Posted: 9/25/21 at 5:09pm
Brief video from 'Moulin Rouge's'' reopening last night ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8YRRZZJfRU
Posted: 9/25/21 at 5:54pm
I read that...my biggest takeaway was that she is having some second thoughts about quitting the show (she didn't say this directly, but it was pretty obvious IMO), and is just really bitter about everything. She's alienated herself from her Broadway colleagues and I'm sorry...just considering what an amazing career they've had they are really not in a position to whine about how terrible commercial theatre is. Nora I feel bad for. Karen? Not so much.
Agreed. Broadway has reopened, moved on and will be just fine without Ms.Olivo who has a history of horrible attendance anyways. Enjoy the Mid-West, Karen.
Posted: 9/25/21 at 6:12pm
I wonder if they'll ever film the production for a big screen experience
Posted: 9/25/21 at 10:57pm
Optioned up just means they took the note up the octave. A lot of singers will do this if they're in good voice or just "feeling it." Just means they took the note that was written up an octave.
And sounds like the replacement is great, but her having a "smaller" voice makes me nervous because I wish they'd really hire SANGERS - not singers - but SANGERS in these roles. When Karen came down from the ceiling I had chills with her vocals and presence. But her accent was not it, and the acting and connection to her scene partners wasn't there.
Posted: 9/26/21 at 2:36pm
I was at Moulin Rouge for the second night. Like other people have said here, the energy was just electric. There was a showstopper at the top of Act II (Bad Romance/Toxic mashup) that lasted probably 2 full minutes.
Natalie Mendoza really shone as Satine, and I was very impressed with Aaron too. His vocal performance was top-notch. Hope he gets the Tony, even in a category of one! Danny Burstein was a force, and he did a great job tailoring his performance from the high-energy moments to the more earnest moments when he was in private with Satine.
Apart from the great performances, the stand-out winner for me was the SET DESIGN. Wow were those sets gorgeous. Nice job, Derek McLane.
I'm a bit allergic to jukebox musicals, but Moulin Rouge is in its own category. You know what you're getting into. Did I laugh to myself when I heard the opening notes of a cloying song like Firework or the unmistakable "ra ra" beginning of Bad Romance? Yes. But I was happy to go along for the ride!
Posted: 9/28/21 at 12:53pm
Posted: 9/28/21 at 4:32pm
It was quite a spectacular evening. One for the records books. All the performances were spot on perfect, and the audience was electric. My seat was 2nd row Mezz, and I bought my ticket the morning they went on sale. The orchestra section wasn't showing any seats, but in the days leading up to opening night, scattered orchestra seats were showing up. This was my 3rd time seeing it, and first time from the Mezz. Loved every moment of it. You walk out of the theatre on a natural high!
Posted: 9/28/21 at 5:09pm
For fans of 'Moulin Rouge': Telly Leung was backstage at the Tonys, doing mini-interviews with the winners for the First Impressions camera. If you go to YouTube, you can find the ones with ''Moulin Rouge's'' producers, Alex Timbers, Danny Burstein, Sonya Tayeh, Derek McLane, Justin Townsend, Catherine Zuber and Peter Hylenski. And here's the clip with Aaron Tveit ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ1tmiWFuC4&t=1s
Posted: 9/28/21 at 6:02pm
For kicks I was looking at tickets for November. Are they seating the can can tables now? I see them available for November but wasn't sure if they are seating them now.
Posted: 9/28/21 at 6:43pm
Yes, table seats are being sold with people sitting there. Being that close, it's really the worst seats in the house.
Posted: 9/28/21 at 6:49pm
Yeah I agree. I'm looking at pictures on google and its almost too close to really take in everything. Plus they're super expensive So unless you hit the lottery and found one on stubhub for a reasonable price, I'd say pass.
Posted: 9/28/21 at 7:09pm
Exactly, it's just way too close to get any perspective on the show, especially the dance numbers. Normally those seats in the front are the rush tickets that are the cheapest seats since they aren't the best seats.
Posted: 9/28/21 at 8:00pm
Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:03pm
i saw the show tonight for the first time.
I found parts of it very boring, to be honest, mostly a series of incredibly choreographed performance numbers strung together by painful dialogue that the actors seemed to want to rush through. the structure made no sense- its "Satine's story" but Christian tells it but they need to first excite us with a big opening number before he sets the mood- its all over the place.
BUT that grumpiness aside, it does a bangup job doing what it wants to do which is to electrify audiences with big song and dance. there needs to be a Tony award for Best Ensemble, or Best Dancers, because to nominate/award the choreographer is one thing, but the incredible work from this team deserves its own recognition.
I'm no writer but why give every single ounce of wit/intelligence to ONE character? Sahr Ngaujah was hilarious and incredibly moving at every turn. Standout, if you ask me.
Tveit doesn't get enough love here. I find it hard to blame him for how underwritten/dull his role is, and I'm hard pressed to think of any other leading man who could do what he does vocally with such ease. And when the text gives him the opportunity, he makes the most of it- ie the Roxanne/Crazy/Rolling portion of the show.
I never saw Karen Olivo in this role, but Mendoza seems to be vocally mimicking her a bit (which I don't love, because I am admittedly not a big fan of Olivo's voice). Still, she can certainly sing the role (she made the Elephant Love Medley her own) and she nails the performance overall. There was snickering at the start of Firework (i assume there often is because its such a stupid song) but she turned it around beautifully and I semi-bought that that she and Tveit fell in love in the span of 90 seconds. I wouldn't describe them as having red-hot chemistry or sexual heat, but more like clueless puppy love. She's warm and likeable. And incredibly gorgeous.
i imagine this show will run for a long while, its a hard-working crowd pleaser. and it seems like its in great shape.
Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:22pm
Posted: 9/30/21 at 12:16am
SouthernCakes said: "But how was Tveit during the death? I found it laughable."
I didnt that scene was any worse than the many other cringe-worthy written book scenes. but yeah, im not trying to minimize how stilted the dialogue was and how Tveit isnt able to overcome that. Could another actor? I dont know. Could another actor that can also sing like that? I doubt it. Is i guess my point.
But in terms of laughability- I thought the two book scenes between Robyn Hurder and Mendoza were the most wince inducing, and the second one got some unintentional and audible laughter.
Posted: 9/30/21 at 12:06pm
JDonaghy4 said: "SouthernCakes said: "But how was Tveit during the death? I found it laughable."
I didnt that scene was any worse than the many other cringe-worthy written book scenes. but yeah, im not trying to minimize how stilted the dialogue was and how Tveit isnt able to overcome that. Could another actor? I dont know. Could another actor that can also sing like that? I doubt it. Is i guess my point.
But in terms of laughability- I thought the two book scenes between Robyn Hurder and Mendoza were the most wince inducing, and the second one got some unintentional and audible laughter."
I agree that the scenes between Nini and Satine were cringe worthy. There probably aren't many actors who can sing like Tveit and make it look as effortless as he does.
The bottom line is the book for this show is terrible and the actors are doing the best they can with it.
Posted: 10/2/21 at 7:04pm
I have a question: thinking about getting a ticket. Are the cheap balcony seats okay in this theater and production?
Posted: 10/2/21 at 11:35pm
i think you mean Rear Mezzanine- I was front mezzanine for this (which was perfect and i think preferable to orchestra here) but I've seen musicals from the back of the Hirschfeld before and while its FAR, its not vertically prohibitive or cramped. You won't see much close up nuance, but you won't miss anything, especially if you are in the center.
From my perspective--which is "this show is blah except for the big singing and dancing"-- you're not missing anything from the rafters.
Posted: 10/6/21 at 9:18am
KMKJ said: "Any insider info. re: the Satine alternate schedule for Ashley Loren? Olivo's "set" night off was Tuesday, correct? Might it be the same for Natalie Mendoza? The October performance schedule does seem to change a bit. Thanks y'all. "
I am wondering the same thing. Though, I would assume Natalie is doing every show as they aren’t back to 8 shows a week yet. Even if they were, I feel like maybe the “less than 8 shows” was something Karen had in her contract for personal reasons.
Posted: 10/6/21 at 9:49am
having now seen the show, id imagine the actor playing Christian would be more likely to need a show off than the one playing Satine... curious if Mendoza follow Olivo's lead in that regard.
Posted: 10/11/21 at 7:55am
Posted: 10/11/21 at 8:03am
JDonaghy4 said: "having now seen the show, id imagine the actor playing Christian would be more likely to need a show off than the one playing Satine... curious if Mendoza follow Olivo's lead in that regard."
Christian does seem to be the more challenging role from a vocal perspective. I was a little surprised to see Ashley Loren filling in so early in the run.
Posted: 10/11/21 at 9:05am
Hi!
Not sure if it's allowed or if anyone knows (just after some advice if possible), I'm visiting from the UK hopefully in November and hoping to see the show. Does anyone know if Aaron Tveit has any scheduled dates out of the show at all?
Many thanks 
Posted: 10/11/21 at 10:57am
Aaron's attendance rate is extremely high. Prior to the pandemic, I don't think he missed any dates aside from a scheduled vacation that was announced well in advance. Assuming he remains healthy, I think you're odds are high he will be there. If you are looking beyond the new year, you may want to wait and see if any vacation dates are posted. I also heard he was only committed thru early Spring.
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