What's the advanced word on "Tale of Two Cities"

[ps27b]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 12:41am

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 12:49am

I saw one of its many readings and it has some beautiful things to recommend it. It has some good songs and James Barbour does give a wonderful performance BUT it does feel like warmed over Les Mis. It is kind of stuck in 1980's popera, but hey millions of people loved it before and they could love it again. I am interested to see how the design and staging will be. That can really help elevate it to a new level. Look how many things in the popera cannon rose to success based on design and staging. EVITA for sure and it certainly helped PHANTOM, LES MIS, and MISS SIAGON. So I am looking forward to seeing it.

[esparza 333]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 12:52am

It had a critically acclaimed tryout in Sarasota with most critics raving about Barbour and Toro's performances. The sets are supposed to be amazing. I have only seen pictures. The music is also getting some buzz.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 12:52am

a second-rate version of LES MIS

[StageFan2]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 7:53am

I don't know first hand because I haven't seen the production, but a poster on another site described it this way:

"If someone ate Les Mis for dinner and threw it up on stage - this is what it sould look like."

Kinda tickled my funny bone.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 8:02am

"Critically acclaimed"?

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 8:38am

I saw the show at the Asolo during its pre-broadway run. It was amazing. Yes, it had its problems like many shows before they are fine tuned, but for the most part the performances were stellar. From the official casting I would say that they have only improved the cast from what I saw last and that it should be a very satisfying evening at the theatre.

Call it "Les Mis lite" if you want, but go into it with an open mind. I personally may be the only one on this board who absolutely loathes Les Miserables, however A Tales of Two Cities doesn't have any "unnecessary numbers" in the show. Instead the plot continues in a forward motion at a fast pace to get everything in. Unlke in Les Mis when all of your main charachters stop every ten minutes to sing a solo like "Stars". Although a beautiful song, there's no need for it in the show. Javert has told us his motivation every time he comes on the stage why must he now sing about it just when the show starts moving?

Obviously this is just my opinion, I don't mean to offend anyone but if you do see this show remember the novels were only written 3 years apart and both have the same feel to begin with. Go into the show with an open mind and hopefully you'll enjoy a remarkable evening in the theatre.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 11:49am

Updated On: 4/3/10 at 11:49 AM

[Eagleman]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 2:31pm

I really think they are walking a tightrope by so overtly creating a show so seemingly similar to "Les Miserables. If "Until Tomorrow" stays in the show as the
Act 1 finale song, I think there's going to be a bloodletting.

The TOTC braintrust has a great opportunity to bring the curtain down on Act one to write something that says, "There ! And you thought this was just another Schoenberg/Boubil clone!"

If I was a producer that song would be the dealbreaker for me because I believe it's going to be a pivotal moment in the show that could either make or break this musical.

It would be one thing for me to hear people at intermission say, "At times it's a lot like "Les Mis"; it would be another to hear, "Why didn't they just ask for the rights to use 'One Day More'"?

[winston89]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 2:36pm

I feel like I am the only person on this forum who doesn't hear One Day More while listing to Until Tomorrow.

I am VERY much looking forward to this musical. I am a huge fan of the 1980's pop operas and Les Miserables is my all time favorite show. I am glad that this is one new show opening this fall that starts previews before I go of to college so I can see it before I go. I am very much looking forward to seeing it.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 2:49pm

I am looking forward to it as well. With the recently announced postoinment of some shows, it will be great to see one of the next new musicals of this season. I'm more excited about this show than I am about "13".

[GatorNY]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 2:49pm

I am looking forward to it as well. With the recently announced postoinment of some shows, it will be great to see one of the next new musicals of this season. I'm more excited about this show than I am about "13".

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 3:25pm

I am seeing it Friday to humor my mother but the more i see and hear the more excited i am about seeing it.

[NYUrickydrummer]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 3:33pm

I didn't see the Asolo production, but I have a feeling this is going to be pretty good.

It's too early for me to bet any money on it, but I went to the press preview a few weeks back and was fairly impressed. The music, though it definitely hearkens back to "Les Mis" in its grandeur and overall tone, is pretty strong, as is the cast, especially Natalie Toro.

We were also taken, during the press preview, to see the set in a warehouse in Jersey, and, even though it hadn't had the finishing touches around it yet, it looked spectacular. As long as the writing of the book and score are up to snuff (definitely a major if), it should be just fine.

I wrote a preview piece about it that's a little lengthier, with some great quotes from the actors and the writer, if anyone wants to take a look at it (SEE LINK BELOW).
musicOMH.com: Broadway Preview: A Tale of Two Cities

[ps27b]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 3:53pm

Thanks Everyone - I am going to be in NY mid Nov and have ticket for South Pacific and Equus - have time for one more show and trying to decide if I should see this. Your comments are all helping me decide. P

[NYUrickydrummer]

Posted: 8/16/08 at 3:58pm

Mid-November? If you're not totally into the idea of "A Tale of Two Cities," "Speed-the-Plow" looks like a fairly good bet. It's a great play at the very least. Also "The Seagull," though that's not everyone's cup of tea.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:10am

Dismal, dreadful, disastrous.








Don Draper
Sterling/Cooper, New York

[philly03]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:46pm

I can't wait for this show actually! Have my tickets for during the previews performances...and although it has no doubt a large amount of similarities to both Les Miserables & The Scarlet Pimpernel (plot/musical/sort of costume wise (from what I've seen!)) and Jekyll & HYDE/Frank Wildhorn music, it may be a hit.

And although it was "critically acclaimed", the press that reported these kinds of things were along the lines of the "Pelican Press" & "Broadway.com", and I don't really call a sold-out run in Sarasota, FL anything to yell about...just because they generally don't have many world premieres I'm sure & lots of hype was probably there.

And on another note, I do also love pop-operas, winston89...including the last of them in Woman in White I believe (one of my favourites :)!)...but I don't think this is a pop-opera. The music is in that style, but it's a book musical too (according to Natalie Toro on those videos!) apparently. We'll see....

I'd definately reccomend it from what I've heard....you can actually hear the entire Concept Album on the website... talemusical.com under Sounds.

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 2:22pm

I'm really excited to see this. But I'm waiting for it to pop up on TDF or for them to announce a rush.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 2:36pm

In my opinion, if TALE OF TWO CITIES wants to survive, it's going to have to offer something that audiences haven't already gotten sick of at the 80's Big Big Musicals.

So it either has to get very good reviews, or have wonderful word-of-mouth: there can't be any in-between. And frankly, if either is going to happen, it's probably going to be the latter.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 1:27pm

I agree. The success of this show depends on whether the 80's POPERA genre can be revived.

[Weez]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 1:29pm

Oh jeez...

I'm watching a 'Friends' re-run, and Joey's just got an audition for a musical version of... *drumroll* ... 'A Tale Of Two Cities'!

I LOLed.

[jewelchk]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 7:24pm

3 performances were on TDF *very* briefly today. I missed it.

[Sauja]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 7:24pm

I'm a fan of big ol' pop operas, and who doesn't love Dickens? But can we just chat about the Playbill cover/website/marquee design? Holy ugliness--what happened?! I know it's silly to judge anything based on its promotional art, but I'm not going to lie: the cheapness of the look makes me wary. That said, I'll be back tomorrow night for early word from folks who catch the first preview. Hope it's a million times better than its art.