THE GREAT COMET Announces September Broadway Closing; Final Performers for Role of 'Pierre' — Page 18

Hey there,

I was on vacation when I found out about closing and missed the ball with buying a ticket for the final performance (kicking myself for not checking the boards sooner for the news). I realize this may be a huge shot in the dark, but if anyone has or ends up having an extra ticket to the September 3 performance, I would love to buy it!

HSky said: "poisonivy2 said: "Oh no. Should I get a telecharge exchange or should I just see it with Scott? Choices, choices ... And I have a perfect front row mezz seat too."

Tough call. I guess I depends on who you really want to see. I know you expressed some reservations about Dave Malloy's voice not being your style further upthread, but there's definitely something special about seeing the creator of the piece in his own work. However, Scott's my favorite Pierre.

No matter when you go, I'm pretty certain it'll be a blast. Wednesday was the first time I'd gone since the closing announcement and both my friend and I thought the cast was on fire and the audience was also into it more than usual. Add in reports of the wave and a sing along going on during a tech stop today and I think the energy is just going to be magical in that building over the next 2 weeks.


"

Well I just went to YT and heard some samples of Scott's singing and I'm convinced. He's got the type of voice I like in this role -- sort of a deep baritenor. So keeping my ticket, and, let's face it, probably going to buy another ticket to see Dave before the show closes.

Itonlytakesajourney said: "Per Great Comet's Instagram live, the audio stopped working at the show today. Charming and The Ball went acoustic apparently.



"

I was there, not quite. There were some auidio issues in act 1, but they were covered by piano. Then in act 2 the audio totally cut out during In My House. It started fine, but about 10 seconds in all the mics stopped working. The actors kept going, the Mocs came back for about 5 seconds, and then sent out again. Then they came over the loud speaker and cleared the stage. Huge applause.

It was a long break, probably 15-20 minutes. Crowd was in great spirits. The band in the salon started the wave. Eventually they came back out and finished. Crowd was very supportive. They cut curtain calls short too.

As mentioned, Ben Stiller was there, he was a couple banquets ahead of me. Very nice guy, he was very in to it. One of the cast members told me Ben had been several times and was very supportive. Heard Stiller tell someone it was his 4th and his daughter's 8th.

And as a random aside, the girl in the "Russian custom" seat held out a water bottle for Lucas. He almost broke, but opened it and took a huge swig. It was fantastic

I wonder why they didn't ask Ben Stiller to be in the show. He seems to be a fan of the show, or at least his daughter is.

dramamama611 said: "I'll rank my opinion of the Pierres:

Stangland

Groban

Malloy (although it's really close to Groban)

Oak (and I didn't dislike Oak, just liked him the least. His Dust and Ashes is beautiful.) "



I didn't see Oak but my ranking of the Pierres I've seen would be identical.

In response to the question upthread, Lauren Zakrin just edges out Denee Benton as my favorite Natasha (Although Denee's "Natasha and Pierre" is my favorite!) although Shoba Narayan was fantastic, as well. I don't know what the correct musical vocabulary would be but there's something clearer about Zakrin's voice to my ear (and it's interesting because I found the same to be true about Narayan' s voice - a friend and I were seated apart on Wednesday and we were comparing thoughts after the show, and he made the same observation unprompted) and I feel her portrayal is slightly more grounded and less fairy tale romantic.

Updated On: 8/21/17 at 02:32 PM

hmph said: "I've seen the show twice with Grobes and Denée and loved it, but I saw the show again Saturday night and Scott and Lauren Zakrin really took it to another level. I found myself wholly invested in a way I hadn't been before, even though I knew the story inside and out from listening to the off Broadway album hundreds of times. Lucas, Amber, Brittain, Grace, et al, were amazing as usual, but Scott and Lauren Zakrin's performances were really poignant and affecting in a way that I hadn't seen before. Super bummed I'll never be able to see them as Pierre and Natasha again.

I see a lot of fans of Scott, but anyone else like Lauren Zakrin's Natasha best? Or anyone have any thoughts on Shoba's Natasha, which I haven't been able to see, or any other notable understudy?"

I was there on Saturday night too. I have absolutely nothing to compare them to but I thought that Scott and Lauren's performances were beautiful. Thank you to whomever it was that posted that Lauren was going to be on that night.

I never saw Lauren but have seen Denee twice and think the one factor that sort of limits her interpretation of Natasha is that she chooses to make Natasha extremely naive and even irritating. It's one way to play the character but I think there's room for a Natasha who is more romantic and dreamy, rather than just purely naive. After all she's based heavily on Sofia Tolstoy, who was an extremely intelligent woman with a wide variety of interests.

Phillytheatreguy10 said: "I too preferred Lauren after seeing both she and Denee. Something about her voice was more expressive to me, brighter levels in tone and clarity.

I was there on Saturday night also and completely agree. Denee is great, but there was something about Lauren's take of the role that it was hard to keep your eyes off of her. If for some reason she announces she is going on again for Natasha before the show closes, I suggest buying a ticket immediately! I could watch Lauren in that role ten times over she is spectacular. And also an absolute sweetheart at the stage door. Can't say enough great things about her performance.

Yeah there are quite a few now...all at $190 each

We ended up springing for those $190 tickets that got released today. I've never been to a closing night before, but I imagine the energy will be quite something.

The show is supposed to run 2.5 hours, but will closing night run longer? Will there be speeches or anything at the end? I imagine lots of curtain calls.

(Great Comet's last show is at 3, and we have 7:30 Groundhog Day tickets - I imagine that we'll have to do sandwiches for dinner, but will be able to get from the Imperial to the August Wilson in time)

Not Pierre, but Kennedy was in for Helene tonight- apparently for the first time. She did fine- no one can match Amber IMO.

I went tonight. Scott was indeed amazing -- I think he's about equal to Josh. Maybe not in terms of pure voice, but he really inhabited the part. I thought Amber Gray's understudy was fine but not at the Scott caliber in terms of standbys.

The energy of the ensemble and cast was BEYOND tonight. I was sitting in the front center mezzanine and I'm convinced that's the absolute best place to sit in the house. Perfect view of almost everything. Balaga of course brought down the house. Denee Benton was also on fire tonight. I find her soprano sometimes weak and thin but not tonight. I did see her swig some water discreetly in some hidden water bottles on that huge set.

One thing I've noticed: almost everyone in the cast and ensemble have gotten almost frighteningly thin. I guess this show demands so much energy and stamina that it was inevitable, but there are a couple cast members who look like they really, really need a huge T-bone steak and onion rings.

I haven't decided if I'll go back and see Dave Malloy and thus see all four Pierres. Oh who am I kidding. I probably (in other words definitely) will.