PARADISE SQUARE reviews- Page 6

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 4/8/22 at 12:46pm

I received an email saying that 2 of the principal actors are out for tonights performance. I say its safe to assume Kalukango is one of them, right? 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 4/8/22 at 12:55pm

Aisha Jackson posted yesterday (before the performance was canceled) that she would be on for Nelly. Safe to assume she'll be on tonight? We'll find out. I imagine she'll confirm on her social media if she's on tonight or not.

[Damiensta]

Posted: 4/8/22 at 1:38pm

I got email that Sunday performance is cancelled 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/8/22 at 1:46pm

Damiensta said: "I got email that Sunday performance is cancelled"

So tonight is on but Sunday is cancelled, per this thread? Hmm

[Damiensta]

Posted: 4/8/22 at 1:48pm

It was a Tdf email 

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 4/8/22 at 1:49pm

I was just notified that the Saturday matinee is also off. 

Edit- Just checked Telecharge and it's showing Tuesday as the next performance. 

Updated On: 4/8/22 at 01:49 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/8/22 at 8:27pm

The last thing this show needed, a hiatus. I’m not a fan of the piece but this is one of the hardest working companies on Broadway, a cast that works with a fierce belief in the show they perform. If there’s any silver lining here, it might be the rest afforded these actor-singer-dancers. Maybe a dark weekend will offer a respite and invite audience curiosity. 

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 4/8/22 at 9:02pm

My next chance to see this is May 4th. I really hope it pulls through.

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 4/8/22 at 9:02pm

My next chance to see this is May 4th. I really hope it pulls through.

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 3:41pm

So, it pulled through! I’m at intermission now. JK is giving a great performance, but really really struggled with the notes in the act one closer. Is this normal, or did I catch her on an off day?

Enjoying the performances and dancing a lot. It’s not changing my life, but it’s a wonderful afternoon in the theatre thus far.

[Skip23]

Posted: 6/4/22 at 2:14am

Did Timothy Hughes move to Paradise Square from Hadestown?

 

Saw the show tonight and he was in but his name isn't in Playbill.

 

 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/4/22 at 3:20am

Are you sure it wasn't just Colin Barkell?

[quizking101]

Posted: 6/4/22 at 7:24pm

Skip23 said: "Did Timothy Hughes move to Paradise Square from Hadestown?



Saw the show tonight and he was in but his name isn't in Playbill.



"
 

Don’t worry, sweetie. I also confuse all hot, tall chorus men with beards. 

TBH, him joining the cast would probably be the only thing to get me to sit through LesMiseRagtime again…

 

[starcatchers]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 1:48am

Skip23 said: "Did Timothy Hughes move to Paradise Square from Hadestown?



Saw the show tonight and he was in but his name isn't in Playbill.



"

99% sure you were looking at Colin Barkell (the taller of the two step dancers)…

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/6/22 at 8:34am

I don’t believe Timothy Hughes has announced his next move since he left Hadestown, so no, that’s not him. 

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/9/22 at 11:25pm

I wanted to add my review: I saw the show tonight and it was stunning! Pleasantly surprised. 

[starlightlocamotion]

Posted: 6/13/22 at 10:19am

Where is the best place to sit for this? Are the far sides of front mez okay for this show?

[bdn223]

Posted: 6/13/22 at 10:31am

starlightlocamotion said: "Where is the best place to sit for this? Are the far sides of front mez okay for this show?"

Its a massive production in a relatively small house for a musical, so most seats will be fine in terms of view. In truth, it depends on what you are seeing it for. If you are seeing it for the Choreography, as it is a dance show (much to my own surprise) I would say front Mezz works. I presume you are seeing it for Joquina Kalukango's performance though, in which case you should would want to be as close as possible to take every tear and feel the power of her performance. 

Note Kalukango does not dance, or at least participate in many in at all in the ensemble dance pieces, so it really does depend on what you are seeing the production for.

 

Updated On: 6/13/22 at 10:31 AM

[SydneyBristow]

Posted: 6/13/22 at 11:39am

starlightlocamotion said: "Where is the best place to sit for this? Are the far sides of front mez okay for this show?"

I'd avoid the last 4-5 seats on each side of the front mez because of how the lights are hung protruding from the box seating.  To me, it's distracting in the sightline.  The rest of the front mez (especially row A) is great to take in this show.  The overhang of mez is not way far from the stage.  https://seatplan.com/new-york/barrymore-theatre/  (Click C23 photo to see what I meant about lights/bars from the boxes.)

Joaquina sings "Let It Burn" from the very very front of the stage, so it's unmissable from most seats.

The DANCING is a highlight of this show! 

[akhoya87]

Posted: 6/25/22 at 10:57pm

So I caved and finally bought a ticket to Paradise Square.  (At rack rates, too!)  I was very hesitant given the Garth Drabinsky tie and the middling reviews, both here and in the papers.  But Joaquina Kalukango's performance at the Tonys sold me.  

Except she's out til Tuesday.  I thought about asking for a refund (although Kalukango's not above the title, but worth a shot).  Opted to keep my ticket.  I saw the matinee with Kayla Pecchioni as Nelly and was absolutely blown away.  Lyrically, Let It Burn is underwhelming, but the music packs a punch.  I'm sure that belt shreds vocal cords.

All told, I liked it better than I thought I would.  Like others, I'd shed a plotline or two.  And there were some songs/moments that I felt were shoved into the script so that the actors could dance.  The dancing was marvelous, but it wore on at times.  Most of the songs are meh, and I couldn't find a coherent theme in the music.  I just wish they made Nelly's story the clearer "A" plot.

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 6/26/22 at 10:34am

Not to be a negative Nelly, but how is this show still open? Did it get that much of a Tony bump? Where is Garth getting the money from to keep this show open?

[expectingtheworst]

Posted: 6/27/22 at 2:08pm

DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "Not to be a negative Nelly, but how is this show still open? Did it get that much of a Tony bump? Where is Garth getting the money from to keep this show open?"

fun fact: he isn't 

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/27/22 at 5:43pm

I'm so happy I saw it twice, the dancing and the acting is truly top notch.

[ps27b]

Posted: 6/27/22 at 7:04pm

I couldn't agree more. For some reason this got off to a rocky start - I have seen it twice myself and really loved it. There is an audience for this show - And I'd love to see it pull through!   

[Jim3]

Posted: 6/27/22 at 8:16pm

I agree also with the last two messages. I had no desire to see Paradise Square until I saw Joaquina Kalukango’s performance on the Tony Awards. I might still not have gone with all the negative comments and so-so reviews that I read. But then I won the lottery to last Wednesday’s matinee (Orchestra Row F seats 9 and 11) and of course I went. 
In my opinion, there are wonderful things about Paradise Square. Besides Joaquina, who basically stops the show with her Jennifer Dreamgirls Holliday performance, the choreography is so different and creative, and I’m not a big Irish step dancing fan. But what Bill T Jones created is so memorable.  The chorus and ensemble have so much energy and just seem so happy to be performing for the audience, and that doesn’t always come across in some shows. 
Paradise Square is not a perfect show.  But it’s well worth seeing if you like the musical theater.  Please don’t say it’s a show for tourists. I live in the city and have attended the Broadway theater since seeing Follies in 1972.