Tale Of Two Cities is a must see- Page 2

[Poppy]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:01am

I just returned from NYC where I saw A Tale Of Two Cities. I agree with the favorable comments on this Board 100%. The performances were top notch. James Barbour blew me away. What a voice!!! Everyone was excellent. Natalie Toro did not overact as some critic complained. I think everyone needs to see the show themselves and make up their own minds. Don't ever let the critics' opinions influence you. Their opinions may not be your own. The house was full this Sunday matinee and from the comments I heard, everyone enjoyed what they had seen. No profanity, no penises, just two and one half hours of a show the whole family can enjoy. I will go back again.

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 11:21am

I'm a lousy critic. It's true, I can almost always find something positive to say about any show. Granted, I've seen some shows with, er, very clean seats and well painted mouldings. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by this show. It was not on my list of shows to see but when comps became available, I grabbed them. My expectations going in were literally, "I was going to stay home and do laundry tonight, I hope this turns out to be better than that would have been." It was.

I didn't find the score memorable, but it wasn't the Les Mis Redux everyone said it would be either (That was The Pirate Queen, which still has a home on my iPod anyway, it has its moments. See? I can't help it!). The parallels in period and themes make such comparisons inevitable, but they're two very different books with very different perspectives, and I think I saw some of that honored here. I agree that the direction was weak in places (mainly those involving actors, sets, or music).

Now, extracting my tongue from my cheek, which it was threatening to punch through, I present this show my Chicken Salad award. The last one went to Tarzan, who had one of the hardest working ensembles on the boards at the time. This is what I offer in salute to hard working folks who do their utmost best to make chicken salad out of chicken s**t. I thought the production was gorgeous. Rarely do you get to break out those cherry and fire red gels and make them work, and while the wagons did remind me of giant bell carts at first (I was thinking they could hang the 'Express Yourself' dresses on them), I thought they flowed and suited the production well. Sets and lighting scored some big points, right behind the gorgeous, thoughtful, and accurate costumes.

The performances sealed the deal and moved the show into the 'I would have paid money for discount tickets to see this' column. Say what you will about James Barbour's offstage life (and folks seated around me did), his performance was amazing, as were the others across the board. I still wince when I hear 'Castle on a Cloud' and the first time I saw the little girl, my 'Early LesMis Warning System' went to full alert, certain this would be that moment, and it wasn't. The character was just as Dickens wrote her, and the young actress was super. Natalie Toro's performance was on the money, no significant scenery was chewed by anyone (good thing with all that metal), and those folks worked as a terrific ensemble.

When everyone was on the feet at the end, I was with them, and I wasn't racing for the exit mourning over a lost opportunity to do my laundry. With the right discount codes, I'd recommend this show, and maybe even go back for another look-see. There are some truly spectacular performances here and for students of theatre, it makes a great case study and 'What would you have done differently?' exercise for directors.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:15pm

"Beware all those who have the audacity to say they enjoyed it will forever more be called a shill by many on the board."

Nope, just the ones who joined this month.

[dburns08]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:21pm

The musical was a mess. At times I was unsure whether it was attempting to make a mockery of itself or if it was attempting to be serious. The ensemble was brilliantly talented, the sets were slightly overambitious, the plot confusing. The leads did a wonderful job developing their characters--however awkward the situations they found themselves in were. Natalie Toro...what a waste. She has such a beautiful voice but her character was given small, insignificant stage time and a character that was forbidden to develop further.

My favorite part of the night: the giant guillotine blade that slices through the stage near the end of the second act.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 1:57pm

Must see?

A TALE OF TWO CITIES is one of the most ill-conceived shows I have ever seen. Amateur to a point where I was actually embarrassed to be sitting there watching them.

[Dre2387]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 2:11pm

you have your opinions and we have ours.

[denise2]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 3:00pm

I loved the show. And, yes, James Barbour is incredible. I was familiar with the concept CD and was excited to see the show. And I was not dissappointed. I enjoyed it so much that I will be taking my mother as her Christmas present. And I'm hoping it stays through the holidays because I'll go again.

[sydney23]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 3:10pm

Shakespearean,

Glad you ended up liking the show but I've got to ask about your comment about the Little Lucie character. In what way was the character "exactly as Dickens wrote her"? I don't even recall the kid having but a few lines of dialogue in the book - and they were at the end when her father was condemned to die. And I assume the possible "castle in the cloud" moment you were anticipating was the scene in the first act between Carton and her?

[maddiem]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 3:12pm

I love the concept Cd!! I listen to it all the time.. I think the lyrics and the music are just beautiful.. I have seen it twice already and I am going back for Christmas.. I am becoming obsessed with Sydney Carton!! :)

[ContessaDeLuna]

Posted: 10/23/08 at 12:22am

I'm so happy to discover I wasn't the only one to completely fall in love with this musical! I saw it with my parents when it first started in previews on Broadway (early September), and we are STILL talking and raving about it. I was absolutely shocked when the negative reviews came out, considering the excitement and overwhelmingly positive response of the audience after the show. If Barbour doesn't get a Tony (or at least a nomination), then there is no justice in this world. :P

It really irks me when certain individuals think they're opinion counts more or is more "right" than everyone else's. Everyone's musical tastes are different. Get over it. Also, I don't at all understand the claim that the plot was confusing. Neither of my parents nor myself were very familiar with this story and were able to follow it just fine - no confusion at all!

Anyway, I'm really hoping for an OBC recording in the future! :)

[Testing1232]

Posted: 10/23/08 at 10:28am

Went back Tues (5th time), and went by stagedoor for the 1st time... One of the nicest casts you could ever meet !!!

Natalie Toro was too sweet !!!

We kept mentioning the OBCR, and James Barbour said "We are working on it"--- Keep fingers crossed !!