Posted: 6/7/18 at 9:44am
So I THINK the book narrator was Renee Fleming ... the voice sounded like her "please silence your cell phone" announcement she recorded that plays before some Kennedy Center shows. Nothing was credited in the Playbill though.
Good news was the sound design was excellent. They fixed the issues that plagued Chess (muddied lyrics, overly loud orchestra). The sound was crystal clear and there was never a moment where I couldn't understand someone. If only all the shows at the Kennedy Center sounded this good! Michael Urie's mike did go out for part of a scene and he came back out with a handheld until the mike was fixed.
This was a fully staged musical -- full costumes, props. No actors on book, everything very seamless. The orchestra is on an elevated stage with the space below used for the elevator (which along with projections helps show changes in offices).
Can't say enough about how GOOD this show was. If you're in doubt, go see it. Skylar Astin's voice is superb and born for songs like "Rosemary." He played the role very smooth, like that arrogant guy in your college/office who always got ahead no matter what he did. (Not the nervous energy like Daniel Radcliffe had, where you felt like his character knew he was flying by his seat of his pants. Skylar's believed and knew this was always his destiny!) Good chemistry with Betsy Wolfe who had some very nice vocal moments as well. Michael Urie had big sassy moments that stole the show and John Michael Higgins' "Grand Old Ivy" is great fun.
I think there was one song added in from a previous production (not the Broadway revival) but I don't have my Playbill with me.
There were definitely some changes made that I felt reflected the #MeToo movement. "A Secretary Is Not a Toy" was spruced up with the secretaries holding signs saying No and the men being made subservient. A couple other dialogue changes and such as well that I felt gave Rosemary more authority and control over her destiny.
