Little Shop 7/2 Eve - all female cast out- Page 2

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 3:00am

If anyone gets a chance to see a performance tomorrow, give us an update. I bet they will try to get better and wait to go on again in Milwaukee.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 3:09am

Oy Vey, there's something I've never heard of before, one urchin trying to sub for all three. I'm having a very hard time imagining how they re-worked the songs, choreography etc to pull that off. Very interesting indeed. But yeah if someone who saw that show could explain that in more detail that'd be great.

And thank you Tari for providing and explenation for the mysterious absence of all 4 leading ladies. That was very thoughtful of you and it is much appreciated. I hope you and the rest of the cast feel better and get back on your feet soon. Good luck with the rest of the tour and hopefully the bout of sickness will pass soon.

-Mika

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 3:11am

I saw you on Wednesday Tari..you were awesome! Hope everyone feels better soon!

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 3:14am

I really hope the current tour cast stays as is for the run in Costa Mesa before closing. I missed the tour in LA (still kicking myself for it) but got my hands on some clips from the tour and have been dying to see this cast ever since.

[lds19]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 9:57am

Wow, I made a quick post before going to bed and wake up to all this.

First, having never seen the show before (other than the movie which is different enough to not be relevant), I have no way to compare how the show was done last night to what is normal. So I really can't provide any more information about changes. Where I noticed stuff, it was things like where she said two lines back to back that clearly should have been different people (particularly in songs I knew from the movie soundtrack - for instace, the repeated "Look out!" lines in the opening "LSOH" number (yes, the one urchin did them all). Also, things like lights coming on to illuminate an empty spot on stage.

Second, obviously I was given bad information by the usher I talked too (I'm shocked I tell you, shocked!). We were told all four regular actresses were there Saturday afternoon. Going from two out to four out is much more believable since I am aware of how illnesses can go around in a cast.

Third - dead audiences. Yea, it was dead, something as a Broadway in Chicago subscriber I've found a lot. I don't know if it's subscription audiences, Chicago audiences, or something else but I've seen a lot of dead audiences. We're normally 1st Saturday evening but exchanged to last night due to a conflict. Almost any two week Chicago tour stop done under Broadway in Chicago presentation will be all subscription performances.

As for the issue of should the performance have been cancelled or refunds/exchanges offerred, personally I think something should have been done. Certainly, any time you see live theater, there's a risk - understudies, mistakes, etc. (and one of the joys of live theater is seeing how well a cast can deal with the issues that come up when you're live like dogs defecating on stage (Will Rogers Follies), stuck/snagged curtains (numerous but I do remember one show where it a pull-away curtain obviously snagged often enough that clearly one cast member was detailed to deal with it when it happened). But to start a performance short cast members I think crosses the line. It was performable but awkward, particularly to anyone who knows the show or movie at all. And having heard how well the "greek chorus" works, I do feel a bit cheated.

Also, do producers think we're all idiots out in the audience? How about being a little more forthcoming with information. An announcement up front saying "Due to cast illnesses, the roles of Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronette are being combined into one role. We apologize in advance for the resulting changes in the show" would have been helpful rather than leaving us scratching our heads wondering what was going on.

That all said, I have nothing but praise for the cast that was actually on stage as well as the ones missing who I know would have been out there if there was any way possible. I know no actor wants to unexpectedly miss a performance, particularly when it forces show changes. So to all of them, I can only say I hope you enjoyed your visit to Chicago (since today is the final performance before the next tour stop).

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 10:15am

Feel better, Tari!

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 10:23am

threads like these make me love broadwayworld.com even more!

and yes, feel better Tari. I'm sorry I missed you yesterday, but I understand .

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 10:24am

I still can't believe that. Was the show a mess?

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 10:32am

Hope everyone recovers soon. I saw the show on Wednesday night, and the audience was very responsive. The cast was amazing too, especially Tari, who was one of the best Audreys I've ever seen (and I've seen many, many of productions of Little Shop). Only Jonathan was out, and there was no sign of illness Wednesday.

However, this isn't a show meant for a space like the Auditorium, and the direction lost most of the charming and gritty qualities of a smaller production. I can understand how this can diminish the audience response.

I'll be watching for you in another show soon, Tari!!

[suddenlyseymour]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 10:37am

Tari-I hope you and the other girls feel better! =)

Posted: 7/3/05 at 10:50am

Tari I saw the show opening night in Chicago and the whole cast did a great job-- Thanks for coming aboard to give us the inside scoop! I've got that flu that's going around too! Get well soon!

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 11:10am

That's so freaky! I've seen Lil Shop performed with up to ten urchins, but just one?! G-d bless the woman for sticking it out!!!
Miss Kelly, I have heard nothing but raves about your performance and I hope you and the other ladies get well soon

[James885]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 11:54am

Tari, I hope you and everybody else gets well soon. I saw you in Baltimore and you were absolutly fantastic.

[shlamdiddly]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 12:10pm

I saw it in Bmore too!

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 12:26pm

so now tari and michael james leslie post here

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 12:34pm

Best wishes and get better!

Loved the show in LA!

[uncamark]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 1:37pm

I saw the show Friday night with Tari and two urchins out and the understudy urchin in--and one of the urchins who was out was out in the alley after the show, much to my surprise. Now I know.

I was looking forward to seeing Tari, since she's been receiving most of the raves on the show (which is too small for the Auditorium and for a Broadway-type production of any kind, but that's another story). Yvette and the two remaining urchins did a yeoman job. Wish I could make it up to Milwaukee next week, especially since Tari will do anything possible to perform for her fellow ya-heyers in Wisconsin. Get well, "Little Shop."

[ontheT]

Posted: 7/3/05 at 10:36pm

wow, thats terrible, but i saw little shop when it was in boston and Iris Burruss was amazing, so i have no doubt she did an fantastic job

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 7/5/05 at 2:53am

Wow. What a strange occurance. Never heard of something like this. I hope everyone gets better!