The Thread for HAMILTON Fans/Obsessives [SPOILERS AHEAD]- Page 45

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:19pm

neonlightsxo said: "How a character ought to be played, based on what, though? You're basing your opinions on how Phillipa did it. I don't think Alysha plays her as angry, but she definitely plays her as strong willed, which I think is true, considering who she was married to.

I just think you need to remember that Phillipa is an actress who played a character, and not the actual historical figure we're talking about here.

Well, based on a combination of the Hamilton libretto and the limited information we do have on Eliza - Chernow's biography, some of Eliza's letters etc. I'm not referring to Phillipa at all, so not sure where you're getting that from. I am excited to see different interpretations of Eliza and I wont judge Alysha's performance too heavily based on the words of others alone but BroadwayConcierge - who has seen her - can say what they like about her performance.

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:20pm

gypsy101 said: "aaaaaa15 said: "No scream or gasp!? Ooh, I can't say I would take kindly to that either. "

I would prefer no gasp, to be honest. I loved the scream but the gasp wasn't my favorite part of the show, by far. Is it supposed to be Eliza entering into the afterlife?

People have different interpretations. Mine is it's Eliza seeing the audience and realising that her and Alexander's stories have been told. Fourth wall breaks are always controversial but I think it's perfect. It's the part of the finale that really makes me cry.

Updated On: 7/28/16 at 04:20 PM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:21pm

I've seen Alysha too, which is why I'm defending her. I've also read the bio and I think Alysha's portrayal is perfectly valid based on what we know about Eliza.

I've said this before but I prefer Alysha's Eliza to Phillipa's. And that's allowed. I don't go around saying I think Alysha's performance is how Eliza OUGHT to be played. Updated On: 7/28/16 at 04:21 PM

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:23pm

That's fine, and you're entitled to that view just as BroadwayConcierge is entitled to theirs. People can interpret Eliza's personality through the biography in different ways.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:24pm

Obviously we're all entitled to our own opinions. I just think people should be careful about stating their opinions about an actor's performance as factual of a historical person.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:25pm

Neon, I expressly wrote that Alysha's performance didn't suit my expectations and tastes; not that she was incorrect or wrong or bad whatsoever. I have read the Chernow biography in full and personally found Alysha's Eliza did not embody the kind-heartedness and empathy the real Eliza is characterized as having in the book. She was a strong-willed woman, to be sure, but I thought Alysha's balance was off there. I also was just personally not that emotionally affected by her performance, whereas Phillipa and Carleigh devastated me. Just me—totally entitled to completely disagree!

As for the finale gasp, I have always thought it to be Eliza's long-awaited reunion with Alexander after she dies, seeing him in the heavens. The gasp crushed me emotionally, which made for a much more powerful ending than Alysha's Eliza just staring/smiling forward.

[Petralicious]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:28pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "Petralicious said: "A friend of mine saw the show last week with Carliegh Betttol as Eliza and said she was amazes,  anyone else have the pleasure?"

I have seen Phillipa, Carleigh, and Alysha in the role. I thought Carleigh was a beautiful, tender Eliza. She has trouble with big notes, but acting-wise and in 95% of Eliza's score, I thought she nailed it. 

Nobody can match the utter, ethereal beauty that Phillipa brought to the role, but I was super pleased with Carleigh.  Alysha, on the other hand—not so pleased. Thought she played Eliza with much more fury and bite than I think the character ought to have.

Further, Carleigh kept the loud cry Eliza makes after Philip's death as well as the gasp at the finale. Alysha did not. I was much less emotionally affected by Alysha's Eliza than Carleigh's, and of course far less than Phillipa's.

If you can't tell, I have rather strong thoughts on the portrayal of Eliza, so I apologize for my rambling verbosity

 

 

"Not at all!!!! I appreciate the detailed response!!  I saw and loved Phillippa, and Carliegh was really a standout as part of the ensemble, Ones eyes are drawn to her with her intense dancing.  Would love to get a chance to see her as Eliza, though that will probably be impossible at this point!

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:28pm

You expressly used the phrase how the character "ought to have." I made it clear that's the phrasing I had trouble with.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:30pm

Neon, I expressly used the phrase "than I think the character ought to have."

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:33pm

Yeah, that's not better, but ok!

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:36pm

I'm not even really sure why you're choosing to pick a fight with me on my phrasing since I clearly and explicitly attribute every one of my thoughts to me and my tastes.

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:38pm

Are people not allowed to have opinions on acting choices if the person they are playing really existed?

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 4:45pm

We're not understanding each other so let's just drop it.

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 5:24pm

Who high jacked the thread title and made it Hamilton Cancellation line?  

[karen24]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 5:38pm

OK, the thread subject seems to be back to normal now

I have a few questions I hope one of my fellow obsessives can help with!

1) I've got tickets for the Wednesday matinee on 9/7. I'm taking my 84-year-old Mom and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get her from Westchester to the theater. She's pretty frail and is moving slowly, but isn't in a wheelchair or anything. I think my best bet is to just drive us in, as getting her on and off Metro-North, through GCT and into a taxi could be challenging. Does anyone have a recommendation for a parking garage near the theater? If I can't find one within pretty close walking distance I may need to look into hiring a driver.

2) How have the lines for the ladies' restroom been lately? I think I heard that they have been pretty crazy. She will definitely need to use it during intermission. Do you think it would be OK if i asked those in front of us (I'm assuming we won't be able to dash out as, well, she can't dash) if she can go ahead of them and use a handicapped stall?

3) She is also quite short. Does the theater have boosters, and are they relatively comfortable cushions or are they those hard plastic child seats? My son is coming also so we'll have three seats we can switch between if someone really tall or with a huge head sits in front of one of us (usually it's me)

I know this sounds like possibly more trouble than it's worth, but Mom is really, really looking forward to seeing this and I want to make it as stress-free as I can.

(We're sitting in Orchestra Q, 19-23. I've seen the show once before, last August, and sat in the front mezz. I'm looking forward to being in the orchestra this time. Got the tickets way back in January, I think, when a block went on sale.)

Thanks!

[gypsy101]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 5:44pm

for some reason "manda.borden" decided to ask their question about the cancellation line here, instead of the thread for the cancellation line that is constantly on the first page of threads.

[mariel9]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 5:46pm

Carleigh kept the loud cry Eliza makes after Philip's death as well as the gasp at the finale. Alysha did not.

Alysha did both the night I saw her.

[macnyc]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 6:20pm

Karen24: What a nice thing for you to do!
 

1. I agree with you that Metro North might be too much for your mother. Driving in might be your better bet, but be sure to leave enough time, I mean LOTS of time, because traffic near the district will be awful.

I like a site for parking: http://nyc.bestparking.com/ You can put in the approximate time of arrival and get an accurate price. Also, you can print out coupons.
 

2. The ladies' room situation at the Rodgers is an unusual one: Despite the long line, it's very organized, and workers manage to get everyone in and out at intermission! The key is, the line starts on the left-hand side of the theater, kind of in between the two parts of the orchestra. It's important that you go right to that spot, and your mom will then be okay. Ask an usher before the show and she or he can show you where to go when the time comes. Actually, where you are sitting in Row Q is perfect because you'll be on the correct side. The ladies' room is downstairs though.

If your mom can't handle a flight of stairs, ask an usher for the location of the accessible bathroom. I'm sorry, I don't know where it is at the Rodgers.

3. Row Q is ideal for short people and people of any height because it's the "stadium seating" area. Your mom will have no trouble seeing over the head of the person in front of her, unless the person is seven feet tall or something! I love that section, and as a matter of fact, I have sat in your exact seats! You'll have a great view and you'll feel surprisingly close to the stage. She shouldn't need a booster seat. 

Have a great time!

 

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 7/28/16 at 06:20 PM

[Huss417]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 6:47pm

@Karen24

I think the best parking which worked for when I just took my mother on Saturday is an outside lot right on 46th between 9th and 8th Ave. We got there around 1PM left at 6:30PM and was 40.00.

If you need the exact address I can look it up later but it is the only one left. Its right on restaurant row and just one block over to the theatre. Then an easy out after the show taking the left onto 8th and avoiding Times Square.

There is also a small lot directly across the street from the theatre but had issues there a couple of times with trying to overcharge and have since avoided. The other issue with the lot across from the theatre is now when you leave you are in the heart of Times Square. Something I always try to avoid when driving.

I have also done Metro North with my mom but not always easy getting a cab when you want it and even more so heading back to Grand Central with the theatres getting out.

Updated On: 7/28/16 at 06:47 PM

[karen24]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 8:11pm

Thanks so much for both of your replies - really really helpful! macnyc, that's great information about the theater and I'm so glad to hear that the seats are good! As you know when these seats become available you just have to snap them up and hope for the best - I thought they looked good on the chart, but it's great to hear from someone who's actually been in them

Mom can do stairs, but if there's an accessible bathroom on the orchestra level I might look into that for her. 

And Huss417, that lot sounds perfect, especially since I think we'll probably go to Joe Allen after the show and it sounds like the lot will be just down the block.

I'm feeling a little more calm about it all now!

[casedilla2]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 9:16pm

Re: Alysha as Eliza, out of curiosity, when did you all see her in the role? I saw her a couple weeks ago and attended the show with a friend of mine who had previously seen her as Eliza back in March. She had told me how disappointed she was with her as Eliza and therefore I was quite disheartened to see she was on when we went. In the end, she ended up blowing me away, and my friend loved her too and said she had vastly improved from the first time she saw her (which I've now heard from others as well). I agree with whoever said that her Eliza was strong willed, which in many ways I found more enjoyable than Phillipa's more passive interpretation. Also, she did both the scream and gasp when I saw her. 

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 9:21pm

I don't see Phillipa's Eliza as passive at all. She has a quiet strength throughout. Nevertheless, I'm glad to hear Alysha is doing the scream/gasp now. I would have thought they would be directorial choices rather than acting choices anyway?

[casedilla2]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 9:50pm

You're right, passive was definitely not the right word, that's a much better description. I like them both probably about equally, and had preferences between the two on certain songs and moments. But yeah, I definitely would have been put off if she didn't do the scream and gasp, as I think those are two of Eliza's most emotionally powerful moments. They should definitely be done regardless of who's playing the role, as oppose to an individual acting choice.

[ethan231h]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 10:43pm

correct me if I'm wrong but I think Lexi was back tonight!

[ampi2]

Posted: 7/28/16 at 10:44pm

^ she was!