THE NOTEBOOK Broadway Previews- Page 7

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 3/13/24 at 11:56pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Jonathan Cohen said: "Carolee Carmello of Bad Cinderella"

I’m sorry! Of WHAT now?!?!"

You did not just say that THREE TIME TONY AWARD NOMINEE Carolee Carmello is best identified by BAD CINDERELLA!?!?!?!?

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 12:11am

Call_me_jorge said: "Jonathan Cohen said: "Carolee Carmello of Bad Cinderella"

I’m sorry! Of WHAT now?!?!"

I wasn't living in New York when she was in Parade, Lestat, or Scandalous. So yeah, to me she's the actress who gave a great performance in that not so great Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 12:20am

My mind is boggled by anyone who says they have trouble figuring out who is playing what character in the story. There's a main male and female character in each time period; it's not rocket science.

Updated On: 3/14/24 at 12:20 AM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 12:31am

Jonathan Cohen said: "Related to nothing, I was sitting nextCarolee Carmello of Bad Cinderella, who appeared to be one of the chaperones for astudent group of some sort."

Left orchestra row I? I thought that was her but was far enough away I doubted myself for a second. 

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 12:43am

MemorableUserName said: "Jonathan Cohen said: "Related to nothing, I was sitting nextCarolee Carmello of Bad Cinderella, who appeared to be one of the chaperones for astudent group of some sort."

Left orchestra row I? I thought that was her but was far enough away I doubted myself for a second."

I was in Left Orchestra Row J, seat 3 and she was literally in that seat after intermission. We did some musical chairs so more of the students she was with could sit together. You saw her.   

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 1:25am

TaffyDavenport said: "My mind is boggled by anyone who says they have trouble figuring out who is playing what character in the story. There's a main male and female character in each time period; it's not rocket science."

Congrats to being smarter than me? 

The movie only had two Noah and two Allies, not three. In the musical, multiple younger Allies and Noahs are on stage together at the same time. I didn't know a huge amount about the musical going in and didn't have a chance to look at the Playbill ahead of time. 

You were posting in this thread reviews of the Chicago production before this even started previews. Which is cool, I'm often a big research ahead of time person too. But a lot of people are going into this show cold and aren't going to have the same experience as you. 

I don't think it taking a couple of extra scenes to understand six actors are playing two parts is that weird. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 6:24am

I have never seen the film nor read the book. The casting and character breakdown, especially with the dialogue and staging, makes complete sense from the jump.
 

You’re getting in your own way trying to turn this into something.….unless The Cher Show also took you for a loop? 

Updated On: 3/14/24 at 06:24 AM

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 7:27am

At least they are employing more actors, that's something I guess.  Will reserve judgement.  

[BETTY22]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 9:33am

Best of luck tonight - times a rough for new musicals with original score (like Back To The Future, this show does have the advantage of a monster movie franchise behind it) - but even so, fingers crosses.

 

[HunterK]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 9:41am

BETTY22 said: "Best of luck tonight - times a rough for new musicals with original score (like Back To The Future, this show does have the advantage of a monster movie franchise behind it) - but even so, fingers crosses.

I absolutely agree, wishing them amazing thoughts for their opening and that they have a long run. I just have a feeling that this is the New Musical of the season. 

God bless Maryann Plunkett!! 

 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 10:46am

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I have never seen the film nor read the book. The casting and character breakdown, especially with the dialogue and staging, makes complete sense from the jump.

You’re getting in your own way trying to turn this into something.….unless The Cher Show also took you for a loop?"


I'm not one of the ones who was confused by or is arguing against the casting. But The Cher Show seems like a particularly disingenuous counterexample, given that that show did not do race-blind casting, and did cast actresses who were the same physical type and approximate height to make it clear they were the same person. If it (or "Summer," though obviously that never would have happened) had cast with more racial and body diversity among its three leads, do you really think no audience members would have been confused, even for a moment?

Updated On: 3/14/24 at 10:46 AM

[akhoya87]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 10:58am

Setting aside casting decisions beyond her control, it seems like there's near-universal acclaim for Maryann Plunkett's performance.  I know she'll likely be up for Best Featured, and that it's highly unusual (if not unheard of) to nominate someone for Best Lead Actress when they give us all of one song.  But I do feel like of anyone in the cast, Maryann and Dorian Harewood are the closest thing we have to leads, just given their stage time and presence.  Of course, hard to say there's a "lead" when six actors share roughly equal active stage time.  

(Yes, yes, I know all three couples will probably be deemed eligible for Featured -- just throwing this out into the universe.)

[singer234]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 11:16am

I think MaryAnn has a real shot at a for win best featured actress. I know the competition is crazy but she is the heart of this show and just brilliant.

If she did win, would she be the first performer to win a Tony for a musical in which they do not (or barely, under a minute) sing?

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 11:18am

singer234 said: "I think MaryAnn has a real shot at a for win best featured actress. I know the competition is crazy but she is the heart of this show and just brilliant.

If she did win, would she be the first performer to win a Tony for a musical in which they do not (or barely, under a minute) sing?"

The first example to come to mind is Tony Shalhoub, who won Lead Actor for The Band's Visit despite not singing much (mostly a single one-minute song and a small part in a duet?).

Updated On: 3/14/24 at 11:18 AM

[singer234]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 12:16pm

Good point-I should also clarify that in that question I’m not including dance musicals such as Movin Out, Contact, etc., but am more interested in terms of a real book musical. I’m sure I’m wrong and there have been plenty-doing my research on wiki!

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 1:46pm

singer234 said: "I think MaryAnn has a real shot at a for win best featured actress. I know the competition is crazy but she is the heart of this show and just brilliant.

If she did win, would she be the first performer to win a Tony for a musical in which they do not (or barely, under a minute) sing?"

Two I can think of - Thomas Mitchell in Hazel Flagg and Natalia Makarova in On Your Toes. I believe neither sang in their respective shows or, at most, sang very little. 

I know you said to leave out dance musicals, but Boyd Gaines actually had book scenes in Contact rather than just choreo moments. 

[alovingfan]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 4:28pm

How obstructive are those extreme side mezzanie and front orchestra seats?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 4:39pm

SonofRobbieJ said: "singer234 said: "I think MaryAnn has a real shot at a for win best featured actress. I know the competition is crazy but she is the heart of this show and just brilliant. If she did win, would she be the first performer to win a Tony for a musical in which they do not (or barely, under a minute) sing?"

Two I can think of - Thomas Mitchell in Hazel Flagg and Natalia Makarova in On Your Toes. I believe neither sang in their respective shows or, at most, sang very little. I know you said to leave out dance musicals, but Boyd Gaines actually had book scenes in Contact rather than just choreo moments."


Tony Shalhoub in BAND'S VISIT sings maybe one minute –– and his was a lead role.

We may have another contender this year who sings almost nothing (Ato Blankson-Wood as Cliff in CABARET).

What if Jay O. Sanders won Featured Actor/Play (for PURLIE) and Maryann Plunkett won Featured Actress/Musical? How cute would that be!

[Kad]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 7:05pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "We may have another contender this year who sings almost nothing (Ato Blankson-Wood as Cliff in CABARET)."

Interestingly, no actor has ever been nominated for a major award for playing Cliff.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 3/27/24 at 12:29am

Having watched the movie numerous times, I was excited for this musical adaptation but ultimately left disappointed. The music was forgettable, and the plot shallow, resulting in severely underdeveloped characters. Throughout the show, I couldn't shake the feeling that it would have been vastly improved with a more suitable creative team. Although I cried, the tears were more a result of my familiarity with the story than the show's emotional resonance. While I'm glad I went, I wouldn't see it again, nor could I recommend it with much enthusiasm.

A quick aside: I was baffled by the two young women seated next to me, who arrived 15 minutes late and proceeded to spend the rest of the first act loudly debating whether the three couples were the same characters or different ones. Enduring that absurd conversation might have also added to my emotional response during Act I.

[sppunk]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 11:07pm

Saw this finally tonight and man I really disliked it. 

No one on stage had any charisma, connection and the songs were cheesy as hell and they couldn't even nail them. I contemplated leaving at intermission and I NEVER do that. 
 

Probably didn’t help seemingly half the people around us were on their phones the majority of the show. I can’t say I blame them. 

[terrilovesNY]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 11:55am

alovingfan said: "How obstructive are those extreme side mezzanie and front orchestra seats?"

I saw this last month, 2nd week in previews, was offered partial view C16 (last seat, house right) for $89 as rush was sold out when I got to the window. It was great seeing the actors so close, but did miss out on the full view of the set, a few moments on stage left, and the few scenes that included an upper walkway on stage. One of the boxes also overhangs this seat, which is actually the 2nd row, legroom was a dream, no seat in front of me. I’m not sure how much would be missed further back, majority of the show is center stage. I sit in partial view seats often and this was one of the better views.

As for the show, I went in with no prior knowledge of book or movie. Once the story settled in I found no issues with the change in Allie & Noahs. The music was nice but I can’t say memorable. For a show that is marketed as a tearjerker (they’re selling tissue as merch, which is brilliant) I just wasn’t feeling it. Perhaps it’s the lack of character development of the younger couples? Is this because they added another couple? 

For comparison, I saw Kimberly Akimbo the next night, (it was my 4th time) and I could have used that box of tissues. 

 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 4/4/24 at 5:50am

This musical is so dull and bland for me. Every song is some love song and that’s what you get the whole way through. It desperately needed more variety, and then maybe we’d appreciate some of the ballads more. It felt like more of a concept musical. The three stages of love, or life.  There was very little drama. I wanted middle Allie and Noah to be passionate and rough and tumble like in the film, but it all just felt so inconsequential.  Her seeing him and their house in the paper, that should be a moment where everything stops for her, which should have been done through music. Instead, she goes off to the restroom and sings some boring wordy song.  I wish this was more of a choice between the two men, love vs security, but we barely go into Lon.  I genuinely liked the second half of act 1 when theres actually DRAMA.    We find out how the young got separated, middle Allie is going to the house, and old Allie doesn’t remember her own family.  Everything is coming into focus and you want to see what happens next.  Unfortunately, they squandered Act 2.  What was the deal with the male nurse? I don’t understand what he was supposed to mean.  It actually felt like a theme park show with theme park acting.  I don’t understand why Ryan Vasquez even chose this show, maybe it was the money. The old lady ran away with this whole thing. I can’t imagine any of the actors getting nods except Maryann Plunkett for featured. People were crying at the end when old Allie remembers her husband, sings, and then dies.  This is not my type of musical to begin with, way too sappy and mushy.  Dread. 

[getatme]

Posted: 4/4/24 at 11:43am

akhoya87 said: "Setting aside casting decisions beyond her control, it seems like there's near-universal acclaim for Maryann Plunkett's performance. I know she'll likely be up for Best Featured, and that it's highly unusual (if not unheard of) to nominate someone for Best Lead Actress when they give us all of one song. But I do feel like of anyone in the cast, Maryann and Dorian Harewood are the closest thing we have to leads, just given their stage time and presence. Of course, hard to say there's a "lead" when six actors share roughly equal active stage time.

(Yes, yes, I know all three couples will probably be deemed eligible for Featured -- just throwing this out into the universe.)"

I have a strong feeling that Plunkett and Harewood will be petitioned up and ruled leading.

[KarenValentine'sheadband]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 9:37pm

Saw it last week and it was fine. I can't think of a better word but fine. The cast was memorable and lovely but the rest of the show was not so much. I wish the music was better. Two of my friends liked it a little more than I did but they couldn't remember a song from the show after our dinner and drinks.