#1
Posted: 5/5/10 at 5:36pm
Which would you see? ... after Lansbury and Zeta Jones btw.
Promises or Night Music?
#2
Posted: 5/5/10 at 5:39pm
Depends on the replacements I suppose.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#3
Posted: 5/5/10 at 6:26pm
Yup. Definitely depends on who the replacements will be.
#4
Posted: 5/5/10 at 6:38pm
I don't care who the replacements are, this production of A Little Night Music is infinitely better than this production of Promises, Promises. They could get Pamela Anderson and Phyllis Diller as the leads and I would still say Night.
#7
Posted: 5/5/10 at 7:32pm
I think Pamela Anderson and Phyllis Diller would be all the more reason to choose Night Music.
"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."-Stephen Sondheim
#9
Posted: 5/6/10 at 12:21am
Lol, Adamgreer. From all accounts I've read/heard it's true. But I would also say that it also depends on what kind of shows the person is into. A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is such a different show from PROMISES, PROMISES, especially with someone like Kristin Chenoweth involved. Even with both being comedies, they are different types of humor.
Still, I must side with the others, my vote goes for NIGHT MUSIC (though I'm in the minority that loved Zeta-Jones and thinks it might be hard to find someone who could bring to the table what she brings to the role).
Still, I must side with the others, my vote goes for NIGHT MUSIC (though I'm in the minority that loved Zeta-Jones and thinks it might be hard to find someone who could bring to the table what she brings to the role).
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#10
Posted: 5/6/10 at 1:17am
I'm gonna dodge gunfire and recommend Promises. It has great performances in Hayes and Finneran (I also liked Chenoweth more than most) and the choreography (sans Turkey Lurkey) is quite good. I had a great time, actually. But it's hip to hate this show, I guess.
Also, you won't have to struggle to see the actors in Promises. I'm still not convinced I saw Zeta-Jones and Lansbury in A Little Night Music as I didn't get the memo that I had to provide my own lighting instruments.
Also, you won't have to struggle to see the actors in Promises. I'm still not convinced I saw Zeta-Jones and Lansbury in A Little Night Music as I didn't get the memo that I had to provide my own lighting instruments.
"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"
#11
Posted: 5/6/10 at 1:23am
I'm with you Mildred. "Promises" gets my vote. "Night Music" is supposed to be a comedy too, but Nunn decided against that approach.
#12
Posted: 5/6/10 at 1:59am
I'm with you both. Go to Promises, Promises. At least all the actors are on the same page, unlike in A Little Night Music, which doesn't know what kind of show it is. And Angela would be the reason to see that show anyway.
~Steven
~Steven
#13
Posted: 5/6/10 at 6:54am
"Night Music" is supposed to be a comedy too, but Nunn decided against that approach.
Oh please. The 5 times I have seen it, the audiences were roaring with laughter. Nunn might have missed the humor in the London version, but the Broadway production is very funny.
Promises is an absolute disaster. Hence it not being nominated for Best Revival.
Oh please. The 5 times I have seen it, the audiences were roaring with laughter. Nunn might have missed the humor in the London version, but the Broadway production is very funny.
Promises is an absolute disaster. Hence it not being nominated for Best Revival.
#15
Posted: 5/6/10 at 8:41am
My audience was so enthusiastic...
Though I remember during the "Wooden Ring" dialogue, I was one of the few people to burst out laughing, which I found strange. (I mean at the intentionally funny/blunt bits, not the 'touching' bits).
Though I remember during the "Wooden Ring" dialogue, I was one of the few people to burst out laughing, which I found strange. (I mean at the intentionally funny/blunt bits, not the 'touching' bits).
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
#16
Posted: 5/6/10 at 8:48am
I agree than ALNM is very all over the place, between the actors not being in sync and the direction. However, I'd see that over Promises, even if I disagree with how dark/dry the direction is at times.
#17
Posted: 5/6/10 at 9:20am
Depending on where you're from and how much you see, I would say see Promises...Why? This is the rarer show..and you're unlikely to see this show done again at the Broadway level of orchestra, sets, costumes, lighting, choreography, etc. after this one for a while...
ALNM - while also rare on Bway - is a staple everywhere else... It's kind of idiot-proof. Sorry, but even though I liked this ALNM, the degree of wowness that the talented CZJ and AL bring is subtle and the show itself can be (as it rightly should be) done well in most productions - even at the university-level - no matter who is in the cast.
ALNM - while also rare on Bway - is a staple everywhere else... It's kind of idiot-proof. Sorry, but even though I liked this ALNM, the degree of wowness that the talented CZJ and AL bring is subtle and the show itself can be (as it rightly should be) done well in most productions - even at the university-level - no matter who is in the cast.
#18
Posted: 5/6/10 at 9:28am
I'd go with Promises. It was pure, delightful entertainment from snappy beginning to wonderful end.
#19
Posted: 5/6/10 at 11:39am
Ljay, you're right, people laughed. I credit Wheeler and Sondheim for those laughs, though. In my opinion, the direction lacked any kind of comedic flair or lightness of touch. Nunn likes to rim-shot the jokes crafted to be tossed off, and hammer home the pathos that's inherent in the book and lyrics. I though his style worked against the piece.
And if Tony nominations are any difinitive arbiter of what's good, then by all means, bring on a revival of Starmites! :)
And if Tony nominations are any difinitive arbiter of what's good, then by all means, bring on a revival of Starmites! :)
#20
Posted: 5/6/10 at 12:09pm
Having seen both on my recent trip to NY, I would have to say probably Promises over ALNM. Promises just had more pure entertainment, even with it's faults.
ALNM had faults too (the first act seemed to drag a bit, the second act was much better paced), and Nunn did brow beat a lot of things (I didn't like how he made Fredrik bolt up and give an imaginary kiss at the end of "Now/Later/Soon".), and it would have been a lot better production with less heavy handed direction. The main reasons to see it are to see CZJ and Angela.
ALNM had faults too (the first act seemed to drag a bit, the second act was much better paced), and Nunn did brow beat a lot of things (I didn't like how he made Fredrik bolt up and give an imaginary kiss at the end of "Now/Later/Soon".), and it would have been a lot better production with less heavy handed direction. The main reasons to see it are to see CZJ and Angela.
Xanadu! Can't cry on cue!
#21
Posted: 5/6/10 at 5:21pm
Promises Promises. Definitely
It does seem hip to bash it but
I had a great time
Dont really know what is with that. But the audience loves it.
My only quip with promises is minor is that twhat makes
""Where can you take a girl so funny" was the out of shape
middle age workers. These guys in this production are all in shape.
Minor quibble.
Little Night Music is a slow show to begin with and Trevor Nunn made it even slower.
The only reason to see Night Music is a star turn by Lansbury. Zeta Jones is okay but doesn't bring anything new to the role.
But my votes is Promises Promises. Lots of fun with good performances by all.
It does seem hip to bash it but
I had a great time
Dont really know what is with that. But the audience loves it.
My only quip with promises is minor is that twhat makes
""Where can you take a girl so funny" was the out of shape
middle age workers. These guys in this production are all in shape.
Minor quibble.
Little Night Music is a slow show to begin with and Trevor Nunn made it even slower.
The only reason to see Night Music is a star turn by Lansbury. Zeta Jones is okay but doesn't bring anything new to the role.
But my votes is Promises Promises. Lots of fun with good performances by all.
#22
Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:03am
I recently saw both, found both to have slow first acts, but vote for Promises Promises. Sean and Kristen have both been better in other roles, but they are still a delight. I had much better seats for ALNM but still felt detached. Sadly I started counting how many times Ms Jones snorted. I just knew she wasn't perfect.....
#24
Posted: 5/7/10 at 11:36am
She literally snorts. Like a pig or someone whose laugh is a turn-off. It's quite frequent throughout the show, especially in her first few scenes ("The Glamorous Life" included). I was so confused. I asked myself during the show, "Is she actually snorting? Is this an acting choice?" It's absolutely horrible.
~Steven
~Steven
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