Moulin Rouge Colonial Theatre Previews — Page 14

Manages to see the second preview last night and I was absolutely blown away. The music, the sets, the costumes, the singing, they were all phenomenal. I thought Aaron and Karen had their roles down pretty well and had some definite chemistry, and Danny Burstein stole the show for me; I just wish, and this is really my only major criticism, that he got another featured and/or solo number at some point. One minor thing I would add, though:

The energy in the crowd was unbelievable too. Someone else commented on it, but there was a genuinely electric feel in there, and it was not a crowd of predominantly young people (which is what I was expecting). My just-before-retirement parents were probably only a little over the average age and everyone seemed to be really enjoying themselves.

Honestly, I found it good enough to want to go back after the official Boston opening.

"Elizabeth Moore said: "unlike in the original movie, the songs are basically sung as recorded by the pop artist and not reimagined to meld into the story being told." 

This is very disapointing. Makes me much less interested in buying a ticket.

Also don't think they cut Like A Virgin due to rights issues if they have Material Girl. They're off the same album.

"But they are from different songwriters and that's what matters, right?"

Probably

Clearly, the film is very divisive. Many people say it gives them a headache, and that it's all style, no substance. That's their opinion, and that's OK. Others, like myself, absolutely love the movie, and think that it transcends its music video style because of the emotions it evokes. It's one of the most wildly romantic films I've ever seen, and a large part of this comes from Ewan McGregor's performance. From the moment he opens his mouth to sing "Your Song," I'm immediately invested in his quest to find love, and he maintains that kind of unabashed romanticism throughout the remainder of the movie. If the audience doesn't care about Christian and Satine, the film is pointless. Don't get me wrong, Nicole Kidman is great, but Ewan does the heavy lifting in this regard. He's the heart and soul of Moulin Rouge! Now, as far as the stage version is concerned, I'm not expecting a duplicate of the movie. What I am hoping for, though, is something that moves me in the way that it does. From the reports so far, it sounds like this isn't happening, yet. I'm assuming that part of the problem is the casting. Aaron Tveit has a great voice, but if he can't make me care about Christian through his acting, then, in my opinion, the show won't succeed as a love story. It's the love story that makes the film special, and so much more than its stylized visuals. Everything else (the scenic design, the new songs, etc.) is secondary. For me, if the romance doesn't work, then, ultimately, the show won't work.

Updated On: 7/13/18 at 09:41 AM

CT2NYC said: I'm assuming that part of the problem is the casting. Aaron Tveit has a great voice, but if he can't make me care about Christian through his acting, then, in my opinion, the show won't succeed as a love story.

You are going to think this is an off-the-wall apples and oranges comparison but it includes AT and Ewan Mcgregor so here goes plus I find it fun considering it includes the two Christians.  And this thread needs a little fun.  The ML staging is supposed to alot of fun.

On the short-lived series "Braindead" AT and Mary Elizabeth Winstead played love interests.  One of the most positive things critics found from the series was the chemistry between AT and Winstead.  One critic said he would watch anything that both were in together.  It was an off-and-on relationship though. The creators, the Kings (Good Wife, Good Fight, etc), agreed that the chemistry was terrific. 

Winstead's next series was Fargo 3 where Ewan was her love interest.  Guess their real-life chemistry was good enough for them both end their marriages and are now a couple. 

I just wanted to point out that AT can do things thru his acting.  Also, a previous poster complained about his broad acting--midwest, square and clean-cut -- not bohemian, etc.  Timbers and John Logan, the book author, have mentioned in an interview that Christian is an innocent. And that innocence is what makes Satine love him.  McGregor used his real and cute Scotch accent rather than the American one he used in Fargo-- maybe Aaron needed his southern accent from his London "Assassins" where he got excellent reviews for his acting but then they would have lost that Lima, Ohio-Glee connection. Oh, well.  

Disclaimer:  I have already stated in previous posts that I am obviously an Aaron Tveit fan.

Updated On: 7/13/18 at 10:37 AM

Yeah they built a ring over the existing audience's seats. It was a cool idea, but what I meant was he had a boxing ring on stage that would fly all over the stage and flip around and it just made for some beautiful stage pictures, or when the entire pet store set was spinning during "Raining," etc. It was great stagecraft. So kind of surprised to hear it's so stagnant here. 

And, to me, narration NEVER works in a musical. Just like in Catch Me If You Can. If the lead is narrating to use then we aren't invested because we know the outcome.

I love Corey, and he can grow those sideburns he had in Gigi again, but I don't know if he projects the naivete and innocence required. Maybe Stark Sands? 

EllieRose2 said: ""You haven’t been to Harry Potter then. We have them there as well as multiple dogs and a large security force."

No, I don't go see shows about child wizards."

So edgy 

There is a pretty terrible bass beat on repeat the first twenty minutes of the pre show. It also looped during intermission. It was not from anything popular and lasted about four seconds before repeating so it was incredibly frustrating....

Updated On: 7/13/18 at 06:57 PM