Music in the Air Dress
Music in the Air Dress
Joined: 12/31/69
#1Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/5/09 at 3:55pmDid 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.
#2re: Music in the Air Dress
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.
"It's the little things; the details, that distinguish the Barbra Streisands from the Rosalyn Kinds."~Gilmore Girls~
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#2re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/5/09 at 7:44pmI'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.
#4re: Music in the Air Dress
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.
#5re: Music in the Air Dress
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
Featured Actor Joined: 8/28/03
#7re: Music in the Air Dress
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.
Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.
#9re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/5/09 at 10:47pmAnyone 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.
#10re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/5/09 at 11:05pmAdmittedly, 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.
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MrMidwest
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/05
#11re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/6/09 at 10:10am
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#12re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/6/09 at 10:34amMy guess is about 2 1/2 hours. We got out at 10:15 after the dress which includes some discussion before the curtain.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#13re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/6/09 at 10:35amI 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.
#14re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/6/09 at 10:43amI 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
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/6/05
#15re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/6/09 at 11:13amI 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.
#16re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/6/09 at 11:16amDouglas 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??
#18re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/6/09 at 1:39pmWell, at least I'll get to see Douglas and Kristin Saturday. But, despite the conflicting reviews, I'm still intrigued about seeing the show.
#19re: Music in the Air Dress
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
#20re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/6/09 at 2:02pmJeanius, 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.
BroadwayEd
#21re: Music in the Air Dress
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.
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
bwaylvsong
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
#22re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/6/09 at 5:29pmUgh, I wish I could see this. It's SO up my alley. I think I watched the rehearsal video 8 times yesterday.
SporkGoddess
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
#23re: Music in the Air Dress
Posted: 2/6/09 at 5:50pmSame here! The score sounds so gorgeous.
Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!
#24re: Music in the Air Dress
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!)
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
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