Philly's Caroline or Change — Page 2

well one can pray right? Go Uarts too btw

---

I saw this Saturday. It was amazing.

so many Uarts kids on this board...

represent Temple!!!

anyway, it was a truly magnificent production. $5 5 minutes before the show for students (not recommended though, they've been selling out.) I have a friend in the box office and another who is a pro apprentice that both say the show will extend for one week -

regardless, see it if you can.


EDIT: Griffin Back, the young man who plays Noah, is phenominally talented. He played the Little Boy in Temple's Ragtime this past fall.

Updated On: 3/19/07 at 03:32 PM

I have two friends that saw and and although they said it was very good. They both said the woman who is the moon was weak.

jerryherman: were you in ragtime? i know the director.

---

Updated On: 3/19/07 at 03:56 PM

i saw it with gustof, and it was amazing. the bus especially. again, no programs, so i can't remember his name. also, elyse was fierce as emmy. she brought such an uncertainty to some of it that anika didn't as much. I loved her performance.

saw it again last night...still amazing! The little boy has gotten so much better too!

---

inlovewithjerryherman - That little boy was possibly the best part of Ragtime at Temple. That's all I'm going to day about that production.

I can't wait to see Caroline Or Change after my show is done!

good for them! I enjoyed the show, while I had some reservations about it. Special Props to my girls Talia and Danielle, part of the radio trio, who sound amazing as ever!!

and a shout out to Jay, one amazing performer who gets better and better everytime.

---

oops

---

Updated On: 4/3/07 at 03:04 AM

Goodness, I guess this production at the Arden has changed your life.

I saw the show while it was still in previews and have to say the standouts were the woman playing Rose and the boy playing Noah. While the Radio as a unit worked wonderfully, I couldn't help but to be distracted by the Radio 1's voice - would've MUCH rather heard her on the Radio 2 part. I left wishing I could've heard Radio 2 (Tallia Brinson) much much more...

Emmie was cute...I think it's laughable to compare her to Anika Noni who has had much more experience and it at a much more comfortable place with both her voice as well as her acting - and simply as a person. Elyse is still a student and while her performance was definitely effective and deserves kudos it was in no way a comparison to Rose.

Now Caroline...it's funny. While I had my reservations with Tonya's unstable voice, there is one thing she has and that's a powerful presence. The show revolves around HER. THAT is what this production lacked. In watching Ms Harris it's clear that she is giving it her all but some people are born with that extra "IT" factor....Ms Harris wasn't. It seemed as if she was muted while everyone else around her was so present. I wanted her to break through a bit more. This is could be due to sound issues - there is no reason why a larger woman belting should sound so small in such an average sized space. Directorial question: WHY was Caroline blocked to face stage right for Lot's Wife? I understand that it was her front porch...but really? to completely block out an entire section of the audience for staging sake...and in THAT number?!?! And why would the actress choose to stay there...seems anyone worth their salt would know this is a certain kind of number...if I'm staged here on the steps then I'm going to find my way to the bottom of the stairs and look over into the yard next to me since it will allow me to face front and open myself up to the entire house. I left thinking...I really wish I could've seen and heard DOTTIE do Caroline's role! SHE was wonderful. Just wonderful. And the little argument at the bus stop...everytime Dottie opened her mouth it just made Caroline look that much smaller. Ah...casting. Now I see why the Bway cast was put together the way it was...

The major problem with this production lies in the sky...oh..the Moon...gorgeous to look at...but that voice...that vibrato...I kept thinking...there HAS to be an understudy for this role...just put this woman out of her misery - she's ruining perfectly effective scenes!

Another standout was the Bus...wonderful. However, the washing machine...hm...she was clearly another student or someone far too young or inexperienced to be singing/playing that role. I'm not saying she wasn't talented...just very "green". I can't say that I'd picture the washing machine in THAT particular basement being young and new.

A good production, but sound needs some work...the trip is worth it just to see Rose and Noah's performances. They are truly stellar...

Haha. Well clearly Kelly is too young to PLAY Caroline. But that is the type voice that would've brought a powerful presence to the role. I'm not saying Joilet isn't effective in her own right - but the show IS called CAROLINE, or Change...not EVERY ONE AROUND CAROLINE, or Change. Harris didn't "pop" the way you'd like your leading lady to. Then again, it IS live theatre...maybe it was just the performance I saw. As much as I'd LOVE to experience Rose and Noah again, I won't be able to make the trip from NY again before they close.

You seem like you'd be quite the enthusiastic audience member - I'm sure that spirit is greatly appreciated from the performers onstage! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the production as much as you did...the one thing I WILL say for Harris...in this version I was able to actually hear all of the melodies in the song sans vocal problems.

You haven't gotten a chance to see Thursday's understudy, Chanta Layton go in for the moon have you? THAT is the performance I'd love to hear...And for you Temple people..she's a alum, I believe.

I just watched the clips of salty teardrops on Ou-ay Ube-Tay, and I have to say that I liked the Arden's staging of the number better. Than again, the Arden set is stationary, where as the Broadway set had moving pieces.