Okay- I'll make this short, since I already my general opinions about both the material and the performers and such-
I saw the second preview, and the show has come a long way. Performances, which were already excellent, have only strengthened. The show was better than before. Alice Ripley... my god. If she does not win the Tony, I don't know what I'd do. Aaron Tveit is still turning in a stunning performance (did they change his hair? I remember it being different..spikier). J. Robert Spencer has really grown the most. There is so much volume to Dan now. And "I Am the One (Reprise)" is incredible.
The energy was through the roof... the audience was itching for a chance to applaud during the second act (since there is no point to do so until after "So Anyway").
"You Don't Know/I Am the One" stopped the show, receiving the biggest response from the audience (though "I Miss the Mountains" was not far behind). I'm wondering if that isn't their strongest choice for their Tony number.
Something strange happened with Spencer's voice during, I believe, "I've Been". Either his mic cut out.. or his voice did. It was very brief but startling, since his vocals before and after were stellar.
The audience was emotional by the end. By the end of "I Am the One (Reprise)", it sounded like everyone in the audience had a cold. Sniffles everywhere. I was not moved to tears when I saw the show before, but this time I was definitely misty-eyed... which is no small feat, believe me. I rarely ever cry or even tear up at theatre, or movies...or anything, really.
There were no speeches, and the curtain call was surprisingly brief for an opening night. Aaron Tveit looked rather emotional during bows.
On a different note.. having now sat through this show in the very front row, and the very back of the mezz... I must say, that I think I preferred the rear mezz. Sure, the front row allows you to be so close to the actors you can get Alice Ripley's tears on your face (slight hyperbole). But the back row lets you see everything going on... not to mention the extremely interesting lighting and set changes (I did not notice the moving black flats in the background, in front of the light wall, before).
I think the best seat in the house is, actually, mid-Mezz. People in the first half of the mezz had to move themselves to see what was occurring very down stage (such as the sandwich making).
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Updated On: 4/15/09 at 10:21 PM
