Shows where your opinion changed? — Page 2

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#26

Shows where your opinion changed?

Posted: 8/13/14 at 12:40pm

I have to say the first time I saw Chicago (the revival) I was not too impressed. It was ok but nothing to write home about... Then I saw it again with a friend who was dying to see it cause another friend was in it.... and I got it. I really loved it. And understood the show and now have seen it 7 times on Broadway and three times on tour.

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

#27

Shows where your opinion changed?

Posted: 8/14/14 at 4:43am

Les Mis - I was never a fan, having seen the OBC & the tour in Philly. Went to see the current revival very begrudgingly to make my significant other happy. Ramin Karimloo won me over in a way no Jean Valjean had ever done. Also, I love the visceral quality of the production and the heavy connection the singers had with the text (with the exception of Eponine, no one came out like "here I go, singing a big famous song"). I loved the current production so much I am going to see it a second time (much to my own astonishment, based on my previous lack of interest in Les Mis).

#28

Shows where your opinion changed?

Posted: 8/14/14 at 8:08am

Phantom of the Opera. First time I saw it I was very young and just didn't really get what everyone seemed to praise about it. A lot of stuff went right over my head as a kid. So just recently, I decided to give it another try. Maybe being older and wiser I would finally see what everyone else did.

Nope. Still hated it. Maybe even worse then the first time. Performances were so bland I could have taken a nap and enjoyed myself more.

BUT then a friend suggested that I watch the Royal Albert Hall production with her. I groaned and accepted to humor her. Glad I did because it FINALLY won me over. Made me realize that it's all in the right performances with the show (at least with me apparently). First time I was to young to get it. Second time the actors of the moment really phoned it in. Seeing people actually put passion and effort into it finally did it for me. Third time was the charm. Kind of afraid to ever go see it live again that my opinion will change back again.

#29

Shows where your opinion changed?

Posted: 8/14/14 at 11:33am

The original production of Sunday left me cold, feeling it was pretty much the Mandy & Bernadette Show and not in a good way. But the production during the Sondheim Festival at The Kennedy Center was thrilling, broke my heart and made me a believer. Seeing Griffin's production at Chicago Shakespeare just reinforced that. And the first time I saw the original production of Sweeney I was non-plussed. It seemed loud and scattered and over produced and I could only understand half the lyrics. But once I got to know it I eventually recognized it for the masterpiece it is. Conversely, my first exposure to La Mancha was a production in which I was involved in the late 60s and I thought it was the greatest thing ever. And while I still like the musical, I realize that the greatest thing ever it ain't.

#30

Shows where your opinion changed?

Posted: 8/14/14 at 12:02pm

I have never been a fan of Les Mis...thought the movie was pretty awful and the 2012 touring show was unmemorable except for some fine singing by Valjean.

But Dallas Theater Center has put on a fantastic production this summer that I have really enjoyed seeing quite few times as an usher. The lyrics and music are still not in my top 40, but I will be sorry to see this show close on Sunday.

The director (Liesl Tommy) has done a fantastic job of making it more relevant to me by placing it in a gritty modern setting. (Sounds crazy, but I am telling you it was a stroke of genius.) Since the lyrics themselves do not really point to a specific time in history, the universality of the story comes through in a new way. Set design is tremendous, and the use of space is really creative. The multi-ethnic cast is uniformly excellent, with great singing actors from all over the country, and many patrons have asked if there's a cast album.

This is a DTC show that will not soon be forgotten by anyone who has seen it. I had to talk my husband into going (he doesn't usually care for Les Mis) and he was thoroughly impressed. It hasn't turned me into a Les Mis freak or anything, but this particular production has left its indelible mark on me. I honestly don't think I'll ever want to see it again in its traditional form, because this is the incarnation that has worked for me.

Dallas Observer Review

Updated On: 8/14/14 at 12:02 PM

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