Pirate Queen 7:30 October 24, 2006 Review.....

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 2:37am

So tonight I had the wonderful experience to see Pirate Queen for myself. A lot of my thoughts are simular to those who have already posted but with a fresh view and some things I noticed myself.

First off, each performer did an amazing job.....
Stephanie J. Block...wow is all I can say. I have seen her before and she was the best I have ever seen her in any show. She need just the right times to use head voice and when it was time to belt. Her acting was great and she just fit that part. I got to meet her afterwards and she stayed and talked to people for 20 mins. I got my picture taken with her (even after my friend accidently took a video) she was gracious enough to take another try. We talked about how I am a vocal performance major and she was just a sweetheart.

Hadley Fraser....has an amazing set of pipes. His voice blended so well with Stephanie's voice on Here On this Night. His acting and dancing were top notch. He was very nice and talked to everyone and signed anything and everything.

Linda Balgord...she was only performer I had major problems with. As many others have noticed her diction sucks beyond anything I have ever heard. I couldn't tell hardly any of her words but she could sing. She had a soprano voice that fit the part well but still if I could have understood the lyrics it would have made more sense.

Marcus Chait- had a tremedous voice and really fit his character well

Okay now the show....

Set- As soon as I walked in the first thing I thought was Wicked....so it did not surprise me much when the set designer, Eugene Lee, worked on wicked. After getting over how much the frame was like it, I thought it was very nice. The special effects on the curtain were amazing look and fit the score so well. The ship was probably the best there could be being on a stage. The scenes with Queen Elizabeth were beautiful and perfect for the show.

Costumes- wow, the fit the show like a glove and really helped create the mood and scence of time.

Plot- Okay when intermission happened I was still wondering okay whats the plot. The main idea what is this about. I feel that its a good show now but it could be great. One thing that really needs to dealt with is the fact that the opening doesn't have a gripping song or point of attack in the show until Boy's Will Be Boy's. The songs before hand are great but don't make you love theses characters or make you interested in their lives. They really need to work that out but if they do I would say the show would be 100x better. Also like others have said it ends rather quick. It feels like there needs to be another fight scene or some major action that triggers the end. Also the whole scene between Grace and Elizabeth is good it could be better. I don't know how but it needs some work. The music was beautiful. I'm not so sure how much it fit into Irish music but was beautiful.

Overall I felt the show is good but not great yet but it seems to slowly but surely coming together. Since I live so close I am going to go back before it closes and see if I can see any signifigant changes. Can't wait to see what happens.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 3:03am

Get ready, New York, this turkey is sailing your way.

It is one of those shows that have lofty intentions and "serious" artists collaborating, but it is so emotionally forced and superficial. I am sure the story of this woman and her struggles is fascinating, but it surly isn’t told here. Clichés are rampant. The score is so forgettable (laughable rhymes, the simplest melodies) and although there are a couple of pretty songs most of it is a tired rehash of some show or another, including Les Mis and Miss Saigon, not to mention Phantom...and not the GOOD stuff) just awful. Not unpleasant, just dull as dirt.
There are some overblown set pieces, a few pretty pictures and some nice performances, but mostly just grandstanding and posing and singing loudly down center through an over amplified system. It reminded me a bit of a production of Peter Pan, and not the FUN pirate stuff (these are not really the “Ahoy, Matie” type pirates, really just rag-tag Irish clans trying to fend off England.) but the “posing of Cathy Rigby trying to look like a boy” Peter Pan.
Stephanie Block is fine, good voice, but her character never gets beyond the Disney rebellious daughter stage. "I am woman, hear me roar, but I am in LOVE!"( at one point she is positioned on what looks like a rock singing in the classic Ariel 'Part of Your World' pose.) In fact the whole thing reminded me of a Disney ride. When the ship should be roaring through uncharted and wild seas, you feel like you are on the big Columbia ship at Disneyland that is on a track that smoothly glides you by Tom Sawyer’s Island and deposits you back at New Orleans Square just in time to catch Erika Amato in the Snow White show. There is no sense of danger, no risk, no steaks...just blah, with really fake and sloppily staged fight scenes poorly executed.
The dance breaks seemed forced as well. Oh, here is the wedding scene let’s have a big dance break. Oh, here is the Christening scene (for a child who hardly registers with either the characters or the audience, emotionally) let’s have another dance break.

The portrayal of Queen Elizabeth is truly laughable. I don’t know if this is intentional or not. The court scenes really come off as the silly villain scenes in the Disney films, but then it tries to have it both ways by bringing in this whole “We women just solved centuries of conflict in a matter of minutes.” Let us see THAT scene, not the scene leading up to Elizabeth’s decision to sit down and talk to Grace. Now, imagine Sarah Brightman at 60 still trying to sing Phantom in the original key and you will have some idea of the vocal performance of Balgord’s performance. This woman’s voice made my ears bleed.

I am anxious to see how the critics receive it, but the audience didn’t seem too enthusiastic tonight. I noticed a few walkouts at intermission. Of course Block got a standing ovation, but that is so common these days I am sure even the actor's don't take them too seriously. The whole cast puts forth a valiant effort, but the show just doesn’t work. If you are waiting for the next Les Mis or Wicked you will be very disappointed.

Updated On: 10/25/06 at 03:03 AM

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 3:21am

While I agree with you on some points, especially the rock thing I think the show is workable but it has to be worked...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 3:26am

All the elements are there, technically, but the book is a mess. There is no time to get to know these characters. It is all "I want to sail, Daddy" "No, you are a GIRL" Then I'll dress as a BOY"...but who are they, really. There is no heart.

[Popular]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 3:32am

When the ship should be roaring through uncharted and wild seas, you feel like you are on the big Columbia ship at Disneyland that is on a track that smoothly glides you by Tom Sawyer’s Island and deposits you back at New Orleans Square just in time to catch Erika Amato in the Snow White show. There is no sense of danger, no risk, no steaks...just blah, with really fake and sloppily staged fight scenes poorly executed.

Actually, the Columbia Ship is in FRONTIERLAND and the Snow White show was in FANTASYLAND. Makes me wonder how accurate the rest of your review is.

Listen, in all seriousness you are entitled to your opinion. I'm honestly not trying to start anything. Until I see it myself I guess I can't really reply except to say that it's too bad a ticket was wasted on you. I'd be glad to take your seat next time!

PS - It's better to poorly execute than risk getting hurt. For all we know, they may have gotten changes to the fight scenes just HOURS before with no time to really feel 100% confident about it. Too bad about "no steaks" though... they must be starving after all that fighting! (sorry I had to)

PPS - Erika rocked!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 3:46am

Believe me, I know Disneyland like the back of my hand. I was taking "poetic license" with the locals. And I did want to like this show. I intentionally avoided all the web-casts and things. And you may be right about the fight scenes. I will give them that, but it just added to the ho-humness of the whole evening.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 9:07am

Agreed, Sueleen. Completely agreed. I noticed quite a few walkouts myself. And, honestly, for the first time ever, I considered walking out. I was just so BORED, but I really wanted to give ACT II a chance to make up for the first act. It did not.

Popular-- I know you're trying to be positive and make everyone keep an open mind and I truly do think that's really nice and admirable. However, you haven't seen the show, so it seems a little odd that you keep defending a show that others have seen and have valid complaints with. I truly do admire your perseverance, but I really think you should hold back on your views on reviews as you don't have any basis of knowledge of the show as a whole.

ETF: It sounds like I'm just telling you to shut up, Popular, and I wanted to clarify. It's merely that I would never comment on a show that I hadn't seen and defend it endlessly. I think you're excited to see the show not only because of Block, but also because you've watched all the Castcoms and seen all the behind the scenes work on it. I saw a few and I did enjoy them, but I don't think an entire audience should have to watch the backlog of those in order to "get" the show. No audience wants to sit in the dark and keep thinking, "Wow! I'm really bored by this show, but, you know, good effort!" I want to see a show with great music and exciting scenes. I don't want to have to work so hard to enjoy a show and do research on it before hand.

Does that make any sense? I apologize if I sound hyper-critical of you. I'm trying to be diplomatic, but I'm not pulling it off.

Updated On: 10/25/06 at 09:07 AM

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 9:54am

Popular, you really have to stop getting so defensive every time someone happens to not enjoy Pirate Queen. Do you work for the show? Or do you just hold some sort of odd obsession with it? It's really getting a bit disturbing how you jump on anything (such as locations in Disneyland) to attack a person's credibility when they don't like something.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 10:52am

I do find it odd that someone who hasn't even heard the music, let alone SEEN the show would bash other people's reviews.
Don't go to this link if you can't take the criticism, but the overwhelming majority of those who posted did not care for this show at all.
Trib reader reviews

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 10:56am

Popular, you might be interested in this particular review:

Vicky
Chicago, IL
I checked into cast.com dutifully each day and was really excited about this production. Because I had such high expectations, the disappointment was huge. The cast, the set, the orchestra, the dancers, the costumes -- tremendous. But there was no thread, no continuity, no memorable song, not enough passion. Nothing to stir the soul. The whole score was forgotten as soon as we left. The Queen is such a talent, but the high pitched opera just fails miserably. At one point I actually laughed out loud: at the decisive standoff between Grace and QEI, they looked just like Galinda and Elphaba facing off, one in the sparkly white ball gown and the other in the green velvet. I know they have a lot of work to do to pull this together and I hope they succeed.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 10:58am

The two reviews that started this thread couldn't be less simular. (I've permanently added that new word to my vocab, thanks BB062).

Sueleen, Popular seems to be implying that a free ticket "was wasted on you." Was the house all papered, or did you pay your own cold hard cash for your seat?

[ken8631]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:02am

Well, I hope it gets better during previews. Have my NYC tickets, and am a big Steph fan....

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:04am

Steve and Becky-- Naperville, IL: "...Also, rewrite the scene where she delivers her baby and then gets up to fight off the British -unbelievable."

Thank you! That scene still pains me whenever I think on it.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:06am

No, Namo, I paid full price. I learned my lesson by waiting too long to buy tickets before word of mouth got out about The Producers. It was a risk I was willing to take. But in this case it just didn't pay off.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:10am

When I think I wasted $63 on this rather than seeing King Lear again or The Pillowman at Steppenwolf, I get so mad! But, hey, that's theatre for you. Nothing is guaranteed.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:28am

Thanks for the reviews everyone. Popular, this show needs all the support it can get, so I salute your efforts to promote it. I would love to read an actual review from you. How about checking Priceline for cheap tickets to Chicago? I'm not so certain you'll be able to see this in New York in 2007.

I promised myself I wouldn't start any more threads about The Pirate Queen, because I don't want to seem like an endlessly negative voice. However, if other people want to talk about it...

I really hope this show doesn't get brought into Broadway this spring. If the producers took another year, scrapped about 2/3 of the current version and brought in writers who actually understood the material they could have a major hit on their hands. Unfortunately what they are currently working with is unsalvageable.

This was my first impression upon seeing the show, but I feel this even more strongly having read the source novel "Grania, She King of the Irish Seas". Boublil's story treatment is like a second grader's book report. (I wouldn't even give the kid a B) Does anyone else find it odd to go to a show called "The Pirate Queen" and not see even one second of anything having to do with PIRATES??!! When the novel begins Grania is already an experienced pirate and a voracious gambler. She has a complex love/hate relationship with her father. There's none of this lame crap about Belle/Ariel wanting to be a sailor ("part of that world...") Why not start the show with something based on the scene where Grania seizes a small vessel and lets the captain gamble for his cargo with a roll of the dice? Of course this would involve portraying a strong confident female character right from the beginning of the show. The Grania in the novel had men pining for her, not the other way around.

In the novel Queen Elizabeth was still very upset over the death of Mary Queen of Scots and was adament that her men NOT kill Grania. This would make a hell of a lot more sense, because if QE had really wanted Grace dead, she would have been dead faster than an Irish Pirate gets her balls crushed.

Grania and Queen Elizabeth did not "settle everything". The book makes clear that the conflict between Ireland and England continued for centuries after these events, and we all know this. Grania was sort of like the Engineer from Miss Saigon. She knew how to make deals and forge alliances, and she managed to get much better treatment from the British crown than any other Chieftan. But there's no way that two ladies fixed the entire Irish/English conflict by talking behind a screen for two hours, and it's an insult to the audience to imply that this could have happened.

The Pirate Queen tries to imply that Queen Elizabeth was so upset over the idea of her troops "disrespecting" Irish women that she settled the entire conflict and had Bingham jailed. I find it absurd that a show which constantly uses the words "sh*t" and "balls" can't bear to have a character utter the word "rape".

I've seen posts where people question whether this material was suitable to be made into a musical. I think this novel is the most musical-ready piece of literature I've ever read, but these guys have screwed it up royally.

For now, I would suggest that the show's producers tell the critics that the press night performance is going to start at 8:00 pm. They should then start the show at 7:15 and barricade the doors. Don't let the critics in until the dancing starts in "Boys Will Be Boys". After the Christening scene, fake a power failure, and tell the critics they'll just have to review the portions of the show they've seen.

This is the only way The Pirate Queen won't get ripped to shreds.

Updated On: 10/25/06 at 11:28 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:54am

Tech, I did not read the source material, but that is what I was expecting in this production. Strong characters, not stereotypes, great conflict, not superficial star-crossed lovers, something with emotional depth. They blew it.

[Popular]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:11pm

Popular, you really have to stop getting so defensive every time someone happens to not enjoy Pirate Queen. Do you work for the show? Or do you just hold some sort of odd obsession with it? It's really getting a bit disturbing how you jump on anything (such as locations in Disneyland) to attack a person's credibility when they don't like something.

You're right. Next time I'll put two or three or even four winky smiles next to my statements. C'mon, I was just joking about the Disneyland locations... Give me a break! And why would you ask me if I worked for the show when I've clearly stated that I haven't seen it? Not trying to be snippy, that's an honest question. And how can I get defensive about a show I haven't seen? If anything, I was only playing devil's advocate in regards to the comment about the fighting to which Sueleengay replied, "And you may be right about the fight scenes. I will give them that". Look, I don't doubt it has flaws. Like I said, you have a right to your opinions. I can't really comment on the show since I haven't seen it. I'm sorry if me staying hopeful about the show offends you. I'm sorry if my little updates about new CASTCOMS seem obsessive to you. I wont, however, apologize for having an interest in the show. A few others on this board would be a lot guiltier than I am if that was a crime.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:25pm

I think it is great that you are excited to see the show, popular, but you are in for an even bigger let down because your hopes are SO high.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:29pm

"...because if QE had really wanted Grace dead, she would have been dead faster than an Irish Pirate gets her balls crushed."

Tech-- Too funny! Thanks, as always, for being the voice of reason that I would love to be, but don't have the patience for. I'm really impressed with your suggestions and I wonder if the producers would have the courage to do such a thing.

This could be SUCH a fun show if the material were better. Grnia deserves better and so does the entire cast.

[Lady Italy]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 2:05pm

Okay, how can I put this...You guys are RUTHLESS on the critical reviews being posted. I understand that you went into this show with high expectations and are disappointed, but come on...these are preview days. Yes, you paid hard earned cash for your ticket and wanted more, and it's always a shame to be disappointed. Now let's be honest...how many of you out there where almost as critical of Wicked when it first came out? I remember reading post stating the music was awful. The lines were corney and the characters were just ridiculous. Now, how much money has this show made??? If everyone would go by the negative reviews this board can sometimes express that show would have closed after six months.

It's hard to understand why these posts have to be so harsh. I totally disagree with many of these reviews. Yes, I've seen the show. Yes, I know the story (as I knew the story of Wicked, which was nothing like the book) and yes it still needs some rework. But tell me, what show (In all of your opinions) didn't need reworking and retooling at the beginning? Even Tony award winning shows had their fixes and many of them had major overhauls. So unless you are schooled in theatrical reviewing, know Irish history and understand the background of Ireland and their traditions, please refrain from being so horrifically negative. I respect your opinions and feelings...but dam you're killing something that has great potential before it even gets off the ground. Stephanie's family reads these posts and how do you think it makes them feel? Just get out your thoughts the way you would like to see them said about you.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 2:09pm

Never ever use a performer's personal feelings or even worse - their families' feelings as an excuse why somebody shouldn't critique honestly how they feel about a show - even if their feelings are unkind.

If the show needs work, we can hope the creative team will take the criticism to heart and make the corrections necessary to make the show a success.

And WICKED's success is totally irrelevent. The show received fairly poor reviews in SF, Broadway and recently in London. A lot of people think its a crappy show - it has simply found an audience. THE PIRATE QUEEN should pray to be so lucky!
Updated On: 10/25/06 at 02:09 PM

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 2:25pm

As far as I can see, no one is being unkind at this point. Everyone is giving honest opinions about a show that needs a LOT of work.

Should Stephanie's family (because we're apparently on first name basis here), they might be pleased to read some of the comments saying that Stephanie Block is wonderful, but the show is not. But that arguing point is absurd as Michael Bennett pointed out.

"So unless you are schooled in theatrical reviewing, know Irish history and understand the background of Ireland and their traditions, please refrain from being so horrifically negative."

Are you kidding me with this? I guess you expect every person who goes to see it to have this broad expanse of knowledge as well. An audience should not have to have a huge base of knowledge to go and see a show. A show is generally self-contained and if the audience needs to know something about Irish history and their background, then the show itself better damn well tell the audience and make it clear. The composers have the right to expect their audience to be generally aware and knowledgable of the world around them, but should NOT expect an audience to do an all-night cram session to see their show.

[fachedaluna]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 2:48pm

Well, I pray that you are never put in a position where you are being reviewed for your work. Yes, I agree if a work needs to be corrected let's bring it to the attention of those in charge. However, there is a way and then there is a way. Evidently, the majority of poster who did not like this show have no foresight in proper critiquing etiquette.

Yes, I can use Wicked as a reference, just as I can use LesMis and Miss Siagon. Reviewers to all these shows where not so kind in the beginning as well. But, when push came to shove, the creative team new what they had to do and did it. I guess what I am trying to say...GIVE THIS SHOW IT'S DUE AND WAIT FOR THE NYC SET IN STONE OPENING, before being so negative. Nothing is perfect at it's start. Anyway I believe there is more good to this production than there's bad. And SG...let's just agree to disagree. Putting something totally down without giving a 100% chance is just not my style.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 2:50pm

Additionally,

"...how many of you out there where almost as critical of Wicked when it first came out? I remember reading post stating the music was awful... Now, how much money has this show made???"

I would first like to say that while I don't think Wicked is the greatest show ever written, I enjoyed it heartily when I saw it. I went in to the Cadillac Palace for The Pirate Queen expecting to be entertained just as I do with every show I see. I wasn't in the least entertained and mostly wanted to leave. However, I stayed for the whole show in the effort to be fair to the show and its cast so that I could base my opinions, whatever they may turn out to be, on the whole. The show is not entertaining and we here on the boards are clearly not the only ones saying this. Did you check out the link that Sueleen posted? Do so. At the very least, you can flame them for being so mean.

In addition, I'd love to know why you seem to think that the amount of money a show makes automatically negates any adverse opinions regarding a show. Many shows are wonderful and close early at a significant loss and many shows have made millions when most critics hate them. A show's success often depends on its audience. We on this board are The Pirate Queen's audience and we didn't like it. Don't be so naive.

"I understand that you went into this show with high expectations and are disappointed, but come on...these are preview days."

Let me urge you to read all of the posts on the board thoroughly before you call everyone ruthless and whine about the show's being in previews. Since you don't seem inclined to, allow me to cut and paste from a few posts above you:

TechEverlasting: I really hope this show doesn't get brought into Broadway this spring. If the producers took another year, scrapped about 2/3 of the current version and brought in writers who actually understood the material they could have a major hit on their hands. Unfortunately what they are currently working with is unsalvageable.

Tech and I are not the only ones to say that this show is just not working in any sense with the material they currently have. Previews have nothing to do with it. There's too much work to be done in too little time to make this show as beautiful and enjoyable as it could be.