Lestat 4/3/06: The Crimson Kiss of Death

[ckeaton]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:10pm

There are several good moments in 'Lestat'. I shall itemize:
- Drew Sarich's performance.
- Allison Fischer's performance.
- Sail Me Away, I Want More.
- Carolee Carmello and Hugh Panaro while singing.
- The scenic, lighting, and projection design.

That being said, I think the show's primary fault is a distinct imbalance. The first act is essentially dark and brooding, with a melodrama that leaves the audience not knowing whether to laugh or stifle it. The second act (which bears a distinct resemblance to an "undead" Huck Finn in the first 15 minutes or so.) has more moments that are obviously played for humor (which isn't always a bad thing), as well as the finer end of the performances.

The whole Gabrielle/Lestat mother/would-be-lover relationship is simply too over the top for a show that is going to try to fill the Palace at $111 a seat.

If the show could find a balance between wit and woe, it might survive based on several fine performances and the Elton John factor. I don't purport to be a director, but I think that Mr. Roth would do well to listen to the audience's reactions (where they are unexpected and/or inappropriate) and fine tune rather quickly. One should also take note of the moments when the audience shifts in their seats, checks their programs, or watches en masse. That is probably a good sign that something should go. There are several moments where there is a line or two beyond where the scene should have ended.

I do believe however, that there is NO saving Taupin's lyrics.

I don't regret seeing the show. Overall, it was an amusing night at the theatre. I also acknowledge that it is a work in progress and can improve significantly. The reason I am breaking the rules and commenting on a preview is because I would love to see this show succeed and I secretly hope that it can.

However, if the imbalance continues, and it continues on this mixed path I believe that the show at the Palace will "Die Young".

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:11pm

Thanks for the review! I also hope the show does well, though it will be hard to see that. The Palace is simply too big for that show.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:15pm

You thought Sarich was good? I was appalled whenever his mouth opened.

Fisher was quite good, Carmello was good (but she is basically a man for half of Act I).

Sail me Away was alright, but I felt it was awkward and didn't fit musically into the show.

Lestat's best song was (and I don't have the playbill in front of me) was the song when he was outside of Nicolas' hole in the wall, like "Rihgt in Front of Me" or something like that.

My favorite song was Cluadia's second number, very poignant and touching, and the ONLY song that furthured a character and made you care about one.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:19pm

Vocally speaking I enjoyed Sarich's performance, I didn't think "To Kill Your Kind" was a great song, but he redeemed it a bit. The part is written differently than I would have anticipated based on the books, but he did well with what he has.

"Right Before My Eyes" may be the highlight of Act One, I agree.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:21pm

ckeaton, great review. I agree with a lot of what you said. Even though I think I liked it more than you did (I saw it in previews).

I adore Drew; but I'll save you all from my gushing.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:21pm

ckeaton, you've put all my conflicted thoughts into words!

as an aside...i wonder if that pier that pulled out for the top of act two is the one from Aida.

so with you on the lyrics. they add nothing special, and in fact stop the show dead in its tracks. the lyrics all sound exactly the same, have the same structure no matter who is singing or what time period, and really no one sings to another person, aside from "i want more." and it the first song to the dead animal is still there, it needs to go. it stops the show dead from moment one, and it doesn't ever really build.

and was i the only one expecting elphaba to come out at the end of act one?

Updated On: 4/3/06 at 11:21 PM

[ckeaton]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:24pm

I shouldn't have to say SPOILER but I don't want to get slapped... so there it is.

I did think that it would have been great if Lestat had thrust a broom in the air towards the end when Marius bites him and they rise into the air with that gobo back lighting.

Updated On: 4/3/06 at 11:24 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:30pm

Simply the worst show---EVER!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:39pm

I thought Sarich was fantastic, but, well, maybe he just polarizes people.

So "Welcome to the New World" is staged like Big River now? Is that what you meant?

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:44pm

It was like so incredibly random, and Lestat wa sjust loungin' around on this dock, it was ridiculous.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:47pm

Someone has posted some new Production photos.

http://forum.lestatmusical.com/index.php?gettopic=447&p=1#3672


I didn't realize that they changes Drew's wig; cause I really don't like it now. It looked much better in SF previews.

[Color and Light]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:50pm

Good review, ckeaton - I particularly agree with you that there is no saving the lyrics, which was what really, truly killed the show for me.

[craftymarley]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 12:24am

just an fyi- the entire ending is changing, i believe as of the tuesday night performance. i'm sure someone who sees the show can fill everyone in, but i don't want to spoil it.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 12:28am

Oh my.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 12:32am

I hope they figured out that they need music at the end of acts one and two. It would make a big difference in the show.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 12:32am

is there any word on a recording?

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 12:36am

Someone said they were preselling the album at the theatre. Since it's Elton John I'm assuming there is a HUGE chance that this will be recorded, even if it flops.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 12:50am

Yeah, I figured it would be. But I was just wondering like company and time? It seems like cast albums come out in like big bulks. Like See What I wanna See, Trailer Park, and color purple all coming out at the same time, etc.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 1:07am

It's good to hear that they are adding an actual ending to the show.

The one I saw just seemed like they forgot to write one...

[Shawk]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 1:11am

Well, the "we all learned un-life lessons and let's sing about them" ending was pretty cringeworthy, so at least they're trying to address the issue, however poorly.

[Color and Light]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 2:44am

How did it originally end in the SF previews? The ending I saw went something like this: ... Lestat and Marius float off, and then Lestat reappears decked out in GAP clothing and does the whole "My name is Lestat, and I will live forever" bit. It seemed to leave everyone sitting around me utterly baffled by the non-ending of it all.

If I can to New York again and get the cheapie rush seats, I'm really curious to see if they've made it more watchable after the previews are over.

Updated On: 4/4/06 at 02:44 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 3:21am

There were two endings. I'm not sure when they were changed, but the two I saw both began with Marius and Lestat conversing on some bench on an island in the Aegean after Marius has saved him from Death By Sun. (We don't actually see this rescue, but in a preceeding narrative, Lestat talks about being lifted off his feet and blah blah blah.)

After some muddled dialogue, Marius takes Lestat to Enkil and Akasha. They're at the top of a staircase. The entire set is shades of beige and gold.

In the preview I saw, Lestat asked if he could approach them, and Marius said yes. Then he drank from Akasha's breast (I am not making that up).

Later on in the run, Marius carried Lestat to Enkil and Akasha, who now were further down on the staircase. Marius commands Lestat to approach them, while Lestat whines that he has no more strength. Eventually he makes it to Akasha, and he drinks from her wrist.

Both of these finales ended in the entire cast singing a big finale of "From the Dead," with each of the main characters (Armand, Louis, Nicolas, Gabrielle, Claudia) getting solo lines. They're all in shades of gold and beige.

I believe there were also other characters from the Anne Rice canon in there somewhere, but I've never read an Anne Rice book, so I'm not sure who they were.

In both, we were then whisked back to Lestat's office and laptop in a San Francisco high-rise. Lestat takes off his bathrobe/convalescence thingy and underneath it is that red buttom-up shirt in a few production photos. He then puts on the Armani suit and sits down.

The blocking was slightly different in the preview as opposed ot after opening. I can't quite remember how different they were, though.

Updated On: 4/4/06 at 03:21 AM

[rocker05]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:27am

I saw Lestat April 1st- Matinee. Hello Carrie! It was by far the worst shows I have ever seen. It was the only shows that left me both uncomfortable and laughing at the same time at how bad it was. It's not only the ending that needs to be changed, it's the writing itself. Some of the lines were just ridiculous. The only highlights were Allison Fischer, Carolee Carmello, and Drew Sarich, that was it. The theatre was asleep until Allison sang "I Want More", and several left at intermission. I should have listened to the advice I was getting and I should have seen The Wedding Singer. Everyone around me agreed, Lestat will definitely not "live forever".
Updated On: 4/4/06 at 08:27 AM

[Color and Light]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:34am

I was at the same performance, Rocker05. Out of curiosity, where were you sitting? I was in the front row of the balcony - I was wondering how the whole "stepping into the fire and burning" effect looked from where you were sitting - it seems unfair of me to call it terribly done when I'm sitting at that height.

Which also leads me to the part where Claudia burns up in the sun - unlike the other scenes with a vampire death, this actually looked great, until they made a questionable direction with the lighting. Right before Claudia is completely smoke, the whole stage lit the whole stage lit up and ruined the whole trick.

[rocker05]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:42am

I was sitting in the 4th row center orchestra, and I could see everything very well, especially the fire trick. They tried to make it as realistic as possible, but it's pretty easy to tell the fire just appears and the person goes down a platform behind it. The Claudia trick was a nice try, but still unrealistic. The projections were some of the only things making the show watchable, and I still didn't even understand what in the world was going on in them!