Witches of Eastwick- Signature Theatre — Page 3

I saw the show on Thursday and Saturday. Thursday I actually had advanced tickets to see it with a friend and had a great time. It's a very fun show and I think it could have a life on Broadway. However, they would have to get the casting just right, which I think is what makes this show so amazing. All of the leads and the ensemble members are very strong in the choices they make and they stick with them.

Now on Saturday I did some ushering, or rather, watching to make sure no one had cameras or anything like that. The house manager was saying that she thought reviews would be out either Monday or Tuesday since they had press coming all this weekend. On Saturday, one of the guys from the post was there so I would assume reviews will be out either tomorrow or Tuesday.

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Two reviews so far. I know the Washington Post was there on Saturday night so I'm assuming they'll have there's up soon. And I don't know how to do the links, sorry!

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bal-to.witches18jun18,0,5237195.story?coll=bal-features-headlines --Baltimore Sun

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/10956 --Theatermania

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Nice to see Karlah Hamilton in this production. Karlah was astonishing as Rose in GYPSY in a national tour some years ago. Although she was rather young to play the role she pulled it off brilliantly. Anyone see it?

Check out the Variety Review: http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_review&reviewid=VE1117933932&categoryid=33

and

Arlington Sun Gazette: http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2007/06/18/arts_and_entertainment/arts403.txt

The thing is the show is everything it should be , a great big fun night out, it's not there to change the world or make a statement on anything.

It's whole purpose is to be entertaining, and it does it with wit, charm and a whole lot of fun.

Pity i am on the other side of the world.

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And here's the Wash Post review

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/18/AR2007061801744.html?hpid=features1&hpv=local

Updated On: 6/18/07 at 11:58 PM

So glad for these reviews, especially for Kudisch...raves! He does seem absolutely perfect for the role.

I am sad that the score hasnt recieved more praise, I love it, as well as Rowe/Dempsey's The Fix and Zombie Prom.

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Great...I was worried about Piro as I couldnt stand her as Fantine...she's getting great notices, too...

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I think the score is fun- a bit clunky and repetitive in parts and not the most inventive, but just fine.

I was not that much of a fan of Piro when I saw it in previews. I found her shrill and nasaly at time, especially when going for the high notes. Sometimes her voice got lost during the ensemble parts, but that could be due to amplification issues which have plagued this theatre since it opened. However, I will chalk up my response to seeing it during previews, the 2nd one at that.

I am seeing it again tomorrow night, so we will see.

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Piro was a shrill and nasally Fantine, imo, as well...and she couldnt act her way out of that, like Daphne did.

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My biggest worry for this show is that if the reviews are this similar to the london reviews then maybe the show is destined to never work fully.

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I saw the show in London 7 years ago and I liked it. For me the biggest problem with the London production was Ian McShane's impersonating Jack Nicholson. The West End sets and costumes were superb. The three witches were each unique and the actress that played Felicia was a hoot. She had talent to spare.

The Signature production which I saw on Wednesday, June 13th had all 3 witches in flight and a great Darryl van Horne. What it lacked was the great opening number Eatswick Knows, a nice set (I'm sorry but nailing a picket fence upside down, add an oversize moon and puffy metal clouds didn't work for me), decent costumes (the women in the town were dressed in 1940's dresses, the men 1950's, The 3 witches were dressed in contemporary clothes except in the flying scene where they were dressed in medieval costumes ?!....as this intentional?)

The 3 witches were boring. I sort of liked the "tennis" witch. She was slightly sassy. The opening of each scene with Darryl van Horne and the Little Girl was creepy and inappropriate.

Marc Kudisch was stellar as he was in Assassins, The Apple Tree, Bells Are Ringing, etc.

The actress that played Felicia was one dimensional, too old (she had teenage daughter)and her voice was not distinct enough.

The song between the ingénues was painful and their costumes...she was wearing a pale dress with sequins and he was dressed like a farmer/nerd.

If you could take Marc Kudisch and put him the 2000 London production with a few slight changes to the show you would have a decent show. Not a Broadway caliber show. Just a decent, regional show.

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