The Wild Party Opens This Week- Page 3

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 12:12am

Seeing this tomorrow, but I don't think it's fair to call the "sound" of the show lazy. I mean, Les Miz has guitar riffs and actual riffs in it. Yet it's stylistically appropriate. I don't think any of those things are out of place in this version. Lippa was going for a pop/rock influence, which is probably why most young musical theatre performers prefer his version over the other. Because to a modern ear it sounds better. No diss on the other Wild Party, but I think this show is Lippa at his finest (and that's saying a lot).

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 12:21am

"I really don't understand how the two establishing songs of the show can be cut and substituted with "A Wild, Wild Party" "

 It really is mind boggling. I am not as excited to see this on Saturday now. 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 12:24am

I think there's a big difference between what Les Miz is setting out to accomplish with its score and the tone that Lippa's Wild Party is aiming for.

At no point in Les Miz are they attempting to create an authentic 18th Century french sound. It never attempts to be period, but rather a stylized pop-opera. That's what makes the score work for me; I would never label it anachronistic, even though technically it is.

The Wild Party on the other hand does make attempts to have a 1920s sound and vibe at times. The pop/rock sound feels (to me, at least) at odds with the material because Lippa doesn't fully commit to the modern sound in the way Les Miz or Jekyll & Hyde commit to their pop stylings. LaChiusa didn't write a bunch of patische numbers, but it nonetheless sounds more authentic to the period and characters than the Lippa version.

 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 12:25am

The set design was sleek as well as the lighting design. I thought the singing was about as good as it gets. Pasquale is in top form and thrilling vocally. There is a ton of god given talent on the stage. As for the piece itself, it felt like something I was peering in to rather than being pulled in to. The story was a little slight so I found myself uninvolved with the characters and thinking more about how well the actors were singing. I have to say though that of the 3 offerings this summer A New Brain was my favorite. It was so complete on so many levels and the music found its way into my emotional core. It is the show that will stay with me.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 1:14am

PS I guess they offered Pasquale South Pacific at Lincoln Center but he needed Wednesday matinees off for Rescue Me and they could not work it out. I am guessing he was offered the Mathew Morrison role (correct me I am wrong). Pasquale was also offered Light In The Piazza...so if he had taken those roles Mathew Morrison might have had a longer journey to fame...

[starcatchers]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 1:41am

"For those who have seen it....Are these clips indicative of how Brandon Victor Dixon sings the whole score? That is a LOT of 'riffing'....hopefully it just seems that way because of the moments chosen for this sizzle reel, because the idea of him singing around the melody for the whole evening is enough to keep me away. That kind of ornamentation usually comes across as more self indulgent and less an acting choice....in my opinion. "

 

He doesn't sing anything as written. Ever. It's infuriating at times.

That said - I'm in the extreme minority for two reasons, based on this thread:

1) I hate LaChiusa's version of The Wild Party

2) I really enjoyed myself tonight.

 

Dixon was my main problem with the production. His overindulgent riff fest is not backed by much else. 

Sutton Foster is miscast, but acts it well.

Pasquale (despite tanking on a line during Make Me Happy) was brilliant, as was Joaquina Kalukango as Kate.

Aside from the hack saw taken to the opening of the show, I didn't mind the changes.  

 

 

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 1:46am

I actually love the fact that the score is a mix of 1920s and contemporary. It really works for me! Love the score!!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 1:55am

I see what you're saying. Maybe it's how singers approach Lippa's Wild Party. It just, as evident by Dixon, lends itself to a more modern American Idol type sound. For whatever reason. 

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 2:27am

This reminds me of "Women On The Verge...", when they cut the opening and moved "Madrid" to the top of the show. A lovely number for sure, but adds no set-up or emotional investment, just plops us right in the action.

I think QWAB and Out of the Blue were some of the best parts of the score and set the story/characters up fantastically, so I'm disappointed to hear this.

Seeing this on Friday, and hoping to enjoy it nonetheless.

 

 

Updated On: 7/16/15 at 02:27 AM

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 2:53am

I'm disappointed to hear that those two songs that really, really work (and you can't say that about much of the score) are gone, and nobody has mentioned anything about further development of the minor characters. Of course, on Lippa's last musical, Big Fish, he cut a song that worked really well ("The River Between Us") and left an embarrassingly awkward clunker untouched ("Showdown," anyone?).

I imagined that Sutton would be miscast, and the video clips (which, granted, aren't much to go off of) don't change that opinion. The guy playing Black not only seems to riff WAY too much, but he also seems to lack the sex appeal that Joshua Henry would have brought to the role. 

Even though I wasn't going to be able to see this production, I am disappointed by what I am hearing. There's a good show somewhere in there, and I thought some revisions for an Encores concert could be what this show needs. The purpose of Encores concerts should be to put a big focus on the music, allowing you to overlook book problems. Pretty hard to do when two of the most memorable songs in the show are cut.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 3:17am

I'm an idiot, but I guess I wasn't paying much attention and assumed this was the LaChiusa version.  I watched that TheaterMania clip wondering how I didn't recall any of this awful, pedestrian music from the original production.  Glad to know that I'm not losing it... completely.  

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 3:54am

I just have to say that it has been so great to see a younger demographic at all of the summer Encores shows. It is wonderful that ticket prices are so affordable and younger audiences are excited and ready to participate. There was very little cellphone ringing, texting and that sort of nonsense. Audiences were very enthusiastic and respectful whenever I was in attendance.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 8:03am

I went last night. Some scattered thoughts:

--I know some people on here and over on All That Chat have mentioned sound/diction problems. From where I was sitting (second row grand tier), I didn't encounter any issues understanding people, and I didn't find the mix to be overly loud. 

--Sutton Foster is, indeed, rather miscast. She works her tail off to overcome it, but this will not go down as one of her most successful performances. I agree with the poster who said that her costume and wig were a little too reminiscent of her Reno Sweeney garb.

--Steven Pasquale is quite possibly the best musical theater actor working, and I say that without hyperbole. I don't have words to describe that voice. And he managed to be genuinely thrilling and terrifying, even in that cave of a theater.

--This is a breakout performance for Joaquina Kalukango, whose versatility astounds me.

--Brandon Victor Dixon is all wrong for Black. Wrong voice, wrong style, absolutely no air of mystery, menace, danger.

--Great to see Miriam Shor on stage again, although her voice sounded somewhat diminished.

--The ensemble is largely solid.

--I forgot how much I disliked this score, which I don't think I'd even heard since seeing it at MTC all those years ago. And all of the changes are for the worse. As another poster points out, Lippa doesn't even try to do anything period-specific, and some of his lyrics are laughably bad. However you feel about Lachiusa, at least he achieved the mood and style of the story through his music. 

Updated On: 7/16/15 at 08:03 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 8:28am

The lack of specificity in the score is hardly unique to Wild Party. I can't think of a Lippa score that sounds specific to character or the story it's telling in any way that isn't superficial. There's a reason why he, despite an enviable amount of commercial success, never really emerged as a driving musical theater talent.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 8:33am

I would argue that there is character-specificity (and some period-specificity) to john & jen, although I don't find that score overly successful either. But other than that, Kad, I am in complete agreement. There is little artistry or understanding to Lippa's music.

[PJPan]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 8:45am

"LaChiusa's has always been my favorite, though I do like parts of Lippa's score."

This was my first time hearing Lippa's score and while there are definite highlights and some wonderful moments, LaChiusa's really expands and develops the characters much better. In this version, it seems like Queenie/Burrs/Black/Kate/Madelaine are the only real characters - I was especially surprised that Dolores had only one line in this version and that Jackie was nonexistent.

However, as others are saying: Pasquale was very very strong, Miriam Shor aced her song, and Joaquina Kalukango (previously unknown to me) blew me away.

This production gave me a reason to want to go out and look up some of the music, which is one of the things I always hope a musical will do for me.

[decast]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 10:51am

I was there last night, it was a good night, but I just don't think the material is very good. I mean, if the likes of Sutton Foster can't lift it, but that said it had it's moments and it's impressive for something that has been put together in such a short space of time. I honestly, would watch Pasquale sing a phonebook or menu, so for me he stole the show, he really needs to do something back on Broadway soon, I kind of want him to do the Annie Get Your Gun concert with Megan Hilty too. 

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 11:27am

If “Queenie Was A Blonde” and “Out of the Blue” were both cut…where does the story start? Do we see into Queenie and Burrs’ relationship, how they met, where they were at at that moment it was decided to throw this particular party? If “Wild, Wild Party” starts the show now, does that mean the show now starts at the beginning of the party?

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 11:31am

I'm seeing it tonight, and couldn't be more excited. I know I'm in the minority here, but I've always preferred Lippa's score. I'm sure the cuts will annoy me, (and the lack of How Did We Come to This)... but it's not going to ruin the performances, which is really what I'm going to see. Miscast or not, I always love Sutton, and I haven't stopped thinking about Steven Pasquale since Bridges. Joaquina Kalukango looks killer, and I love almost anything Sonya Tayeh does, so I feel like I'm in for a great night. I'm thrilled that I got a ticket.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 11:48am

There is actually very little that leads to the party -- it kinda abruptly happens after a fight with little reasoning behind the party. It was actually quite jarring and had I not read the Wikipedia entry and listened to the OCR, I'd have no clue what was going on. 

[msbungee]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 11:53am

Did anyone see the 2000 production with Julia Murney, Brian d'Arcy James, Taye Diggs, and Idina? Just curious

[TweetyPie2]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 12:38pm

I didn't, but there are bootleg clips on YouTube. (Am I allowed to mention bootlegs, unlike on "the other board"?)

[followspot]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 2:04pm

Wild!

[NeverSoShy]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 2:07pm

Changing so much of the material when there's only a 6 day rehearsal period (and therefore very little time to see what works and what doesn't, and no time to change it if it doesn't) seems a little misjudged.

I was really looking forward to seeing how Sutton tackled Out of the Blue. It really is a shame that the changes weren't more minor!

[musicaltheatreman2]

Posted: 7/16/15 at 2:35pm

"Changing so much of the material when there's only a 6 day rehearsal period (and therefore very little time to see what works and what doesn't, and no time to change it if it doesn't) seems a little misjudged.

I was really looking forward to seeing how Sutton tackled Out of the Blue. It really is a shame that the changes weren't more minor!"

 

Watch this video and Lippa talks about what inspired him to cut songs and so many changes. Thank a lot Stephen Sondheim LOL it starts 3:42 in the video. 

Also there is a section where Branden Victor Dickson talks about adding his own riffs in the songs and will add even more once the show opens that Lippa does not know about :/ that starts at 11:32

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=1056165