Philly's Caroline or Change- Page 2

[gustof777]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 8:41pm

well one can pray right? Go Uarts too btw

[singingshowgirl]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 9:34pm

Elyse Taylor is a senior at uarts and is sooooo talented and sweet. The conductor is also a UArts teacher who I love as well! i cant' wait to see it!!!

[phantom8019]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 1:11pm

I saw this Saturday. It was amazing.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 3:22pm

I'm There! I'm still fuming from passing up the chance to see it on Broadway. I'm glad to hear there is an excellent production not too far from NYC. I'll actually be in Philly next weekend. I'll try and catch it then.

Thanks for the info everybody.

*edited for spelling*

Updated On: 3/19/07 at 03:22 PM

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 3:32pm

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

[Liverpool]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 3:48pm

does anyone have the link for the website for philly's production?

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 3:56pm

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

[gustof777]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 3:59pm

http://www.ardentheatre.org/2007/caroline.html
it was on the first page liverpool

[danoneil]

Posted: 3/24/07 at 6:04pm

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.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/24/07 at 6:28pm

I saw it on Broadway and was just floored. The best musical I have seen in years. I would really like to see it done here in Denver at the DCTC and have decided to mention it to the President of the DCPA and the Artistic Director of the Denver Center Theatre Company. We do a lot of ambitious pieces each season and I think Denver audiences would love this show. Now I an taking "Spring Awakening out of my discman (No ipod here!) and replacing it with Caroline's Disc 2 for my walk to meet friends for cocktails this evening...I am walking because...."I hate the bus"!!! (not really, but couldn't resist that!)

[gustof777]

Posted: 3/24/07 at 7:46pm

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

[IveGottaBeME]

Posted: 3/25/07 at 7:22pm

i just saw it again today... Joilet as Caroline was amazing today, even better than before. Her Lot's Wife has the crowd roaring and and old man sobbing next to me. It was wonderful. The radio's vocals and energy was incredible today. The only weak link in hte cast is the Moon......she is distracting.

[BroadwayPenguin2]

Posted: 3/26/07 at 12:44pm

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!

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 3/27/07 at 11:14am

It was announced today that the show has been extended! I think till April 15.

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/27/07 at 11:23am

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.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 3/27/07 at 11:49am

Saw it this past weekend. What an awesome night at the theatre. Not a weak link in a show that moved me greatly. Sherri Edelen's portrayal of Rose was phenomenal. In the performance I saw, she stood out in an overall first rate cast. Griffin Back's Noah was also wonderful. All the Radio women blew me away, and Jay Pierce's Bus had the audience jaw dropped. Joilet was wonderful as Caroline although I think her voice was understandably a little tired at the last performance on a 4 show weekend. The production elements are top notch. The set was wonderful and served the show and Mr. Nolan's excellent direction well.

Having never been to the Arden before, I have to say that I love the space itself. It reminds me a lot of Hartford Stage with it's thrust stage and stadium style seating. But the Arden also has adaptable seating and playing space that can be changed for each production.

Go catch Caroline if you can. You won't be dissapointed, and as someone said earlier they have extended to April 15th

[gustof777]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 3:04am

oops

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

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 9:33am

I posted the entire "Salty Teardrops" number from the original Broadway production on that unmentionable site.

Enjoy!

[My2cents2]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 10:41am

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...

[gustof777]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:01pm

lol well I guess it just goes to show what one dislikes another loves...i personally LOVED Harris' take on Caroline. I love that she sort of holds back and is very weak while sort of trying to seem strong...if that makes any sense?? I liked that it's only in Noah's MIND that she's this strong empowered woman and you see that she's very submissive. I thought her "Lot's Wife" was stunning and I realize that it blocks off some of that side and granted I've never sat on that side but still I think her performance of that song where she finally just lets it out. it's chilling. I respectfully disagree that Harris doesn't have any "It" factor elements in her performance.

Now I'm with you on that you can't compare Taylor to Anika Noni Rose but given her age and this being one of her first big proffesional jobs I was damn impressed with her. I thought that she did wonderful but obviously Anika is a whole 'nother category.

and I personally didn't have a problem with the moon but I've seen with a number of different people and they most certainly did. and I'm with you 100% on the Washing Machine...I couldn't understand how some of the crazy high belted notes came out beautifully but little lower nights she just got sooo pitchy on.
I did love the woman playing Dottie but I feel like she's WAY too young to play Caroline and also doesn't have the right voice right now.
I agree that Noah and Rose are amazing. The boy playing Noah gets better and better every time I go and changes things up which is cool to watch.

haha I really do love this show and it's not this production as much as I am so moved by the show. But that being said I adore this production and most of all I LOVE the actors playing Noah and Caroline. I'm sorry that you didn't get out of Harris what I did but whoo she really hits it hard on Lots Wife. I could go on and on about what it is about her that really did it for me but I love this performance.

go see the show if you can I know it's selling out nightly

[My2cents2]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 3:17pm

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.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 3:27pm

I'm seeing the show on Friday night, I'm very excited. I saw it on Broadway and loved it.

(Yay for Temple kids!)

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 6:09pm

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.

[theatreloverrr]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 12:03am

----REVIEW----

I just saw Caroline, or Change at the Arden this evening, and I have to say that I agree with much of what "my2cents" had to write. I didn't have the opportunity to see the show on B-way, and while it was a great experience to see this treasure of theatre, and while their were a few great performances, the production at the Arden was overall a bit of a disappointment.

-The young boy who played Noah was absolutely fantastic! His presence was strong as well as his voice and he made extremely smart acting choices. SUPERB!

-The Radio...They were pretty good. The lead radio singer (Marsha Lawson) had a great voice and was very interesting to watch, but the other two of the trio were uninteresting. Kudos to Lawson!

-Rose was fantastic! Her timing was fantastic and she was consistently interesting to watch. A pro!

-The Moon....ugh...horrendous! Pitchy...horrible tone..plain 'ol "bad acting." An embarassment.

-The Washing Machine was a huge disappointment as well. She just seemed like she didn't know what she was doing. All wrong.

-Dotty was FANTASTIC!!! She was a breath of fresh air on the stage. I agree with my2cents! The whole time I was thinking that I would have loved to have seen Kelly's passion in the portrayl of Caroline. Dotty Rocked!!

-Emmie was pretty good. She had a beautiful pure voice, but I wanted to see her character have a bit more strength. For a youthful charcter that has so many convictions, I feel like the role should have been portrayed and sung with more strength and passion. Her "I Hate the Bus" really lacked.

-Lastly, Caroline played by Joilet Harris...what a disappointment. In her portrayl, she failed to express the characters depth!! I feel like her portrayl was completely one dimensional, and in effect, much of the shows unique quality and genius was lost. Her "Lot's Wife" did nothing for me. She just doesn't have "it." She has a good voice but to have as many credits as she does, the only conclusion I can make is that she just doesn't understand the expression of a true actor. Maybe it was just an off night...

Just my opinions. Kudos to Rose, Noah, and Dotty!!!!!