My Lestat Experience - It wasn't so bad...

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 2:24am

Ok… so don’t hate on me for putting a review up during previews. Also don’t hate me for my lame attempt a review,, I’m just downloading the nonsense in my brain.


I really hope someone on the creative end is listening to the opinions on these boards. Many of the concerns and complaints on here are valid and noteworthy. Tarzan and Lestat have a lot to lose come review time.

So here goes: (SPOILERS)

I have never read the Ann Rice books and vaguely remember seeing part of the Tom Cruise movie. I know of Elton, Bernie, Wolverton and Rob’s work, it’s not exactly the group I would put together for this project,,, but well it is sort of spilled milk.

Anyways I went in with an open mind. Elton was there tonight April 11. I remember him being there for an Aida preview once; he walked out of that in a tiff. Sorry this review is already a mess. Focus…

Ok right... so from my POV, I think the show is pretty easy to follow. The music isn’t that bad at all. Elton writes pop music and it’s pretty nice to listen too. I think the sound design is probably not where it should be,, but it is previews. Some of the songs have “runs” in them and I don’t really know if Bernie knows what they are… so at times it is weird for me to sit there and like hope the actor can fit all the words in. So abstract for me,, and i think the audience felt it too.

I read someone’s post saying the show needs to have songs at the beginning and the end of the acts. They are right…. It is weird coming back from intermission with just lame dialogue. I want something rousing…. and the end should have an anthem like....well… about valuing time on earth and internal something or other. Just something to leave the audience where we need to be. There isn’t a lesson learned and there should be…. at least that’s what I think. Bring it home guys… The ending is just lame right now.... we are Americans... give us something happy or sad we need something!

The biggest problems for me were in the book and direction. This is one of the first musicals I have seen where I wished that everything WAS sung. Whenever the actors started to talk I got jilted out of the story. The jokes are terrible and it wasn’t so much I got lost or confused by the story, I was just not caring. I think the show is supposed to be about Lestat traveling through life with guilt and overcoming it…. I don’t know if he does and I don’t know what other story there is. I think that maybe in the books there is some parallel to mortals having similar demons to kill or whatever. I need to have that in this story and I need it to be sent to my brain by the end. I will mention Wicked because it is a recent adaptation that I felt was successful break from the book. Wicked the musical took one part of the book, Elphie and Glinda’s friendship and made that the story. It works. Any other way and I think it would have been like Lestat… because the book is like 30 years and has so much liberty to go this way and that. I also do not really get the dynamic with his mother…. I think that maybe there should be less or more of her.... oh and the hugging thing is really lame… and cut Armands hair it will make him look scarier.

It feels like there was so much potential here with Rice’s work and it just got cut or dismissed. The sets and lighting are amazing and fantastic. Oh one other complaint… the character Marius, is TERRIBLE. I did not get whether he was a villain or what. I was only confused by that guy…. his motivations were vague and not helped by his terrible acting. I think he should have been less Zen like…. He just made me cringe…there was no depth. I read a few places and have heard it over and over again "we decided to remove any gothic cliches.".... well it is made obvious in the show many times by the characters... i didn't really care either way,, i wanted fangs and blood. That seemed like something that was again abstract to the story at hand...show dont tell and all that.

This show opens in a few days… I wish they had more time, some simple changes and this show could really keep the seats filled. It’s not that bad really….

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 2:42am

Thanks for that!

I'm still slightly dismayed that many of the concerns you bring up (nicely put, BTW) are the same ones I felt were a problem in San Francisco.

I'm glad Elton was there, though -- if only to see what needs to be changed, ASAP.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 2:46am

and cut Armands hair it will make him look scarier.

Well, considering Armand was turned in the.. what.. 18th century? Something like that. Anyway, short hair wouldn't be in style. Plus Armand isn't supposed to be scary looking. His beauty and "charm" is a big part of his character. At least in the books.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 2:52am

Well, the Armand in this play is totally different. He's actually kind of obnoxious. It's a strange diversion from the original character. Of course, the Lestat of the play is nothing like the Lestat of the book.

Worst lyrics I've ever heard. I wouldn't see this again if you gave me a free ticket.

Okay, maybe if you gave me a free ticket, but I don't know. I'd have to think about it.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 3:04am

Well, the Armand in this play is totally different. He's actually kind of obnoxious.

I don't find Armand in the musical *totally* different from the book. There were some aspects that were definitely, at least IMO, very much like Anne Rice's character. But to be honest, I liked musical!Armand more than book!Armand.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 3:08am

Maybe I don't remember him very well but I didn't find any similiarities between the way he acted or even the things he did. He seemed much more cool and aloof in the book, like all the characters, really.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 3:10am

I've never read the books, but the musical Armand stood pretty well on his own. Most of the time, I found him more interesting than Lestat.

Or maybe that's thanks to Drew Sarich.

Updated On: 4/12/06 at 03:10 AM

[thespian geek]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 3:25am

I've never read the books, but the musical Armand stood pretty well on his own. Most of the time, I found him more interesting than Lestat.

Or maybe that's thanks to Drew Sarich.

You might be onto something there, Lizzie. Haha. Drew certainly has a way to command the stage when he's on it...

[MyMeredithMonster]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 3:41am

I wish I gotten to see Drew! I saw Jack... Ugh...

[thespian geek]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 3:48am

I'm sorry. :-x

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 3:51am

I saw Jack. He wasn't so bad.

But promoting Drew? Not so bad either.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 3:57am

Ah Drew. It's so great having heard people all over Europe rave about him, and to come back and now everyone here is falling for him too.

That man can turn crap into gold onstage. I wish he would do Jekyll and Hyde here, he did in Germany and I wish I could have seen it.

EDIT: Can anyone else see him as Enjolras in Les Mis? They should cast him in the 6 month version coming up. Updated On: 4/12/06 at 03:57 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 4:08am

I could see him as a really crazed Enjolras. He'd be different, but it could work.

Actually, he might be a better Javert. Somewhere along the lines of Jérôme Pradon, but perhaps more palatable.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 4:15am

Ah Drew. It's so great having heard people all over Europe rave about him, and to come back and now everyone here is falling for him too.

Can you blame us?

That man can turn crap into gold onstage. I wish he would do Jekyll and Hyde here, he did in Germany and I wish I could have seen it.

Do you know if that concert version of JCS he did in Vienna was in English or Italian? Because I know a cast recording or whatever of it is being released later this month and OH MY GOD. Drew as Judas = make me do things that aren't appropriate for this board. Ahem.

EDIT: Can anyone else see him as Enjolras in Les Mis? They should cast him in the 6 month version coming up.

I may have gotten a little swoony at the thought.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 4:18am

I need that JCS recording, but I refuse to pay what SoundofMusic.de wants for it. (And yes, I will go through legal channels, thank you very much. )

P.S. I love how so many Lestat threads morph into Drew Sarich Love Threads.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 4:21am

You and me both, Lizzie. How much does SoundofMusic.de want for it? By the sounds of it, something ridiculous..

P.S. I love how so many Lestat threads morph into Drew Sarich Love Threads.

I think that has you, ET, and myself to thank. Hahaha, oops.

[MyMeredithMonster]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 4:37am

Really Lizzie? I saw Jack on the opening night of previews here in SF and thought he was terrible! I don't know what it was but I couldn't stand him.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 4:39am

I dunno, he didn't leave a big impression on me, but I didn't think he sucked. Later I realized how much better Drew was, but I still don't think Jack was awful. I was surprised when he left.

[MyMeredithMonster]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 4:40am

I thought it was pretty funny when I heard Jack left. I would be interested in seeing the show again maybe, now that Drew's there.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 4:42am

Glad he did leave, though.

Also, a friend of mine went and saw Lestat tonight (last night? oy..) and mentioned the newest changes, including the ending... again!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 4:48am

How much does SoundofMusic.de want for it? By the sounds of it, something ridiculous..

19.95 euros, with shipping = TOO MUCH
http://tinyurl.com/k93sx

Especially when this CD from Germany (see link below) is a 3 CD set and costs less in American dollars from Footlight!
http://tinyurl.com/hqyoo

[thespian geek]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 4:53am

I don't know what 19.95 euros + shipping converts to in American currency. :P

Psssst... I think we should start a Drew thread on the OT board.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 5:06am

https://www.xe.com/ucc/

OK, go ahead. But I'm going to bed.

[ken8631]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 7:39am

No desire to see this again, even for free. That's pretty bad.

[batboy4692]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 11:31am

The word on the street is that Elton John has refused to write any more music. But maybe after seeing the show last night, he'll change his mind?

Could be why the ending keeps changing but is simply reprises from the show? They're trying to make it work with what they have.

Also Drew is incredible, but Javert for the new 6-month Les Miz has already been cast. And if Lestat runs (which it has definite potential to), I doubt he'd leave a long-running show for a 6-month limited engagement. But, he might if he thought it was a good career move. He's really brilliant and I hope he gets the notice he deserves from this. That's one hell of a Broadway debut!