Woman in White - Saturday 11/12 (Sorry - Long)- Page 2

[FriedmanFan]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 12:30am

Thank you for the long review! I am glad to hear you enjoyed the show! I must the say, the positive buzz is great to hear.
People have mentioned that there are no songs in Act 1. I humbly disagree. I am a big fan of this score so I thought I would quickly list some songs in Act 1.
1-"I hope you like it here"-This is Marian's introduction song, full of exposition and story telling. Also, during this song you witness Marian's initial attraction to Walter.
2-"I believe my heart"-This is for the lover's of ALW ballad's It has his name written ALL OVER IT.
3-"Lammastide"-This is a chorus song and dance number that shows that time has passed and that the season's are changing. It is important to know that these scenes with Walter, Marian, and Laura happen over a summer's time. It is not just one afternoon that they fall in love. This is slightly problematic in the show because I don't believe many audience members understand the passage of time in this sequence. I love this song because it is not typical Webber at all! Its very authentic and true to period. Well done.
4-"A gift for living well" This is without a doubt a song. Count Foscoe is asked to show us his talents and he lists them in this very charming song. It is very much a performance and I am kind of perplexed as to how people don't recognize these as songs?
5-"All for Laura"-This song is the reason I think Maria Friedman can do no wrong. It is an incredibly moving power ballad that will no doubt garner Maria a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut. It is also truly original compared to Webber's other scores.

It is a sung thru musical so yes the recicitive dominates in this piece. But there are many gems mixed into this original and moving score.

As for Vinnietheiceman, ddtruit, and namffug...For the sake of Woman in White fans can you all please stop the bickering back and forth on these boards. We all come here because we love theatre. I read WIW threads because I love the show and want to hear what others think of it (good and bad) But lately I have to sift through attack after attack just to get info on this show. I will gladly start a thread that is solely dedicated to the three of you taking pot shots at each other. Just PLEASE PLEASE don't drag all of us into your bickering. I honestly am not trying to sound rude. I am just finding it hard to enjoy these thread's when they are being hijacked with negativity.
Vinnie-You seem to hate this show. You have mentioned many times that the critics are going to pan it. You have made your point. Why do you keep posting it in every thread? Wouldn't you rather spend your time writing about something you like or something that makes you happy? When I read your post in the "WIW DEMO" thread I was surprised that you would post just to add negativity. I totally understand that you did not like the show. But many other audience members love it. Some critics may love it and some critics may HATE it. Who cares. Theatre can only be judged by the eye of the beholder. I respect critics and love reading reviews but never do I let a critic validate or invalidate my personal opinion of a show. I also don't find delight in predicting horrible reviews of a new show. I truly wish the success for every show I see and every review I read. I love theatre and want to see it succeed. I also love the more dramatic, thought provoking, singer heavy musicals that I think is lacking on Broadway these days. The juke box musical or the ready made 80's movie turned musical doesn't excite me at all. But can't we at least be thankful that new theatre is being created in the first place. And PS after I made you aware of your offensive mispelling of "Namffug's" screen name you have continued to call him a "Num-Fag" I don't like that word and would appreciate it if you respect us enough to stop using it in the future.
DDTRUIT: I am sorry that you didn't stick around for Act 2. I know that a show should keep you interested the ENTIRE time. It is a shame that Act 1 didn't do it for you but you really should have waited for Act 2. There are two big stories being told here...The love triangle and the mystery of the woman in white. The mystery of the woman in white truly unravels in the second act and this is where the story gets complex. I hope you get good seats and go back for a second try.
Sorry for the long post but I needed to get all of this off my chest. :)

[chernjam]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 8:56am

Agreeing to disagree seems to be a rare comodity these days- doesn't it???

[mikewood]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 11:40am

I was one of those who saw every "plot development" as telegraphed and I was totally unfamilar with the story.

[Rebekah]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 12:59pm

ddtruitt - I'm suprised that it hasn't been mentioned yet but did you actually miss Ball's song "You Can Get Away With Anything"??? Oh you need to go back alright!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vinnie you wouldn't answer me on another thread - will you do it here??

"I'm stating the facts and the truth. Sorry if it hurts."

Okay - Another chance to clarify yourself Vinnie. If the reviews are going to be brutal and they are not about the "cast" and you have the "FACTS" AND "TRUTH" then what are these reviews going to be based upon?????? If they are based on Andrew Lloyd Webber then that's wrong! ALW isn't the show and the reviews should be about the show!!

[AnotherDay46]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 6:25pm

If you left after act one you say Ball sing, A Gift For Living Well - not You Can Get Away With Anything. He adds some life into the performance, when he enters the whole just seems to "lift" in my opinion. He really is wonderful to watch. ^_^

[rusmic]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 7:10pm

Rebekah, you should know by now he's not going to answer. When the reviews come out and there is anything negative (and there will be because it is ALW I imagine) he's gonna say "I told you so."

[SayitSomehow]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 7:25pm

So, since the show opens Thursday, how long until we start hearing some official critics and reviews? Will it be immediateley after Thursday? And is there some unwritten law about reviewing shows before they officially open?

[rusmic]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 7:35pm

The "rule" is that they don't review a show until the freeze date. Which is usually the last preview or 2, when they officially invite the press in for reviews. Usually reviews come out opening day or that night after the first show (I think).

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 8:22pm

There was press there on Sunday, and will be more there tomorrow night. The show was "frozen" as of Friday night, when ALW returned to England until the opening.

[Rebekah]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 10:30pm

ddtruitt the song that Ball sings that I was referring to is in the second act! GO BACK!

Rusmic! It was worth a try!!! LOL! He will probably never show up on this thread anymore either!!
Updated On: 11/14/05 at 10:30 PM

[Rebekah]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 10:41pm

Make every effort!!! That song is the best part of the play!!! Well maybe just my favorite part LOL! I promise - you'll LOVE it!!!

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 10:55pm

Interesting story I wanted to share.


Today in Spanish class, we had this sub lady. And she was talking about how her and her husband like going to NYC waiting on TKTS to get tickets for shows, and she loves going to Broadway. And she said.

"We saw a show yesterday, but NO ONE go see it, it was the worst show i've ever seen." ("Oh Jesus" I was saying to myself, hopeing she wouldn't say it was Chicago, Charity, or Sweeney.) But she said it was THE WOMAN IN WHITE. She thought it was "absolutely terrible, and boring." And she was NOT a fan of the set. And the lady sees shows often, she knows about Broadway.


I just found that interesting. The only song I've heard is ALL FOR LAURA, and while I think that song is amazing - I don't think this is my type of show.

[Rebekah]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 11:06pm

The "lady" must "sub" alot at your school for you to know her Broadway habits. This show is way different then regular Broadway goers are used to but I find the diversity very refreshing. Not for everybody as you can tell.

It's been nice that for every bad review there are so many more good ones!
Updated On: 11/14/05 at 11:06 PM

[rusmic]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 11:23pm

Plus I hate it when people say don't go see a show just because THEY didn't like it. At least say "I didn't like it" and then give reasons. I guess I'm rare in that I don't care if someone else didn't like something, I'm gonna see for myself if it interests me.

ljay889, at least it sounds like you aren't going to see it because you don't think it's the kind of show you like. That I get.

Rebekah, yes it was worth a try.

[Doogie]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 11:57pm

I saw the third WiW preview and just thought I'd chime in...


--spoilers--




First, let me say that there are, save one or two principals, LOTS of people in this show I enjoy.

That said, the show has a problem in deciding what it wants to be: A Love story or a mystery. I can hear the choruses of people saying "Look at Phantom.... that has some gothic elements but it also has 'All I Ask Of You'".

While I don't love Phantom, it is at least clear in that show that this love between the two young people was tearing up the Phantom. It contributes to his agony, and thus, to our feelings for him.

In WiW, when the two young lovers are singing "I believe My Heart", why on earth should I care? I want to know more about the mysterious Woman In White I saw 20 minutes earlier. Similarly, when we find out Laura is "dead", why do I give a crap if Hartwright (sp?) is "Evermore without her". he may not know she's dead, but we do. why should we care if she isn't with the one she loves if she's DEAD? It seems like the love story between Hartright and Laura is SO seperate from the mystery of Anne Catherick that its a different show, which, for all of Phantom and Sunset's Flaws... everything in them seems like the same show... Raoul and Christine's love affects the Phantom, our "main" character, and Joe and Betty's affects Norma.... so, aside from Marian's baseless pining for Walter, how does his love for Laura affect ANYTHING else in the show? It just seemed like a pointless subplot.

Doug

[Rebekah]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 1:17am

You've kind of lost me Doug. Your spoilers don't really spoil the story because they don't exactly follow the storyline. This isn't a simple love triangle like "Phantom" or "Sunset" but there's room for all reviews! Your review is valid!! You saw it differently than I did. I can't think of Broadway mystery/love stories but if you consider films I can think of plenty that mix the two together. Sorry they're mostly oldies here but shows like "Laura","Jane Eyre","Rebecca", Wuthering Heights, "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir","When Strangers Marry aka "Betrayed", "Desire Me", etc. I think these all combined the two but I could be wrong here.

Thanks for the review, though!!

[VinnieTheIceman]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 2:52am

Rebekah, the show is about to get poor reviews. It has nothing to do with ALW. It has to do with the slow pace of the show, mediocre score, and a set that is not universally thought of as clever. Sorry to deliver the news.

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 7:25am

Vinnie: You are constantly stepping into a WiW conversation, saying it will get bad reviews. LEAVE US ALONE! Let us at least hope it will get good or mixed reviews. I understand that you like the show, but this is no way to make yourself informative on the message board. What if there was a show you were REALLY hoping would get good reviews and become a hit, and everyone is saying it will get bad reviews?

And besides... WE. WON'T. KNOW. THE. REVIEWS. UNTIL. OPENING. NIGHT. AND AFTER.

Laisse nous tranquilles, Vinnie.

[VinnieTheIceman]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 7:49am

It's not about what I want. Hope. Dream. It's about REALITY. I was answering someone's question. I know you've only been on the board for a few weeks, but it would help to read other replies before barking.

[CDuffy5062]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:32am

Vinnie, while the show itself may not appeal to the New York critics, although I happen to really like it, I cannot believe that the cast will be poorly reviewed. To the contrary, in my opinion, Maria Friedman, Michael Ball and Ron Boehmer are giving exceptional performances, and the rest of the cast is extremely strong as well.

[ken8631]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:49am

Wife and I are going to see it tomorrow night, assuming she gets over her bad cold by then (she's home sick from work right now)....

[YayJudyYayJudy]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 9:09am

Enjoy the show tomorrow night Ken!

and CDuffy- I agree, the entire company (leads and ensemble) are giving fantastic performances that should be commended.
We'll see soon enough...

[Rebekah]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 10:06am

Thank you Vinnie! Was dying for answer!

[VinnieTheIceman]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 10:53am

It's not worth dying for Rebekah. As for the show itself, as I've said before, I like it in both London and New York. It probably deserves a better fate, but unfortunately in this day and age a show like this is not being fairly received. Let the reviews come out!

[speihei]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:09am

Vinnie writes:

It has nothing to do with ALW. It has to do with the slow pace of the show, mediocre score, and a set that is not universally thought of as clever. Sorry to deliver the news.

------------

We differ here. Much of the bashing (not you Vinnie) is thinly veiled ALW bashing. So many people want to dislike anything he does that they nit-pick his shows to death instead of seeing them for what they are. This is a different ALW score and different never works for everyone. On balance though it's good music and fits the story and setting to a "T".

As far as complaint that the show has a slow pace, I guess we live in the sit-com/music video age. Yes you have to wait a little bit to experience (yes, let yourself get lost in the experience) the 90 seconds from the end of the trio to what happens after that. I'd wait for that 90 seconds every night at the theatre.

The sets are different and as such will never get unanimous acclaim. Would be interesting to see how the sets would be recieved if it wasn't an ALW show.