Saw today's Matinee of The Pirate Queen

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 5:36pm

What a bore from beginning to almost end. I found myself interested in the second act, but by then, the jaws of life couldn't make me applaud this drivel.

I was moved by Grace's actions once she returned, but the rest before it was dreadful.

And why can't people write a comical song in the style of the rest of the piece? It was just hideous.

People should be ashamed.

[Bwayfan4]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 5:56pm

Interesting....I'm seeing the show this weekend...

[Horton]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 6:30pm

I was at the Matinee as well today, I was in row S of the orchestra, and I felt as though I was a mile away from the stage, however I am amazed that the show got no design nominations.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 6:42pm

Well at least you know what everyone else has been talking about.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 7:08pm

I was in Row Y, and I thought I had a great view, but what a boring show. In comparison to the first act, I really enjoyed the second act, but that isn't saying much. There was so much sung that would have been more powerful (and shorter) just in dialogue.

A poor attempt at writing another one of their signature sung-through style shows, but it was just poor writing, which offended me as Irishman and as a musician.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 7:16pm

What did you think of the technical elements and the cast?

[myManCape]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 7:51pm

I was there are well (V of the orch). My second visit. This time sitting a lot farther back I was able to appreciate the entire set and the very expansive stage and I was very impressed. I enjoyed the show about as much as I did the first time. It rates somewhere between Average and Good. The choreography and dancing are the best parts. Block was a lot better the first time I saw it compared to today and Balgord was far less annoying the first time.

It almost hurts to say, but the show was better earlier in its run.

[Horton]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 8:26pm

I was expecting a lot more from Block, I have seen her do better.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 9:09pm

She didn't have much to do in terms of development and singing. The show is really structured against its title character, which fascinates me.

[MarkRascati]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:16pm

It was just Boublil and Schonberg trying to write a Boublil and Schonberg show.


It was extrordinarily boring, though I was thoroughly entertained by the dancing.

[DirtyRottenMemberName]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:28pm

sad to say it but shows about the life and times of struggling women do not seem to thrill theatre fans. What was boring about the show? Another show that comes to mind is The Woman in White, beautiful love story but just not exciting enough for todays fast-food-realityTV-boyjerkingoffcenterstange-audience.

what would have made pirate queen more less boring?

sword fights? irish dancing? a feirce lead and a crazy queen? great sets, lighting, and effects? maybe if pirate queen had a cast of 42 it would be better?

maybe if it had all that it wouldnt have bored me...

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:33pm

That's the only thing about the show that intrigued me. The whole girl power thing was great, but labored, until the second act. There should have been no men in the cast, it would have been much better.

The second act with Grace's sojourn to England with Elizabeth I, I loved it. I really did, but by then it was too little too late. I hated HATED the Queen's court, but loved her. And why was the Riverdance stomping recorded? That was sad. The dancing I thought was boring and nothing I hadn't seen before.

[DirtyRottenMemberName]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:41pm

the sound of the dancing was NOT recorded. i repeat NOT recorded. It was live, those men are REALLY making those noises 8 times a week. It must really hurt them to hear that people think it is recorded. The acoustics and location of your seat really effects the noise of the dancing. People in the audience were used to how powerful and loud Riverdance was, but that was dozens of dancers with specific interest in making it loud and intense, since PQ is not a dance show it was not the priority to make people KNOW it was really them. but it is. it is really them dancing and it is not pre-recorded. so no more talk of that.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:43pm

I heard the sound of the dancing was recorded.

[DirtyRottenMemberName]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:46pm

whoever you heard it from is wrong wrong wrong and so are you.

it seriously is not recorded. it is them. the feirce irish dancers.

now what IS fake is the sex in springs awakenings.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:47pm

And you know that the dancing is real... how?

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:48pm

How am I wrong for stating something I was told but neither expressing belief or disagreement with it?

[DirtyRottenMemberName]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:52pm

it. is. real. and. whoever. told you that. is. wrong. wrong wrong wrong.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:54pm

I ask my question again. Why should I believe you?

[DirtyRottenMemberName]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 10:59pm

ok did not wanna brag but:

an actor took me backstage. twice. told me how upset ppl were because of reading comments like this. he assured me that the sounds were real and not pre-recorded. And he is in the show and thats that.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 11:03pm

Geez chill, I only said it to piss you off. It looked real when I saw it.

[DirtyRottenMemberName]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 11:04pm

and P.S. stop kicking a dog while it is down.

[Popular]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 11:19pm

DirtyRottenMemberName - I could offer proof that it's really them too but, in my opinion, anyone who can sit there and say that Steph doesn't have much to do in term of singing in this show is not worth taking seriously or even responding to.

If people want to think that this show brought out some of the most accomplished Irish dancers only to have them fake it then let them think it. It doesn't change the fact that they are wrong, so just laugh on the inside at their igonorance and try not to let it bother you.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 11:21pm

Anyone can sing a bunch of sad pretty songs. There was nothing WOW about what she had to sing. Therefore, she didn't have much to do in terms of development and singing. The show is really structured against its title character, which fascinates me. And your personal agenda to discredit me is amusing and cute and transparent.

Updated On: 6/13/07 at 11:21 PM

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 11:24pm

Regarding the "pre-recorded dancing" controversy, there are mics in some of the shoes, so the sound of the feet can seem unnaturally present in the house sound system. The show would have to be on a click-track in order for pre-recorded dancing sounds to be used, and the conductor would have to be wearing headphones to be able to conduct to the click. I saw no signs of any of that when I saw The Pirate Queen.

"...just not exciting enough for todays fast-food-realityTV-boyjerkingoffcenterstange-audience.

what would have made pirate queen more less boring?"

Today's "fast-food-realityTV etc. etc." audience has nothing to do with the fact that Pirate Queen's book and score is a dismal piece of writing that belongs on the scrap heap of Broadway history, where it is soon heading. Pirate Queen has a wonderful cast, some brilliant design elements a few nice songs. What it doesn't have is any sort of coherent vision of its characters or any workable story structure. It also doesn't have anything remotely related to pirates or piracy. These characters keep telling us that they are pirates, but there's not the slightest bit of proof of this in the show.

Here's one answer to your question of what would have made this show less boring. In "Rah Rah Tip Top" Bingham sings to the Queen a few lines about the fleets of ships Grania commands and all the British ships they are sacking. We should have seen some of that! Maybe Bingham could have sung a few lines about how Grania was once a frustrated young lass who became a captain by saving her ship in a storm. This would have saved us from having to sit through that ridiculous opening sequence.