She's Back! CARRIE - First preview !!! - Page 15

[Owen22]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 10:36pm

SongandDanceman...I honestly would like to know what you think is good about "Carrie". I was there at the third preview (many people will say they saw "Carrie" on Broadway, but many people lie. I do not) and was mostly appalled. And I was much younger and tended to love anything then. There are some great numbers, yes. But some bad, bad shows have a couple of great numbers...what is it about "Carrie the Musical" that moves you to the point you are unafraid to defend it to the showqueens on these here Broadwayworld boards who are apparently very upset you don't share their opinion?

I, myself, am confounded and curious why you don't share my opinion.

So please explain to me, and everyone on here, since you keep comin' back for more, what about this show speaks to you?

And at the risk of sounding "patronizing" (its spelled with a z) please try to use correct spelling and grammar, as it will make your point a little more persuasive.

[whatacharacter]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 10:39pm

I imgine the technical addition of a blood drop/clean up would require more than 2 days. I still have faith, especially after seeing the photo of Carrie drenched in blood.

On a side note, I too have been a fan of this piece through its many incarnations, and appreciate songanddanceman's passion. I have not heard a sound recording (though i wouldn't mind if a link to one popped up in my messges box), but I have stood by this musical, trying to convert many through grainy cassette tape recordings, distant shaky video recordings, and you tube workshop links. I pray this production, in it's opening night form, gives us devout fans the satisfaction of saying "I told you so"

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 10:49pm

It's fun to go back and watch some of the television reviews from the original production which routinely trash the music and lyrics - often citing as terrible the songs that are now considered the "good ones!"

I guess in approaching this revival you on some level have to decipher whether not only is what's being done 'better 'than the flop that came before it, but is the musical itself actually any 'good'

That will of course be what the reviews will have to focus on

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 10:58pm

I join the small chorus of Carrie defenders who saw the original production live and found the Buckley/Hately scenes stunning, for all the right reasons. I'm no longer the age of Carrie so I don't know if I would react as favorably now, but my response had nothing to do with a staircase or outrageousness or blood. The discussion so far has focused more on tone and staging than material, so of course a month is plenty of time to make changes. It happens all the time.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:02pm

"patronizing" can also be spelled with an "s."

just sayin'

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:05pm

Especially if you are from England, where they invented English, as songanddanceman2 is.

And to be honest, he has detailed all the things you're asking him about, Owen, in many Carrie threads over the years. He loves it and he, unlike me, really thinks there's potential greatness there.

Updated On: 2/2/12 at 11:05 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:07pm

I learned "Patronising" with an "s" in elementary school.

[Owen22]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:19pm

Well, according to Webster and how I learned it its always with a z. Sorry if he learned it that way, but his grammar somewhat sent me in the direction of his getting it wrong....

I haven't read any of his other post over the years, so since he obviously doesn't mind posting often, and as long as it isn't merely"'Eve Was Weak" is GREAT', I'd like to hear his defense of the material.



Updated On: 2/2/12 at 11:19 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:23pm

‘And at the risk of sounding "patronizing" (its spelled with a z) please try to use correct spelling and grammar, as it will make your point a little more persuasive’

Wow, that backfired.

And i could not give a damn about my grammar on a chat board...sorry.

Not really sure why you thought it was relevant to share that you really saw Carrie on Broadway.....good for you, I watched it at 10 years old at the RSC.....good for me.

As for why I am a fan of the show
I enjoy much of the score and I have always felt it was a piece that from its initial early 80s workshop showed great promise. I felt that the show was badly handled in 88 by a lot of people who did not know what they were doing and a writing team who stood by and let the piece be compromised by the inexperienced team. I am also a big fan of the story and that it spoke to me as someone who was bullied heavily in high school (for being gay), I find the story far more powerful than a supernatural horror, it spoke to me, it made me think.

From my writer head point of view I feel it’s an easy fit for theatre (the story of Carrie) it just needed somebody to be able to find the humanity in the piece for the stage. Its classic character archetypes from the stage, the idea for Carrie to become a musical was a workable one and an exciting one. The 88 production failed miserably on nearly every level for me (though it’s fun to watch) apart from the score had a lot of hidden gems and the story itself could work in the right hands.

Carrie is not my favourite musical, not even close, but it’s a musical that intrigues me very much. My pet hate is when a good idea is ruined by inexperienced people; I have seen it happen many times and also worked on shows where that has happened. Carrie I believe is one of those shows.

Now you hated the show, that’s fine, that was your reaction to a show you saw, I’m not going to ask you to go in to great detail why you hated it, what is the point? I however liked aspects the show (not the production) and that is something I stand by.

And Namo, I will always stand by something I support or believe in, I can’t be one of those people who hates Wicked (or types it as WiCKed etc) like others do for the sake of doing it, or bash Rent because it was the thing to do for a few years. Now......can I have my Golden Pom Pom Award please?

Updated On: 2/2/12 at 11:23 PM

[Owen22]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:25pm

Oh, I see, SADM2. You're a bitch too. Never mind. This thread is officially now tiresome. Goodnight and goodbye.



Updated On: 2/2/12 at 11:25 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:25pm

"And at the risk of sounding "patronizing" (its spelled with a z) please try to use correct spelling and grammar, as it will make your point a little more persuasive.

Owen, you've made another error. The correct usage of the above sentence should be as follows: (it's spelled with a z.)

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:27pm

I love BroadwayWorld.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:28pm

'Oh, I see, SADM. You're a bitch too. Never mind.'

No i am not, i just don't see why you had to bring up my grammer and spelling, it's a chat board, who cares?

I also gave you an answer to the question you asked.

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:36pm

MARY!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 11:59pm

It is CONFIRMED by tech/actors/box office that blood WILL fall from the ceiling.

No. It is CONFIRMED that you are the creepiest poster in this thread. And that's saying something!

(Like a box office would ever confirm something like that anyway...)

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 12:10am

I saw the show from a different perspective tonight - was sitting in the rear orchestra center as opposed to second row all the way to the left on Tuesday night - and I noticed more "blood" effects on the back wall during the destruction. Also noticed a deeper red spotlight on Carrie. I thought the effects worked perfectly.

Another notable change - a loud sound of a heart beating starts when Marin dies. The sound starts off loud and fast, and gets slower and softer as Marin dies. Excellent addition.

I spoke to a couple of cast members afterwards and they said there will be more changes to come!

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 12:16am

Box office: Yes, we have two tickets available in Row P on the side, and tonight THERE WILL BE BLOOD.

EDIT: Thanks for the Preview #2 recap, WAT.

Updated On: 2/3/12 at 12:16 AM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 12:24am

Updated On: 2/3/12 at 12:24 AM

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 4:42am

I think this thread needs it's own show.

I'm seeing the show on the sixteenth and very excited to see what lies ahead.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 8:59am

You guys, COME ON! Why do these threads always have to turn so nasty? Don't we all love theater? Its funny that a lot of pro's in the business are on here and are some of the people adding fuel to the fire. Can we chill out a little?

Its only CARRIE kids, play nice!

R ;o)
Carrie 2012!

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 9:14am

Quite right. Carrie on!

[newintown]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 10:39am

"Don't talk down to me and be patronising , I’m a 33 year old professional who has worked in this industry for many many years so won’t be spoke to like crap by the likes of you. I was simply saying that the comment about the show should be ready prior to going in front of an audience was stupid, and anybody with half of a brain would know that comment was stupid."

Oh, little one, you can dish it out, but you just can't take it, can you? What was it you said in response to my post (addressed to and attacking no one in particular)? What was it....? Oh yes: "Well clearly you have no idea how theatre works newintown since you can never fully get the show to where you and the audience are happy with it until you put it front of an actual audience."

Maybe you need to take a look at that ugly old mug of yours in a mirror before attacking others for speaking to you "like crap" and notice the brown stuff dripping from your mouth.

Call me stupid if you like; I've never read a single post of yours that struck me as intelligent or insightful (no matter how many years you spend hovering about the theatre).

But one difference between us - I won't resort to pissy name-calling until you start it, you silly suburban queen.

[Insider2]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 10:50am

Jesus Christ, you people are so freaking ridiculous. Leave it to the gang at Broadwayworld to turn a popular thread into a petty little bitch fight. Enough already. Let's hear from some more people who have actually seen the show.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 10:53am

OK all i am going to say on the matter to end this silly argument is Newintown i never called you a name, not one, so don't make out like i did.

Now back to Carrie, did anybody else see the show last night?

[cirque]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 2:25pm

I was there last night - and while I enjoyed the hell out of it and this is probably the best adaptation we could hope for - it still just doesn't work. It still feels like two shows - the mother daughter scenes then everything else. As stated the direction of Margaret is completely misguided - Carrie comes home and Margaret basically proclaims her love for her and tells her how wonderful she is - WRONG! The whole point of this character is that she is a monster - she says in later on about her giving in to temptation "the sin never died" she hates Carrie, because Carrie represents her moment of weakness. You get glimpses of it, in the songs she sings, but it doesn't make sense to have her being so "motherly". Cutting some of the delicious lines such as "pimples are the lords way of chastising us" are just stupid.

Marrin is incredible though, you can tell she just wishes she could let loose a bit more. Molly Ranson is great - but I hated the direction her character took in the second act. She becomes this bratty teenager, which Sissy Spacek was most definitely NOT, even after discovering her powers and standing up to her mother. The destruction was pretty hopeless, it NEEDS the blood - it would make the anticlimactic effects a bit more forgivable if you give the audience what they want at least.

The new songs fare from mediocre to awful - The World According to Chris is ATROCIOUS and does nothing for Chris's character - I actually liked Sue's song about "seeing" carrie for the first time, I thought it was a nice moment.

This production needs to find the camp a bit more I think - the notion of this story being musicalised is so ludicrous already, it needs to devour the material with camp abandon, and stop being so serious - still enjoyed it though and was in disbelief that I was actually seeing a production of the notorious CARRIE!