Stephanie J. Block IS The Pirate Queen!

[Phantom2]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 10:05pm

I recently caught a preview of The Pirate Queen. If you're a lover of Les Miz (which I recently saw again), you'll definitely enjoy this show. Let me start by saying the costumes and wigs are absolutely breathtaking...breathtaking...BREATHTAKING! The show went off without a hiccup, which is very commendable for the first week of previews as there are so many moving parts and lots of action going on. The scenery is lovely as well. Did I mention the special effects?

Stephanie J. Block is wonderful in the role of Grace O'Malley. She IS the character. SJB has a gorgeous voice and is in practically every scene. She's truly an athlete climbing and fighting with blood, sweat and tears (if you've seen her, you know what I'm talking about). She brings so much emotion to her performance that you could feel her pain. Hadley Fraser (what rock did he come out from under??!!!) has one of the most beautiful male voices I have ever heard in my life. May I also say that seeing Linda Balgord's Queen Elizabeth is worth the price of admission alone. A truly incredible actress...the epitome of the perfect queen! The huge ensemble is worth mentioning as well. I thought the dancing was flawless. It's like Riverdance, only you don't yawn. If you like pecs, this show's for you. These pirate dudes are amazing. I think I need to go work out more and get a tan. Ha!

The music and vocals are so beautiful that I really hope a CD is planned to come out soon. A very epic tale that I hope you all get the chance to see.

Updated On: 3/11/07 at 10:05 PM

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 10:07pm

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

I actually *sort of* disliked Hadley Fraser's voice the first time I saw PQ, but now I love it.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 10:10pm

Much deserved Priase.

Can't wait to see it again.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 10:15pm

I think Stephanie is taller than Hadley which is cute. In any event, she needs much thicker eyebrows...more like Brooke Shields. The Pirate Queen is not supposed to be so groomed! Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.

Updated On: 3/11/07 at 10:15 PM

[courtnyj]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 10:20pm

Damn! You must have been sitting pretty close to be concerned about her eyebrows!

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 10:29pm

I'm glad you liked it. I would love to see it.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 1:21am

I just saw 7 broadway shows and I'm sorry, but I do believe Pirate Queen is my favorite....


I was partial to it (to say the least) when it was in Chicago but now the show is just fan-****ing-tastic

[Popular]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:08am

Phantom - thanks for posting. I am glad you liked it as well. If you couldn't tell, I'm pulling for this show to succeed and thoughts like yours are nice to read.

Stephanie - did I miss your review? Since you are one of the few that saw it both in Chicago and NY can you comment on the changes and about your thoughts in general?

If we are asking people to back up their statements about why they didn't like it it's only fair that the people who DID like it back up their opinions as well :)
Updated On: 3/12/07 at 02:08 AM

[fachedaluna]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:42am

Yeah!!!!LOVE for the Pirate Queen. So glad to read such a great review. Thanks for the post.

[Lady Italy]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 3:19am

Love the review! I am counting down the days until I'll be in NYC to see the show :p

And I agree...STEPHANIE J. BLOCK IS THE PIRATE QUEEN!

[Starlight2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 6:59am

Phantom...thanks for posting! I also enjoyed seeing the show!! I agree with you about the fact that Stephanie IS the Pirate Queen. She's such a talented actress and singer....she has the ability to BE whatever character she is playing. I think the whole cast in this is fantastic! Really looking forward to seeing the show again in April!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 7:12am

After all the hoopla and hype, this thing had *better* be the best thing to hit Broadway since DOLLY. I have never seen a show so overhyped in my life... and based on nothing more than a website that desperately needs updating and a bunch of fanboys telling me how wonderful it is.

Personally, I loathed LES MIZ. It was long, pretentious, and all about the set. If this is cast from the same mold, I'm sure PQ will be a huge tourist trap and therefore make buckets of money. But the way it's being marketed, it's like the Second Coming.

[ken8631]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:45am

We have our tickets for April. I also had tickets for first night of previews, but they moved the date and my tickets became useless!

Looking forward to seeing Steph again after Boy From Oz and her Birdland concert.....

Ken

[NJgirl]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:57am

Stephanie carries this show and was wonderful in the role. I had never seen her perform prior to PQ, but her performance Sat. night was nothing short of awesome.

I actually liked the show...yes, there's some tweaking that still needs to be done...but I really liked it...then again, I love Les Mis and Miss Saigon.

btw, Hadley's act 1 ballad...LOVED IT!

[ken8631]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:10pm

Glad to hear the good words about Steph - she's one of my favorites along with another Steph (D'Abruzzo) and Kelli O'Hara....
Updated On: 3/12/07 at 02:10 PM

[fachedaluna]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:19pm

May the QUEENS crown shine and shine. Long live the Queen!!!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:27pm

"I have never seen a show so overhyped in my life..."

You shouuld have been here for the openings of Wicked and Brooklyn. This is nothing compared to those!

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:32pm

I thought Block was great and the only part of the show that I wholeheartedly enjoyed. Physically and vocally, she's ideal for the part. Didn't care for Balgord, though; she was singing so high that you could barely understand a word she uttered, and her tone was extremely forced. Every time she opened her mouth, it was like a knife in my ear.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 4:32pm

Popular-I'm not even sure where to begin....I may try to post a review soon but it is soooo different from Chicago that I'm overwhelmed by all I can say!!


If you have any questions though (anyone!) you can pm me...but I'll try to do a review soon

[ikmbway]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 4:53pm

Thanks for the review. Stephanie - I can't wait to see what you have to say. I will agree with everyone else. SJB's performance was incredible. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. The songs, I feel, aren't very memorable, but the staging, lighting, and costumes totally make up for it! I enjoyed the show and especially Stephanie's performance!!

[Phantom2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 6:48pm

"I have never seen a show so overhyped in my life... and based on nothing more than a website that desperately needs updating and a bunch of fanboys telling me how wonderful it is."

OH NO YOU DIN'T!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 7:11pm

We see it on Easter Sunday

My wife is a big Les Miz fan. I liked Miss Saigon better

[NYLG]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 7:25pm

"Didn't care for Balgord, though; she was singing so high that you could barely understand a word she uttered, and her tone was extremely forced. Every time she opened her mouth, it was like a knife in my ear."

AC126748, I agree. I actually cringed every time Balgord opened her mouth...OUCH!!! I was hoping that was one of the things that would be fixed by the time PQ hit NY...but I am guessing not?

[kec]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 7:51pm

It must have been changed, because I had no problem understanding her, and nothing she sang sounded forced.

[NYLG]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:09pm

AC126748...did you see PQ in NY?