Moulin Rouge Colonial Theatre Previews- Page 9

[JustaguyHjkasdf763]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 9:53am

First time poster (and account holder), long time reader.

 

I saw the show last night. I was a little upset it was the first show due to the bldg problems, as I’d rather have seen it after the cast had some runs under their belt. 

 

The Theatre is beautiful, but plan to stand in line getting in.  They sent an email a day or so ahead warning everyone to arrive 45 mins early to get thru security, etc.  They weren’t joking.  There was an usher standing in front of the Theatre warning everyone of no bags allowed, purses ok, but no bags of any sort.  They wouldn’t even let the person in front of us bring their leftovers from dinner in.

 

The vibe in the lobby was anxious.  Because the house doors didn’t open until 7:45, you not only felt the venue staff feeling giddy because of their opening night, but you could feel it form the Moulin Rouge production folks as well.

 

When you walk into the theatre, you become giddy with the lavish pre-set of the production.  It is absolutely breathe taking and the pictures don’t do it justice.  If you want the entire look, you need to sit upstairs as the drapery, chandeliers, etc hang over the audience until Row M.  You don’t miss anything sitting in the orchestra, but you don’t see the entire look of the set.

 

I haven’t seen the movie since the early 2000’s and quite honestly, don’t remember any details, so I couldn’t tell you what transferred from the movie to the stage.  With this being said, I’ll give you some quick thoughts.

 

About 10 minutes before the show starts, the ensemble cast members start milling around stage to set the mood of the “Moulin Rouge”.   I couldn’t see anyone engaging the audience, just with each other.

 

The show immediately starts in the Moulin Rouge.  About 15 minutes into the Show, we get the introduction of Satine.  Just before her entrance, we jump back to give us the backstory of who Christian, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Santiago are and how they meet.  Once this is over, we immediately get “Diamonds” from Satine.   During Diamonds, we get a real quick “slow motion” of Satine coughing and dropping to her knees.  What bothered me, is we don’t see or hear about any of her illness until a good 15 minutes into act 2.  Once they re-introduce this illness in act 2, the book knocks you over the head with it, but honestly you don’t care because it wasn’t addressed throughout, it doesn’t touch you emotionally, yet this is how she dies.

 

From the time Olivo comes down from the ceiling, she owns the stage.  She was ready to play ball tonight and by far the star of this show. The songs she sings, especially Firework, just remind us that it’s time for her to return the NY stage.  A friend I was with had a really hard time with her not being Blonde and Nicole Kidman.  I saw no problems.

 

Tviet was fine in this role tonight, his acting is on par and takes you through an emotional journey. I don’t think it’s him, I think it’s the book he’s been given and the songs he sings.  

For example – In Act 2, there is a scene when Christian is encouraged to drink a “green elixir” to forget his love for Satine.  This is where they sing Chandelier.  The trio did not sing this very well together and I just wanted to hear Tviet sing it. I think if he sung this alone, you’d be hearing the same remarks about him and Chandelier and you do with Olivo and Firework.  The arrangement of Roxanne just doesn’t give him enough.  I hope that when this comes to Broadway, his part has been cleaned up to give him the role to make him shine.  

 

At the opening of act 2, it’s introduced that there are two backstage romances, Satine and Christian, as well as Santiago and Nini.  Rojas and Hurder are incredibly sexy together and start what was the showstopper of the night, Bad Romance.  At the end of this number there was at least a minute of applause and a few people standing. The ensemble is top notch and the choreography for this number alone will get a nomination.

 

For the Duke, he’s too sexy to be evil.  You don’t despise him and quite honestly don’t understand why Satine wouldn’t choose him.  Either he needs to become a creepy type or become overly arrogant that you don’t want to be around him.

 

For now, this is all I can remember a day later.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 10:03am

Well now, I’m a bit worried. I’m in town for a day and I’ll have my backpack with me. There’s no way around that happening. They’re saying if you have that you won’t be allowed in? What kind of bullsh*t is that??

[Ladybug101]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 10:09am

I have discussed the change in the Duke's persona in an earlier post but to respond to the poster who wonders why Satine doesn't pick him -- per my reading of Alex Timber's and others rationale -- Satine finds the Duke's financial security, etc. very attractive but she deeply loves Christian and his innocence.  This may be too ambiguous to maybe get.  Oh and it's Tveit, not Tviet.

[gray_area]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 10:18am

bandit964 said: "Are the orchestrations still lush and gorgeous like they were in the film/film soundtrack?

"

I preferred the orchestrations in the film soundtrack tbh. And I think they could cut a few of the new songs since they only sing a verse or two on some of them as mash-ups. I'd rather the characters get a chance to sing out the new songs as a whole without some of the arrangements.

[Ladybug101]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 10:20am

Jordan Catalano is worried about his backpack and I'm sure others are:

Per the poster with backpack problem:  I finally just took my things out of my backpack and folded it into my purse but strangely the person after me came in with her backpack since i guess she argued more effectively than I did. 

Maybe the Emerson Colonial will have now established some ways to handle this.  One poster did remind me of the Boston Marathon's terrible bombing and one can see why the theater is concerned.  It also has been mentioned that Harry Potter is concerned about backpacks also so it seems to be maybe a growing concern theatrically.

 

[gray_area]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 10:23am

Ladybug101 said: "I have discussed the change in the Duke's persona in an earlier post but to respond to the poster who wonders why Satine doesn't pick him -- per my reading of Alex Timber's and othersrationale -- Satine finds the Duke's financial security, etc. very attractive but she deeply loves Christian and his innocence. This may be too ambiguousto maybe get. Oh and it's Tveit, not Tviet."

I also think they've focused on the plot point of the Moulin Rouge closing if Satine doesn't stay with the Duke and made that very important since Zidler was broke/him & the other dancers were afraid of going back to the streets and she didn't want that to happen for her "family". This wasn't really as explicit in the movie

[Kad]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 10:32am

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "SpectacularSpectacular isn't in this either?! I'm soconfused by these changes"

I would assume that "Spectacular, Spectacular" is listed as Galop Infernal, the Offenbach piece that serves as its scoring.

 

[gray_area]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 10:42am

Kad said: "disneybroadwayfan22 said: "SpectacularSpectacular isn't in this either?! I'm soconfused by these changes"

I would assume that "Spectacular, Spectacular" is listed as Galop Infernal, the Offenbach piece that serves as its scoring.

"

It is still in the show, just shorter and with modified lyrics.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 10:46am

All I know is I went from having little to no interest in this to blasting the movie soundtrack this morning while wishing I was in Boston. Between this and Jagged Little Pill (assuming it transfers), I finally have some hope for musicals this season. I know early reports are that neither are perfect, but at least it sounds like some creativity and focus went into creating both.

[spikethebunny]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 11:00am

Pics of the Merch available are here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlGGX6TDzpZ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=18cwb24u2zrfq

[schubox]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 11:50am

I know the movie is pretty divisive, but I’ve always adored it. I wasn’t expecting them to have updated the songs, but I suppose it makes sense.

Disappointed to hear some of my favorite moments from the movie have been altered or cut.

Is Roxanne the way it was arranged in the show? With the tango and Christian singing while The Argentinan sings as well? I get they have to change some things to fit the confines of a live theater, but some of these changes (like The Duke) seem odd

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 11:50am

To those who sat in, or noticed, the Sparkling Diamond seating, what are we talking about “audience interaction”-wise? Is it a lot, not enough, often, etc.? Is the pace of the show just as quick-paced as the film?

[downhillskier]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 11:54am

 

How did you like the Table Seating? Would you recommend buying tickets for the tables or several rows from the front in the orch? I run to the restroom just as the lights come down at intermission. Will this be a problem at the tables? 

thanks

[darquegk]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 11:55am

I'm not surprised the "Spectacular Spectacular" sequence has been revised; when I found out this was opening, my first assumption was "it's 2018, so they'll probably have to cut the subplot where Christian invents Bollywood."

[kennin]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 11:58am

jacobsnchz14 said: "To those who sat in, or noticed, the Sparkling Diamond seating, what are we talking about “audience interaction”-wise? Is it a lot, not enough, often, etc.? Is the pace of the show just as quick-paced as the film?"

There wasn’t a lot.  Just as if dancers were looking at their audience and trying to draw them in.  Lots of eye contact, some touching, one guy’s hair got played with, minimal conversation, etc.  Again, I want to stress how tight the seating was.  The head turning was a lot and if someone came down from the ceiling, your view was of the back of that person.

I just watched the movie again and think that the show is quicker paced than the movie.  The movie has the capacity to come across as more artistic due to capabilities of film, but again, they did a great job.

[springwillcome]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 12:00pm

re: the song list - I'm a big fan of walk the moon, anyone know the context of shut up and dance/who sings it? I'm assuming either elephant love medley or something in the moulin rouge itself?

[gray_area]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 12:03pm

schubox said: "Is Roxanne the way it was arranged in the show? With the tango and Christian singing while The Argentinan sings as well? I get they have to change some things to fit the confines of a live theater, but some of these changes (like The Duke) seem odd"

It has been edited. Putting it in the spoiler tag just in case

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Roxanne is largely a Christian song now as he goes to get Satine from the Duke after he goes mad from the jealousy. The arrangement has been toned down so personally, did not have the same effect on me as did the movie. The tango part/choreo with the Argentinian got moved to Bad Romance at the top of Act 2.

 

[gray_area]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 12:06pm

springwillcome said: "re: the song list - I'm a big fan of walk the moon, anyone know the context of shut up and dance/who sings it? I'm assuming either elephant love medley or something in the moulin rouge itself?"

Spoiler tagging again just in case (trying to answer as much as I can remember)

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Shut Up and Dance is sung by Satine and Christian when they first meet to dance at the club after she mistakes him as the Duke (replacing the Rhythm of the Night scene in the movie). It is then mashed up with Raise Your Glass and becomes an ensemble piece.

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 12:06pm

OK! I just got off the phone with the box office. They said backpacks and bags are allowed in the theater as long as they’re not oversized and can fit under the seat. I told them about all the reports from last night And he said they weren’t aware of anything like that, but that is not their policy.

[two ladies tickets]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 12:13pm

Is there a standby/understudy listed for Satine? I'm not saying this to be snarky or start an argument but Olivio is out quite often and there is a good chance her cover will be going on a lot. 

 

[kennin]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 12:13pm

After watching the movie again, I will say that I think “Come What May” has lost some of its specialness in the translation to the stage.  It is no longer a “secret song” and that takes something away.

[greenifyme2]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 12:16pm

Jordan Catalano said: "OK! I just got off the phone with the box office. They said backpacks and bags are allowed in the theater as long as they’re not oversized and can fit under the seat. I told them about all the reports from last night And he said they weren’t aware of anything like that, but that is not their policy."

Thanks for that info! I sent them the same question on fb messenger (Since there were so many reports from ticketing issues that that was the best way to contact them). I'll let you know if I hear back anything differently.

[gray_area]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 12:24pm

kennin said: "After watching the movie again, I will say that I think “Come What May” has lost some of its specialness in the translation to the stage. It is no longer a “secret song” and that takes something away."

This was my number one complaint after seeing it last night. Of all the changes they made, I had the most issue with this one.

two ladies tickets said: "Is there a standby/understudy listed for Satine? "

Understudy for Satine - Natalie Cortez; and the rest of the understudies are: Christian - Joe Caroll, Dylan Paul; Zidler - Kevyn Morrow, Dylan Paul; Duke - Joe Carroll, Kevyn Morrow, Dylan Paul; Toulous - Olutayo Bosede, Kevyn Morrow; Santiago - Daniel J Maldonado; Nini - Natalie Cortez, Morgan Marcell, Jodi McFadden; La Chocolat - Natalie Cortez, Ericka Hunter; Arabia - Natalie Cortez, Ericka Hunter; Baby Doll - Morgan Marcell, Fred Odgaard

[schubox]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 12:30pm

gray_area said: "schubox said: "Is Roxanne the way it was arranged in the show? With the tango and Christian singing while The Argentinan sings as well? I get they have to change some things to fit the confines of a live theater, but some of these changes (like The Duke) seem odd"

It has been edited. Putting it in the spoiler tag just in case

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Roxanne is largely a Christian song now as he goes to get Satine from the Duke after he goes mad from the jealousy. The arrangement has been toned down so personally, did not have the same effect on me as did the movie. The tango part/choreo with the Argentinian got moved to Bad Romance at the top of Act 2.

"

Thanks for the response. A little disappointing. That’s maybe my favorite part of the movie. Such an emotional impact. However, we always have the movie version. 

[kennin]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 12:46pm

gray_area said: "kennin said: "After watching the movie again, I will say that I think “Come What May” has lost some of its specialness in the translation to the stage. It is no longer a “secret song” and that takes something away."

This was my number one complaint after seeing it last night. Of all the changes they made, I had the most issue with this one.

I am glad that you agree.  It is bothering more after watching the movie and seeing how special it was.