Sister Act First Preview

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 12:37pm

I know I'm a little early but with the invited dress tonight, I kind of wanted to build up the excitement a little :)

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 2:55pm

I'll be at the second preview :) I'm actually very much looking forward to it, the score sounds pretty great.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 3:15pm

So excited for this show. Question though, do you think if Patina Miller had not been featured on the London OCR, would they record a OBCR?

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 3:25pm

Probably, but frankly the London cast was better, so I don't particularly care.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 3:32pm

^ How do you know the London cast is better? Are you judging the entire Broadway cast by press previews?

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 7:20pm

Previews and the performance on The View. The most interesting character when I saw it in London was Mary Robert, and the girl playing it on Broadway just isn't as powerful a singer as the one in the OLC.

So, no, not the entire cast, but the ones that I care most about? Yes.

[maxximumvolume]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 8:41pm

I'd very much like to attend the show Friday night.

[rjm516]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 10:24pm

I loved this show when I saw it in London. Hope I get to see it in NYC this year! I hope all of you going really enjoy it. It's just a lot of fun.

[BwayTday]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 11:00pm

I don't know what you exactly mean by "powerful" but Marla voice certainly un-powerful by my standards. I have said something like this before, and I think her voice phenomenal. She and her voice might not be right for the part, that remains to be seen, but her voice and the way she sells a song is great. I cannot wait to see this in a few weeks. I mean, Victoria Clark, Patina Miller and the rest of the cast are enticing enough. It looks like it will be a lot of fun. Whoever goes please tell us how it is.

Updated On: 3/23/11 at 11:00 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 11:14pm

The performance on The View was also very early in rehearsals. I'm sure all of the performances and characterizations have evolved since then.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 11:49pm

If I were an actor, I would say it would be unfair for someone to judge my performance of a role when one hasn't seen said performance.

To me, if you haven't seen the show, your opinion has zero value and absolutely zero validity.

Judge press performances on their own, DON'T have that opinion broaden out to be a general one of the entire show.

[parislover87]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 11:50pm

According to sh-k-boom there will be no broadway recording. They will be reissuing the london recording.

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 4:09am

Anyone at the invited dress last night?

[PReeves2]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 5:06am

I couldn't agree more with CapnHook! see the show then form an opinion.

[princessem721]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 12:20pm

i don't know when i'll get in to see it, but i absolutely LOVED sarah bolt and marla mindelle in the videos from the press rehearsal. i think that they are both going to be fantastic as their respective sisters mary (patrick and robert). i won't have an opinion until i get to see them all do it live, but i can't wait!!

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 12:22pm

Going to the first preview tonight.

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 5:31pm

Excited to here thoughts from the first preview :) have fun everyone going.

[MissAnneThrop]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 6:09pm

can someone pick me up a playbill tonight? i'll pay for it and shipping. thanks.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 6:30pm

Wish I could be there tonight but I have tickets for April and I'm very excited to see it then!

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 6:57pm

Been looking forward to this show. Sure hope that it's a pick-me-up from Wonderland.

[hyperbole_and_a_half]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 7:03pm

I saw this show in London and I thought I might enjoy it better with an American audience. If any of you previewers have also seen the London show and could provide any comparisons between the two, I would love you for ever and ever.

[Just_John]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 9:25pm

Ugh, they changed how I got the calling to it's good to be a nun. I saw the first preview in London, and every change made it so much better except that song was such a step back.

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 9:42pm

For those going to the first preview tonight, please post your thoughts!

Thanks!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 11:17pm

Caught tonights performance- it's certainly big and rousing, has a fun score and I think will be a strong word of mouth performer. Patina is appealing and really delivers. Vicki Clark is wonderful as always, and as expected is a little bit wasted, even with a new Act 2 solo.

Supporting cast (most carbon copies of their film counterparts) are uniformly good.

For my money the biggest thing that needs work is that it's way too long. Every supporting character has a song; some as individual numbers are fun, but really we don't care. What we want is Deloris and the nuns. There are at least three songs I think they should consider cutting. And as fun as the score is, I do have to say I'm not sure I ultimately agree with the change setting this in the disco era- not only is that music incredibly repetitive - it encourages a lot of pastiche material that is about 3 notes away from the original-- sometimes Sister Act feels like a juke box show even when it's not.

But there is something down and dirty about that disco era that- this is going to sound weird- but when mayched with the catholic church and nuns almost borders on bad taste, to that end I misses the goofy innocence of the original film and it's 1950s goody goody music catalogue.

But all that said- the show is a definitely a good time

Running time tonight was about 2:40 (did I mention they need to cut) but went smoothly.

The show curtain is a grand red drape

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 11:19pm

Awww, I LOVE How I Got The Calling. Shoot.