SUNDAY at City Center performance thoughts/reviews- Page 7

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 4:40pm

I agree, 39 certainly isn't too old, but personally, after a decade of loving this show, last night was the first time that it really clicked for me how young George and Dot are meant to be.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 4:44pm

 

You mentioned Barbra, so here is her "putting It Together":

 

 

 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 4:45pm

I'd love to hear Pasquale sing the role, but I think he's just not really right for the role (aside from being a little too old for it). Certainly not physically. One of the things that struck me about Gyllenhaal, who I suppose despite 'movie star' looks appeared somewhat small, and despite being dark and brooding - vulnerable on stage: all perfect for George. I dont get that from Pasquale.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 4:54pm

Jake is a remarkably vulnerable stage presence; I had extreme misgivings about his casting in Little Shop-  a gorgeous movie star playing nebbishy schlemiel Seymour!?- yet Jake was able to sell it and sell it well.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 4:56pm

Imdb says Gyllenhaal is 5'11. Is that possible? Most in the cast towered over him. I know Zach Levi is very tall, but even Carmen Cusack (in heels) seemed taller than Jake...

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:06pm

I know I keep saying this, but I feel like putting it out in the world makes it more palpable. PLEASE let this transfer. I hope to goodness that the sheduling conflict on Jake's part for "Burn This" was because they anticipated this reaction in rehearsals. Please at least have it recorded with this all star cast.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:10pm

I find a transfer / expansion of this into a full production extremely unlikely, particularly with an A-list ensemble such as this.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:14pm

I agree. I think best bet is perhaps Gyllenhaal might consider revisiting the role down the road in a full production or perhaps even in a film (Lapine discussed the idea of a movie of SUNDAY while making the movie of INTO THE WOODS).

[plzstp]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:14pm

QueenAlice said: "Imdb says Gyllenhaal is 5'11. Is that possible? Most in the cast towered over him. I know Zach Levi is very tall, but even Carmen Cusack (in heels) seemed taller than Jake...

It's actually funny you mention that because there's Mystery Show episode where they try to figure out Jake Gyllenhaal's height. Definitely worth a listen. 

https://gimletmedia.com/episode/case-5-source-code/

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:28pm

If a transfer happened, I can only see Jake, Annaleigh, and Rashad moving with it. I can't imagine Levi, Cusack, and Miles moving with these fairly small roles.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:28pm

Hilarious! I would (based on how he looked compared with the rest of the cast) say he is about 5'9 1/2.

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:32pm

ljay889 said: "If a transfer happened, I can only see Jake, Annaleigh, and Rashad moving with it. I can't imagine Levi, Cusack, and Miles moving with these fairly small roles."

I agree, although that's half of why I want it to transfer. Those three performances alone are worthwhile enough for me.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:33pm

Were Jake Gyllenhaal's songs pitched in the same key as Mandy Patinkin's George(s)?  It sounded like it but I'm not sure...

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:41pm

Yes, he sang the score in the original keys.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:42pm

Another major Rave from Deadline.

http://deadline.com/2016/10/jake-gyllenhaal-sunday-in-the-park-with-george-review-1201843154/

 If it’s unlikely that his film schedule would allow a lengthier run, that’s all the sadder, because this was a performance for the ages.

Also a Rave from AM NY

http://www.amny.com/entertainment/sunday-in-the-park-with-george-review-jake-gyllenhaal-soars-in-lead-role-1.12509352

One can’t help but wonder what else Gyllenhaal could do with the part if he were to commit to a Broadway revival (which is unlikely but probably not impossible).

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 5:42pm

 

I don't think a transfer would need star-studded names in the supporting parts. Jake, Annaleigh, and Rashad would be plenty.

 

[smidge]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 6:26pm

Has anyone attempted the stage door Monday or Tuesday?

[lucillefrank]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 7:47pm

How could we have let Jake Gyllenhaal keep his voice hidden away for so long? He sounded incredible. His "Finishing the Hat" gave me chills. I was pleasantly surprised by Annaleigh. Her "Children and Art" brought me to tears, and of course I couldn't even see during "Move On" because I was crying so hard. I would love for a full scale revival to happen with this cast. Carmen Cusack stole every scene she could; what a wonderful Yvonne.

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 7:51pm

From the BWW Review, for those still wondering why Ashford stars as Dot/Marie, and not (the wonderful) Cusack.

"The four-performance run and limited amount of rehearsal time generally used for such concert stagings allows for some impressive name talents to be involved, not just in the leading roles but throughout the ensemble. Naturally, the actors are not expected to deliver fully-realized performances under such circumstances, but Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford seems raring to go for a Broadway revival. Her pin-point comic delivery, based in realistic pathos is put to great use as both Dot and Marie, blending beautifully into more sincere moments, such as a heart-melting rendition of 'Children and Art,' the quiet ballad about the most important things we leave after we pass on."

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 7:57pm

I would absolutely love a full-blown, gorgeous Broadway revival, though were it to happen, I'd hope they keep Sarna Lapine's direction away from it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 9:36pm

Wow, even Murray really liked it!!

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/ob/10_26_16.html

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/26/16 at 11:43pm

I actually think Matthew Murray articulates better than any other critic what makes Jake Gyllenhaal so special in the part...

 
'Seurat is a fully brusque man on the exterior, but he's also just marginally in touch with the boy underneath who craves approval, whether from his colleagues or women. Gyllenhaal shows the battle between these urges, resulting in a man who is, to quote a lyric, "bizarre, fixed," but not "cold." And because he leaves this conflict unresolved at the first act curtain, there's even more vivid room than usual for the later George to take up arms himself at the urging of his progenitor's creations and fuse all parts of his personality into a new determination to do what's right for him and his craft. Many actors in the role excel at one George or the other, but Gyllenhaal's bridge between the two is the clearest and most complete I've seen.'

Updated On: 10/26/16 at 11:43 PM

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 12:17am

Well, last show was tonight. Anybody make it? I'd love to hear final thoughts. Gosh, I hope this has a life. 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 1:26am

I am curious to know if anyone saw the original production and how the lead performances were interpreted compared to this concert version? I also wondered if Mandy had a stronger sense of sexuality,not that it is required.

I was at the closing performance and things were much smoother than opening night which tend to be the case with concert versions that do not have a lot of rehearsal. I can say the same for Encores. A lot of shows grow tremendously during the week run. Jake was more confident (he was even standing up straighter) and I felt like his performance reached further into the house. It would be fun to see him with more rehearsal an without a script....to see what more he would contribute physically. The actors as a whole seemed to have a better understanding of the material and they were less reliant on their scripts. The group scenes were still messy (certain moments made me cringe) and some of the cues were slow for no particular reason. I think some of the supporting actors were guilty of milking their material a bit too much which tended to slow things down. Gabriel Ebert was quite good. In Move On both actors had opened up a bit more physically which made it even stronger and Jake was more moved with the red book at the end of the play. One got the sense that the experience had meant a lot to Jake and Ashford because both seemed broken up during the curtain call.

 

[PianoMann]

Posted: 10/27/16 at 1:40am

I was at the final performance and thought it was a fantastic production!

Jake Gyllenhaal was very impressive in the role; his Georges was distant enough to understand why people and especially Dot found him alienating, yet sympathetic enough to the audience. His "Finishing the Hat" was tremendous. I had two minor quibbles with his performance, but considering the extremely limited amount of rehearsal time, they're perfectly excusable: I thought his diction was poor during the dog section of "The Day Off" and a lot of Sondheim's great lyrics and puns were garbled, although he physically performed it very well, and I thought he was noticeably depending on his book during "Putting It Together," which was jarring only because how little he seemed to need it otherwise.

Annaleigh Ashford was great, too. Unlike others, I didn't find a single song of hers lacking tonight. I loved her "Children and Art" and her "Sunday in the Park with George" and her "Move On" with Gyllenhaal. I did think she occasionally went too broad with her humor in a cloyingly wink-and-nod fashion, i.e. in the follies section of "Color and Light," but otherwise she exceeded my expectations.

I can't even begin to speak to the rest of the ensemble, because there are too many great performers to mention. Yes, not everyone was well-utilized, but it was fun to see so many heavyweights sign up to be in this just for the sake of the material and to benefit City Center. In addition to Rashad, Cusack, and Levi, I'd also give kudos to Philip Boykin, whose incredible voice really stood out in a great way in the first act.

I love the book and score as much now as I did when I was first exposed to it. And out of all of Sondheim's brilliant songs, I don't think any hit me as hard emotionally as "Sunday" every single time I hear it. What an enduring gift!

Updated On: 10/27/16 at 01:40 AM