Seven Brides at Paper Mill...

[FosseForever3]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 7:39pm

FANTASTIC! Seriously, what a great production. They couldn't have cast a better Adam and Millie, the dancing is SUPERB, the orchestra sounds amazing (as always), the sets and lighting are beautiful...you literally get transported to a forest in the middle of Oregon. My only qualm with the show was near the end of act two, when everyone is just running around the stage hiding from one another (it gets a little corny) No worries, they make up for it during the barn-raising and spring dances - CHILLS! I got chills.

I really think this production deserves it's own thread, and NOT JUST because the theatre is in the middle of a financial crisis (well...a little because of this, but oh well.) If you can make the trip to NJ to see this, you will not regret it.

Talk about a powerhouse production. Yay for really good live theatre :)

[mint0621]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 7:54pm

i love the old movie, and have seen community productions of this...i'd love to see it at the paper mill, or perhaps even on Broadway!

thanks for the review!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 8:52pm

How's the choreography? Because in my book if the Michael Kidd choreography isn't restaged or replace dby something AT Least as good (very hard) then there's no point in doing the show

[maybethistime]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 8:56pm

TUTS is bring it to Houston. Now I'm excited. If only the Hobby Center weren't so freaking HUGE.

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 4/12/07 at 10:16pm

Didn't it already play TUTS? I thought it was going to North Shore Music Theatre after theis.. then to Theatre of the Stars in Atlanta.

Patti Columbo's Choreo at Goodspeed was A - MAY - ZING

[IMsooHyprToday]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 6:41am

I hope this production goes over well... The show is simply charming, and i am happy to hear you liked it, FosseForever.

fishes,
Graham!

[FosseForever3]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 9:34am

"How's the choreography? Because in my book if the Michael Kidd choreography isn't restaged or replace dby something AT Least as good (very hard) then there's no point in doing the show"

I agree completely...Patti Colombo does a fantastic job. The dancing is top notch (I can say this because I am a dancer and I seriously know good dancing.. :) Almost every male cast member is a good tumbler (a friend in the show was actually a competitive gymnast once) so of course the audience is thrilled by the tricks. The girls are very good, fabulous extention...great arabesques(sp)...the works.

EDIT: yeah I realized my answer is just talking about the dancers not the choreo. I mean, it's really good, Michael Kidd...it's tough to top that, but the patterns are really intricate and the movement is so fast and sharp, it's very exciting to watch.

Updated On: 4/13/07 at 09:34 AM

[itsahopi]

Posted: 4/13/07 at 6:44pm

I saw it last night. Patti Columbo's choreography is GENIUS. She compliments Michael Kidd with her own unique flair.

Scott Schwartz's direction brings new meaning to the word "awful."

I had the tremendous opportunity to see the production at Goodspeed two years ago, and this one pails in comparison. The show suffers greatly without the presence of Burke Moses and Jacquelyn Piro in the leading roles. When I saw the production at Goodspeed, I was so excited that the show was no longer about seven minutes of dance, and that Greg Ganakas had formed a solid arc to the story...Sadly, the show now has returned to its original format....a musical about seven minutes of dance.

There are several moments from the Goodspeed production that appear in the one at Papermill, but they are only sad recreations done by a director who does not quite understand why the changes were made in the first place.

Bravo to the cast, they are extremely strong performers, working with an amazingly unfocussed production. Beautiful set, some fantastic costumes. I hope Columbo finally gets the respect she deserves as a choreographer. I feel her work is light years ahead of the likes of such "behemoths" as Kathleen Marshall.
Updated On: 4/13/07 at 06:44 PM

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 4:30pm

It is too bad Greg Ganakas was not able to direct this one. I guess he has screwed himself over with yet another theatre.

[itsahopi]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:26pm

I am so confused...The VARIETY review states,

"For seasonal rejoicing, there's nothing more celebratory than the brides and brothers' "Spring, Spring, Spring," in which Mercer's homespun lyrics marvel at the wonder of "Ma Nature's yearly miracle."

But I saw the show, and "Spring, Spring, Spring" is not in this production. Why would this reviewer write about something not in the show? Makes me wonder if he saw it at all!
Updated On: 4/16/07 at 09:26 PM