The Pirate Queen 11/1

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 12:34am

Okay, first off, a disclaimer: I haven't been reading most of the reviews posted here, so I apologize if I repeat things already said. This isn't going to be a complete review of all the characters and songs or anything, just some main things that I thought about the show for anyone who's interested.


The Short: I liked it. A lot. It needs some work, but I really, really, really liked it.


The Long:
First of all, the theatre is absolutely STUNNING. Wow. I mean, really, just gorgeous. We had tickets for Row S, but were able to exchange for Row L, which was fabulous. The show starts out with a scrim (I think that's what it's called) painted with a boat, among other things. As the overture begins, lights play across the scrim, and the audience sees waves crashing and rolling over and around the boat. The waves are coordinated with the music, and the sun rises. It's really quite beautiful, musically and visually.

The opening is incredibly exciting and really fun to watch, which gave me hope after some of the negative things I'd heard. The score overall is beautiful, in my opinion, with some really great songs, “Here on this Night”, “The Woman That I Am”, “She, Who Has All” among them. I can't remember the names of the other songs I really liked. Some definite parallels to Les Miz in this show, musically and plot-wise. I've never even seen it and I could tell that.

The sets, costumes, and lighting are all great. I loved the starry background for much of the show. The costumes are quite beautiful, especially Elizabeth's and her entourage's. The one complaint I had was that they sometimes seemed to be pushing the British into caricature. However, Elizabeth's Act II opening dress was absolutely incredible.

STEPHANIE. J. BLOCK. WOW. Just, WOW. I'd never heard her sing before, but I was expecting good things from her reviews as Elphaba. She was absolutely incredible. Her voice is gorgeous, her acting superb. Man, is she FIERCE as Grania. As an example, and this may be a bit of a spoiler, so be warned, at the opening of Act II, after she gives birth and then the British attack their ship and she immediately hauls herself up and fights, I could FEEL her pain in my uterus. Seriously. My stomach is still aching, two hours later. It makes my head hurt to think about it, she was just THAT good. Wow. I spy at the very least a Tony nom.

The rest of the cast was great, as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the actor playing Tiernan's voice at some points, but at others he really sounded fantastic. The little boy playing Eoin was so freaking cute. He broke my heart in his first interaction with Grania.

The dancing was tons of fun. I'm a big Riverdance fan, so it was fun seeing that sort of dancing live. The ensemble is incredibly talented.

Okay, so that was the good. Now, on the the “needs improvement”. Not bad, needs improvement.

The biggest problem I had with the show was the end. It needs to end with more of an emotional wallop. I'm not sure how they would do that, but it sorely needs it. After Act I, I was all excited because I thought the show was great and it was really exciting and emotional. I was expecting Act II to be even better, and while it was good, when it was over I was like “That was the end?” I did feel for the characters and I cared about what happened to them, but something was missing, and I think that something was a real emotional punch. They were obviously trying for it, but didn't quite succeed.

The other thing that bothered me plot-wise was that I didn't entirely “get” Elizabeth's motivations for her actions. I didn't understand why she would give up Grania, queen of the pirates, for Tiernan, basically a nobody, as far as I could see. I mean, I get that she was supposed to feel a womanly bond with Grania and all that, but it wasn't enough. It felt a little hokey. In general, they should flesh her character out some more. I think that would really help.

I general question to anyone who has seen the show: Who the hell was Evleen? I didn't understand what her relationship to Grania was, nor her purpose. Please help!



So, in general, I thought that the show was very good. Not without its flaws, of course, but very enjoyable nonetheless. I didn't find it boring at all, and, in fact, wished it could have continued. I'm hoping to see it again next week with some of my friends. I hope that sufficient changes can be made so that it will succeed on Broadway. If you're in Chicago and haven't seen this yet, go. Don't let the critics turn you off. My aunt and uncle read the reviews and thought it was going to be just awful, but they enjoyed it just as much as I did. It's visually and musically pleasing, and Stephanie J. Block...well, all I can say is “Owwww, my uterus!”

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 1:19am

Thanks for a well written review. I agree that Stephanie J. Block and the rest of the cast are doing an incredible job. I had the same problems with the ending and characterizations that you did. In fact I don't think your review is much different from one I wrote a few weeks ago. It's an pleasant evening of theater, but there are some problems that need fixing.

In the novel Evleen is the wife of one of Grania's captains. She is a follower of Ireland's pre Christian Pagan beliefs and acts as a spiritual advisor to Grania. She represents old traditions which are dying out in a time of change. Hers is one character I'd love to see fleshed out in a revised Pirate Queen. It would help Grania's characterization a lot to show her confiding in an advisor now and then. In the current show Evleen is just trotted out to sing some Gaelic verses at various ceremonies. Aine Ui Cheallaigh has a wonderful voice and a nice stage presence. I'd love to see her doing more up there.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 1:27am

Thanks! That makes a lot of sense. :) That's something they really need to fix, because she just randomly comes on stage and sings, and we're like, "What?"

[Popular]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 2:26am

Don't have much to add since I haven't seen the show, but thanks for sharing!

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 4:05pm

Oh, another thing I remembered. Some of the lyrics could use some cleaning up. There were some really cheesy, not-so-good lines in there. But that's to be expected.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 4:13pm

But that's to be expected.

Why?

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 4:15pm

Great review. Thanks for posting!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 4:15pm

Because it's still early and nobody's perfect? Notice she said "expected," not "excused."

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 4:31pm

Yeah but why is it expected that shows have cheezy lyrics that need to be "cleaned up"? I wasn't trying to be rude. I was just wondering.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 4:52pm

I would also love to have more explanation of and just, well, more of Aine Ui Cheallaigh's character. Her voice is stunning (love her on Riverdance recording), but I really wanted to understand where the hell she came from.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 4:52pm

Seeing it again tonight!!


the song is still "the woman that I am"? damn..I like "because I am a wife" better...

[Popular]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 5:02pm

Stephaniethestar.... ummm, I hate you! haha
What is that, like three or four times now?

I'm being facetious, of course. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it so much that you keep going back for more.

Didn't I tell you before you went to London that you'd be happy to live in Chicago!?! Sorry to have been cryptic at the time but now you know why I was saying that!

[Wanderingchild5]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 5:24pm

I loved the song Boys will be boys. I really hope a cd comes out soon. Andddd that boy was cute. We wanted to get his autograph but his mom rushed him out of the theatre.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 5:34pm

I viewed Aine Ui Cheallaigh's as a Greek chorus somewhat commenting on the action.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 5:49pm

Ciaron McCarthy, Emcee pretty much explained what I meant by that. A lot of shows in previews have lines that are just strange. I would expect that because they're still working out the story and rhyme schemes and whatnot. That doesn't mean I think it's okay. I hope that makes things clearer for you.

brdlwyr- That's interesting. That's pretty much what my aunt thought she was. But either way, they need to make it clear. I mean, if she's a Greek chorus, somewhat outside the action, why would Grania go over and hug her at some point?

Stephanie- Do you know if there's any place (legal!) I can here "Because I Am a Wife"? I'd be interested in hearing it, because I really liked "The Woman that I Am." Thanks.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 6:52pm

Something else needing improvement- The stage combat. Most of it looked very fake. If that's what their going for, that's okay, I guess, but somehow I doubt that it is. I guess with time it will improve, but it was sort of cartoonish at times. Oh thing I didn't really like at all was the "dead people floating away" thing near the beginning. I hope they can find a better way to stage that.

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 1:01am

I didn't want to start a new thread about this and my review will be short because I'm exhausted, but I saw it tonight and had to review:

First of all, I'm never going on a field trip to the theatre with the drama club kids again. Man, they don't get out much. I really liked the show. I liked all the music and I liked the story too. I agree that the stage combat looked a little fake, but hopefully that will improve. Honestly I'll say it wasn't an "amazing" "outstanding" show, but I don't think that it deserves all the negative reviews it's getting.

Oh yeah, the girls who were sitting behind me need to get a life! Bawling their eyes out almost the whole way through!

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 1:30pm

I'm glad you at least enjoyed it, Dancin.

I just found out that I'm going again next Wednesday. It'll be cool to see the show from a completely different vantage point.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 3:25pm

Popular!! I know...it's 3 times now..and I remember you telling me I'd be happy to be in Chicago..and I am :)
My little little review..there isn't really any spoilers...

All my classmates hated it. I loved it even more. They added a new verse for Stephanie in "The Choice is Yours" which helps immensely. Now it's no longer "OK, I guess I'll marry Donal...that's cool"...you hear her pain...and anger at having to make the descision. There were more changes, I'm having trouble remembering now.

Beg. Curtain it now has words that show up that, besides the date (which was there last time I saw it) it says something about Ireland and England. then it says "There is War". Which made me laugh...which wasn't good. I don't think they need that line. Or if they do,they need to reword it because it made me giggle.
I decided this time, that "I'll be there" needs a slightly different ending. The way it is now isn't as powerful as it should be. And "The Woman that I am" does too...It has a lot of empty measures leading up to a big ending taht even Stephanie has trouble making sound right..they both need a drastic big build to a big high awesome note.
They reprinted the Playbills since October 18th, they now have a Synopsis insert (which is usually a bad sign ) and they have the song title of "the Woman that I am" now instead of "Because I am A Wife".

P.s. Jeff McCarthy is taking a higher note at the end of "My Grace" which is much better than the low ending...it gives the song a stronger ending...good choice :)


ummm...yeah...anything else...anyone?

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 4:37pm

My drama teacher told all of us the reason why they put a synopsis in the playbill. He said that in Europe most people grow up hearing this story so they know pretty much everything that's going on. We obviously have never really heard about the story until now and going in without knowing anything makes it harder to understand. It's like going in to see Wicked without knowing about The Wizard Of Oz. That's why they printed the synopsis, so we have at least a general idea of the story before the show starts and we're not completely lost.

[Popular]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 4:52pm

They reprinted the Playbills since October 18th, they now have a Synopsis insert (which is usually a bad sign )

I'm not sure if it's a bad sign or not.

One of the main complaints at this point is a combo of Americans not knowing enough backstory/history and the the story just needing to be tightened up. If it adds clarity and enhances the understanding and enjoyment of the story, it could be a good thing to add at this point.

Les Miserables has a synopsis in the playbill. Even RENT has that little "who dated who" map of characters in the playbill. I'm sure there are other examples of plays that had a synposis included that ran for quite a while, so the fact that a show has one shouldn't really be an indicator of how successful it is/will be.
Updated On: 11/3/06 at 04:52 PM

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 5:15pm

POOP ON A DECK
'PIRATE QUEEN' SAILING FOR DRY DOCK

By Michael Riedel, NY Post

"November 3, 2006 -- AHOY there, mateys! Is there anyone on this ship who can fix me show? The Pirate Queen," a $15 million musical from the creators of "Les Miserables" and "Miss Saigon," is listing badly in Chicago, the first leg of its voyage to Broadway."

I hope this link works for anyone interested. I love the bit about how McColgan and Doherty actually wanted to BUY the Hilton Theater in NY.

NY Post PQ article

Updated On: 11/3/06 at 05:15 PM

[Popular]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 5:22pm

Yeah, well...

Riedel could probably benefit from a nice regular poop. I'm surprised (not really) that he didn't like it.

Why didn't you post this in the review thread?

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 5:37pm

"Why didn't you post this in the review thread?"

I didn't think that would be fair to the show. After all, Riedel's column isn't a review, it's just gossip. (That's also why I wouldn't have added it to your Castcom thread, unless I could have figured out a way to change your thread title to Riedel's headline...)

I thought the most appropriate place to put this was wherever people were currently discussing Pirate Queen.

Updated On: 11/3/06 at 05:37 PM

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 6:34pm

Stephanie- That "There is War" thing made me laugh as well. I agree, they should reword that, or something.

I don't think the synopsis is necessarily a bad thing. It means that people are listening to the audience complaints about incomprehensibility. While I, personally, understood almost every word sung, having the synopsis helped anyway because it gave me plot points to look for and say "Okay, so this is exactly what's going on." Also, with a show that is entirely sung, it's much more difficult to understand what's going on than if there is spoken dialogue.