"The Glorious Ones" is Terrific

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:38pm

Music: gorgeous.

Lyric and book flow seamlessly, which is good because one person wrote them.

The cast is stunning. Jenny Powers captures two separate characters. Natalie Venetia Belson and Paul Schoeffler are a perfect match for each other and both of them expose their souls in these characters. Jeremy Webb plays a very interesting character and manages to find all the layers in him. Two of the character roles, played by John Kassir and David Patrick Kelly, give just enough that you remember them but never ham. And, Julyana Soelistyo is marvelous. She takes a kind of small part and really brings it to life.

Graciela Daniele, marry me. (She smiled at me. Probably just to be polite, but I still saw her from about ten feet away.)

In a word, beautiful

Updated On: 4/22/07 at 10:38 PM

[WellIfYouInsist]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:50pm

So glad to hear such positive thoughts! Since you don't accept PMs, what is your AIM? I have something I wished to ask personally about specific parts of the show. Updated On: 4/22/07 at 10:50 PM

[ahmelie]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:56pm

I'll be seeing it this weekend, I'm very very excited.

I've asked this before, but I haven't gotten an answer. Is this an out of town try-out for a possible Broadway opening?

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 10:57pm

In today's "Post-Gazette," Stephen Flaherty answered that question. It's not, it's a stand alone production, but if this doesn't transfer at some point or another, I'll be shocked.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 11:00pm

Oh, too bad. I hope it does go somewhere, I've only heard one song from it (I Was Here) but that song alone is one of my favourite songs in the entire world.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 11:03pm

Just because this is a stand alone production doesn't mean it won't transfer. It also said in the paper that "industry professionals" will be attending the opening and other performance.

From the article: "Now they're adding something new: "The Glorious Ones," a musical chronicling the adventures of a troupe of 17th-century Italian actors, which has its world premiere at Pittsburgh Public Theater, now in previews and opening Thursday for critics and inquisitive industry powers.

"It's a real stand-alone production," Flaherty is quick to insist -- not just a tryout for New York."

But, go read it yourself.

And, "I Was Here" is amazing, but trust me, it's only the tip of the iceberg. The song after it is also beautiful, as is "Opposite You," "My Body Wasn't Why," and "The World She Writes."

Quick edit: I'm emailing the producer sometime soon (i.e. when the Public's website isn't down) to find out if they're making a cast recording. They can record it in my basement, but this NEEDS to be recorded)

Updated On: 4/22/07 at 11:03 PM

[sfs1414]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 11:07pm

I'm going very soon!! Can't wait! Anyone else on here from Pittsburgh thinking of going??

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 11:09pm

I'm probably going back when they've frozen it.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 11:14pm

Oh, got ya. I didn't read the article (we don't get the Post-Gazette, I know, crazy.) I thought you meant he had said that it was solely a stand-alone production.

It's very cool that Danile is directing it, that's another thing, how much choreography is there? Is it very dance-heavy?

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 11:16pm

DANIELE doesn't have too much dance in this. It's more the comedia scenes that require heavy stylized staging and some other little moments.

Oh, and by the way Emily, in the actual production, "I Was Here" begins with, "Why does a boy carve his name on a tree?" I don't know if you care that much, but I thought I'd throw that in there.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 11:19pm

Awesome! I have "Opposite You" from the Mazzie duet CD, but haven't heard "I Was Here" yet. Where can I hear it?

[ahmelie]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 11:21pm

Patti LuPone sings it in her one-woman show, but it's on youtube too

Tags: I was here Patti LuPone

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 11:23pm

I'm seeing it on the first Wednesday in May. and probably again after that. I'm so excited for this show.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 11:33pm

I didn't think it was terrific.

I think it's Ok. It's a good starting place, and the music is really nice, but I wasn't really sure what I was watching until perhaps an hour in. I didn't know what story was being told. It just seems like there's something missing, especially in the end, as it is quite abrupt.

My other complaint is that it's not terrible funny. Granted, I saw the dress rehearsal, and things are still being tweeked, but the humor is a little lame, and for a show about Commedia del'Arte... I wasn't laughing much.

I absolutely understand that I was seeing a dress rehearsal of a World Premier show, but I hope they do a lot of work, because I certainly think it can and will be a lovely show.

And meeting Ahrens and Flaherty was a dream come true.

[Ronnik]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 11:45am

So glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. I absolutely loved it, though I admit to being slightly biased. There is something SO infectious about Stephen's music, and Lynn's lyrics are always so absolutely on target.

I agree that while I love "I Was Here" and "Opposite You", I think there are other songs that I love even more. "Armanda's Sack" and "Absalom" are my two current favorites.

I also think Graciela does some of her best work here. The choreography for "Making Love" and "Armanda's Tarantella" are classic!!

I disagree with whoever said the show isn't funny; all opinion, of course, but I laughed heartily throughout and had a smile on my face the whole time. I thought it was sort of fun to see the more "risque" side of Lynn & Steve. Having said that, there is so much heart and soul in the show that transcends the humor. I think that's what is so special about Ahrens & Flaherty; even while you're laughing, there's always a more serious message woven in there.


The Ahrens & Flaherty website

[ahmelie]

Posted: 5/12/07 at 4:24pm

I just came back from this, and honestly... I was dissapointed.

There's a few great songs, but the plot is confusing, there isn't a book, it isn't very funny, and it's missing something. I don't know what, but something's not there that really needs to be. Maybe it misses heart? Something deeper? I didn't feel connected to any of the characters and the plot turns, particularily the end, came out of nowhere.

The Good: Sturdy score, not A&F's best, but it's good. I really enjoyed Daniele's direction, and I think the show has a lot of potential but it needs to come together.

I guess with my love of Ahrens and Flaherty and my obsession with the song "I Was Here" I expected to love this. And I didn't.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 7:35pm

How's the press been?

[ahmelie]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 10:42pm

I chose not to read reviews until I had seen the piece myself, and they all pretty much said the same thing. Great team so it should've come out better, weak book, awful plot, uninvolving, great direction.

ETA: I lied, most of the reviews have been negative. But a few have been postive. City Paper and Variety's were negative, but the Pittsburgh Tribune and ATC's reviews were more on the postive side.

I don't really understand how anyone could love this show but...

Updated On: 5/13/07 at 10:42 PM

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 11:36pm

Actually, if you go to the "Pick a City" feature and click on "Pennsylvania" you can find links to the two major reviews of it.

Here's a link to the other review it got: http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A30209

I just got back from seeing it tonight and am still thinking about it.

I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it, but I was in tears by the end of it. It took the story a while to involve me. Part of the problem is that you're not really sure if the characters are people or prototypes. If they are supposed to be actual characters, then the ninety minute running time is too short for us to emotionally engage fully with them.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 8:19am

Thanks Sondheimboy--I'm ashamed to say I *always* forget that their are other boards here for each city--I got to the West End one sometimes but usually just check here...

Why was 90 minutes too short if they were meant to be full characters? (just wondering as that's about the length of one of my fave shows--Passion--and even Chorus Line isn't much longer... two shows I connect with very much--but are also very different kinds of shows)

I have to admit that even from reading all the various info on the show I can't clearly tell whether the characters are meant to be prototypes, whether it's meant to be non literal or literal, etc, etc--so I can see that being a problem. Still I am such an Ahrens/Flaherty fan (and to a much lesser extent of Daniele's) that I wish I could see this.

(It does sound like maybe it suffers from a problem common to some of Daniele's other recent work--like her productions of LaChiusa's Bernarda Alba and Marie Christine which both are flawed but favreotie scores of mine but many thought needed someone else's involvement with the libretto)

(Interesting that linked review seems to think Ahrens/Flahherty have had more popular success on stage than most would--I LOVE Ragtime but considering some of its money probs calling it a *mammoth hit* is a bit hyperbole Updated On: 5/14/07 at 08:19 AM

[alancam]

Posted: 5/23/07 at 6:58am

I wish I could have seen this show. I really like Ahrens/Flaherty's music. Their opening numbers are divine. I hope this would be recorded just like their previous works.