The Apple Tree.... Darn

I so wanted to love this show, saw the original many times and am a fan of Cheno etc.
But I was very let down.
First of all Cheno, quite a disapointment
She has the most incredible voice and comic timimg
but all she does in this show is repeat her schtick.
And where she got a chance to show some acting in
THE DIARY OF ADAM AND EVE, she just didn't.
A strong director should have gotten more out of her.
Brian D'Arcy is the performance to applaud, he shows subtle and funny acting and his voice is just so sweet.
Kudish is in fine voice, but kinda wasted.
He is best as the Balladeer, sorry he played gay (or Fey) as the Snake.
The set (John Lee Beaty, one of the Best)is also not up to par, The characters keep saying Eden is beautiful, but it was just Planks and ladders.
Jess Goldstein's costumes are fine till the Third act.
and Donald Holder's lighting (he should get a Tony nom for THE TIMES...) is his weakest this year so far.
The score sounds amazing, which it is and Tunick has of course lived up to the challange of a smaller, but terrific orchestra.
Andy Blankenbuehler's Choreography is messy and annoying in the the Thrid Act. The ensemble is moving way too much in "Who IS She and Wealth" Just let Cheno sing.
I think older audiences will apprecaite the music and stories here, but It just didn't "break thru" to a re invention of a show I really liked.
I don't like to compare performances but Barbara Harris does not have a voice like Cheno, but her acting and vunerability was more delicious.
ROUNDABOUT, bring on "110 In the Shade"
and make it Rain!

Updated On: 12/1/06 at 01:00 AM

Well, thanks for the review. Sorry that you were let down. I'm gonna be in the city for one day on Saturday and I was gonna see this show, but now I'm just the tiniest bit wary. I'm glad to hear Brian was good though, I was so excited when I heard he was going to be in it.

Hey, that's all a review is anyway. Well, thanks for your thoughts. I'll definitely check it out.

Glad to hear positive things about Brian.

I hope they get back to the same form they were in during the Encores production where most people were raving about it.

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Auggie, I'm a big Chenoweth fan, and I feared that this would happen. I was excited about this because we'd finally see her mature as an actress. I mean this is a perfect opportunity for her to branch out. In the Encores production, I heard many people raving about it calling Chenoweth the real deal. Even Margo Channing thought Chenoweth nailed it. It's disappointing if she regressed back to Sally Brown/Bored Glinda.

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Is that a surprise? Kristin Chenoweth has always played the same thing.

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You know why I think you're all upset about the lack of sets. I think it's because it's missing something.....YES, THE ORCHESTRA! As everyone knows, in every ENCORES! production (with the exception of Allegro, where the orchestra was in the pit), the orchestra is usually on stage. That explains the bare sets.

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I loved The Apple Tree, and I thought Kristin did an amazing job! Every comment I heard afterwards in the theater was positive. It's such a charming, simple show. Kristin was wonderful, and made each role different. Read the glowing reviews of her in the Encores production- everything they said is still true.

And I, tomorrow.

Having seen Chenoweth in the role that won her a Tony - Sally Brown (in a very slow year may I add), James in Titanic and a bunch of other things, and Kudisch in pretty much everything he's done, I look forward to them in this. They're all very dynamic performers, to say the least.

Well, Gary Griffin has not exactly done excellent work in New York before...I hope they pull it together.

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I waited all my life to see this at Encores and had a great time. When I heard that they were bringing it to Broadway, I thought they were crazy.

See it soon, if you want to see it. I can't imagine it lasting.

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Griffin did indeed direct the Encores! production. As they are staged concerts, his work is pretty good, considering the time frame allowed. But for a more "fleshed" out version, the Broadway production hasn't really changed much from the concert staging.

The show is somewhat swallowed up at Studio 54. At least at City Center, which is huge, the orchestra on the stage filled it out a bit. When it's just tiny Kristin and Brian alone with no set, it's pretty barren.

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