"Luck Be A Lady Tonight" with the official GUYS & DOLLS revival love thread- Page 2

[nlm]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:22am

There kind of is no stage door. Actors come out from just where the actual entrance to the theatre is, so by the time they come out they're in the foyer (near the Box Office).

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:25am

I want to hear more about the THEATER!

[willep]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:27am

Hmm, interesting, thanks for that, nlm.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:27am

Mary Testa stole the show. The fact that I can't stop thinking about Mary Testa's brilliant performance tonight says a lot about this production of GUYS & DOLLS. I should be talking about Adaleide or Nathan, but instead I'm talking about General Cartwright.

Kate Jennings Grant was good as Sarah. Her singing voice is pleasant enough, and I'm sure her characterization will improve with previews.

Craig Bierko was bland as Sky. He sings well enough, but I think he needs to be more suave. He didn't have enough stage presence, but that could be due to lack of rehearsal time.

Lauren Graham was not very good at all as Adaleide. Both "A Bushel and A Peck" and "Take Back Your Mink" fell flat. Her singing voice is kind of strange. It felt like she was shouting most of the high notes, which if she keeps that up, her voice will be shot in a month. "Adaleide's Lament" was very bland. When Lauren says "It Says Here," she shouldn't be pronouncing the "r" in "here" and it bothered me. Sorry. Her acting was also very uneven and I'm not sure she knows what she wants to do with the character yet.

Oliver Platt was bad as Nathan. He can't sing at all, and my favorite "Sue Me" was completely ruined. I've seen/heard that sung better in high schools! His acting was also dreadful. I'm not sure he will improve...a huge disappointment.

The ensemble was great, and as mentioned earlier in this thread, the dance before "Luck Be A Lady" was fantastic. It was nice to see John Selya featured during that dance.

I enjoyed the sets and all the lights around the stage. Some of the projections worked...others didn't at all. The direction was kind of static. The show was 2 hours and 40 minutes, but felt over three hours. The book scenes need much faster pacing...

Oh well....a disappointment for me, but I will see it again in a couple weeks and I hope it improves!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:28am

Kate Jennings Grant was far and away the shining star of the evening. What a terrific performer. A gorgeous voice and absolutely stellar chemistry with Craig Bierko, who was also outstanding. Watching the two of them, I couldn't help but think what a great Sid and Babe they would have made had Roundabout's production of THE PAJAMA GAME continued. I certainly hope to see more of Grant in the future.

I agree with those who have said Oliver Platt's performance was... strange to say the least. His "accent" alternated between New York and British, and his characterization wavered between flamboyant and cartoonish. Hopefully he will use this preview period to iron out a more solid portrayal.

Lauren Graham makes a very nice theatrical debut. Although I was dissapointed in how she was limited by the staging of "A Bushel and a Peck" (she literally just stood front and center while the girls danced around her,) she showed some great dancing ability in "Take Back Your Mink" and a very nice voice in her solo songs. She brings a wonderfully quirky and unique brand of humor to Adelaide that works quite well, although I think she could work a bit on the dynamic of her voice.

I am happy to say that those who feared Titus Burgess would riff "Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat" beyond recognition (myself amongst them) can rest easy. He sings the song almost entirely legit, with the riffs coming in when they're needed. That number definetly is the big showstopper, also thanks in part to Mary Testa (who almost walks away with the evening with only a few lines.)

The pacing and timing of the show need alot of work, but for a first preview, I was very happy with what I saw.

Updated On: 2/6/09 at 12:28 AM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:31am

If Mary Testa did not chime in during "Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat," it would not have gotten as much applause as it did. Titus was very bland as Nicely Nicely. He was slipping into the Jamaican accent from Mermaid a bit too...he needs to work on his character. Also, he has gained A LOT of weight...what happened???

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:32am

WithoutATrace, Burgess was wearing a fat suit.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:33am

I love first preview reviews. It always sounds like everyone saw 15 different shows in one night.

Very curious to hear how this shapes up.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:33am

I echo Hushpuppy that the show is very uneven right now. Let me start by saying that I love the show, and agree that it's one best golden age musicals ever written. Unfortunately, this production isn't doing the material enough justice at the moment, but many problems can be fixed during previews.

In general I liked the staging and all the set pieces moving about. The projections get to be a little much at times, but I was able to tune them out well enough. The lighted signs that came down were great, but the neon dice that are present during the overture and entr'acte are tacky.

The pacing is slow right now, but hopefully this will pick up over time. My favorite of the leads was easily Kate Jennings Grant. She had the most developed character, and her vocals were great. It worries me a little that my favorite character in the show is Sarah, as she should kind of be the dull one, but good for Kate for really making something of the role.

Craig Bierko has a nice voice, but comes across as bland on stage. Luck Be a Lady sounded fine, and the male ensemble dancing around him was wonderful. It's just too bad he isn't a little more sauve and "present" on stage.

Lauren Graham is decent as Adelaide, but I didn't quite feel she knew what to do with the character at all times. As Hushpuppy said, the Hot Box numbers fell VERY flat. This should be showstoppers, but instead they land with a thud. Graham doesn't attempt to dance much, just stand downstage center and sway. She sings on pitch, but often borders on yelling.

Oliver Platt was dreadful in the role. His timing was not working and his singing in Sue Me was rough.

The best part of the show, hands down, was Mary Testa. She milked every second of stage time she had and brought down the house in Sit Down You're Rockin the Boat. A true theater veteran making the most out of a throw-a-way role.

Overall the production was hardly a disaster- far from it. It landed instead in bland territory, which is a shame given the superior material they have to work with. If the actors are given the right direction they can clean up a lot of the mediocrity.

[cglaid]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:35am

>>I'll preface this by saying that the side orchestra seats were bad enough that we were able to move over four seats to the center right aisle.<<

Are these the only rush seats they're selling? The terrible side orchestra ones or was someone lucky enough to get front row center? Thanks in advance.
Updated On: 2/6/09 at 12:35 AM

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:35am

Well, I'm really glad that it seems like it can be a good show. Good to hear that Lauren Graham is good! I think I'll go next Saturday. Does anyone know anything about the rush policy? How early do you think you'd need to get to the theatre, and would they accept a high school ID?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:36am

He was wearing a fat suit? Take it off. He looks better the natural way.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:37am

Thinking back on other first previews I've seen, the audience energy at the end of DROWSY CHAPERONE, JERSEY BOYS, and even FLOWER DRUM SONG was so much more than it was for GUYS AND DOLLS tonight. In the other shows, the audience jumped to their feet in what seemed to be a genuine love for what they'd just seen and the feeling that they were witnessing something special on stage. Tonight, the obligatory standing ovation was only partial, and the overall audience response seemed half-hearted to me. The cast took one bow and that was that.

[nlm]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:47am

I was speaking to someone before the show tonight who had a connection to the show and they were telling me that the cast were rehearsing till 12-1am some nights to get the choregraphy and technical aspects down to pat, whether or not that affected their performances in any way is to be determined I guess. I guess in that aspect we'll have a better idea when they're just there doing the performance and not doubling up for extra rehearsals.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:48am

Heck with reviews of the production! I want reviews of the theater!

[Here_I_Go_Again]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:49am

i thought overall it was a great show but PLOTT was a MESSS!!!!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:53am

Did anyone stagedoor? Did Lauren Graham come out?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:56am

Yes, Lauren came out and signed...the only leads I didn't see were Oliver and Titus.

And no, they don't have window cards yet...I was annoyed about that.

[nlm]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:57am

iluvtheatertrash I mentioned the stage door thing above, yep Lauren came out and about 30 or so people tried to get hold of her at once. Luckily one of her friends was trying to get her out of there to give her space, etc. She was the first of the main four to exit.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 12:59am

The inside of the theater looks great. The lobby still in half-painted and needs more work done, but they should have time before opening to get it done.

I stagedoored, and Lauren did come out briefly. She had a guy with her that helped whisk her along, although she did sign for most people and took a few photos. She was cordial, but not overly warm.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 1:01am

Don't know why that theater doesn't set up baricades down at the end like they did when Pascal and Rapp were back. Silly...

Was she friendly? She was a doll when I've met her in the past.

[nlm]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 1:02am

She was cordial, but not overly warm.

She was actually more cordial than normal when there's a truckload of people around. Just wait until the show officially open, when more people stage door, then she'll be a deer in freaking headlights.

Was she friendly?

She was friendly to me when I talked with her, but that's because I was trying to do a quick sign this and get out of there since I had passed her earlier in the night and didn't want a double look scenario occurring.

Agree with WithoutaTrace below Bierko was nice and Kate is gorgeous.

Updated On: 2/6/09 at 01:02 AM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 1:04am

I wouldn't say she was "friendly." She kind of just smiled and signed. It was awkward.

Bierko and Grant were both extremely nice though... Updated On: 2/6/09 at 01:04 AM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 1:06am

Cool. Hope she takes pictures. I met her at GREY GARDENS. She was in the audience and very kind. I'm a huge "Gilmore Girls" fan, so I'm very excited. Heh heh. :)

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 1:09am

Well, I wouldn't exactly say that there was a truckload of people at the stage door tonight.

I wasn't trying to imply that she was cold or acting like a diva. It's just that after stagedooring many first previews, the actors are usually on a high and quite warm to the fans who waited.