They performed "In", "Carrie", a new duet between Sue and Tommy called "You Shine" or something of the sort, "Carrie" (reprise) and "When There's No One". Disappointing that there was no "Eve was weak" or "Evening Prayers".
I haven't really listened to audios of the readings, only the soundboard OBC so I don't really know if the changes are new for this performance or were in readings (I'm guessing readings)
I was really, really impressed/shocked with "In". It sounds very contemporary, kind of more Spring Awakening-ish...I like the lyrics and how they are both taunting Carrie and worried about their own insecurities..Apparently the song was truncated and it will be a much longer opening song that sets up Carrie's story and the characters etc.....in the discussion they also said the show is to be set "Now" (As opposed to say 1980s), which I think is a good idea and with the style of the music now seems like will work fine.
Molly is such a small presence on the stage physically compared to the others, which is interesting. I feel like Linzi would have been 'bigger' in the role (I don't mean just weight-wise) and her song, but because she is the outsider taunted girl who is very timid in the movie (haven't read the book) I guess it fits. The director made a comment about how Molly and Marin are primarily 'actors' and I guess you can see that they both do 'act', e.g. Molly seeming vulnerable and crying and becoming happier at the end of the song etc.
I also liked "You Shine", which (if a little bland) kind of talked about Sue/Tommy's relationship, how it isn't 'shallow' and how much they think the other one "shines". At the end of this song there is spoken lines where sue says {after Tommy says he loves her} that it is the first time she heard it and "that's what she remembers most about that day". In the discussion they said the musical would now reflect more the book and its fragments of like diary entries and police reports and things or the like (again I haven't read it), I suspect this line might show an example of this. I.e. Sue is telling some of the story?
I love Marin Mazzie. Her Carrie (reprise) and especially When There's No One were pretty touching...I guess if you have seen her in next to normal you can imagine how she handles the vulnerability and crying etc...
I wish, wish they did "And Eve was Weak", but no.
I assume it won't just be a keyboard and drums in the actual production, which would help the title song seem more forceful etc.. imo.
The discussion was interesting, was a bit of scape goating on the original director. Interestingly Bob Fosse was in talks with them to direct at one stage??
10 songs are apparently cut, 14 new.
The night was very convincing that a Carrie revival will work. I hope I get to see it even though it seems unlikely.
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
Updated On: 1/18/12 at 09:37 PM