What are the chances of THE VISIT transferring?- Page 3

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/4/14 at 4:53pm

You really think that's positive? I guess it is for Chita. But they don't like Rees' material much from what I can discern. I'm not sure I'd tip in on the positive.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 3:42am

I think the entire problem with this show is that it's a revenge musical where nobody wins at the end. The play is an agitprop diatribe about greed. It's a moral lesson about what happens when puritanical opinions ruin another person's life. Chita's character is not a character, she's a device to make a point. And having a non-character as the lead in your musical spells trouble.

You can add as much backstory as you can stuff in to make her sympathetic (which Doyle has apparently done in the new revisions), but you can't make her likeable.

"Dear World" has the same problem. The Madwoman is not a character, she's a device to make a point about environmentalism.

I love "The Visit" and "The Madwoman of Challiot" as plays with a moral lesson, but in a musical, you need characters who have something to sing about, not devices.

That said, I hope it tranfers, because, well, Chita.

[binau]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 4:57am

"you need characters who have something to sing about, not devices. "

Idk, watching clips on YouTube of "Winter" and "Love and Love Alone", it seems pretty clear that Chita's character is singing about something pretty important about her life and the way she reflects on her life to me.

I really love the idea that Chita's character is dancing with her younger self while singing "Love and Love Alone". Maybe some could argue that it is a more heavy handed approach compared to sitting on a bench to an empty stage but I love the new idea. Surely that is a moment many people in the audience will feel something watching.

Updated On: 8/5/14 at 04:57 AM

[Glitter]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 6:23am

ZiggyCringe, may I respectfully disagree on a few of your points?
"I think the entire problem with this show is that it's a revenge musical"
it's not about revenge!

"where nobody wins at the end."
I think some people do win at the end.

"The play is an agitprop diatribe about greed. It's a moral lesson about what happens when puritanical opinions ruin another person's life."
the play may well be about that, but we're not discussing the play, we're discussing the musical. I feel people's knowledge and expectations of the play are different from what the musical sets out to achieve.

"Chita's character is not a character, she's a device to make a point"
I think Claire Zachanassian is a rich, full character.

Truly, the way this show divides people fascinates me. In my opinion, that's the mark of great theatre!

[newintown]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 9:59am

I like the comparison of the The Visit and Dear World; I think the problem with both is that the creators were, for some reason, drawn to early-20th-century, heavily-stylized, very-European works that they weren't quite able to translate into an American idiom. (I speak here only of The Visit as it was done in Chicago and DC; it may be entirely different now.)

I think that there are few Americans who actually know much at all about the worlds in which pieces like these were created; in fact, in our education-phobic society, many probably think knowing anything about foreign cultural history is a hindrance (or "elitist" - a favorite word among those who advocate mental laziness).

I think we can use Liliom/Carousel as an example where adapters successfully translated a specifically European cultural work into something more American.

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 10:12am

It's meant to be in the spirit of Brecht from what I can discern. (I'll see it this weekend and draw my own conclusion, but it sure looks and sounds like a Brecht piece.) Now, Brecht is known enough that the approach could work artistically. I'm really not sure how this would hold up with a commercial audience. While it's true that smaller, darker pieces have succeeded, they weren't, as you put it, quite so high-brow. This of course begs the question of whether it could work in a subscription/non profit house. I think it could. But I really have reservations about the marketability of it as a commercial piece.

[newintown]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 10:46am

Yes, most Americans think that Brecht represents all early-20th-century German theatre. However, Dürrenmatt (actually Swiss) although he championed epic theatre (along the lines of Piscator as well as Brecht), wrote pieces that are far more grotesque and expressionistic than Brecht's, and far less concerned with speaking to the Common Man.

Updated On: 8/5/14 at 10:46 AM

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 11:03am

I know that because I studied theater history. However, if you look at the design elements, they look like Brecht. I think that was what they were going for.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 11:10am

What particular elements in the photos strike you as Brechtian? Nothing suggested, to me, a specifically Brechtian influence for this production.

I would agree with Newintown the production has an expressionistic look. While Brecht certainly had expressionistic elements (especially in his earliest works), I would hesitate to categorize him with expressionists.

Updated On: 8/5/14 at 11:10 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 11:13am

Oh, I wasn't questioning your knowledge; simply looking a bit askance at the notion that The Visit, although not a Brechtian piece, might be adapted as a Brechtian piece (coincidentally by the same team that adapted I Am A Camera as a Brechtian piece), because in America, we often think of Germany as all-Brecht, all the time.

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 11:28am

I was looking at the design, the constant use of blacks, whites and greys and the dreariness overall which is highly indicative of Brecht's style. The way it's staged reminds me of pictures I saw of his early works (and depictions in LoveMusik for what that's worth). I'll grant it's more typical of his earlier works but it sure reminds me of it.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 2:38pm

I will say that that this does feel Brechtian for more reasons than just the set design, though I can't completely place my finger on it. I think it has to do with the atmosphere of the piece. And I absolutely adore DEAR WORLD and I agree with the assessment on how it is similar, but I don't find that to be a problem for either show, though I don't like THE VISIT quite as much as DEAR WORLD.

[Glitter]

Posted: 8/5/14 at 3:20pm

more reviews!

Theatermania: http://www.theatermania.com/berkshires-theater/reviews/08-2014/the-visit-williamstown-review_69440.html

Daily Gazette: http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2014/aug/05/riv/

WRTI: http://wrti.org/post/musical-theater-star-chita-rivera-visit

Times Union: http://blog.timesunion.com/localarts/review-the-visit-williamstown-theatre-festival-8314/34304/

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 1:18am

I saw it tonight and pretty much loved it. Sure, it's dark, bleak, and shocking, but it's not once boring. I felt enthralled throughout the entire show. It's not K&E's best score, but this musical is much better than garbage that I've seen on Broadway. "Yellow Shoes" is easily a modern K&E classic. "Winter" is haunting, I wish it were longer. I love darker material/musicals, therefore I instantly felt enchanted by the piece. Parts of Chicago, Spider Woman, and Scottsboro Boys could be felt throughout the show; it has that "in your face" aspect to it.
Chita is simply stunning. It's hard to take your eyes off of her; she is SO believable in this role. I enjoyed seeing her dance with her younger self in "Love and Love Alone." Is that new for this production?
Rees is also fantastic. They are both giving strong performances that are worthy of Tony nominations.
Doyle's direction and style was so fitting for the piece, it felt perfectly matched. I also loved the sleek set and costumes.
I would LOVE to see this on Broadway, but it would certainly not last commercially. It is so fitting for Roundabout. It deserves a life after WTF.

Updated On: 8/6/14 at 01:18 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 1:26am

Another big rave for Chita: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/ci_26279936/williamstown-theatre-festival-visit-an-old-musical-becomes

The reviews are unanimous for Chita. She deserves one more strong leading role on Broadway.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 3:44am

Just one?

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 10:05am

How many killer leading musical roles are being written for 81-year-old actresses?

Updated On: 8/6/14 at 10:05 AM

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 1:32pm

I always thought she should play Dolores in
<--
That show

(edit: because I changed my profile picture, I should tell you that at the time of posting this, it was a poster for THE WILD PARTY)

Updated On: 8/8/14 at 01:32 PM

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 2:34pm

I ADORE Chita. I love Kander and Ebb. I actually think I will really like this show... however it seems rather anti-commercial. With it's current downsized version... I think MTC or RTC or LTC should pick it up. Give it a limited fall run at the Beaumont!

[binau]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 10:18pm

It does seem perfect for roundabout. It would be prestigious for them to present a new musical with Chita "from the writers of Cabaret". I suppose any nfp could pick it up too.

What is Chita's entrance like?

[Glitter]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 11:51pm

rave review from the Observer!
http://observer.com/2014/08/crazy-ex-girlfriend-the-visit-is-revived-as-a-musical/

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 11:56pm

Don’t delay. Motor, hitchhike or bike it up to the picture postcard Berkshires pronto, and see this unforgettable production of The Visit before it gets to Broadway.

Well that's an encouraging final line.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 8/8/14 at 12:03am

I would say my personal review is pretty much in line from the one the Observer.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 12:48am

Someone on ATC said there's a 90% chance that it'll transfer after Christmas. I hope so!

I saw it again tonight on a whim because a front row center aisle seat opened up this morning! I must say that it's even better on a second viewing. It is SO Broadway ready. Everything about it feels right and ready for a transfer.

I truly can't say enough about Chita's performance. It would be so easy for her to play it with camp, but she gives an understated performance, and her acting is just shockingly good. If you didn't know Chita, you would think that this woman had a career in straight plays. She has total command of her character, she embodies the character so well that it's easy to forget that you are watching the legendary Chita Rivera. She could easily win a Tony for this, but I'm sure that 2015 is likely going to be Kelli O'Hara's year.
Roger Rees is doing such strong work, and his acting completely makes up for his lack of singing chops. Also, I'd like to give a special mention to Jason Danieley. Depending on the season, he could score his first Tony nomination. He gives a heartbreaking performance, and has one of the best solos in the entire show.

Again, Doyle's slick direction really brings this piece to life. My only minor complaint would be that in typical Doyle fashion, he robs three showstoppers (Yellow Shoes, The Only One, and Love and Love Alone) of applause. The older audience members seemed confused by Doyle's lack of applause breaks, and some tried clapping over dialogue after certain songs.
I love the chilling staging of the finale; it's reminiscent of parts of Doyle's Road Show staging, but I won't spoil it.
If this fabulous production does transfer, I predict that I will see it many times. It will be interesting to see Broadway's reaction to it.









Updated On: 8/14/14 at 12:48 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 12:57am

qolbinau, Chita/Claire arrives in a cloud of smoke with sound effects of a screeching train, as her eunuchs wheel on her luggage.

Updated On: 8/14/14 at 12:57 AM