Music in the Air Dress

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 3:55pm

Did anyone go to the Encores dress last night? It was one of the best finds since "New Moon." Think Kiss me Kate meets Naughty Marietta. Not a lot of choreography....silly, but very funny book...beautiful music and terrific performances by all -- especially Douglas Sills.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 4:18pm

I'm not going until Saturday, but almost everyone I know who saw it last night said Douglas Sills and Kristin Chenoweth are the only reason to see it. Apparently without them, the production itself falls flat?
But I will have to make that call for myself when I see it.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 7:44pm

I'm going Saturday as well. I'm excited considering I've never been to City Center, or heard of/seen this musical! And all for $10, can't beat that.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 8:20pm

^Ditto. Can't wait!

[jv92]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 8:25pm

Not going
But some of the songs are marvelous- "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star", "I Am So Eager" and "The Song Is You".
Another show Encores! ought to think about doing from this era is The Cat and the Fiddle. Ethan Mordden talked about it in great detail in his 1930s book and said it was quite influential.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 8:32pm

Seeing it Saturday. I can't wait.

TheaterBaby--tell your friend a concert like this is not about the "production."

It's about a rare opportunity to hear a gorgeous score.

[NYCtheater]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 8:58pm

What's the approx. running time? Thanks!

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 9:12pm

Saw some pictures, and I gotta say:

Does Kristin Chenoweth just keep getting younger looking? She looked fantastic in the pictures. I thought that she was Sierra at first because of the wig.

[brandontwin2]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 10:19pm

Where can I see these pictures?

[EugLoven]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 10:47pm

Anyone know if the P2P code has been emailed out? I haven't received notification and wanna grab those $10 tix while I can. Much thanks to anyone who PMs me.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 11:05pm

Admittedly, operetta is not my favorite musical style .... but this show is a chore. It only comes to life about 30 minutes in when Kristen Chenowith finally shows up. She and Sills really are the only thing that kept the evening from being a total loser for me. Yes, there are two or three nice melodies - and if you didn't know them before you entered the theater, you surely will by the time you leave, since they are reprised ad nauseum. The orchestra was terrific, and there is a lot of underscoring, but this is a minor work that has more academic interest than theatrical excitement.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 10:10am

Photos

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 10:34am

My guess is about 2 1/2 hours. We got out at 10:15 after the dress which includes some discussion before the curtain.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 10:35am

I think she lost some weight for the TV show...not that there was really any to lose, but she does look even more amazing than usual.

[once a month]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 10:43am

I am SO stoked after reading these responses. I've never been to the venue, and didn't even plan on attending until a few days ago when a surprise invitation fell into my lap. What a nice surprise! Also invited to the matinee of Garden of Earthly Delights and dinner at an apparently very nice restaurant with 'des artistes' (or something). ENJOY THE SHOW, ALL!

[kate2]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 11:13am

I was there last night and absolutely agree that Douglas and Kristin were the heart of the show. The show was going kind of slow until Kristin and Douglas came on stage, and then it picked up and really held my attention.

[Sauja]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 11:16am

Douglas and Kristin are the ONLY reason to see this show. For the first act, I was willing to run with it because it was sweet and the music was lovely. But by midway through the second act, I just wanted to run for the hills. Everyone on stage does a very good job with what they have, but my oh my, it's a snoozer. And as charming as the music is, how many reprises does one need??

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 11:18am

Pearls before swine.

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 1:39pm

Well, at least I'll get to see Douglas and Kristin Saturday. But, despite the conflicting reviews, I'm still intrigued about seeing the show.

[Geridith]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 1:53pm

I'd be very interested in finding out more about the $10 ticket someone mentioned... are there any other discount codes or rushes available?

EDIT: Never mind, found it in another thread! (4566, in case anyone else needs it)

Updated On: 2/6/09 at 01:53 PM

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 2:02pm

Jeanius, if you accept the fact that MITA is an operetta, adhering to many of the inherent qualities of the genre, I don't think you'll have any problem with it. It sounds like it's been well cast, Sills and Chenowith are known quantities who have natural voices for this sort of thing, and the music is glorious. Putting it another way, if you can accept shows like The Student Prince, The Desert Song, New Moon, et.al. on their own terms -- meaning splendid music -- you should have a good time. Actually, the libretto is more sophisticated than some of the others. Are you going to the matinee on Saturday? If so, there's supposed to be a talk session afterwards, which can be fun and informative, so long as the blue-haired ladies don't take over with their invariably inane comments.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 3:06pm

I saw it last night and loved it! But I've always loved this score. It might not be for everyone, but I love the historical aspect of the show. It was very groundbreaking for its time (and in some ways even groundbreaking now!).

The use of underscoring had never been done quite like this before. It does start out "slow", but that is the point...to introduce the bucolic country atmosphere of these villagers before their trek to the big city and all the corruption that ensues.

Much of the dialog is scored and is very difficult to do correctly, let alone with such a short rehearsal period.

Remember, it is a "spoof" of the operetta form, and the musical that really moved the musical theater from from operetta to the Golden Age.

This show is EXACTLY why ENCORES! was created.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 5:29pm

Ugh, I wish I could see this. It's SO up my alley. I think I watched the rehearsal video 8 times yesterday.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 5:50pm

Same here! The score sounds so gorgeous.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 2/6/09 at 6:25pm

It's all about this wonderful score weaving through a subtle and sometimes wild book!

Hence the title..there is ALWAYS music in that air...and the reprises are the airs...hehehe (if you listen closely, they make jokes of it...musically as well as in the book!)