Scandalous Preview Thread — Page 2
#27
Posted: 10/14/12 at 12:52pm
Mike- Get tickets a couple rows back. I think if you were front row center you would be slightly obstructed by the conductor and the plank they walk around. The cast walks up and down the aisles several times, just like Leap too. They have the same urge to turn the theater into a revival tent at times- instead of using the orange and blue stripes of Leap, these are yellow and white.
jacob- I'm pretty sure there was no special show curtain
jacob- I'm pretty sure there was no special show curtain
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#28
Posted: 10/14/12 at 1:40pm
The only reason I am thinking of seeing this show is because I love Carolee Carmello and George Hearn. If this show had a campy KKK singalong number it would be a lot more interesting!
#29
Posted: 10/14/12 at 1:44pm
We saw it last night . It is nowhere near the train wreck described above.
Kathie Lee was sitting off to the side stage right. She was uber friendly to everyone and must have taken a thousand pictures with fans. At intermission she even stood on line to go to the ladies room which was a surprise .Hoda did the same on the left.
Carolee was the whole show & she gave a bravura performance. The supporting cast was fine as well well but the show belonged to her. Her best stage performance to date.
The score was serviceable with most of the songs plot driven. I enjoyed the Chaplin score more. The set as a whole is fine but it is annoying to see the sides of the stage taken up by the rest of the set when not in use. It does cut down the stage.
The choreography is basically non existant. The show ran almost 3 hours. What should be cut are the Irish dancing in Act 1 and the laughingly bad biblical numbers in Act 2 especially the Moses number which the critics will crucify . The Red seat parting is someone holding material across the stage and pulling it back. Lame. Most of the rest seems Ok & cannot see what could be cut but cutting the above numbers from Act 2 should tighten it immensely & take the camp out of it. No need throwing red meat to the critics by leaving them in.
I saw Gantry and that was indeed a train wreck. This is not . Her performance is something to see & as long as she is in it it has a shot. I expect mixed reviews for the show but her reviews will be laudatory. Brantley will kill it as is his want to do with most of the shows he reviews.
Kathie Lee was sitting off to the side stage right. She was uber friendly to everyone and must have taken a thousand pictures with fans. At intermission she even stood on line to go to the ladies room which was a surprise .Hoda did the same on the left.
Carolee was the whole show & she gave a bravura performance. The supporting cast was fine as well well but the show belonged to her. Her best stage performance to date.
The score was serviceable with most of the songs plot driven. I enjoyed the Chaplin score more. The set as a whole is fine but it is annoying to see the sides of the stage taken up by the rest of the set when not in use. It does cut down the stage.
The choreography is basically non existant. The show ran almost 3 hours. What should be cut are the Irish dancing in Act 1 and the laughingly bad biblical numbers in Act 2 especially the Moses number which the critics will crucify . The Red seat parting is someone holding material across the stage and pulling it back. Lame. Most of the rest seems Ok & cannot see what could be cut but cutting the above numbers from Act 2 should tighten it immensely & take the camp out of it. No need throwing red meat to the critics by leaving them in.
I saw Gantry and that was indeed a train wreck. This is not . Her performance is something to see & as long as she is in it it has a shot. I expect mixed reviews for the show but her reviews will be laudatory. Brantley will kill it as is his want to do with most of the shows he reviews.
Poster Emeritus
Updated On: 10/14/12 at 01:44 PM
#30
Posted: 10/14/12 at 2:02pm
Mr Roxy- If you read what I wrote I said it's NOT a campy, fun train wreck. That it was merely boring and had a bland score with terrible lyrics. Being boring is a far greater sin than being a train wreck, which at least can provide some amusement.
Carolee is hindered from giving the spectacular performance you describe because the material lets her down. Yes, she is very good, very committed and in particularly strong voice, even by her standards. But this is not her greatest role to date.
Carolee is hindered from giving the spectacular performance you describe because the material lets her down. Yes, she is very good, very committed and in particularly strong voice, even by her standards. But this is not her greatest role to date.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#31
Posted: 10/14/12 at 2:35pm
This show is an utter "Why?" As Whizzer opined, Leap of Faith redux and if that's not an oxymoron...Will someone please write a good musical for Carolee? She throws herself into this thing hook, line and sinker but balls to the wall can only take you so far without decent material.
#32
Posted: 10/14/12 at 2:38pm
If you did say it was a campy train wreck, I might have regretted trading the tickets I had for next Saturday. But, if it's not that, I am still at having no desire to see it.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005
"You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.
Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates
#33
Posted: 10/14/12 at 4:31pm
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#34
Posted: 10/14/12 at 5:02pm
Is the set the same as it was in Seattle?
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#35
Posted: 10/14/12 at 5:11pm
It appears to be the same set. Those are the stairs that never leave the stage.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#36
Posted: 10/14/12 at 5:14pm
Perhaps the stairs were an homage?
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#37
Posted: 10/14/12 at 5:15pm
^ I am glad I am not the only person who thought of that 
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#38
Posted: 10/14/12 at 5:51pm
For those who haven't seen it, it is as tack as those pictures make it look.
#42
Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:05pm
So I guess it's all the rage for people on broadwayworld to buy tickets to the first preview and bash the show. Sad.
#43
Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:13pm
While I would personally never pay to see a lengthy first preview (since I like a shorter & more polished final product), it's totally acceptable for a paying audience member (such as via TDF) to post a review of a first preview. At least now I know that if I go to see it, I'm going to pick a 7pm curtain or a matinee since I highly dislike lengthy 8pm shows.
#44
Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:25pm
Whizzer wasn't particularly harsh on the show, and he is usually quite fair when reviewing a first preview.
But there is a trend when people post about first previews. These posts usually set the tone for the rest of the feedback given by members on here. Good or bad. Remember WOMEN ON THE VERGE? The show literally had no chance after the first preview chatter on the web.
But there is a trend when people post about first previews. These posts usually set the tone for the rest of the feedback given by members on here. Good or bad. Remember WOMEN ON THE VERGE? The show literally had no chance after the first preview chatter on the web.
#45
Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:29pm
If they were praising the show, you wouldn't mind so much.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
#46
Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:33pm
Generally shows get better and not worse during previous though.
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
#47
Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:37pm
Generally shows get better and not worse during previous though.
Exactly, and VERGE did. But there were trolls and haters galore trashing it non stop.
Exactly, and VERGE did. But there were trolls and haters galore trashing it non stop.
Updated On: 10/14/12 at 08:37 PM
#48
Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:43pm
Carolee was excellent last night. I really love her as a performer and her voice NEVER disappoints. But, her best role to date is still PARADE. I could listen to that cast recording over and over.
#49
Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:44pm
Ljay- I think little sally was directing that comment at dexter and not you, but I could be wrong!
You are right that these threads sometimes set the tone, but the first preview also sets the tone for the run as well. Few shows have a creative team as Verge or Motherfvcker With a Hat who are willing to make massive changes during previews.
Dexter- where were you when I posted thoughts after The Heiress, which I loved?
You are right that these threads sometimes set the tone, but the first preview also sets the tone for the run as well. Few shows have a creative team as Verge or Motherfvcker With a Hat who are willing to make massive changes during previews.
Dexter- where were you when I posted thoughts after The Heiress, which I loved?
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#50
Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:48pm
Nope, Whizzer, you're right. Wasn't directed towards ljay at all.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
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