THE GLORIOUS ONES - Does Anyone Have Thoughts?

[BustopherPhantom]

THE GLORIOUS ONES - Does Anyone Have Thoughts?#1

Posted: 10/14/07 at 5:18pm

Has anyone seen THE GLORIOUS ONES in previews yet? If so, do you have any thoughts? Has it been retooled extensively since its premiere? Discuss!

"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum

[BustopherPhantom]

re: THE GLORIOUS ONES - Does Anyone Have Thoughts?#2

Posted: 10/14/07 at 9:59pm

Bumpy bump bump

"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum

[slingsnarrows]

re: THE GLORIOUS ONES - Does Anyone Have Thoughts?#2

Posted: 10/15/07 at 12:38am

I attended the preview performance on Sat evening 10/13.
I really enjoyed the production as a whole. The two things that stand out in my mind that made the production for me had to be the cast and the music.
The cast was spot on. Kudisch's Flaminio Scala was wonderful and his solos in the production (Improvisation, and I was Here) are quite moving. I loved Natalie Belcon as Columbina and her number "My Body Wasn't Why was really moving.
Overall the music was really great and I do hope they decide to do a cast recording. The book also had some great moments as well.
My only problem with the show was some of the staging within the musical numbers. The main one coming to mind is the love duet "Opposite You". Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley have recorded a wonderful version of this on their album of the same title, so I was really looking forward to seeing the number within the context of the show. The moment is set up for Francesco and Isabella to not only fall in love (which seems very forced here) but also to change the course of action for the acting troupe and establish a shifting of power and I felt the actors couldn't really belt the number out for all the running and spinning each other around onstage.
Overall I did find the piece very touching and inspiring for those of us who do/have done theatre. Having read the book by Francine Prose, I would say that the musical is lighter hearted but sticks to the plots and themes very well. I did not see the production out of town in Pittsburgh, but I am very glad to have seen it here and would highly recommend it based on the wonderful performances by the cast alone.