The Official Ace Musical Thread — Page 2

I am so thrilled that Matthew Scott is doing this...saw him in Jersey Boys when he went on as Frankie...he's absolutely incredible. :)

For those who do not know, Signature's MAX and ARK Theatre are small Flexible Black Box Theatre's. Meaning the seating configuration changes for each show.

Two of the last three show's in the Max Theatre have been a "three quarter round thrust" set up. For ACE, from what I understand, it will be set up in a Proscenium set. I would expect it to be about the same size as it was with Kiss of the Spiderwoman was. However I'm not sure if the set will be as huge as that set was. For those of you that were lucky enough to see Kiss of the Spiderwoman, the set alone was awe inspiring. I heard someone say there was FOUR TONS of steel used for that.

I will definatley be seeing a preview this week. I am hoping to RUSH the show on Wednesday at the first preview, I was so disappointed to hear that they had to cancel the first preview on Tuesday.

I will post more after I see the show. I'm REALLY excited about it.

Oh my god, this show sounds like it's going to be incredible! If the cast wasn't already amazing, the staging would make this show thrilling by itself.

I can't wait to see it next month.

---

Updated On: 8/25/08 at 12:45 AM

looking forward to seeing this in a week

Updated On: 8/25/08 at 08:06 AM

Anyone going tonight?

Updated On: 10/21/08 at 11:47 AM

Going this weekend. If I didn't have to be at school for development tomorrow and Friday I'd have been down there all week. Very excited!

---

I am going next Thursday. I had intended to go to the first preview, but it got canceled.

---

Just got back from the first preview of the broadway-aimed musical Ace.

Before I delve deeper into the review, I must say that I have been seeing DC, Philly, and NYC theatre for a very long time and Signature is of my favorite regional theatre companies. Every show I have seen has been consistently solid and even if the show itself isn't great or unique the performances usually make up for the material.

I went in with no knowledge of the musical and only a brief plot outline. I really wanted to like this show, the set looked great from the start and the performers in the program were very recognizable faces from NYC and DC theatre. But unfortunately the show was...i hate to say it..a mess. It was way too long, the music was weak and underwhelming, and the lyrics and book were dismal and predictable. By the middle of Act One, I began to predict every other ending word, since every lyric was a rhyming couplet. The two numbers that were serviceable and remained in my head were In these Skies (which was repeated numerous times) and It's Just a Matter of Time which had a great beat and rhythm. The other songs (and there were many, 28 including reprises) were slow and plodding and seemed to repeat the same theme and topic over and over again.

I think the main problem with the show is that the authors do not know what audience they are trying to reach. At first I thought, well maybe it is so hokey because it is a family show, but the plot points are too complicated and the show way too long for any child to sit thru. It is way to syrupy and cheeky to play for the older crowd or teenagers. Maybe it was meant for veterans of the various wars to treasure, but even the war aspects were predictable and dull. They hit every stereotypical war plot point...men gearing up for battle, the drunk bar scene, the wives back at home singing of their long lost husbands, and a very cheesy death sequence toward the end of the first act. It was so disappointing to see a theatre that has churned out amazing work to resort to this piece.

The performances for the most part were unmemorable. Stanek had one ok solo, but then dissolved into the background. Noll has an amazing voice but her acting needs work. Scott was in great voice as Ace, but was very "actory" and overacted the entire performance. The most disappointing actor in the show was Paice who has a very high pitched whiney voice that is almost ear shatteringly shrill.

The standout in the production was the young lady who played Emily. Folks, watch out for Angelina Kelly. She was pure joy in the part of Danny's young friend and she was a welcome breath of fresh air. She had amazing comic timing and great acting chops and she was probably only 12 years old. Every time she came on the stage you could feel the audience perk up and absorb her great performance.

Technical aspects were interesting. The set was was very simple and Mr. Spanger took a very creative and inventive approach for the battle scenes and different locales throughout the show...although the platform effect in the center of the stage got very old and one wonders if they just gave up on ideas for the plane sequences.

Sorry for the length and I know it is a first preview, but I never write reviews on this board and I couldn't hold back after seeing Ace: The New Musical Catastrophe. If this goes to broadway...Mr. Brantley is going to have a field day.

I was there last night too and I can't believe how boring this show was. The first act felt like it was 8 hours long. 5 people in my row left after 45 minutes. This production is all sets and no heart. The score is dull-28 insufferable songs and so many reprises that I wanted to scream. The lyrics were so infantile that the only way I could stay up was to keep popping M&Ms to get a sugar boost. Be prepared to catch up on your sleep - and prepared to hold your ears -Jill Paice's voice is like nails on a blackboard. Why can't Mr. Shaeffer let someone else direct these shows. Didn't The Visit prove that in the hands of a creative director, Signature can have a hit? If they bring this mess to NYC, it will be Glory Days II.

I'm sad to read that the show's not in a good place - between the official demo and..er...alternative sources, the show seemed to be in a good, but not yet great place after the last production. As someone earlier posted, it's trying very hard to find its place as a family show - something with action for the kids, a bit of sex and history for the parents, etc. It's a hard balance to strike, and it looks like the direction they took was to bloat and start throwing things at the wall to hope that something sticks vs. taking what was strong.

Also, any chance of a song list? I'll freely admit that the score is too ballad heavy for its own good, but I'm hoping the songs I like (In These Skies, Now I'm On Your Case, Make It From Scratch, Matter of Time, Missing Pieces, We're The Only Ones) are still in there.

Been lurking on these boards for ages, and finally took the plunge.

I enjoyed ACE last nite. And yes, there are issues. (Saw Matt in JB, and loved him, but the melodramatic acting...) I think it's only fair to wait out preview week before posting a real review.

What caused me to actually register and leave a comment was the previous reviewer's mention of Angelina Kelly.

We didn't agree on ACE as a whole, but, every person in our group of five felt that we had witnessed something very special -- this kid just owned the stage.

I am no fan of child actors, but, I am a huge fan of talent. I want to be one of the first to say - when she's ripping up the Broadway stage in a decade - I KNEW, right from the beginning.

I plan to see the show again, several times. Preview week is a time for improvements and there are improvements to be made. (Must Christiane Noll's character, Ruth, be so fickle and aggressive? If she loved both men and had to choose John Anderson wouldn't the connection feel stronger?)

Anyway, my partner and I were still talking about Angelina at breakfast So, before the Ace bashing begins, I want to say - catch this new talent at it's birth.

Updated On: 8/28/08 at 11:56 AM

I was really looking forward to seeing thoughts on the first preview and was thinking about heading up to see it on Saturday, but am now rethinking that. Perhaps I should wait a week or so and see what improvements have been made.

phillyactor - thanks for reminding me about ticketplace! I totally forgot that existed.