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#51

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 2:49am

The nuns did not learn how to sing. Delores Van Cartier shows up and they magically sing. This singing lesson was what hooked us in the movie; having us getting to know each nun and watching as each nun discovers her voice. That is all missing here.

I caught the first preview and I have to say that I am a naysaywer. The show is in good shape for a first preview. The only mishap is a gunshot didn't go off. But I thought the book was clunky. It clunked from scene to scene without much imagination and derivitive jokes like having the nuns throw
Yiddishisms in. Didn't we see that in Spamalot when to succeed on Broadway you needed Jews? It seems like a cheap laugh to me.

The songs are derivitive and I found myself missing the movie score. I have heard clips on Amazon and wasn't impressed but waited until I heard them in person before commenting. Derivitve disco songs and ballads. Its hard to believe that this man gave us LIttle Shop, Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid.

I put this show in the why category. Why take a really fun movie and make it a mediocre musical. Legally Blonde, Georgy Girl. Singing in the Rain. to name a few duds.

Patina Miller succeeds for the most part. She is likeable but her character is much more self involved than Whoopi's Delores Van Cartier which detracts a bit. The wonderful Victoria Clark
who I felt stole the show as Smitty in How to Succeed some years back, performs in a Thankless role. The actor playing TJ is a stand out and I can't help but watch him every second he is on.

There are minor characters who are given needless songs.

To be fair.. the audience seemed to be having a good time but I can't help wondering if they were friends of the cast it being he first preview night. I also have to admit I felt that maybe I was spoiled by the Book of Mormon which I saw the night before.

Book of Mormon was mature, satircal,witty, irreverent fun. This show was pedestrian. Jerry Zaks has lost his touch.

I predict mixed reviews.

#52

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 4:12am

Random minor question, are KT and LaRosa still in the show?

''With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town'' - Helena Bonham Carter

#53

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 4:19am

Having loved this show in London I have to say that some of these changes sound... wrong.

Faced with these Loreleis, what man can moralize!

#54

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 5:22am

Could someone post a song list and an understudy list?

#55

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 6:44am

Got to tag along with a friend last night, and I loved it! Definitely going to be nominated for Best Musical and Best Original Score, and I'd be very surprised if Patina Miller didn't get a nom (if not a win) for her portrayal of Delores.

#56

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 7:20am

Saw the show in London and enjoyed it greatly. So upset to see they cut "How I got the calling" hope they kept "The Life I never led" and the reprise.

#57

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 7:20am

Saw the show in London and enjoyed it greatly. So upset to see they cut "How I got the calling" hope they kept "The Life I never led" and the reprise.

#58

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 8:38am

Thanks Whizzer!! This is disappointing me

'Downtown Elaiggghhhy?'

#59

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 8:50am

I will say that I can't get the score out of my head this morning after last night - though in truth I think thats partly because its so derivative of actual disco hits.

"Raise Your Voice" takes a definite cue from Streisand's "The Main Event" - "Lady in the Black Dress" with its zodiac references is a direct rip on the Floater's "Float On."

What are some of the others?

#60

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 9:12am

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'.

So is the replacement the same melody with different lyrics?

I'm so bummed that they wrote a new solo for Victoria Clark and it won't be recorded.

(Sh-k-boom people, if you're reading this how about recording it as a bonus track?

)

....but the world goes 'round

#61

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 9:13am

Not derivative of disco - but one of the songs reminds me of 'How do you know' from Enchanted.

'Downtown Elaiggghhhy?'

#62

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 9:29am

To be clear, "I Haven't Got a Prayer" wasn't written for Victoria Clark. In fact, it's not even a new number- it was previously in both the Pasadena and Atlanta productions of the show.

Menken and the creative team have done that a lot in their musical editing process with the show over the years, putting previous songs back in and taking new ones out (for example, "Fabulous, Baby!" was in the show in Pasadena, was replaced with a song called "Too Much To Live For" in Atlanta, and was then was put back in the show in London.) I'm looking forward to seeing the changes Jerry Zaks and Doug Carter Beane have implemented.

In terms of what the songs are intentionally derivative of, I've always thought "When I Find My Baby" bears a significant melodic resemblance to "You Are The Sunshine of My Life." There are also parts of the reprise of "Take Me To Heaven" that sound a lot like Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" (including the intentional homage to the "beep beep" in the middle of the song.) In general, though, I think the score is much more evocative of the "feel" of those numbers people know and love than it is specific send ups of particular songs.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 3/25/11 at 09:29 AM

#63

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 11:08am

"I put this show in the why category. Why take a really fun movie and make it a mediocre musical."

goldenboy... i am STEALING "why category"... no, actually, i won't STEAL it... i will send you a residual check ANY time i use it... please forward your address...

oh... and to further the "disco derivative" conversation... there were random "beep beeps" thrown in among the songs... reminiscent of donna summer's BAD GIRLS !

oh and my thoughts on the whole thing are right...

here... if you were not already aware...

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

today is shoulders/legs.... (no lunges... thank god!!!)

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO KNOW?!!!!!

#64

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 11:48am

Tazber- Yes it's the same melody, just completely different lyrics (and message) of the song. I miss the camp verse about Sister Sledge and the Village People

.

Almira- You are correct. The nuns enter singing a hymn very poorly (even though it just sounded like a modern, minor key type hymn to me), followed by them singing a song to Patina sing good voice, and then going back to not being able to sing until Raise Your Voice. I guess the way I rationalize/suspend my disbelief is that when they're "performing" in church they don't know how to sing until Patina instructs them. When they sing to Patina about the troubles of being a nun it is a book song and therefore the information could be spoken or sung. Don't know if that makes any sense, but it's the way I work it out in my head.

Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco. Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!

#65

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 11:48am

I was there last night as well. The word that comes to mind with this is Fine. I wasn't amazed, but I wasn't really disappointed either.

Patina did not sound very good until Raise Your Voice, but I won't judge her because I feel it was probably due to the vocal strain of rehearsing. The sound was also really bad in the first act, but again, something that I am sure will be ironed out.

I have to say I found the book pleasantly funny as well. I imagine there were a good number of one-liners added in the re-write. There are still many groan-inducing moments, including anything to do with Deloris's boyfriend and his gang.

My biggest issue with the show was an aesthetic one. This is one UGLY show. I think uglier than Wonderland, or anything else currently on Broadway. The set reminded me of the recent West Side Story revival. And yes, I know the point is that they have to fix up the church, but when they did, it looked even uglier. The show was also really dark, to the point that when Victoria Clark said "Good Morning Sisters", I questioned if it really was.

Act I was really long, and frankly a bit of a drag whenever we left the church. As Whizzer says, the show never really seemed to find itself until Raise Your Voice.

As far as the cast goes I actually really enjoyed almost everyone. Victoria Clark was fantastic, making a part I expected to hate (based on the London Cast Recording) into a mildly enjoyable one. I wasn't wild about either of her songs, but she does the best she can with them.

Special Shout out to Fred Applegate. Minus a few scenes I really enjoyed him. Even though I am not a fan of his character or his songs, I thoroughly enjoyed Chester Gregory. I think he is a tremendous talent deserving of better roles.

I also loved the chase scene in Act II. (I am looking at you Catch me if you can, that is how you do a chase!)

So in the end, yes the material is a bit weak, and yes, it probably is too long, but the show is decent enough and definitely a good time, and in a season with so much mediocrity I will take this show. This is Sister Act the musical, did we ever really expect it would be anything other than fluff?

#66

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:04pm

Just a few notes about changes that at least were in the cast recording that aren't in the Broadway production.

During the act one finale most of the lines Patina and Sheila said were cut or altered. Patina used to say, "I'm putting booties in the seat-ies mama," but now she says, "I'm putting people in the pews." Gone is "I'll be with you in a sec. I'm workin' the room."

Fabulous Baby started off with a different verse that's not on the cast recording, and (I believe) the verse the backup singers have about "...and look back there!" has new lyrics. All the side comments about, "She fantamasizin' again," and "I don't know what she's sniffin'...but I want me some!" have been cut.

The running joke about no one being able to say the word pope has sadly been cut. I love on the recording when the Fred Applegate role keeps trying and finally, in his most camp voice, shouts, "Welcome holy father!"

Perhaps all this stuff was groan-inducing, and I'm not arguing that it all needs to be put back in. Just noting things I noticed were changed. I really think there is a case for re-recording the score as enough has been altered.

On another note, I agree with Dave about the set and lighting. Everything is so dark and dingy. It's fine to see the underbelly of Philly that way, but the church could be a little brighter.

Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco. Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!

#67

Sister Act First Preview

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

Can someone post the understudies?

''With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town'' - Helena Bonham Carter

#68

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:15pm

Deloris: Corbin Reid and Rashidra Scott
Mother Superior: Jennifer Allen, Wendy James
Curtis: Alvin H. Green, Lance Roberts
Mary Robert: Christina DeCicco, Lael Van Keuren
Mary Patrick: Holly Davis, Marissa Perry
Mary Lazarus: Jennifer Allen, Roberta B. Wall
Eddie: Charl Brown, Alan H. Green
Monsignor O'Hara, Joey: Blake Hammond, Kevin Ligon
Pablo, TJ: Charl Brown, Ernie Pruneda
Michelle, Tina: Corbin Reid, Lael Van Keuren

#69

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:19pm

EDIT: someone beat me to it

Updated On: 3/25/11 at 12:19 PM

#70

Sister Act First Preview

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

WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel, thanks for your point of view.

As an audience member I hate to have to make creative excuses for what doesn't make sense on stage. Good writers should have done that for me.

I still contend that having the nuns sing magnificently before they are taught to sing magnificently is careless and robs the audience of a complete dramatic payoff later in the show.

Imagine Eliza speaking english beautifully before THE RAIN IN SPAIN number. It would be perplexing (wait.. I thought she couldn't do that??) and the joy is of her accomplishment would be diminished.

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt

Updated On: 3/25/11 at 12:22 PM

#71

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 12:36pm

Whizzer that reminds me. I was so upset the line about Workin the room is gone! That is one of my favorites on the London cast recording!

#72

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 2:18pm

Very glad to gear that the book has improved. Beane (who I actually just passed on the street!) is such a good writer, and I had faith that he'd be able to punch it up. Can't wait to see this soon!

"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."-Stephen Sondheim

#73

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 4:34pm

can anyone get me a playbill? thanks. PM me if you can!

And I Am Always So Vitriolic

#74

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 7:49pm

So they aren't selling the full mezz for this? Interesting.

#75

Sister Act First Preview

Posted: 3/25/11 at 8:24pm

I wonder why they have half of the mezz curtained off too. Is the stage set up in a way that would have blocked views higher up on the mezzanine?

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

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