LotteTBS138, from what I gather, the accents are toned down
slightly from London, but they're still extremely strong and very well executed by the cast, who deliver them flawlessly.
sanda, as I alluded to in my review, the main thing I think they need to work on is the pacing, mostly in the first act. Some numbers started to really pick up speed and then sort of just deflated, primarily "Born to Boogie" and "We'd Go Dancing," though most of the problems in the latter seemed to lie in Carole Shelley's uncomfortableness with the very succinct patter of the song, which is something I expect she'll get a better hold on with time.
I understand that the ending of the first act is supposed to feature Billy walking off, but they also need to make that look more deliberate; a stage hand was seen on stage walking behind Kiril as he got toward the wings, and he wasn't directed to have any expression toward the audience either (he looked directly off stage as he exited,) so it looked like more of an error than a purposeful choice. The lighting also didn't make it feel intentional, so that moment should (and probably will) be easily fixed.
I also think they could work on the sound mixing a bit. The singers were often under-amplified against the already under-amplified orchestra (and this coming from someone who was sitting about four rows back in the orchestra.) But again, issues like that are common areas of productivity for previews.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 10/2/08 at 11:07 AM
