"Lestat" - Live Forever or Die Now! — Page 3

is the fact that the San Fran Chronicler said the director has been canned a rumor or truth. is that paper like the NY Post?
The "person" brought in is Jonathon Buttrell, the very talented Musical Stager of the revivals, NINE, and Fidd;er on the Roof and he also did Light In The Piazza and See What I Wanna See.
Anyone know the "truth"?

We should be hearing back in another hour or two so we shall see something then. I cannot wait to hear what has went on at the Curran tonight and glad we have at least 2 posters there who will give us their impressions.

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Thanks for the update Shawk! Now we are waiting for LizzieCurry and justme2 I believe. I really thank you all for the reports and your impressions.

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I have a feeling Elton is writing as we type. Just a hunch, LOL!

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I was also at the matinee (I know, it's midnight now, but give a girl a break ).

Don't think I have too much more to add, other than I disagree with justme2 in that "not much has changed" -- I think the changes were significant and obvious, or maybe I'm crazy observant, or just crazy.

I saw the show shortly after you did, justme2 (and wasn't 12/17 the first preview? How'd you go on 12/10?), and there have definitely been changes... in Lestat's first entrance (different song and blocking); Lestat and his dad's argument (I think); Nicolas' making; dialogue in at least two of the scrims (no more of the awful "Pain and pain and pain" and "Every bone in my body" or something); Nicolas not being there anymore in "To Live Like This;" different choreography for "Welcome to the New World" andn "To Kill Your Kind;" and obviously the finale.

Act 1 has definitely been tightened, but it's still episodic and rather unengaging. The element of caring about the characters is trying to burst out (ya know, like Anne Rice's words, from her brain to the page, which need no editing at all, ever). But isn't there.

You hardly know Lestat when he gets his first big angsty solo ("The Thirst"), so who cares that wah wah his daddy hated him, wah wah he killed wolves and wah wah now he's a vampire? Certainly not me, and it wasn't the fault of Hugh Panaro. He's still doing the best he can, but an actor can only go so far when the material is shoddy.

Some of the comedic spots in Act 2 are definitely better. But something needs to be done to wake up the audience earlier than "I Want More," which is about 15 or so minutes into Act 2. They were all eating it up and it seemed like most people were glad there was a number with a fun melody and something you were supposed to laugh with, not at.

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Updated On: 1/29/06 at 03:11 AM

Edited my post when you replied, sorry. :)

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The finale? Well, Marius carries Lestat to the stairs, that's for sure. And Enkil and Akasha are higher up on the stairs than before. When I saw it the first time, Lestat didn't crawl, and Marius wasn't so insistent that he use his own strength to up that high. Also, Akasha exposed her breast to him, not her wrist, as it's done now.

The stomping seemed quieter in "To Kill Your Kind." And it was more obvious (to me, anyway) that they were going to do Death by Sunbathe. I couldn't tell what they were doing the first time I saw it.

I have a TV clip somewhere of opening night coverage and compared to that, some of "Welcome to the New World" looked different to me, but I can't name what specifically was changed.

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It was JANUARY 10th when I saw the show...I just checked my review on the "other site" for the date!!

This is why it looks so much different to you, but not to me. It's only been two weeks since I saw it!



I saw WC that week in Dec.

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It wasn't too bad. Hung around at Starbucks for a while and then went to BART. It helped to get away from the crowd. :)

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I'm hoping that the Stage Door isn't too nuts tomorrow... I mean they're not in too big a rush to move sets out (as they would be if they had another city to open in 3 days, like tours)...

I want to get the chance to congratulate the cast. Wish them luck. And ask a few questions.

Also, if this musical does get some major revamping, there might be a chance of some comings-and-goings of current cast members (look at Noseworthy).

*sigh* I guess when everything is in perspective, it sure is bumming... no matter what the show...

sorry 'bout that lizzie
and I did read it and someone else close to the show said Roth has been canned.
The changes you guys have reported don't seem like the kind to save a Bomb.
And if Elton hasn't even showed up yet, what does that mean?
The Drama is just overwhelming.
I quess the decisions will be made once this show ENDS in SF.

Er, Elton John supposedly saw the show on Friday. I seem to recall reading in some UK paper previously that he'd been requested to write new songs even before this.

Having also seen the show waaaay early in previews, I have to say that the choreography to "Welcome to the New World" and "To Kill Your Kind" is different-- less freeze frame in the first and less violent stomping in the second (which helps but not a whole lot).

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Updated On: 1/29/06 at 12:05 PM

I know who you are talking about, and that wasn't me. That group was about 4 ladies in their 50's right? I was listening intently to them to see if I could figure out their connection to the show. We never could. They were also talking about "writing a letter" to the management of the theater about something.

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