THE NOTEBOOK Musical - News & Discussion Thread- Page 4

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 9/23/22 at 2:37pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "The Notebook has been extended thru Oct. 30 by popular demand."

Oh hell yes. I'm definitely going back to see this one. I got the understudies for Older Noah and Allie, and they were both great (Older Noah especially), but I'm like to see what the principals are like.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/24/22 at 3:51pm

Glad it got extended! I'm moving here in a few weeks and will def check this out!

[inception]

Posted: 9/24/22 at 4:32pm

RippedMan said: "Glad it got extended! I'm moving here in a few weeks and will def check this out!"

Are you moving from California?  I really liked Chicago when I visited at the end of summer in 2019, but gosh I wish you well surviving the winter there.  Not sure I could handle it.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/24/22 at 4:43pm

Yes! But did NYC for about 6 years before that so not that worried about the winter, but it's been awhile... ha

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 9/24/22 at 7:05pm

 

[Adeliciaboy]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 2:09am

Saw the show in previews 10 days ago.  Found it to be a flawed small musical  that wants to be a melodic, uplifting evening about true love and dementia -- two topics that quite frankly don't work well together on stage.  Some posters on this site believe  the show is ready for Broadway.  I wouldn't be so fast to say that.  Ingrid Michelson has written a few pleasant tunes, but like  the work  of other composers from the pop world who have tried to write musicals, her songs aren't inherently theatrical. Too many sound too much alike.  The one song that could be a showstopper -- "If This Is Love," is treated just like most of the rest. The unappealing orchestrations and arrangements in the current production do Michelson's music no favors. Using  three actresses to play the role of Allie was a mistake that only makes the story harder to follow.   So producer Kevin  McCollum, who would be likely to ferry this production into New York, will have more tough decisions to make as he did with "The Devil Wears Prada,"  which is now on the back burner.   Is a post-pandemic Broadway, where tourists roam in large numbers,  craving material like "The Notebook?"  Probably not.  It would be a tough sell, even with a big-name star to front the  show.  Reviews in Chicago will likely be positive.  But let us never forget New York is a whole different ballgame.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/1/22 at 2:08pm

The show celebrated their opening earlier this week and Chris Jones tweeted that reviews will be published on the evening of October 6, I believe. 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/1/22 at 3:14pm

That trailer is so unappealing. Dark, drab, only showcases one song that is pretty mediocre. The switching of people is confusing too. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/6/22 at 11:21pm

I was back at The Notebook for tonight’s press opening. I thought it was better this time around than the last time. Unfortunately, John Beasley was out again and his understudy was great yet again. Has John been on at all or have I just been unlucky getting him? I know Covid was running around the cast, so I’m not sure if he may still be out with it.

I saw some notable people in tonight’s crowd, Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune and producer Kevin McCollum. I think this is broadway ready and it is probably only a waiting game for an available theatre. The smaller the house, the better.

 

Sidenote: The seat I bought for this performance didn’t exist, I am not sure if it was just a crazy coincidence or if it’s been happening a ton. But they sold me seat 29 row A in the upper gallery, which didn’t exist. I also bought through the box office, so maybe their software was weird. I wanted to give props to the house manager for helping me find a new seat, just saying this to warn others to double check that their seats exist.

Updated On: 10/9/22 at 11:21 PM

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 10/7/22 at 8:38pm

Call_me_jorge said: "I was back at The Notebook for tonight’s press opening. I thought it was better this time around than the last time. Unfortunately, John Beasley was out again and his understudy was great yet again. Has John been on at all or have I just been unlucky getting him? I know Covid was running around the cast, so I’m not sure if he may still be out with it.

I saw some notable people in tonight’s crowd, Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune and producer Kevin McCollum. I think this is broadway ready and it is probably only a waiting game for an available theatre. The smaller the house, the better."

I was there for the second time last night as well and loved it just as much as the first time. And Chris Jones' review is a 4-star rave: Tribune Review   Chris calls out the exquisite score, which I think is the strongest element of this strong production.  I hope they don't replace any of the cast when this goes to NY.

[jon5202]

Posted: 10/8/22 at 10:49pm

https://www.theatreinchicago.com/the-notebook/reviews/11343/

[Dan6]

Posted: 10/10/22 at 6:18pm

I was fortunate enough to be in Chicago last weekend and saw the Saturday night performance, and it really is something special - a truly moving piece of theater that earns every one of the many tears shed and is also surprisingly funny. The score is lovely, and while the songs do sometimes sound repetitive (with a few notable exceptions), they flow organically from the material and are in service of the story and character development, unlike many musicals where a song is dropped in just because it's a good place for a song.  And I need to give a shoutout to Ingrid Michaelson's lyrics, which are deep, insightful, and expertly crafted.  Shoutout too to all the performers, particularly Jerome Harmann Hardeman (who was on again for John Beasley) as Older Noah and Maryann Plunkett (who I remember so well from "Me and My Girl" ) as Older Allie.  I strongly disagree with the previous poster who opined that triple-casting the main characters at different ages was a mistake; I think it worked beautifully and made the music and the storytelling so much richer and more resonant.

On the negative side, I will say that the second act needs some work; I cried more in the first act than the second, largely because Older Noah and Older Allie (who are the emotional heart of the piece) are absent for large stretches of the second act.  Although that is somewhat dictated by plot developments, it would be great if they could be incorporated more throughout Act Two, as the performances are so beautiful and the audience has forged such a strong connection with them by that point.  (Also, given that the first act establishes that their story is being played out in flashback by the younger performers as Noah reads it to Allie, it makes little sense to have that flashback continue during a time when there is no storytelling going on.) The final scene is a bit abrupt (with a brief but crucial exchange between two supporting characters that was difficult to hear), and as others have commented, the final number is pretty weak; it's interesting that someone said they were thinking of "Light" from "Next to Normal," because that's the kind of musical emotional wallop I was craving as a finale.  Also:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I think it's a mistake to have the backdrop raise to reveal the orchestra during the last number, as the audience erupted in (justifiable) applause that drowned out the ensemble for the last minute of the song.  Basically the audience treated it as the curtain call even though the final number wasn't over yet.  Definitely detracted from the emotional impact of the finale.

And I wasn't crazy about how the show treated Allie's eventual recovery of her memories, which happened not while Noah (or even the physical therapist) was reading to her, but when she was alone on stage and at the very beginning of a scene with no real lead-up.  So when Noah then entered, she already knew who he was.  It would be far more powerful if we could see the moment when she recognizes him while he is reading to her, and see him react to that recognition.  I felt a bit cheated of what could have been the most emotional moment in the show.

This show has a definite future on Broadway and I encourage everyone who can see it in the intimate Yard space to see it during this run.    

Updated On: 10/11/22 at 06:18 PM

[ChiDoc]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 10:40am

I finally got to see the show this week.  It was my first time seeing anything at The Yard, and this was probably the best possible Chicago theatre for this particular musical.

I have my share of notes on how to improve the show, but I was impressed by what I saw.  I watched the movie years ago so I was lightly familiar with the material, but I was much more taken by the story than I was back then.  It probably helps that I have been an Ingrid Michaelson fan for over a decade, but this was by far the best pre-Broadway run I’ve seen of a musical yet.

I enjoyed the score in the moment, but I echo what others have said that several songs really blend together.  I think the orchestrations are part of the problem, as many songs started with what sounded like the exact same instrumentation to my ear.  The songs are lovely pop songs, but they also worked with character.  The cast sings very well (I loved the Young and Middle Noahs especially, and the Allies were also appealing).  I do think it’s strange that only one non-Allie or Noah character, who is not given a large enough role, sings a song, and the message of it is also muddled by the book.  But that could be an easy fix by beefing up the role.

Overall, the show is in good shape for the future.  It flew by, and while there are some book tweaks I would make, the whole thing got me.  Love the staging, was into the whole thing.  This could have a real future, and I look forward to seeing how it improves!

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 10:51am

I hope they record a cast album with this cast, or at least have Ingrid do with Sara Bareilles did with waitress and record a concept album. I need to hear this music again.

[ohjustjake]

Posted: 10/20/22 at 12:43pm

I went to Tuesday night's preview and will just add to the glowing reviews so far. This show and production is quite special, and it this show is in GREAT shape. I was especially taken with Young Noah and Allie - incredible chemistry. I thought the use of the three couples were expertly used (FINALLY), and thought the acting across the board was incredibly strong. The ending definitely packs a punch, and the orchestra sounds great. I thought the music really worked (though some of it sounds the same, I think that's more of an arrangement/orchestration fix though). 

I do think they need to work on Act 2 - it's lacking conflict and feels slightly rushed. And the rain scene is effective until you watch the crew mopping - I heard that they ran out of money in the design so couldn't have a grate/drain in the set design unless the production moves forward, but that could just be gossip.

I will mention that the audience was great EXCEPT for some groups who were definitely out for "rom-com" night, thinking they could drink wine and eat snacks and chat throughout the show. I had to tell someone to turn off her phone because in the middle of act 2 she was showing an apartment to her neighbor. 

AND WORST of all, during the final song when the entire cast it standing on the apron of the stage and I'm a weepy mess, some woman had the audacity to go up to them and start handing out flowers, BEFORE the show was even over! Before the bows! She made this moment all about her, and the cast couldn't decide if they should acknowledge her, accept the flower, or ignore her. It was so unfortunate because the final moment was so beautiful and then she ruined it.

Anyway, this show is in fantastic shape and it's ready to transfer - I do hope they take their time, tweek it a bit, and not rush in especially with what looks like a packed season, but I think this production deserves to be seen.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/22/22 at 9:27pm

Went to the matinee today. 

This show is a VIBE. I don't think the show really clicked until we got to the Middle couple. The Young Couple is great, but, they weren't really given any real songs, just sort of snippets and whatnot, then Ryan's Noah comes in with a gorgeous solo and really the sho clicked into place. 

I never saw the movie or read the book, so I've nothing to really go off of, but I agree with a lot of the previous posts. To me the show flew by, but there are no stakes.  We know they end up together,  have kids together, etc. So the whole like "You never sent me letters" .... we knew where it was all going. But I thought the act break was good. 

I think the Noah's were just vocally more demanding and interesting and it made the Allie's a little less in my eyes. I wanted some powerhouse vocals. Middle Allie's solo is great, but compared to the guys, I didn't feel like her vocals were up to it. But having said that...

This whole things needs to be beefed up! I mean, sound, etc. I want it to all be louder. I loved when they revealed the orchestra, but I think the orchestra should just be there the whole time.  The whole thing sounds like a bad Disney karaoke. The orchestrations almost sound cheesy to me. Surely there is something else we can do then start every song with a guitar strum. 

I really did enjoy it and hope it has a life after this. I look forward to a more beefed up production. I think it would be great if they could bring the lights out into the house some too and make it a bit more immersive. But overly highly recommend. 

[jbm2]

Posted: 10/24/22 at 11:34pm

Fell in love with this show, after seeing it. What is the future of it? Any talk of a Broadway transfer? 

 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 10/25/22 at 12:54pm

jbm2 said: "Fell in love with this show, after seeing it. What is the future of it? Any talk of a Broadway transfer?

"

I haven't seen the show, but I could see a transfer happening 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/25/22 at 1:36pm

A transfer is almost guaranteed considering the reception. The only unknown is the timeline (this spring vs holding until the following season). The very prolific producer Kevin McCollum is behind it.

Updated On: 10/25/22 at 01:36 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/25/22 at 1:49pm

Considering the team (director, creatives) and producers, I'd imagine a transfer is in the works. I could see it at the Barrymore. 

The only real issue is everything is black/dark. And the material itself is super heavy. I just wanted a few more light moments. The opening song is all about "Time" and just think they need to tinker with it a bit more to give us a few more really uplifting moments. 

I also think the ending could be cleaner. I don't think the dialogue is even needed at all. The tableau is powerful enough (with the nurse coming in, etc) and the chorus singing. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/27/22 at 12:15pm

Does anyone else plan on seeing the show before it closes on Sunday?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/30/22 at 2:12pm

The show takes its final bow in Chicago today. I hope we start getting more information on its future after it closes.

Does anyone remember how quickly after the Chicago run did Six announce its broadway transfer? 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/30/22 at 2:21pm

What theaters are available in the Spring if this is to transfer to Broadway?

[brdwybound04]

Posted: 10/30/22 at 5:48pm

When I saw a few weeks ago, the guy at the merch stand told me it was going to start previews in Valentine’s Day @ The Music Box, and then open in mid March… this was the plan that was communicated to me on the 12th of October…

Updated On: 10/30/22 at 05:48 PM

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 10/31/22 at 2:56am

That would be a good space for it.

I think it could use some work but gives the reviews I doubt they’ll tinker much with it.