Venice Previews — Page 2
#27
Posted: 6/14/13 at 12:51pm
Public Labs are generally nothing more than workshops that the public can attend (hence the short runs and inexpensive ticket prices). That's why they are not always reviewed. I was surprised that Venice was getting reviewed. I doubt it'll come back- not with those notices.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#28
Posted: 6/14/13 at 12:58pm
If you're surprised that it got reviewed in the first place then how surprised are you that Brantley was the one to do it?
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
#29
Posted: 6/14/13 at 1:16pm
I'm actually pretty surprised. Doesn't seem high-enough profile for him. Perhaps because it's popular, he decided to be the one to weigh in. Maybe the Public, its eye ever on larger venues, was hoping that it would possibly take off and a money review from the Times would help.
Either way, it was the sort of review Brantley's been churning out lately: two pages that amount to very little in the way of actual criticism.
Either way, it was the sort of review Brantley's been churning out lately: two pages that amount to very little in the way of actual criticism.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#30
Posted: 6/14/13 at 1:27pm
These reviews sadden me. I was so excited about this going on after it's KC life and it makes me wonder what changes were made that have brought such derision. When it first premiered, TIME called it the musical of the year.
Kansas City Rep 'Venice' Production
Kansas City Rep 'Venice' Production
#31
Posted: 6/16/13 at 5:27pm
Just got back from the show and I would say it is a mixed bag. I was actually kind of into until...Lady Hailey Daisey. That had to be one of the most cringeworthy characters I have ever seen in a show. I couldn't even fathom how she was so integral to the plot that the character couldn't have been cut or changed somehow. I can't speak enough about my dislike for her and laughter every time she is paraded on stage.
I agree with a lot of things that Whizzer said. It doesn't seem as though much as changed from the start. The narrator framing device is just stupid and to have him come out at the end saying that everything we saw was a play and then start this whole kumbaya sh!t really just negated everything we had already seen. You don't really care about the characters to begin with and then you care about them even less when you're told "oh hey they weren't real anyway." The plot is a little too dour for me because for a show about post-apocalyptic unrest this show takes itself waaayyy too seriously.
One place where I disagree with Whizzer is the praise for Victoria Platt. I can't decide if it was the way she portrayed Emilia or how she was written but boy did I not like that character. She comes out of nowhere with all this remembrance ("Oh that was your mother's wedding dress" and "Oh that was his mother's necklace") and it came off very forced and laughable.
As for the rest, everyone is pretty good. Uzo Aduba was the stand out for me completely. Jenn Damiano needs to expand her repertoire outside of bland girl in love. Leslie Odom Jr I didn't hate as much as I expected although this role needs someone with a little more masculinity and authoritativeness that he doesn't possess.
I liked a lot of the music although I found most of it to sound the same. And now we'll get into the inevitable Lin-Manuel comparison. I love him and the problem I find with Sax is that I don't find him to be genuine in his delivery. It might better serve the production to have someone else step in as the narrator and see how that works.
I would actually recommend this to people who are fans of hip-hop and more innovative musical theatre that is becoming more prevalent today. I don't see this having life past this Lab so now is your shot.
I agree with a lot of things that Whizzer said. It doesn't seem as though much as changed from the start. The narrator framing device is just stupid and to have him come out at the end saying that everything we saw was a play and then start this whole kumbaya sh!t really just negated everything we had already seen. You don't really care about the characters to begin with and then you care about them even less when you're told "oh hey they weren't real anyway." The plot is a little too dour for me because for a show about post-apocalyptic unrest this show takes itself waaayyy too seriously.
One place where I disagree with Whizzer is the praise for Victoria Platt. I can't decide if it was the way she portrayed Emilia or how she was written but boy did I not like that character. She comes out of nowhere with all this remembrance ("Oh that was your mother's wedding dress" and "Oh that was his mother's necklace") and it came off very forced and laughable.
As for the rest, everyone is pretty good. Uzo Aduba was the stand out for me completely. Jenn Damiano needs to expand her repertoire outside of bland girl in love. Leslie Odom Jr I didn't hate as much as I expected although this role needs someone with a little more masculinity and authoritativeness that he doesn't possess.
I liked a lot of the music although I found most of it to sound the same. And now we'll get into the inevitable Lin-Manuel comparison. I love him and the problem I find with Sax is that I don't find him to be genuine in his delivery. It might better serve the production to have someone else step in as the narrator and see how that works.
I would actually recommend this to people who are fans of hip-hop and more innovative musical theatre that is becoming more prevalent today. I don't see this having life past this Lab so now is your shot.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
#32
Posted: 6/16/13 at 6:43pm
I saw yesterday's matinee and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I went in with low expectations so I was pleasantly surprised to like it, rap and all. I agree the story could have been further explained to clarify and tie things in better, add depth ......
SPOILER ALERT******
....Hidden Animosity amongst the jealous brother goes back to when they were kids, could have elaborated more on that. He plays both sides, why, because of his hatred/jealousy or just betrayal for personal gain. I thought if his character showed his reason for his drive it would have worked better i.e. a hunger to rule or his hatred/jealousy of his brother. I also did not think there was enough reasoning shown for why he was betraying Theo, was it the same reasoning as I mentioned, his hatred/jealousy of his brother or that his dad killed his mom.
There were a lot of teenagers in the audience yesterday, possibly school trip. They ate up Lady Hailey Daisy and her performance. While it was over the top, I did not mind it. I see where they were going with it, a hired distraction, hey what is the best way to distract a man. Was it necessary probably not but I think they wanted to end the act with a bang.
Overall, I enjoyed the music and performances.
SPOILER ALERT******
....Hidden Animosity amongst the jealous brother goes back to when they were kids, could have elaborated more on that. He plays both sides, why, because of his hatred/jealousy or just betrayal for personal gain. I thought if his character showed his reason for his drive it would have worked better i.e. a hunger to rule or his hatred/jealousy of his brother. I also did not think there was enough reasoning shown for why he was betraying Theo, was it the same reasoning as I mentioned, his hatred/jealousy of his brother or that his dad killed his mom.
There were a lot of teenagers in the audience yesterday, possibly school trip. They ate up Lady Hailey Daisy and her performance. While it was over the top, I did not mind it. I see where they were going with it, a hired distraction, hey what is the best way to distract a man. Was it necessary probably not but I think they wanted to end the act with a bang.
Overall, I enjoyed the music and performances.
#33
Posted: 6/18/13 at 11:24pm
"Speaking of Smash, this seems very HitList-esque"
I thought the EXACT same thing. But only in the worst ways possible :/
I thought the EXACT same thing. But only in the worst ways possible :/
#35
Posted: 6/19/13 at 12:33am
Just a heads up, this is on TDF for quite a few upcoming performances.
After reading the reviews and the comments on here, I think I'm gonna pass though.
After reading the reviews and the comments on here, I think I'm gonna pass though.
#36
Posted: 6/19/13 at 10:59pm
Just got back from The Public Theater and Venice. Wow! What a mess. The best thing about Venice is the lighting, which is very good. The cast is energetic and does their best trying to motive what makes no sense. The characters are not complex, they're simply inaccessible and not worthy of care because we can never really get to know them. Their individual arcs make little sense, the set up makes little sense and their motives shift from scene to scene.
The very premise of Venice - a city divided by waring factions - makes no sense, as there doesn't seem to be anyone truly invested in keeping the wall up, and the people oppressed. Its like why are we here? What is the conflict besides some petty unmotivated struggle for power. Please!
The music is mostly melodic and at times exciting and fun to listen to. The lyrics as reported by other posters range from good, but repetitive, to awful and sloppy. Chase Brock's choreography is mostly awkward and at times scary - watching women risk a broken ankle jumping around in shoes that are simply ridiculous.
Matt Sax who is enjoyable to watch, seems to be there for no other reason than he wrote the work. His narrator / Venice in the real world telling the story's "purpose" adds nothing to the story. In fact, the "moral" and ending note - go out and shine - seems completely disconnected to the play we've just endured for the past 2+ hours.
I'm in love with Uzo Aduba's voice and stage presence. She's a joy to watch.
Venice will close and I suspect will find some sort of curious cult status, like so many older shows here that someone starts a thread and asks, "Why didn't it work?"
Answer: Because it wasn't very good.
The very premise of Venice - a city divided by waring factions - makes no sense, as there doesn't seem to be anyone truly invested in keeping the wall up, and the people oppressed. Its like why are we here? What is the conflict besides some petty unmotivated struggle for power. Please!
The music is mostly melodic and at times exciting and fun to listen to. The lyrics as reported by other posters range from good, but repetitive, to awful and sloppy. Chase Brock's choreography is mostly awkward and at times scary - watching women risk a broken ankle jumping around in shoes that are simply ridiculous.
Matt Sax who is enjoyable to watch, seems to be there for no other reason than he wrote the work. His narrator / Venice in the real world telling the story's "purpose" adds nothing to the story. In fact, the "moral" and ending note - go out and shine - seems completely disconnected to the play we've just endured for the past 2+ hours.
I'm in love with Uzo Aduba's voice and stage presence. She's a joy to watch.
Venice will close and I suspect will find some sort of curious cult status, like so many older shows here that someone starts a thread and asks, "Why didn't it work?"
Answer: Because it wasn't very good.
Updated On: 6/20/13 at 10:59 PM
#37
Posted: 10/8/14 at 8:26am
Just a heads up! The Cast Recording is out now, and I personally like it a lot more than I liked the show.
BWW Article
BWW Article
Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.
#38
Posted: 11/11/14 at 3:35pm
I've been listening to the album quite a bit.
Based on the comments in this thread I would say it plays better on cd than it did in the lab.
The liner notes mention that the inspiration for this was the idea that hip-hop is to our culture what Shakespeare's verse was to his.
So I think Sax (the narrator) was meant to be our Shakespeare stand-in, hence the typewriter.
Based on the comments in this thread I would say it plays better on cd than it did in the lab.
The liner notes mention that the inspiration for this was the idea that hip-hop is to our culture what Shakespeare's verse was to his.
So I think Sax (the narrator) was meant to be our Shakespeare stand-in, hence the typewriter.
....but the world goes 'round
#39
Posted: 11/11/14 at 3:59pm
I know I'm being overly literal, but I have to ask: why would anyone need to build a wall to divide Venice? Wouldn't it be easier to just demolish a few bridges? There are only a few places one can cross the Grand Canal as it is. Knock down the bridges and mine the canal and voila!
Or does the show take place in Venice, CA?
Or does the show take place in Venice, CA?
#40
Posted: 11/11/14 at 4:02pm
It's set in a fictional city called Venice and the main character is named Venice.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
#41
Posted: 7/29/15 at 1:54pm
I wanted to bump this thread because I've been listening to the cast recording...A LOT. It's pretty much one of my favorites. Whatever problems I had seeing the show on stage have pretty vanished having to just listen to the music. There was another thread about shows that are better in a recording and this would certainly qualify.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
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