Friend at tonight’s show says it ended a few minutes before 11:00. Glad to hear they’ve cut it down about 20 minutes from first preview (and under 3 hours now!).
I was there tonight. Left at intermission. I was so BORED. Sorry but I know the show and there was nothing new or interesting here for me so I bailed. Didn’t care for the design, thought the performances were just okay. Ambrose was great, but everything else was just fine. I’m in the theater about three nights a week so if it’s not really working for me, I leave. Hate to say it, but I thought Carousel was better BUT that’s probably because I don’t know that show nearly as well so I was more interested in seeing how it would play out. Was in the lodge, 2nd row center. Great sight lines and any audio problems discussed around the first previews must have been worked out because I could hear fine. Wish the speakers hanging over the stage were just three feet higher though. That was distracting.
You need to sit as close to the stage as possible. Ambrose’s facial expressions during Wouldn’t It Be Loverly alone made me drop some tears and I never thought this song would be so moving until her interpretation. If you prefer a more naturalistic approach to acting, whether in a dead serious straight play or supposedly splashy musical, this production is such a treat.
I love sitting in The Lodge* for theater, feet up by the fire on a chilly night and tossing back a hot toddy while waiting for the show to begin .. or if in spring, the scent of blooming lavender wafting in from the windows under a bright shining moon.
The Lodge can command much higher ticket prices than The Loge.
I'm not totally sold on Ambrose, but the rest of the production is top-notch. Paton, for me, steals the show, creating a perfectly natural, believable Higgins. His singing is fine. His acting is superb. The cadence of his delivery was what truly made me enjoy watching him. Ambrose could learn a thing or two from his quick cue pickups and ability to find comedic moments in the script.
She needs more time to grow comfortable in the role. Her singing is fine (more powerful on the high notes than I had expected). I really think a lot of that comes from a very talented sound design and board operator. Ambrose doesn't find a lot of the inherent comedy when she's 'cockney Eliza.' She could pull so much more out of the script and tonight it felt to me that the audience didn't really warm up to her until Rain In Spain.
Her accent absolutely makes me a little insane, especially with real Brits surrounding her in many scenes. I have the distinct impression that Ambrose is clearly thinking about what she's going to say before she says it, robbing her character of truly 'being in the moment.'
Butz is Butz, but he's brilliant. His interpretation of his character is fresh and delivered beautifully.
Set was beautiful. Ascot opening got applause.
Anyone know if tempos have been slowed down for this production? It felt that way.
theatretenor2 said: "We are seeing this Friday night for the first time. Neither of us have seen the show or the film, so going in with completely fresh eyes and ears. We are sitting in row E of the Loge (near center). How is the sound and view?"
You are in the last row but you should be fine. It is not that big of a theatre. It only seats around 1067. The show plays better towards the center sections given its presentational staging.
This isn't about endorsing or embracing Shaw's themes and ideas (in general, politically, on some controversial, even alarming, occasions, or even in the play itself).
I understand what you are saying. But if you read through this thread, it is full of praise for the production having been true to Shaw's intended ending, as if Shaw were one of the great moral philosophers of the last century. He wasn't. Not even close.
Eliza passes through this elegant transformation from Cockney flower girl to lady, more through her own efforts than by way of Higgins, and Shaw's intended ending is that she marry Freddy and spend her life working in a flower shop.
A silly ending. Not justifying all the reverence being shown to Shaw.
Olblueeyes, if you find Shaw's ending silly, we can agree to disagree. But curious - in addition to why you find Shaw's resolution silly, how you would prefer the play to end.
Re Eliza's Ascot outfit-- look, the hat is indeed lovely, but for anyone else who's actually seen the production, did you actually like Eliza's Ascot gown? We frankly thought it was dreadful-- like some French can-can outfit with a black bodice covered in crazy paisley froufrou, and a nothing skirt. From our view in the Loge, the point-d'esprit net up top was invisible so it looked like her shoulders and cleavage were bare with a black choker above. In that sea of stunning mauve ensemble outfits, poor Eliza looked like a courtesan who'd wandered in from a road show of Gigi. Didn't Higgins have a line about how he wanted something simple and modest, perhaps with a sash? I guess that French dressmaker really WAS doing a number on them.
Someone in a Tree2 said: "Re Eliza's Ascot outfit-- look, the hat is indeed lovely, but for anyone else who's actually seen the production, did you actuallylikeEliza's Ascot gown? We frankly thought it was dreadful-- like some Frenchcan-can outfit with a black bodice covered in crazy paisley froufrou, and a nothing skirt. From our view in the Loge, the point-d'esprit net up top was invisible so it looked like her shoulders and cleavage were bare with a black choker above. In that sea of stunning mauve ensemble outfits, poor Eliza looked like a courtesan who'd wandered in from a road show of Gigi. Didn't Higgins have a line about how he wanted something simple and modest, perhaps with a sash? I guess that French dressmaker really WASdoing a number on them."
I loved it because it added to the ridiculousness and comedy to the scene. Whatever Higgins said before, he and Pickering went crazy once they actually went to the dressmaker and the outfit seemed like a result of two men having too much fun dressing up their live doll, as Mrs. Higgins said.
henrikegerman said: "BenjaminNicholasII said: "I have the distinct impression that Ambrose is clearly thinking about what she's going to say before she says it."
You mean Ambrose is playing Eliza as a woman who's weighing her every word because she's trying very hard to improve her way of speaking?"
No she's just an actress who needs to pick up on her cues.
henrikegerman said: "BenjaminNicholasII said: "I have the distinct impression that Ambrose is clearly thinking about what she's going to say before she says it."
You mean Ambrose is playing Eliza as a woman who's weighing her every word because she's trying very hard to improve her way of speaking?"