She's Back! CARRIE - First preview !!! — Page 19

Watching the movie again (yeah, all this talk made me take it for a spin yet again on the DVD player) ...

Some thoughts (new observations) ...

Margaret definitely shows some affection toward Carrie, but not necessarily for her. I do see a difference. When Carrie behaves herself, Margaret acts quite satisfied with their relationship. She has a light in her eyes and a smile on her face, and her voice has a singsongy quality in it (very musical actually---God, I love Piper Laurie).

But the instant Carrie "disappoints" her by saying or doing something, and I do mean the INSTANT she does it, Margaret switches on a dime. It's as if she freezes up and turns to stone. Then we get the "Christian soldier" ready to punish and (eventually) kill her own daughter. It reminds me a little bit of Kathy Bates's performance in "Misery," where Annie is all cute and bubbly one second and then turns into a monster one second later. Same thing.

That could easily be reflected in the music, the songs, and even the lighting. And it could be chilling.

I was reminded about the moment were Margaret "punishes" herself by hitting her own face and pulling her own hair, right before Carrie leaves for the prom.

I was also reminded of the chilly look on Margaret's face as if "a decision had been made" right after Carrie walks out of the house. She also says to herself, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."

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Updated On: 2/4/12 at 07:00 PM

We all talk a lot about the Carrie/Mother music but the new version has some decent songs for the teens. Do Me A Favour has always been a good song as has IN and the reworked versions show that. The New act 2 opener is also very good, and as 'cute' as it is You Shine works well.
The feeling that it was 2 shows in one in the original was a problem down to the feel of the show, you can't go stage a show so abstract and with the Greek tragedies in mind then do a song like Out For Blood or Don't Waste The Moon.

However
The show will and should always have a separation between the high school scenes and the scenes with Carrie and her Mother. The whole point is to show the 2 worlds, how different Carrie's world is from regular life, there has to be SOME separation, from the audio it would appear this has managed to bridge that gap but keep it open just enough. The film has the same separation, even down to the way certain scenes are shot.

Me and my partner have just re-watched the 80s Carrie and the book is awful, it makes no sense and the show spends far too long trying to be a design concept rather than a story.In the new one the book feels richer, fleshed out, it has dramatic tension, you care about Carrie (and that’s just from the audio).

It's strange I’m hearing so many reports back from friends on Facebook, industry friends, theatre fans etc who have seen the show and who think the show is working really well (with a few nips and tucks here and there) but here is the only place where it seems more negative. Guess i will see for myself soon enough, but going off the audio its already leaps and bounds ahead of the 88 train wreck, for that all involved must be applauded.


As for Sweeney, as much as i like the show I’m sorry but i never feel a thing for anybody in the show because of its structure and the humour i think is weak. I don't look at Sweeney as a serious musical (in terms of story or characters) it’s an over the top opera, and a very good one. The folks at Carrie know they are telling a story about bullying, coming of age, wrestling with fear and wanting to be accepted, like it or not that is what they are doing and from the sounds of it they are doing it well. That may not be what some people want from Carrie, and that's fine, but that is what they are doing. I for one am THRILLED that it’s no longer filled with humour (intentional or unintentional), the humour left in Carrie (and yes i think it still has plenty in) feels like it comes from a natural place.

Some people on here think Carrie is a good show or a great idea for a show, some don't like it, some think it's now taken itself to serious whilst others think it now has the tone right etc, nobody is right or wrong, art is subjective.
However as much as I’m trying to put my point across that i think it does work as a show and it seems to playing in a way that it should be doing, and people like Michael Bennet thinks it does not work as it is now etc we are not gonna change each other’s minds. At the end of the day Carrie has got people talking, it's selling well and its here, end of story.

Now let’s all just arrange a day to meet up, get drunk and turn Cujo in to a musical.........i think we are on to a winner.

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Updated On: 2/4/12 at 07:10 PM

Oh no, songanddanceman. Everything else you wrote is so on the money... but then this?

"As for Sweeney, as much as i like the show I’m sorry but i never feel a thing for anybody in the show because of its structure and the humour i think is weak."

Do you not like dark humor or do you just think the dark humor in SWEENEY doesn't work?

There have been plenty of mixed and negative reports on other chat boards as well- I think you really want this production to succeed song and so you may be looking a little bit for what you want to see. Of course some are truly liking the show too- don't get me wrong- I'm not dismissing that- but you shouldn't spin the idea that this show is turning into a run away word of mouth hit except for on the coccoon of this message board because it just ain't so.

I'll bite, Sondanddance.

Perhaps it should be a 'mash up' using CUJO and the film RABID from the seventies. That way the rabies thing won't be so one sided.

The response was incredibly enthusiastic tonight. Marin got cheers and massive applause after "When There's No One" and the audience really seemed to be enjoying it overall. Many audience members at intermission were talking about how amazing Molly Ranson is. Stafford Arima said that there are going to be a lot of changes starting next week.

Words cannot describe how much I adore this show and this production. Can't wait to see it again.

Well, I commend the talented cast for giving it their all, and for doing a fine job, especially Molly Ranson as Carrie.

I admire the authors for having faith in their work. There is some good music in the score, and I liked the new song, "You Shine."

The staging and choreogaphy do well by the space.

Unfortunately, the problem remains the material itslf. Just as it was the first time around, it's tawdry, preposterous, grotesque, and trashy. It's just less screechingly outrageous about it.

I didn't find it boring. But there were plenty of derisive laughter-provoking lines here, just as there were the first time. Practically every line out of the teens' mouths was of that variety. Yes, "Out for Blood" is sorely missed, but when Carrie's tormentor and her lunkhead boyfriend paint each other's faces in pig's blood, it perfectly captures the grotesquely ludicrous spirit of that other number.

And when the jock/poet is called upon to read his (lousy) poem, and the lunkhead groans, I had to guffaw in agreement.

So aficianados of so-bad-it's funny theatre do not despair. You won't find the sustained hilarity of the original, but you'll still find plenty of it to enjoy in Carrie.

I forgot about this I can't remember if it has been mentioned. Is there some kind of overture this time around?

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WithoutATrace - I'm seeing it next month, and I just wanted to thank you for your level-headed reports on the preview process. I appreciate them very much.

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Is Audrey a prostitute? I never got that impression.

Audrey's not a hooker, but I'd love to see her trapped in an elevator with Margaret White.

All of this talk of "When There's No One" just makes me want to watch Betty Buckley's incredible interpretation of it. Simply stunning.



Betty Buckley- "When There's No One"

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Updated On: 2/6/12 at 03:20 AM

Audrey is NOT a hooker. She embarrassed to work at 'that' kind of club. DEEP down, she wants to be a good girl, but stuck in skid row keeps her scratching to survive.


And now we return to our regularly scheduled thread....

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