Queen of the Mist- Page 2

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/27/11 at 9:01am

Updated On: 10/28/11 at 09:01 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/27/11 at 9:07am

Okay, at least you admit it. I just don't understand the logic, I suppose.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/27/11 at 9:44am

After Eight,

I'm sorry you found my post too long- I didn't think I had written novel with this one. I guess when I read a review, especially for a new show, and the poster simply says I loved it, or I hated it, that isn't much feedback for me to go on. I also felt with this show in particular that there was much room for discussion so why not post some more detailed thoughts.

And at least I gave a disclaimer that I love LaChiusa and his previous works. You admitted through your post that you aren't his biggest fan, ha, and like AC said your review clearly needs to be taken with the same grain of salt. I don't presume to speak for you, but seems you're implying you have hated/strongly disliked his previous works and you feel the same about this one.

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/27/11 at 10:26am

Updated On: 10/28/11 at 10:26 AM

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 10/27/11 at 12:15pm

Whizzer loved it and After Eight hated it?


I'M THERE.

Posted: 10/27/11 at 5:21pm

Exactly--

And I get wanting to see a new show for yourself and making up your own mind, but After8 seems to have such, not hatred even but painful lack of enjoyment for LaChiusa--why bother going to his shows anymore? Especially in preview before hearing that maybe you'd like this one?

At any rate, I think it's completely ridiculous when people complain about posts/reviews on forums being too long. Don't read it--fine, but usually the longest posts are the ones that really make this forum worthwhile--Whizzer's in general spring to mind.

(I admit, I've had that complaint more than a few times--often by well meaning private messages telling me they like reading my thoughts but I should cut them in half... Oh well)

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/27/11 at 5:35pm

I'm sure After Eight's favorite character was the barrel.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/27/11 at 6:10pm

I'm sure many here would appreciate your being more succinct.

Not me, but then, I didn't consider those posts to be long at all. Longer than a drive-by snark, but shorter than a published review. I've never actually been told what the acceptable numbers of words per post is considered appropriate for reading. Nor do I really care because the idea sounds ludicrous.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/30/11 at 11:49pm

Saw it tonight. This is the MUST-SEE of the Fall season. Testa is turning in a true star turn. The fact that she can convey so much with a "monotone" deliver is a true nod to her star power. She is simply sublime. The rest of the cast is just as talented and all have moments to shine. I really loved this. Going into it I thought, "Ugh, 2 hrs 40 mins?" But then I was hooked. I wanted to know more. I think Act 1 is far superior, but Act II was good too. The ending was a little long, but I thought the build was done well. I loved the spaced, but found the seating uncomfortable and the gym a little hot. It saddens me to think that more people will see/be exposed to Hunter P.'s awful performance in Godspell then will ever see this brilliant performance by a powerhouse.

[michellek45]

Posted: 10/31/11 at 12:05am

I saw this on Saturday and thought it was amazing. Like I find with most of LaChiusa's scores, the music is brilliant as a whole, but there will only be one or two songs you actually go out of the theater humming (not saying that's a bad thing, just something I noticed). Michael Starobin's orchestrations just add to the power of the music, especially that French horn. I am a sucker for a good French horn part.

The performances were all-around excellent, especially Mary Testa's, as everyone is saying. But I also thought that man who played Frank and the woman who played Taylor's sister (their names are escaping me currently) were brilliant as well, and both had great chemistry with Testa. As a whole the ensemble had a good, solid sound.

Some spoilers here: I have to admit that, book-wise, I thought that up until Mike Taylor shows up, Act II is a mess. There's no real plot- I get that they're trying to show how the fame circus affected Taylor and Taylor/Frank's relationship, but it jumped around so much I was surprised every time Frank would go, "It's been x amount of years since I saw you." I think it would have been more effective to sum up the previous years and Anna's falling out with Frank in two flashbacks and have Act II be her last ditch attempt at fame and then her death. As it is, it feels like it's trying to cover too much ground without really revealing all that much about the characters. I found the Carrie Nation number particularly pointless, especially since you really need to know the historical context for it to have any kind of meaning, unlike the McKinley assassin scene. I laughed my ass off when I figured out who he was in the middle of the scene, but even if you don't get it right away, who he is and why he's significant is made plenty clear later. The tiger/falling themes were definitely effective, and I loved how they came together at the very end.

Overall I loved this show and would highly recommend seeing it before it leaves- and go quickly if you're trying to do student rush, because it ends November 6.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/31/11 at 1:04am

I agreed. Act II def. needs some work, or some better staging. I think with the constraints that they have design wise, it's hard to understand where/when they are.

[lida rose]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 10:28am

saw this last night, absolutely stunning. it's a shame that mary testa is ineligible for tony consideration; she is giving one of the single greatest performances i've ever seen and if the show were on broadway she would be the one to beat. the rest of the cast is stellar as well, and the score is, of course, extraordinary. i'm already dying to see it again but unfortunately i won't be able to before the run ends.

i agree with others here that it was too long and needs some tightening, but at the same time, i still appreciated the more superfluous moments and would be sad to see them go. does anyone know if they made significant changes during the preview period? i think it only ran about 2.5 hours last night which is shorter than others have mentioned.
Updated On: 11/6/11 at 10:28 AM

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 1:51pm

I'm a new LaChuisa fan, so I'm happy to hear that this show has some potential.

Unrelated to the topic, I keep reading "Queen of the Night" on first glance every time I come across this thread. I almost expected to read who does the best "Der holle rache.." in this thread.

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 2:07pm

I hate to be "that guy," but I'm wondering if anyone's heard rumblings about a possible recording. Almost all of Lachiusa's scores have been preserved, and it'd be a shame if this one wasn't.

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 2:10pm

AC-I hope there's a recording from the sound of things.

Also, I was wondering if anyone could detail the student rush policy a little for me so I can plan on when to get there if I would like to rush.

Thank you!

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 2:14pm

The box office at Judson Gym opens one hour before a performance, and tickets go on sale as soon as the box office opens.

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 3:08pm

I HOPE there will be one. I will probably never get to see this show, but I'd to at least experience part of it.