Sister Act First Preview- Page 2

[ljay889]

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

Thanks for the info, MB. What is Vicki's new solo called?
If anybody gets a chance, I would love to see a songlist.

[Michael Bennett]

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

Clarks' new solo is called "Haven't Got a Prayer" and is a sort of angry, questioning God for answers soliloquy. It's nice- it's Piazza lite.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

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

Just got back and I'll just post a few random thoughts. Having heard the reviews from London, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed myself! Patina is fantastic, and will get much praise for her performance! Other than that, my favorite part was the church set which everyone around me literally said "wow" out loud when it came in. The second act starts off real slow and I think the three guys song about how to treat a lady needs to go. Didn't particularly care for Victoria Clark's character or any of her songs. Also underwhelmed by Chester Gregory who I loved in Dreamgirls recently. Overall, I had a blast and am glad I went!

ETA: I was comped so that may have effected my opinion. Updated On: 3/24/11 at 11:24 PM

[ljay889]

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

Wow, sounds great! Does she still have the "Here Within These Walls" reprise?

[Michael Bennett]

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

I agree and think both songs for Joey, Pablo and TJ should be cut. I also think the second act song for Sister Msry Robert ( AKA Sister Kerry Butler) should also be tossed- just slows down the show too much.

I didn't like Eddies songs either( even with the great costume reveal) truly we don't care about that character as sort of a half hearted love interest for Deloris.

[LuPonatic]

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

With all these score changes, I really hope it is a big enough hit that they record a Broadway cast recording!

[tkts]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 11:32pm

Just back also and I agree with Michael Bennett mostly. The show really gets going with Deloris and the nuns, for me it was a little slow opening until we get there about 2/3 the way through act one. Everyone did seem a tad tentative at the beginning but that may just be first performance jitters. Miller is an easy Tony nomination and the show should get a Best Musical nod also.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 11:33pm

Does the show still open as it does on the cast recording? Is there an overture or any opening notes?

[tkts]

Posted: 3/24/11 at 11:35pm

LOL at "Sister Mary Robert (AKA Sister Kerry Butler)" That is exactly what I thought. As a matter of fact I saw "Catch Me.." on Tuesday and I though that was the same song Butler sang in the second act. Both songs unmemorable, just a solo to give them something to do.

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:16am

I'm also not long back from tonight's first preview.

My thoughts on the changes: overall the book is MUCH better - it's less creaky and has a lot more punchy one-liners. The choreography and staging for 'When I Find My Baby' is fantastic and the character of TJ makes him a proper stooge - very funny.

I didn't find the show overlong at all, but maybe that's because I knew what to expect for the most part. I think it's only right that Victoria Clark get a 2nd Act solo to showcase her wonderful voice, but I wouldn't want 'Lady in the Long Black Dress' to be cut as a result.

The downsides: My major disappointment was seeing 'How I Got The Calling' replaced by a lacklustre song (albeit sung to the same arrangement) called 'It's Good To Be A Nun'. I think that's why the roles of Mary Patrick and Mary Lazarus never took off to the extent I was expecting, even though both actresses did a fine job with the re-arranged material they were given. As for Sister Mary Robert, I felt the character got a little bit too 'American Idol' at times and consequently lost her 'mouse that roared' quality in 'The Life I Never Led'.

And to return to the up-sides: Victoria Clark sang beautifully, Fred Applegate was hilarious and Patina Miller is officially A-MAZING! She is a surely a lock for a Tony nomination - together with Alan Menken's brilliant score.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:17am

Saw it tonight and have some scattered thoughts. First off they have curtained off half of the mezz, and the Broadway looks like the Barrymore or something.

I've listened to the London cast recording quite a bit, but never saw the show there so I can only judge changes through that. There is a fair amount of dialogue on the CD and almost none of it exists as is in the show.

Biggest disappointment is they cut Do The Sacred Mass!! I was pretty downbeat about that. They still have a scene in the bar, but it's totally boring and pointless without the song. The show is also in dire need of some energy earlier in the first act and this song would have done the trick. I hope they consider popping it back in.

Basically when it hits Raise You Voice the show bursts alive. Too bad it takes so long to get to that point. The show is (obviously) best when focused on Patina and the nuns. All the songs for the guys are fine, but nothing special and distract from the real fun of the show. The romance with Patina and Chester Gregory seems forced and unnecessary.

Patina is giving a total star performance and I think she will have fairly smooth sailing accepting that Tony in June. So far I don't think anyone has out-performed her, but I guess we should wait for Donna Murphy.

I did enjoy myself and think the show is a fun time. With a few trims (and the reintroduction of Sacred Mass please) I think it could have a healthy run.

Assuming the five front runners for Best Musical will be Scottsboro, Book of Mormon, Priscilla, Catch Me if You Can and Sister Act, I think it will be interesting to see which one doesn't make the cut. Having now seen all five I think/hope Scottsboro, Mormon, Sister Act all make it and the last spot can be fought for by the other two.

Updated On: 3/25/11 at 12:17 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:22am

Sorry to repeat questions but:

Does Mother Superior still have the "Here Within These Walls" reprise?

and

Does the show still open as it does on the cast recording? Is there an overture or any opening notes?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:24am

No and No. The reprise was cut and the show opens with Take Me To Heaven...no opening notes. (this may all change though)

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:25am

I believe the reprise has been cut, or shortened so much it is unmemorable. (I didn't like her new song all that much. Thought the writing was a little sloppy, but she sounded great)

The show opens with some opening measures, but no overture. Take Me to Heaven is sung as an audition for Patina to get her act in the club. The announcer guy on the CD is gone and many of the lines (It's my birthday!) are gone/changed.

Stuff in Fabulous Baby like "I'm goin' to New York, Vegas, Pittsburgh!" are gone.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:27am

Thanks, guys!

Not to be a pest, but are the opening measures the same as the cast recording with Mother Superior's prayer?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:29am

No, no prologue, no prayer. Just like a 4 or 5 measure lead in to Take Me to Heaven.

Was a little Dreamgirls-esque as three women were auditioning for a guy named Curtis to get a job singing!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:30am

No...it goes right into Take Me To Heaven.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:31am

Oh, wow! Sounds like a lot of changes. Can't wait to see it on Saturday.

[brettystar]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:52am

I have really grown to love the Sister Act recording and am really disappointed by news of these changes. 'How I Got the Calling' is one of the highlights I think. I also loved how it opens with Mother Superior saying the prayer and then segueing into the burst of energy with the club act 'Take Me to Heaven'. This was the show I was most looking forward to seeing in June but now The Book of Mormon is starting to take that place.
May I ask, does it start with Delores auditioning and then change into the club act half way?
Thanks

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:58am

Good to hear the show is in good shape and has improved since London! What was the show curtain?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:59am

bretty- no it does not transition to the club act. It is simply her auditioning for Curtis. He even cuts off right before her final big note to say, "I've heard enough," causing the song to have no applause.

Slight Spoiler- He doesn't even give her the gig! This doesn't make sense because A) She's really good and B) She's his mistress at the club! What's the point of having a singing mistress at your club if you're not going to give her the job??

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 1:07am

Is the title song still a ballad like on the London Recording? I know Menken was not happy with it.

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 1:09am

bwayphreak234: I wouldn't necessarily say the show was BETTER than London overall - some parts were improved but some good things were lost too IMHO.

As far as I recall the show curtain was red velvet with yellow trim - nothing much to get excited about at this stage.

[kyle4]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 1:14am

i would LOVE some COLD SESAME NOODLES right now... why didn't i pick some up?

oh... and here are my thoughts...

on the FIRST PREVIEW...

of SISTER ACT...

http://thetheaterbuff.typepad.com/the-theater-buff/2011/03/sister-act-first-preview-thoughts.html

Updated On: 3/25/11 at 01:14 AM

[Almira]

Posted: 3/25/11 at 1:18am

Do the Nuns still sing before they learn how to?

When I saw it in London, one of the things I didn't understand was how at the top of the show it is established that the Nuns are atrocious at singing. Then, all of a sudden, during HOW I GOT THE CALLING they can harmonize, sing on pitch and belt out high notes in unison. Only to be followed by the Nuns mysteriously forgetting how to sing at the beginning of the RAISE YOUR VOICE scene.

It makes no sense for the audience to hear them singing brilliantly before they actually learn how to sing. Even the Von Trapp children had to go through their DO RE MI lessons before they could put over EDELWEISS.

Updated On: 3/25/11 at 01:18 AM