Yes, Another BROOKYN Review - 10/9

[check your personality]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 9:10pm

Hey everyone, I just want to preface this review with the little but oh so very important words: I am no shill.

Okay, on the the stuff that matters. First of all, I need to truly admit that I loved loved loved this show. I thought it was passionate, funny, and overall just a fabulous, creative work that was very true and caring. As lame as it sounds, I was moved to tears multiple times throughout the whole show, and I was highly impressed with the overall performance.

Kevin Anderson - Great singer, but I do have to agree with people who said his character wasn't developed enough. He seems like a true talent though.

Cleavant Derricks - Awesome. I really felt as though he totally tied everything together, and definitely put some of the love in the whole show. Not only that, he is very talented, and an extremely nice person. At the stagedoor, he made sure everyone knew the producers, writers, etc., giving a lot of well deserved credit to the behind the scenes people. Great guy.

Eden Espinosa - UNBELIEVEABLE. I know many people think she is too shrill, screechy, etc. but I was shocked at how truly amazing she was. Very sweet person at the stagedoor, and very gracious. What an awesome talent she is. I know that many people think that she is the "next Idina Menzel" and therefore fans will be way too annoying with her, but she deserves everything. Extremely extremely talented, she made me cry like a loser..

Ramona Keller - Perfection for the role. Hysterically funny, great comedic timing, and great voice. I could go on and on about how awesome she was for the part - she nailed every note, joke and step.

Karen Olivio - Seems (this is the key word) to be very good - in my opinion, we didn't get to hear enough of her. But she was extremely charismatic, you can tell she loves being up on stage.

Total experience - Amazing. The director, writer, producer, all came out to talk to us, to hear what we thought of the show and how, and were extremely interesting, down to earth people who really took our opinions to heart. The passion surrounding the entire production is contaigious, and I was definitely sucked into the whole thing. I loved the creativity (which some are going to yell at me for) of the costumes, and how we had the opportunity to interpret some things, unlike in other shows where it just is presented to you, without you having to take your own spin on things. Loved the show, hope I can see it again soon, and I highly recommend it!

[ponine24601]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 9:18pm

yay!! i'm so glad you liked the show!! i can't wait to see it!

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 9:23pm

Thank you for your great review!

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 9:32pm

"Karen Olivio - Seems (this is the key word) to be very good - in my opinion, we didn't get to hear enough of her."

I totally agree with you.

[fae]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:41am

i saw BKLYN on saturday night and i have to agree that it was unexpectedly wonderful. i went into it not expecting much, but wanting to form my own opinion. i was very impressed with the talent of the cast. i love to see great ensemble shows. i loved the creativity behind this show. there is so much thought put into every nuance. my opinion is that the cast is exceptional, the score is very current (not really my type, but i believe it will be well received) and the set, costumes and props were brilliant. kevin anderson (taylor) was the one cast member who i thought could use a bit more characterization.
overall i think that the talent and imagery were the two most valuable assets to this show. i would definitely recommend this show... especially with this cast. thumbs up from me.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 1:08am

Thanks fae for you review!

[Phantom2]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 2:03am

Tiny-Toon- Isn't your shift over yet? HAHA

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 2:31am

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Phantom2]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 2:34am

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 2:35am

:)

[Ilive4nyc]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 9:28am

I too saw the show Saturday night and have to say the first 15 minutes I thought I had made a mistake but left theater completely blown away. In fact I was the second person on my feet at the end. Several songs left me with goose bumps, Once Upon a time and Streetsinger left me in tears. The cast is amazing, every one of them. After reading the background of how the show came to be I completely understand the plastic bags and think they really work well. I'm going back for a second visit for sure. Hopefully with closer seats. I was in row P which is fine because the theater is small but would like to see it closer. Kudos to Brooklyn!

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 9:34am

Ilive - Does Karen still come out in the beginning before the play starts to move the hands of the clock? Did everyone understand in the theatre that these were homeless street performers putting on a show ..for money...and that's why the crazy outfits, (karen as an angel, the MSG arena..)

[luvWICKED416]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 9:35am

ILiveInNYC- i was in row P on Saturday night!
Were you next to the group of like 30 people who came together?

Although my review isn't as good as yours.... i agree that the performers were insanely good and the sets were great.. but that's all. The story was weak and generic, and the music wasn't memorable.

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 9:48am

luvwicked - where's your review? and I wish there had been more songs by the ensemble like Heart behind these hands..they sound wonderful together..

and..I agree however the story could use a little tweeking..however I still was moved to tears by Cleavant and am thinking of going again

[Ilive4nyc]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 9:53am

No, Karen didn't come out and change the clock.
The Streetsinger changed it.

I was in row P on the left, there wasn't a big group around me at least not that I saw. However there was an obnoxious family behind me that before the show were so loud, but during the show were quiet as church mice.

Oh yeah, this isn't about Brooklyn. We won the lottery for Rent earlier in the day. I think I've seen that show enough for the rest of my life. All the young girls screaming everytime Drew was on the stage did me in.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 11:33am

When i saw the show october 7th, Ramona just walked on stage and looked at the audiance, and then after the show began, the streetsinger said "In one minute (turning the clock) we will start to..."

[NStar21]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 11:36am

I just have a question in general for those who praise the Brooklyn score... if the score is so memorable, why is it that most people mainly either comment on "Heart Behind These Hands," "Once Upon A Time," "Raven" and "Streetsinger"? I saw the first preview and quite frankly couldn't believe that THIS was the show people had been raving about for so long. But that's another story. But I really find it hard to understand how this show has an amazing score yet barely any of those songs get talked about except for the four on the cd sampler. So could some fans shed some light?

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 11:49am

Those are the only ones I remember and that I loved... You mean there were others? If I had an icon of a bewildered face I'd put one here... :-0

[BroadwayBOY3]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 11:54am

There are a lot of great songs in the show, but the ones that are on the sampler CD are the ones that usually get stanging ovations. Those are the songs that Brooklyn will be known for.

[luvWICKED416]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:02pm

wickedfan... this is my review...


I know there are a lot of BKLYN reviews... but here's another.

Overall, didn't love it, didn't hate it.

Visually the show is sooo awesome! The set it like perfect and they make such good use of various props, i was very impressed. The thing that blew me away were the performers! They were all just unbelievable!!!!!!!! Esp. Eden... holy crap. That girl has one hell of a voice. Everyone else was great... the casting was really well done.

However, the story was just not good. And the music was memorable, i came in knowing "once upon a time" and that's the only song i remembered once the show ended.

I don't know if i would recommend it, but if you want to go see it, it's worth it to see the cast. SERIOUSLY, AMAZING!

[Amneris]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:35pm

i saw every single one of you saturday night in your seats and the stagedoor. Im a spy.

[Ilive4nyc]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:39pm

I guess for me reading the history about how the show came to be, you know with the director and the producers. Then like I said I think the first 15 minutes need reworking, after that I really enjoyed it. It's a fairytail, remember that. All of the cast members are amazing, and I honestly don't think paradice steals the show. Eden's Once Upon A Time got a better applause than any of Paradice's songs. To each his own though.

Updated On: 10/11/04 at 12:39 PM

[Amneris]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 1:15pm

wicked416, you had on a wicked hoodie right? You look just like your photo!! Very much like the actress Donna Vivino who was the original young cosette in Les Miz...went on to the Hairspray tour.

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 1:20pm

Hi Amneris -

Ilive - I believe OUAT is the highlight of the show for me but Paradice still steals it with her lines and her acting.imo...

luvwicked - Thanks for your review. I agree the entire cast is amazing and I think their singing alone was worth the price of my ticket (which by the way was a $100 because I bought it the day the previews went on sale)

[fae]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 1:27pm

wicked416... i believe i saw you standing at the stage door also. you do look just like your picture. you were with a couple of other girls i believe getting show cards signed.

amneris... now who were you? we must have been standing in the same area.