#26
Posted: 8/29/08 at 2:10pm
Show opens tonight!
Other than that, did you enjoy the play Mrs Lincoln?
Les Miz at Wolftrap — Page 2
#27
Posted: 8/29/08 at 2:37pm
I'm going to hazard a guess and say the lawn area's going to be a bit empty tonight... 
Break a leg, Neverandy!
Break a leg, Neverandy!
#28
Posted: 8/31/08 at 12:06am
Production photos? Anywhere? Anyone?
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#29
Posted: 8/31/08 at 9:04am
We saw the show Friday night at Wolftrap. In some ways it was a great venue to see it, and unfortunately in other ways it was terrible.
Neverandy- you may appreciate this. During some of the scenes taking place at night and outdoors it was entertaining hearing real live crickets chirping in the background! By the way- what is your role in the production? Do the crickets and other outdoor noises distract the cast?
I have to admit I really missed the turntable. The show just seems to block better with the turntable. Some of the projected images were okay, but others I felt made the production seem cheap and amatuerish.
I think where the turntable is most missed is immediately after the 2nd battle. It's quite dramatic when the barricade spins around and reveals Enjolras hanging upside-down. Also it became confusing seeing Gavroche collect bullets on the same side of the barricade! For someone who never saw the show, I'd guess they were scratching their heads. There were a couple of snafus with moving props around. Some guy came running out before the curtain was down and made A LOT of noise (like he dropped something) while changing the set. Also, at one point there was no projected image and a distracting blank snow-white backdrop. The image then suddenly came on. Not a big deal.
Having said this, I have to say the performances were outstanding. I've seen LM probably 10 times now and this may have been the strongest cast. The guy playing Valjean and the guy playing Javert were amazing. You'd think it was Colm Wilkerson playing Valjean. Cosette and Eponine were fantastic. Very good Marius.
Overall...4 stars out of 5!
Neverandy- you may appreciate this. During some of the scenes taking place at night and outdoors it was entertaining hearing real live crickets chirping in the background! By the way- what is your role in the production? Do the crickets and other outdoor noises distract the cast?
I have to admit I really missed the turntable. The show just seems to block better with the turntable. Some of the projected images were okay, but others I felt made the production seem cheap and amatuerish.
I think where the turntable is most missed is immediately after the 2nd battle. It's quite dramatic when the barricade spins around and reveals Enjolras hanging upside-down. Also it became confusing seeing Gavroche collect bullets on the same side of the barricade! For someone who never saw the show, I'd guess they were scratching their heads. There were a couple of snafus with moving props around. Some guy came running out before the curtain was down and made A LOT of noise (like he dropped something) while changing the set. Also, at one point there was no projected image and a distracting blank snow-white backdrop. The image then suddenly came on. Not a big deal.
Having said this, I have to say the performances were outstanding. I've seen LM probably 10 times now and this may have been the strongest cast. The guy playing Valjean and the guy playing Javert were amazing. You'd think it was Colm Wilkerson playing Valjean. Cosette and Eponine were fantastic. Very good Marius.
Overall...4 stars out of 5!
#30
Posted: 8/31/08 at 10:43am
Hmm... It is tempting to reveal myself, but I have to admit that I treasure my (albeit limited) anonymity here on BWW. Take a look the clues in my BWW name and search through your playbill and I think you should be able to figure out who I am.
re: Crickets- Thrusday we did a full tech runthru with the orchestra (Probably the finest I've worked with in 10 years of Prfoessional theater!) and Being Onstage during Bring Him Home in the outdoor setting with those crickets chirping while Rob Evan sang was an absolute gift. There was just something about performing this beautiful show one last to an empty house on a beautiful late summer night, that brought tears to the eyes of all onstage.
I have to say I do agree with a lot of your assessment. The turntable is such an iconic piece of the Les Miz pie, so it was interesting for me to perform in this production. The projections are all actual Victor Hugo paintings (yeah he was a painter too!). Also I wholeheartedly agree with your appraisal of the cast! (being totally non-biased!)
re: Crickets- Thrusday we did a full tech runthru with the orchestra (Probably the finest I've worked with in 10 years of Prfoessional theater!) and Being Onstage during Bring Him Home in the outdoor setting with those crickets chirping while Rob Evan sang was an absolute gift. There was just something about performing this beautiful show one last to an empty house on a beautiful late summer night, that brought tears to the eyes of all onstage.
I have to say I do agree with a lot of your assessment. The turntable is such an iconic piece of the Les Miz pie, so it was interesting for me to perform in this production. The projections are all actual Victor Hugo paintings (yeah he was a painter too!). Also I wholeheartedly agree with your appraisal of the cast! (being totally non-biased!)
Other than that, did you enjoy the play Mrs Lincoln?
#31
Posted: 8/31/08 at 10:08pm
Neverandy (who I'm beginning to suspect is Feuilly, and if you are, then you were amazing... and look like Nicholas Cage...)-- I just saw the show yesterday, and I absolutely LOVED it. The cast was golden, and I was especially blown away by Rob Hunt as Javert (INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE voice and stage presence), Edward Watts as Enjolras (can't believe that guy's never been on Broadway), Brian Walker as Grantaire, and Nikki Renee Daniels as Fantine. Only people I didn't really like were Thenardier and Bamatabois, and even they weren't bad. Staging was really original and interesting.
However, I saw the matinee, and the lovely projections you described were almost totally invisible... Javert sang "Stars" to a blank white screen... and he somersaulted offstage after his Suicide number. Also, poor Rob Evan (who was otherwise INCREDIBLE) messed up the verrry last note of "Bring Him Home," and I felt terrible for him, because it's such an iconic moment. He kind of went, "Bring him hooooo*gurglegargle-rasp-gurglegargle*oooome!"
By the way, I saw the lady controlling the lights was crying during "Bring Him Home." The show was probably the best I've seen, and I saw "Little Mermaid" and "Lion King" this summer. Actually, I made an account on this site just to praise this show! I tried out to be a teen extra, but though I was called back, I didn't get in. Oh well, there's always next time.
However, I saw the matinee, and the lovely projections you described were almost totally invisible... Javert sang "Stars" to a blank white screen... and he somersaulted offstage after his Suicide number. Also, poor Rob Evan (who was otherwise INCREDIBLE) messed up the verrry last note of "Bring Him Home," and I felt terrible for him, because it's such an iconic moment. He kind of went, "Bring him hooooo*gurglegargle-rasp-gurglegargle*oooome!"
By the way, I saw the lady controlling the lights was crying during "Bring Him Home." The show was probably the best I've seen, and I saw "Little Mermaid" and "Lion King" this summer. Actually, I made an account on this site just to praise this show! I tried out to be a teen extra, but though I was called back, I didn't get in. Oh well, there's always next time.
In my pants, she has burst like the music of angels, the light of the sun! --Marius Pantsmercy
#32
Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:31am
#33
Posted: 9/6/08 at 10:21am
That is a nice review. I noticed they barely mentioned Marius, Eponine, or Cosette and didn't even sneak in a word of Enjolras, or any of the revolutionaries at all, though-- which is understandable, Javert and Valjean were definitely the main focus there. It seemed kind of like the reviewer was rushing to include them there at the end!
I have to agree about the Thenardiers, though I don't feel it's entirely the fault of the writers that they were a touch annoying. I've seen some hilarious Thenardiers, but I guess I just felt like Laurent Giroux wasn't putting his heart into it.
I wonder what will happen with the remaining performances, what with all of this hurricane stuff going on. I know some people who have tickets for tonight or tomorrow.
I have to agree about the Thenardiers, though I don't feel it's entirely the fault of the writers that they were a touch annoying. I've seen some hilarious Thenardiers, but I guess I just felt like Laurent Giroux wasn't putting his heart into it.
I wonder what will happen with the remaining performances, what with all of this hurricane stuff going on. I know some people who have tickets for tonight or tomorrow.
In my pants, she has burst like the music of angels, the light of the sun! --Marius Pantsmercy
#34
Posted: 9/6/08 at 4:06pm
I am in the teen ensemble for the Atlanta production. It's going to be amazing! I cannot wait. The audition was not very hard (only 90 kids were there), and they ended up casting 16 teens all over 15 years old.
I am slightly disappointed there is no rotating stage, but I'll get over it. The Proscenium sounds very cool with the whole sewer thing and the doors. It'll definitely be one of the most ORIGINAL productions of Les Mis. I have heard Rob Evan sing on his website, and I'm sure he is going to be a phenomenal Valjean.
It's weird Atlanta is the only indoor venue this tour is playing... But the FOX is definitely the best venue out of the 3 this tour is playing. It is beyond beautiful and the sound is very clear, but if you are more than 20 rows back it is tricky to see facial expressions, but i'm sure it would be hard to see facial expressions in the lawn of Wolf Trap or KC Starlight.
Interesting that Laurent Giroux was pretty much the only negative in the review, i saw him in Annie at the FOX this year as Rooster and he was hilarious and had great comedic timing!
I can't wait to be part of this production for all 13 performances. Rehearsals for us start next weekend. Make sure you all come see it if you live in the Atlanta area
I am slightly disappointed there is no rotating stage, but I'll get over it. The Proscenium sounds very cool with the whole sewer thing and the doors. It'll definitely be one of the most ORIGINAL productions of Les Mis. I have heard Rob Evan sing on his website, and I'm sure he is going to be a phenomenal Valjean.
It's weird Atlanta is the only indoor venue this tour is playing... But the FOX is definitely the best venue out of the 3 this tour is playing. It is beyond beautiful and the sound is very clear, but if you are more than 20 rows back it is tricky to see facial expressions, but i'm sure it would be hard to see facial expressions in the lawn of Wolf Trap or KC Starlight.
Interesting that Laurent Giroux was pretty much the only negative in the review, i saw him in Annie at the FOX this year as Rooster and he was hilarious and had great comedic timing!
I can't wait to be part of this production for all 13 performances. Rehearsals for us start next weekend. Make sure you all come see it if you live in the Atlanta area
#35
Posted: 9/6/08 at 4:29pm
Oh wow! Congrats on getting in! I think the show will be so much better in Atlanta... somehow, the theatre being outdoors seemed rather odd at matinee, because it was so bright and hot and there were mosquitos everywhere. Valjean sweated through his shirt and mouthed 'it's hot!' when he bowed.
Rob Evan is really great, even if it seems slightly out of his range sometimes-- his acting's even better than his voice. I so envy you for getting to meet him and Rob Hunt.
Weird about the Thenardier/Rooster thing. The guy who played Rooster in our school production of Annie was also Thenardier... and I think he was miscast as Thenardier, so maybe I'm just prejudiced against Thenardier Roosters.
It's be awesome if you kept updating about what it's like to be in the show.
Rob Evan is really great, even if it seems slightly out of his range sometimes-- his acting's even better than his voice. I so envy you for getting to meet him and Rob Hunt.
Weird about the Thenardier/Rooster thing. The guy who played Rooster in our school production of Annie was also Thenardier... and I think he was miscast as Thenardier, so maybe I'm just prejudiced against Thenardier Roosters.
It's be awesome if you kept updating about what it's like to be in the show.
In my pants, she has burst like the music of angels, the light of the sun! --Marius Pantsmercy
#36
Posted: 9/6/08 at 5:03pm
According to Wolf Trap's website, the performances for today were on as scheduled.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#37
Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:55pm
Well. the show opened last night in Atlanta! It was so much fun, and i've already learned a ton from all the amazing cast members. Some of them treat the teen ensemble like crap, and are always yelling at us, but we just ignore them haha. Anderson Davis is especially very cool and outgoing. But he was the only leading character that talked to the teen ensemble the whole time.
I am in 8 scenes in the show; Chain Gang, At the End of the Day, Runaway Cart, Paris, The People's Song, One Day More, and the Finale.
In the show, all the teen ensemble members have a track that you follow. If you are a guy, it's either M1, M2, M3, etc. and for the girls its F2, F3, etc... and when we recieved our costumes, we all had a note from the person who had our same track in the Kansas City production. It was really cool to see all the advice they gave!!
I'll write more later. We have 2 more shows today!
I am in 8 scenes in the show; Chain Gang, At the End of the Day, Runaway Cart, Paris, The People's Song, One Day More, and the Finale.
In the show, all the teen ensemble members have a track that you follow. If you are a guy, it's either M1, M2, M3, etc. and for the girls its F2, F3, etc... and when we recieved our costumes, we all had a note from the person who had our same track in the Kansas City production. It was really cool to see all the advice they gave!!
I'll write more later. We have 2 more shows today!
Updated On: 9/20/08 at 12:55 PM
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