter his performance and treatment of others?"
No, he is just like that by nature, ask Joanna Gleason.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 4/5/12 at 11:57pm

is this 'lyssie jones' bad?

[AndersonTours]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 9:05am

Okay, I saw it last night and I feel bad saying this, but, it's not very good. That's the simple truth. The book is terrible and so is the direction. That's really where the problems lie. Most of the songs are not very good. Save for "Long Past Dreamin'", which is pretty wonderful. But I just couldn't get past that leaden book.
Over all, the evening felt amateurish. It's what I worried about when they decided to rush this one in. Raul works hard, but to no avail. He winds up over-doing and pushing. Not good. The cast tries. But there's really nothing to work with and they haven't really been directed. Feel bad writing this, but it just doesn't work. I really didn't like Sister Act, which felt formulaic, but this one was worse.

[phantom39]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 9:16am

Have to agree with the general opinion on here. It's a disaster. I was fine with Raul, but as some others have pointed out, it feels amateurish. They should not have rushed it in like this. Brooke did good stepping out of this bomb.

* I liked the title song, even with the embarrassing lyrics.

Updated On: 4/6/12 at 09:16 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 9:18am

Wow, this is truly horrid word of mouth. Anyone want to buy my tix so I can go see something I might enjoy??

I'm mostly joking, as I'm capable of making my own decisions -- but I have little faith that I will enjoy this next week. Hope seeing Peter and the Starcatcher and Don't Dress for Dinner during the same visit will keep things on an even keel.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 9:19am

I saw it last night as well and I didnt think it was atrocious. I didn't think it was very good, but it's far from LYSYSTRATA JONES bad. I'm one of the few people who know the movie pretty well and was sort of excited about this. But as was said before, such a large amount of the score sounds identical that it gets repetitive after 20 minutes. There are a few nice songs interspersed throughout, including a nice duet with the two ladies and a "Being Alive" number for Raul but other than that every song is "taken to church". I understand that it's hard not to do that with this show, given it's subject so in the end I'm left thinking that this probably just wasn't the best choice of things to adapt. I went with two friends, one who detested every second of it and the other thought it was "eh". And that pretty much seemed the reaction from everyone else I saw afterwards.





Updated On: 4/6/12 at 09:19 AM

[phantom39]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 9:21am

drama- both Peter and Don't Dress for Dinner are wonderful. Have a great time!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 12:24pm

What Jordan said.

This is nowhere near the atrocity LYSSIE JONES was.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 3:15pm

Except Lysistrata Jones received decent reviews. I get that some people here didn't like it, but I'm not sure it earned the "as bad as" universal qualifier.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 5:47pm

Hey roadmixer, Did I say I hated Raul? ("Raul bashing?" Really?) Did I not discuss LEAP OF FAITH? (Seeing it tomorrow, aside from the fact that I said I was looking forward to seeing it earlier in this thread.) How were my comments off-topic? Someone mentioned the 2007 Tony, I shared my thoughts, but kept them LEAP OF FAITH-centric.

In any event, despite these mediocre reports, STILL looking forward to it. I went into SISTER ACT at its third preview and thought it would be a mess and had the most fun I'd had in the theater in months. Don't know if the same will happen at the St. James tomorrow, but we'll see...

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 6:41pm

I thought it was awful. I don't know the movie and I found the plot very confusing. I didn't understand why anyone was really doing anything. The music was SO LOUD, and not very interesting. Raul's voice is shot, and he was screeching all night. Seemed like a big waste to me.

[wonkit]

Posted: 4/6/12 at 8:00pm

I sent a friend to this. He's not really a musical theater person, but he said he was thoroughly entertained and thought the cast was very talented. SInce he admits to going to musicals "to be entertained," I'll take that as a positive reaction.