PAINT YOUR WAGON! Encores!@City Center- Page 2

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 10:47pm

Can someone please explain to me how in a mere few weeks Encores is able to, time after time after time, put on more polished, fully staged musicals than most commercial ventures are able to come up with after YEARS of development?

Denis Jones' choreography is not only wonderful, but was executed with flawless precision by this troupe of dancers. The Can Can. The dream ballet. The arrival of the stagecoach. What is it about Encores that brings out the best of the choreographers they hire?

Justin Guarini has been hiding this operatic voice somewhere and thank god he finally let it out. I had goosebumps every time he sang. Alexandra Socha is also changing her major to big time Broadway belter. How can we wait to see what tomorrow brings for her indeed!

Dear sweet Keith Carradine. What I love most about his folksy charm is that there an underlying wistful sadness to so much of what he sings. His songs are not easy to pull off, but you wouldn't know that from his interpretations.

Now for Nathaniel Hackmann. His They Call The Wind Maria was a highlight of the night and the man is simply hot as F*CK. If he's feeling lonely singing to the wind I could think of a few ways to warm him up, and that goes for most of the men at Rumson Creek.

The orchestra sounded lush and full. After being put through the ringer last night at It Shoulda Been You, how nice to here a score of such beauty and so many touching lyrics.

Loved it.

[jv92]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 10:50pm

Some people have class...

Some sons of bitches are just a snake in a grass...

(Grammar problems, fine. I was looking for a perfect rhyme.)

That's the difference between Encores! and almost everyone else.

I eagerly anticipate this Saturday afternoon!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 10:59pm

There were eight violin players tonight. Eight!!!

There were only nine musicians in the entire pit last night. We are spoiled rotten by this orchestra and trust me, I don't take them for granted.

[yfs]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:36pm

I think one of the reasons Encores productions tend to be as good as they are -- not always, but often -- is that they really do trust the material they're doing even when they seem to know that there are obvious flaws. Paint Your Wagon isn't a perfect show by any means, or even an untroubled one. But the people up on that stage, and the artistic staff behind them don't seem bothered by that - they want to show you the greatness that's there, even is its inconsistent. They don't try to fix shows or bend them for a modern audience, they try to honor what they are at their essence, and we get a lot of joy from that simple trust. Broadway can't afford to do that -- it's trying to appeal to millions of ticket-buyers. Encores is a luxury, but it also HAS a luxury, which is to only need to find a few thousand souls like us who really care what this stuff is supposed to be, and then deliver that thing with conviction. It works really well an awful lot of the time.

[JPeterman]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:38pm

yfs, very well put

[Fantod]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:54pm

yes, I really think you've hit the nail on the head with encores productions. So many companies try to make up for what they perceive as flaws in the text, without takin into consideration that maybe the best way to present material is just to do it simply and honestly and try to let audiences see a show for what it is.

[NoName3]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:58pm

I Still See Elisa is maudlin. And sentimental. And makes me cry every time I hear it.

[Fan123]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 6:40am

Speaking of trusting the original material, or not, our bros over at ATC mentioned that a 2016 production of this show in Seattle is going to use a rewritten book by John Marans. I'm not familiar with the original book or Marans so don't have an opinion; he might do a great job.


Link Updated On: 3/19/15 at 06:40 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 8:07am

Does anyone have the Peer 2 Peer code for this show?

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 10:56am

There is no Peer to Peer code for regular Encores anymore. There hasn't been in 3 or 4 years.

Updated On: 3/19/15 at 10:56 AM

[mamaleh]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 11:13am

Saw PYW last night. What a joy to hear that gorgeous score sung and played by artists who know what they're doing! Alexandra Socha, whom I loved in FUN HOME at the Public, made a wonderfully feisty and lovable Jennifer. Olga San Juan's OCR recording of my two favorite songs from the show, "How Can I Wait" and "What's Goin' On Here?", still rank as tops, but Socha came very close. After I'd read some criticisms of Justin Guarini, I had so-so expectations, but he was a marvelous Julio, in both acting and voice--just as good as he was in WOMEN ON THE VERGE. This was my first viewing of any stage production of PYW. My only demur about this concert version is that the book is paper thin. Not much seems to happen, so you wait for the glorious songs to make you forget about the book. I'm glad they're revamping it for Seattle.

In answer to someone's query, I did not see any Asian characters on stage.

Updated On: 3/19/15 at 11:13 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 11:31am

It is a shame that shows like this will, in all probability, never get a full revival on Broadway

The only memory people will have is that god awful movie with Lee Marvin singing - UGH

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 12:21pm

I agree. Encores! trusts the matieral and presents as is, which is vital. They don't try to reinvent the wheel.

We also as an audience go into Encores with full knowledge the show is flawed so our expectations are much, much lower (except to hear a score we probably love played by this glorious orchestra!).

I think there's also a bit of less chef's in the kitchen. With any revival you have producers (or higher ups in a theatre company) constantly giving notes, trying to help, second guessing everything. Encores seems to let the artists do their thing.

I think it turns out some of the best work simply because the directors, actors, and choreographers don't have time to second-guess and redo everything. Sure, they may be hired a few months out and "work" on it individually, but once you get in the room, you have two/three weeks and no time to delay.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 12:21pm

I agree. Encores! trusts the matieral and presents as is, which is vital. They don't try to reinvent the wheel.

We also as an audience go into Encores with full knowledge the show is flawed so our expectations are much, much lower (except to hear a score we probably love played by this glorious orchestra!).

I think there's also a bit of less chef's in the kitchen. With any revival you have producers (or higher ups in a theatre company) constantly giving notes, trying to help, second guessing everything. Encores seems to let the artists do their thing.

I think it turns out some of the best work simply because the directors, actors, and choreographers don't have time to second-guess and redo everything. Sure, they may be hired a few months out and "work" on it individually, but once you get in the room, you have two/three weeks and no time to delay.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 12:30pm

'I think it turns out some of the best work simply because the directors, actors, and choreographers don't have time to second-guess and redo everything.'

That's it exactly. The less time spent second-guessing, the more time you have to let your instincts lead you. And with professionals like these, instinct is the most valuable tool.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 12:52pm

I'd been somewhat ambivalent about this production, since this has never been my favorite musical, but all of the positive reviews have swayed me. Just picked up a ticket for Saturday night.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 1:35pm

mamaleh, thanks for reminding me how good Justin was in WOTV. Now I'm excited again.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 3:02pm

The Production Company in Melbourne Australia have the same professional and artistic approach [50 shows]and this years' offerings are West Side Story, Nice Work if you can get it and Jerry's Girls---can't wait.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 3:08pm

Except Encores does lesser known/flop musicals...I wouldn't call West Side or Nice Work lesser known...

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 3:16pm

Except Encores does lesser known/flop musicals

That's not accurate at all. The original mission of Encores was to "present great American musicals in concert." How well-known or successful has nothing to do with it. Do you consider HAIR, PAL JOEY, ON THE TOWN, PROMISES PROMISES, or BYE BYE BIRDIE (to name just a few) lesser-known/flops?

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 3:31pm

The terminology straight from the website is "rarely heard", so you can take it up with them if you don't agree.

New York City Center Encores! (Artistic Director Jack Viertel and Music Director Rob Berman), celebrates the rarely heard works of America’s most important composers and lyricists.

http://www.nycitycenter.org/Home/On-Stage/Encores!/About

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 4:11pm

I always thought that the mission of Encores was to present shows that rarely get revived because it would be tough for them to sustain an open run in New York or in Regional/Community productions. Not really a bias towards flops though with a few thrown in, but mostly shows that were well received in their day but are deemed too inaccessible for the public for whatever reason.

I think that FIORELLO is a perfect example, because while it was a huge hit in its day winning the Pulitzer and Tony it would never receive a commercial revival despite being pretty solid. THE DAY BEFORE SPRING mentioned earlier would also be a prime candidate, though it seems it would need a new set of orchestrations (not unprecedented for an Encores production anyway).

[evic]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 4:17pm

Amazing how Encores presents these polished productions. The orchestra is always incredible, the actors top notch (except for the girl who played Irma), great production values. I thought PYW was a pretty dull show. I was surprised that there was not one show stopping number. But kudos to the cast for giving 100% in a second tier musical. Now I know why it is never done.

[dave1606]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 4:54pm

I saw this last night and was totally in love.

Yes, the book was clunky and drags, but that isn't what the evening was about. For me it was about the GORGEOUS Orchestra which sounded absolutely incredible last night. The score alone is worth the price of admission.

Justin Guarini sounded as good as I have ever heard him. Nathaniel Hackmann was incredible, and Alexandra Socha was fantastic.

It is a perfect example of how great this series can be. I REALLY hope they record it as it would be such a treat to own.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 7:27pm

Based on the love for it here, and my love for hot as f*ck Nathaniel Hackmann, I bought a ticket for Sunday. I don't know the show really at all, so I'm excited to discover it fresh. Thanks!