#1
Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:05am
Lerner & Loew's "Paint Your Wagon" is running through March 22nd & this one shouldn't be missed because it doesn't feel 'creaky' & appears to be much more of a full production than mere 'concert.'
In it's first NYC production since it's original Broadway run which began in 1951 - this is also the first time ENCORES is presenting a Lerner & Loewe show!
With not a script folio to be seen - Justin Guarini in legit voice but fakey rolled 'R's Spanish accent (esp. when paired w/his Irish accented comrade) & Nathaniel Hackmann in the weirdest role of 'vocally featured miner' - deliver the scores strongest melodic convictions. I esp. liked Guarini's "I Talk to the Trees' & 'Another Autumn.' I particularly liked Jenni Barber who brought comic relief to the role of the 2nd Mormon wife who is willing to be sold around a bit. "Trio" brings a nice ironic surprise to the score. Keith Carradine lacks some magic IMO (even with 'Wand'rin' Star') & suffers most from a book that doesn't allow 'the mayor' to carry much heroism other than maybe his ultimate lack of racial prejudice.
The 30 piece orch. is in top form. Closing my eyes for the overture & entr'acte helped me focus on just their sound. I particularly enjoyed the novelty flute birdies, percussion horse clops & banjo stylings along with 27 other pieces.
The 6 Fandango Ladies, a wonderful dream ballet duo during Act II's "Another Autumn" & dancing miners help to bring panache to Denis Jones choreography. Marc Bruni's direction moves things along at a really nice clip causing me to feel that some homework editing really smoothed out & expedited flow. No scene really felt too long or clunky.
The use of the small platforms behind the orch. was neat but underused. Maybe the back 2/3rds of the balcony can't see back there?
Talk of a more romantic/sweeping book for a Seattle theatre engagement gives more hopeful life for this work. One could certainly see things expressed in the area of 'Manifest Destiny' & consideration of town development as opposed to running off to follow just monetary opportunities? Aren't the Valveras's staying? (I guess if there was one thing that the film accomplished more than anything else - it was the reason to not even CONSIDER staying in town after the gold was relinquished what with the infrastructure so clearly shoddy that the whole enterprise washed away down river.)
All in all, this seems to be one of Encores most beautiful fully-realized productions - so I am proud for it's success. There were times when the large orch. appeared to be seated amongst the woods & that is quite the scenic feat. What did you think?
ACT I SELECTIONS:
OVERTURE, I'M ON MY WAY, RUMSON, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I TALK TO THE TREES, THEY CALL THE WIND MARIA, I STILL SEE ELIZA, HOW CAN I WAIT? TRIO, RUMSON (REPRISE), IN-BETWEEN, WHOOP-TI-AY, CARINO MIO, THERE'S A COACH COMIN' IN, FANDANGO'S DANCE.
ACT II SELECTIONS:
ENTR'ACTE, HAND ME DOWN THAT CAN O' BEANS, CAN-CAN, ANOTHER AUTUMN, MOVIN', ALL FOR HIM, WAND'RIN' STAR, I TALK TO THE TREES (REPRISE), RUMSON (REPRISE), THE STRIKE, WAND'RIN' STAR (REPRISE), FINALE.
In it's first NYC production since it's original Broadway run which began in 1951 - this is also the first time ENCORES is presenting a Lerner & Loewe show!
With not a script folio to be seen - Justin Guarini in legit voice but fakey rolled 'R's Spanish accent (esp. when paired w/his Irish accented comrade) & Nathaniel Hackmann in the weirdest role of 'vocally featured miner' - deliver the scores strongest melodic convictions. I esp. liked Guarini's "I Talk to the Trees' & 'Another Autumn.' I particularly liked Jenni Barber who brought comic relief to the role of the 2nd Mormon wife who is willing to be sold around a bit. "Trio" brings a nice ironic surprise to the score. Keith Carradine lacks some magic IMO (even with 'Wand'rin' Star') & suffers most from a book that doesn't allow 'the mayor' to carry much heroism other than maybe his ultimate lack of racial prejudice.
The 30 piece orch. is in top form. Closing my eyes for the overture & entr'acte helped me focus on just their sound. I particularly enjoyed the novelty flute birdies, percussion horse clops & banjo stylings along with 27 other pieces.
The 6 Fandango Ladies, a wonderful dream ballet duo during Act II's "Another Autumn" & dancing miners help to bring panache to Denis Jones choreography. Marc Bruni's direction moves things along at a really nice clip causing me to feel that some homework editing really smoothed out & expedited flow. No scene really felt too long or clunky.
The use of the small platforms behind the orch. was neat but underused. Maybe the back 2/3rds of the balcony can't see back there?
Talk of a more romantic/sweeping book for a Seattle theatre engagement gives more hopeful life for this work. One could certainly see things expressed in the area of 'Manifest Destiny' & consideration of town development as opposed to running off to follow just monetary opportunities? Aren't the Valveras's staying? (I guess if there was one thing that the film accomplished more than anything else - it was the reason to not even CONSIDER staying in town after the gold was relinquished what with the infrastructure so clearly shoddy that the whole enterprise washed away down river.)
All in all, this seems to be one of Encores most beautiful fully-realized productions - so I am proud for it's success. There were times when the large orch. appeared to be seated amongst the woods & that is quite the scenic feat. What did you think?
ACT I SELECTIONS:
OVERTURE, I'M ON MY WAY, RUMSON, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I TALK TO THE TREES, THEY CALL THE WIND MARIA, I STILL SEE ELIZA, HOW CAN I WAIT? TRIO, RUMSON (REPRISE), IN-BETWEEN, WHOOP-TI-AY, CARINO MIO, THERE'S A COACH COMIN' IN, FANDANGO'S DANCE.
ACT II SELECTIONS:
ENTR'ACTE, HAND ME DOWN THAT CAN O' BEANS, CAN-CAN, ANOTHER AUTUMN, MOVIN', ALL FOR HIM, WAND'RIN' STAR, I TALK TO THE TREES (REPRISE), RUMSON (REPRISE), THE STRIKE, WAND'RIN' STAR (REPRISE), FINALE.
Updated On: 3/20/15 at 12:05 AM
