PIPE DREAM!!!!!!!- Page 2

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/31/12 at 12:59am

considering how weak the book is, I doubt there would be a chance this could open on B'way by the Fall??

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 3/31/12 at 10:30pm

I saw PIPE DREAM this afternoon and enjoyed it very much. The talkback was extremely interesting. I eagerly await the CD.

Seems to me I once had a compilation recording which featured the wonderful Susan Johnson singing 'Sweet Thursday', but I can't find it in my admittedly disorganized collection. Does anyone have any idea what this record was?

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/31/12 at 11:15pm

I was also at the matinee and enjoyed it. The people around me, however, really didn't like it. And, of course, there was the man at the talkback who said he thought the melodies were weak. Possibly weaker than other R&H melodies, but they certainly weren't terrible.

And I do love such a string-heavy orchestra; I think I counted 15, including the bass.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 4/1/12 at 12:42am

No chance of this opening on b'way next year unless they decide to re-write the book and lyrics. Saw it on Thursday and enjoyed it a lot but it's too fluffy and the story is not strong.

[somethingbypuccini]

Posted: 4/1/12 at 2:04pm

I guess I'm one of the few who didn't enjoy Uggams. I've always been a fan of hers, and I was so excited to see her, but I was disappointed. I though she seemed lost during the book scenes, although she was in great voice.
I felt the same way about the show itself. Half the score was classic, beautiful Rogers and Hammerstine, particularly the solo numbers and duets. There were some really beautiful songs, but I felt that the other half of the score, mostly ensemble numbers, were repetitive and bland. They reminded me of Nothing Like a Dame or Do Re Me without the charm or heart that made them such classics. I thought Bruni's staging did nothing to help either.
As I said, Uggams was hit or miss for me, Wopat barely made an impression, and Wallem was miscast. He played the dumb very well, sure, but he was too adorably charming to seem even remotely threatening, as his repeated references to violence seemed to imply.
Laura Osnes was delightful, and Will Chase was charming as always.
Overall, I'm glad I saw the show, for all it's faults it really was a charming production, and there were some really wonderful songs that I never would have heard without this production.

Updated On: 4/1/12 at 02:04 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 4/1/12 at 4:02pm

Seeing it this evening.
Am looking forward to seeing it performed. Weaknesses and all.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/1/12 at 7:26pm

"Seems to me I once had a compilation recording which featured the wonderful Susan Johnson singing 'Sweet Thursday', but I can't find it in my admittedly disorganized collection. Does anyone have any idea what this record was?"

The name of the cd is You Can't Put Ketchup on the Moon.

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 4/1/12 at 10:19pm

I was at this afternoon's performance and Leslie Uggams was wonderful in every number.

[justoldbill]

Posted: 4/1/12 at 11:22pm

I hope for the Ghostlight recording, they do a separate take of the entire Overture. The one played at the Encores! concert was severely truncated, on the model of the RCA OBC recording. It took me most of Act I to shake off my disappointment.

Updated On: 4/1/12 at 11:22 PM

[goldenboy]

Posted: 4/1/12 at 11:56pm

What a mess of a musical.

The book is awful and so full of holes..... It makes no sense. Was Hammerstein on Drugs when he wrote it? The music is forgettable Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Who is Suzy and why should we care for her? Is Fauna a Madame? Or does she just own a cafe? And if its just a cafe, why do all her girls look like prostitutes? Why does Fauna take her in? is Suzy a prostitute or just a donut thief? Why does everyone want to see her with Don? Why does Fauna want to get rid of Suzy for the night? And I'm supposed to care? And what's all this about octopus and starfish. And living in a pipe? Huh? WTF?

The cast gave it 110%. Glad I saw it. Glad it was done..... but it ranks as a really bad musical with a really crappy book. The critics were kind because Encores revives the forgotten and misunderstood musical.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/2/12 at 9:15am

I don't think I could have been more bored. What miniscule bits of story exist are buried under ten layers of "cute." The score has pretty moments, but is weighed down by endless sweet ballads that all remind you of other Richard Rodgers ballads. Dullsville.