WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN begins previews TONIGHT!- Page 22

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:00pm

What I find fascinating is that Almodóvar has apparently been very much involved in the development of the show.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:03pm

It is fascinating to know that Namo, especially after having seen it. It could have been so much better than what it is.
Updated On: 10/17/10 at 10:03 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:05pm

I read that he got much more involved than anybody expected. I assume a lot of people go to see the show presuming he had nothing to do with it and hadn't given any sort of stamp of approval.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:07pm

Yay curtain!

Okay review:
Fun show. Some parts were zippy and some dragged on a bit, but still fun. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and I do recommend it. Is it the finest piece of theatre to ever hit a stage? HELL NO. But it is enjoyable.

Pros:
-Laura Benanti. LAURA F*CKING BENANTI. Hilarious, sexy, and charming. She is the shining star in this production.
-Patti LuPone. If you want to see a Broadway Legend having the time of her life, go see her in this. She's a hoot, and makes the best of what she was given. Bonus points for the lollipop.
-Sherie (Part 1). Sherie fit Carmen Maura's heels well, and she gave a great performance. She sings like an angel and has some great potential in the show.
-Justin Guarini. Great to see a resident of my hometown repping it on the great white way. He still has a great voice and comedic timing.
-The score (Part 1). Fun score, similar at parts to DRS. Yazbek did a good job, and I found my toes tapping here and there.
-The set (Part 1). Cool set, very minimalistic at times, the projections were fun, I dont get why people were calling it cluttered and busy, it really wasnt. Bonus points for the Ragtimed taxi.
-Mary Beth Peil. She did well, comedic at times and sweetly dramatic at others.

Cons:
-Brian. He did fine, but I felt like he was completely underused and could have easily been written out. He also reminded me a lot of Paulo Szot, and I wanted to see Brian Stokes Mitchell using his own vocal style, not Szot's....
-De'Adre. She was fine but unnecessary to the plot...
-Sherie (part 2). She couldn't seem to hold an accent for the duration of a scene and I couldnt tell what was up...
-The Score (part 2). Not a terribly memorable score, but an AMAZING overture.
-The Set (part 2). QUIET DOWN THE F*CKING BELTS.


I don't know if anyone else has posted this, but at the merchandise stand in the mezzanine, there was a $30 pre-order signup for the cast recording. LOOKS LIKE ITS HAPPENING!!!!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:08pm

Wow, he even gave it his stamp of approval. It's a horrible adaptation.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:11pm

Tell that to the guy who created the movie!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:12pm

I do have to agree that Laura Benanti was the highlight of the evening. Brian Stokes Mitchell is completely wasted in this.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:16pm

Great film. Horrible Broadway musical. It's almost the reverse of what happened with A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. Much of the same creative team that made it a success on the stage were directly involved with the 1977 film adaptation - - - and we all know how that turned out. It's not always a guarantee lightning will strike twice.

Then there's CABARET which went through a complete overhaul from it's stage incarnation when it was adapted for the screen and was such a huge hit it eclipsed it's predecessor.

You just never know....

Oh well, life goes on.

Updated On: 10/17/10 at 10:16 PM

[Donthatecongratulate]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:31pm

oh how sad. anoter rejected actor who didn't make the cut and now wants to write off the show. poor thing

"Brian Stokes Mitchell is completely wasted in this."

So does this mean that everytime a star does a show, he/she has to be belting their faces off and in every other scene, or their wasting their time? He's trying to sound like Paulo Szot?? How random of a reference is that? Before PS debuted on Broadway 2 years ago, who was doing it for 20 years? So who's trying to be whom?

he obviously wanted to be in the musical or he would have turned it down. And people absolutely love hearing him sing. I got my money's worth.

[Donthatecongratulate]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:35pm

oh yeah. just checked out "CarlosAlberto"'s profile. Lists In The Heights first as a fave show, then Mandy Gonzalez & Priscilla Lopez as favorite actors. Two of the worst actresses I've ever seen, so I think we all know for sure he's another audition reject like kyle4.

Have a beautiful night everyone!

Updated On: 10/17/10 at 10:35 PM

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:36pm

Brian was in 2 songs and...3 scenes? He's Brian Stokes F*CKing Mitchell, he deserved to be a much larger part of the show. And I was bummed that the Spanish accent combined with his deep voice made him sound like Paulo Szot. That's all.

And how can i be a failed actor? Im 15.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:37pm

I'm not an actor. I'm not in show business. I just love theater. Brian Stokes Mitchell happens to be one of my favorite musical theater actors.

I also have news for you: I am entitled to my OPINION and I also have the right to freely express that OPINION on an internet forum in very much the same way you have the right to express your OPINION as well.

Unlike you however I don't have to resort to PERSONAL ATTACKS to get my opinion across. I'm not castigating anyone for liking or even loving it.

What's REALLY SAD is that YOU feel the need to resort to PERSONAL ATTACKS to justify yours.

But thank you for reminding me why I don't frequent this site anymore.

I prefer my hobbies to be negative and stress free and ENJOYABLE. I'll take my love for musical theater elsewhere.



Updated On: 10/17/10 at 10:37 PM

[Donthatecongratulate]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:40pm

making him a larger part of the show just because of who he is is plain stupid. When superstars take supporting roles in blockbuster films, no one ever asks why. So why should they here? BSM's character was barely in the film, so just be glad you got what you got.

And I wasn't calling you a failed actor, rather "CarlosAlberto".

[Donthatecongratulate]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:42pm

Bubbye In The Heights actor! oops, I mean """"""CarlosAlberto"""""

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:48pm

Wow....this place has really gone down the proverbial toilet.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:49pm

Bub-bye WOMEN ON THE VERGE shill! Oops I mean Donthatecongratulate.

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:55pm

I too, was at Saturday evenings performance. I don't disagree with a lot that has been written here....but I do have to say how surprised I was that there was no standing ovation. As mentioned on this board many times over the years....most shows get a standing ovation for literally anything. Here we have stage with LuPone, Scott, Benanti & Mitchell and there was polite applause. That's it. I found that amazing.

This was the show I treated myself to for my birthday. I don't regret that decision.

[kyle4]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:55pm

i LOOOOOOVE in the heights. a fantastic show. i actually saw it again today!

um and, no, i am not a failed actor... by any means!

finally, carlos... you see, you have to SUPPORT and LOVE the show around here... or at least say ITS A WORK IN PROGRESS... otherwise, you are attacked... accused of the oddest things and subjected to profanity!!!

i appreciate that you love musical theater and have strong opinions.... i'm just hanging around until the inevitable takes place... i want to see how all the ITS A WORK IN PROGRESS people react when the show FULLY and FINALLY implodes!

i am also curious about when they will stop calling a show that has had week+ worth of public performances a WORK IN PROGRESS...

carlos, if you find a site that welcomes spirited debate and theater-lover discussion PLEASE let me know... until then, i hope we bump into each other at IN THE HEIGHTS!!!!

LIGHTS UP.. IN WAHINGTON HEIGHTS.... loooove that show!!!

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 10:58pm

Kyle4, you say you love theater so much. Yet you ONLY post on here to bash Verge. Show us how much you love theater! There are tons of other threads on this board.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 11:02pm

It seems Donthatecongratulate has a problem with people whose opinions differs from "it". I have news for "it": You have a disappointing life ahead of you.

I don't disrespect others opinions and far be it for me to show disdain for someone who likes or even loves a show that I didn't.

Yes I've fallen in the trap of being snarky on here in the past and I'm not proud of it. Case in point: ljay's signature. But I've since apologized to him about that because when I am wrong I will own up to it. I have nothing against ljay and his love for ALNM...he's a passionate theater goer and is entitled to his opinion. Do we agree on everything?...no. But I bet if we really sat down and just talked we'd find out that we do have a lot in common. Carry on.
Updated On: 10/17/10 at 11:02 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 11:09pm

No you don't, kyle. You just have to not be somebody who joins and writes a pan as his first post. You're the other side of the coin as the shills who join just to post a rave.


There's a credibility problem is what I am saying.

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 10/18/10 at 12:03am

I can't believe that no one has commented on the comically large insert that is in each of the Playbills concerning phone useage etc!

I especially enjoy that large font "PLEASE..." that rises out of the Playbill itself.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 10/18/10 at 12:05am

That's LCT's fabulous standard insert concerning cell phone use! I wish more theatres used them.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/18/10 at 12:12am

All the Lincoln Center shows use the inserts, though it's funny to think that Patti sat down and typed it up, after her experiences in Gypsy.

[kyle4]

Posted: 10/18/10 at 12:30am

hey nemo!

i was just a mild-mannered broadway lover... minding my own business for the past 31 years... i've seen legendary shows, wonderful shows, decent shows and some flops...

i have never seen ANYTHING as horrendous, embarrassing and insulting as this...

it MOVED me to join this forum and to write! i think that is fair.

i don't want to be a reviewer for broadwayworld.com. i wanted to vent. i wanted to warn some people who were as excited to see the show as i was!

i may haveconsidered using my "membership" to comment on other shows and learn about the folks on here. i will not do that.

i saw the show VERY early... i gave my HONEST opinion. people on here were screaming, crying and deriding my thoughts before they even attended a performance. it was crazy and quite funny! but certianly not inviting! i'll stick around until the show closes... then i'm OUT!

so, nemo, my point is -- i don't see ANYTHING wrong with joining and posting a negative opinion. the negative opinion is what made join! i joined for ME... not for you, NEMO!!!!

just for me.... just for KYLE4! sorry neemsie!!!

p.s. what a funny thing to remember pc... yes, there was an odd, crazy insert in the playbill... this show is a RUNAWAY trainwreck!!! every tiny aspect of it wreaks of NUTSO!!! i am so glad you cited that!