Posted: 10/24/16 at 5:13pm
I thought it would be easier to post thoughts and reviews in a new thread, the other is quite long. Who is going tonight? I'll be there tomorrow. Can't wait!
Updated On: 10/24/16 at 05:13 PM
Posted: 10/24/16 at 7:42pm
Intermission now. Jake is better than even I thought he would be. Some very audible sobbing at the end of act one (which I may or may not have contributed to). I just wish that with charging these prices now, they would have more to the set than some music stands and folding chairs. But overall so far, it's just so damn good.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 7:44pm
Sounds great! But damn...they got Beowulf Boritt to design folding chairs and music stands? Hows Annaleigh?
Posted: 10/24/16 at 7:46pm
She's very good. I still would have liked for her and Carmen Cusack to switch places.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 8:17pm
Jordan Catalano said: "Intermission now. Jake is better than even I thought he would be. Some very audible sobbing at the end of act one (which I may or may not have contributed to). I just wish that with charging these prices now, they would have more to the set than some music stands and folding chairs. But overall so far, it's just so damn good. "
I wondered what they would do set-wise. Given the power and prominence of the visual in this show, this news is very disappointing even if understandable given the limited run.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 9:18pm
Disappointed. A tremendous lack of the visual element ruined so much of it for me. I understand it wasn't a full production, but so underwhelming. Some good performances, but widespread little energy and so many scripts in hand. I'll write in more detail later, but 
Posted: 10/24/16 at 9:27pm
Well it was always intended to be a staged concert.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 9:32pm
Yeah, but other Encores productions billed as concerts have had sets and full costumes. And again, for the amount they jacked up the prices this year - I can understand people being upset about that.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 9:47pm
Was there tonight. Much to enjoy but also some quibbles: the few visuals offered were largely out of view from the balcony. And I understand that these presentations are more staged readings than a full perfornance, but good as JG was, it bothered me that he didn't really act "Puttiing It Together," he kept his eyes on the book throughout the song. Granted, he enunciated each complicated lyric crisply but without a facial expression. I'm sure if he'd had more time, memorization would have been no problem. Annaleigh Ashford was a delight and quite moving, too, and she sang beautifully. JG and the starry ensemble all in fine voice. "Move On" brought down the house.
Updated On: 10/24/16 at 09:47 PM
Posted: 10/24/16 at 9:48pm
I'm a little confused why they employed a mega team of designers for such a limited design: Beowulf Boritt, Clint Ramos, and Ken Billington. Maybe there is intention for a future with this?
Posted: 10/24/16 at 9:52pm
You also have to remember that this isn't actually an Encores! performance. It's the New York City Center Gala (which is why the ticket price is higher) that just has multiple performances because the show was so popular.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 9:52pm
I thought it was clearly lacking in much rehearsal time- and frankly not well directed, with a sometimes very crowded platform as the set (it is almost laughable that a set designer is credited). Jake, Annaleigh, and much of the cast were consulting their books throughout. And why not? It's a hard show.
That being said, the emotional power of the material and the strength of the cast came through and made up for the faults here. Jake really has a fantastic voice and sounded great throughout. He needs to do a full-out musical production. He has the chops, he has the passion, he has the presence, he just needs to do it. Annaleigh brought a lot of warmth and hurt to Dot; this is the most reserved performance I've seen from her.
The weak point was "Putting it Together." It looked like a traffic jam, it was the sequence that Jake was most reliant on his book for, and it was robbed of the visual of the multiplied Georges. It really was a major lull- thankfully redeemed quickly by Ashford's great performance of "Children and Art."
Updated On: 10/24/16 at 09:52 PM
Posted: 10/24/16 at 9:55pm
The little platform that they stood on really did take away so much use of the stage, making it feel extremely overcrowded at times.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 9:58pm
I thought it was a beautiful evening. It was definitely a concert reading and as these things go, I suspect they had minimal rehearsal time. The staging was nothing inspired but I thought Jake Gyllenhaal was fabulous. They should be begging him to do a film or full Broadway revival. I also enjoyed Annaleigh Ashford and the sublime Phylicia Rashad. I suspect the performances will gel further over the coming performances, but I certainly can't blame the performers for being on book. Those lyrics- especially George's - are incredibly daunting.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 10:00pm
I have to mention that Jake really, really nailed the dog section of "The Day Off," which I think is the trickiest thing an actor playing George has to do. He went up on a line but it didn't interfere. The sequence got a well-earned hand.
Updated On: 10/24/16 at 10:00 PM
Posted: 10/24/16 at 10:02pm
Thanks Kad,
I'm seeing it Wednesday night and I appreciate your ever observant pov and opinion. Great to hear that AA is sounding so well.
Jordan, your overall ???
SC
Posted: 10/24/16 at 10:06pm
It suffered from a seeming absence of direction and the missing visual elements really made me realize how vital it is to the emotional power of the piece, but oh how I loved it. It's undoubtedly a great work of genius and the performances on display are all exceptional. Agree with everything Kad said. A lovely, reserved performance by the always-wonderful Annaleigh Ashford and just more proof that Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the most talented actors of his generation and very smart in his choice of projects. The rest of the ensemble was a treat as well, particularly Gabriel Ebert and Carmen Cusack. And the orchestra... good lord. An absolute delight. I'll be making a return visit Wednesday afternoon.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 10:08pm
Could anyone tell us how many musicians are in the orchestra?
Posted: 10/24/16 at 10:11pm
Steve - Overall? Overall, it's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE with a full orchestra and a cast that can act and sing the hell out of it. Overall, the things that didn't work like the lack of set or crowded staging or even needing some more rehearsal time DON'T take away from the fact that you're seeing one of the greatest musicals ever written and the emotional impact of the piece is still intact there. It wasn't a perfect production but it was a gorgeous one.
Oh, and Jake. Jake is perfect. And gorgeous.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 10:11pm
ljay889 said: "Could anyone tell us how many musicians are in the orchestra? "
13.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 10:16pm
Thx J & K & all,
Message received; I can hardly wait!!!
Steve
Posted: 10/24/16 at 10:23pm
I was sitting quite close to the stage and I could tell that the very minor lyric flub in "Day Off " threw Jake off just a bit, and I actually got the sense that his being more on book in Act 2 was like holding to a security blanket after that flub. i'm sure they will all be more confident and less on book with each subsequent performance.
Posted: 10/24/16 at 10:29pm
I just got back, had a wonderful view from the orchestra and had a great time. I thought Jake was spectacular. He sounded fantastic. Yeah the direction was weak and there was little to no "design" but I knew that going in especially with it being a gala performance. I hope he makes it to Broadway in a musical soon!
Posted: 10/24/16 at 10:31pm
So glad to hear these (mostly) positive reports! I'm going tomorrow and just cannot wait. Does anyone think by some miracle the reason Jake called off his Broadway engagement for later this year is due to the fact that they plan to move this? I know it's a long shot but they did say it was due to a scheduling conflict on his behalf!
