rOcKS @ 'Hair' - Page 2

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 12:27am

Really looking forward to seeing the production this week!

I need to let some sun shine in, ya know.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 12:27am

Oh, and they let everyone on?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 12:29am

I'm confused by what you mean by everyone. Everyone who wanted to seemed to be let on. I didn't see people telling anyone they couldn't go on. But it seemed like the people in the mezzanine or the back of the orchestra didn't feel left out cause there were cast members dancing in the aisles with them.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 12:30am

I was there tonight, as well....

Paulus has made fantastic use of the Hirschfield and has incorporated about as much of the organic feeling of the park production as could be expected in the venue. The cast enters and exits from everywhere, including the doors that lead out to the street. Gavin Creel even made use of the mezzanine railing during the finale. If you have an aisle seat in the orchestra, beware- you will probably be interacting with a cast member at some point. I was handed a flyer for the anti-war protest.

Going in, I had concerns about Creel's suitability for the role, and while he does look noticeably older than most of the cast, he gives a very, very good performance. His counterpart, Will Swenson, was also wonderful. Of the ladies, Sasha Allen and Saycon Sengbloh (nearly stealing act 2 as Abraham Lincoln) fare the best. Kacie Sheik is very quirky and funny in her role.

I'll have to be the voice of dissent on Caissie Levy, however. I thought she was awful. Her voice was screechy and Easy to be Heard was not easy to listen to. They ought to replace her, but I doubt they will. She is a glaring weak link in an otherwise very solid production.

I was most impressed this evening by Paulus' staging and how well she managed to keep many of the elements that made the park production so solid. One thing they should look at is making the wings less visible from most of the orchestra seats. Several times this evening, when I looked to the side of the stage, I could see a stage manager standing there holding a clipboard.

The onstage dancing at the finale is still there, and amusingly enough, just as they start to do it, two cast members run off stage to get giant railings that they place on the steps leading to the stage. I found that rather amusing.

One bit of oddity....I had no idea this show was going to inspire people to come in "costume." There were a large number of audience members dressed as hippies tonight. I wonder if this is going to be a regular occurrence, or if this was just the first nighters.

My one concern is about the energy level on other nights. Tonight, the audience was VERY into the show- it was clear there was a lot of fans of the show in attendance. This made the energy level in the theater very high. I wonder, however, what it's going to be like on a random Thursday evening. Without a lot of energy, this show could be dreadful. Still, tonight's audience ate it up.




Updated On: 3/7/09 at 12:30 AM

[viola13]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 12:32am

I sat in the boxes tonight, as my friend won the lotto, and I had a great view. Then again, I was on the edge, so there wasn't anything in my way, but my friend was sitting on the outside chair and didn't seem to have any problems seeing.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 1:41am

Awwwwwesome!

With regard to 'talking / interacting' with the audience, what's that all about? I only 'cause I'm booked, and I don't wanna be caught in a 'Wha-huh?' moment. LoL

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 5:39am

Sorry Mike not sure about your question...but based on the park's production...there are times and songs that the actors break the forth wall and directly address a memeber of the audience.


But Rocks and Adam...Thanks so much for your detailed thoughts. I loved this in the park and am terribly excited to get to see this. (I was all set to see this a few weeks ago and then they pushed the dates around@!) Hopefully in April!!

Updated On: 3/7/09 at 05:39 AM

[boyfromoz2]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 7:05am

So sitting in Seat 101 in Row A of the orchestra will be incredible?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 7:25am

Now I GOTTA book my tickets.

Thanks for the understudy list, rOcKS.

[noplain]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 7:43am

With the Orchestra on different levels on the back wall, how are they conducted?

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 7:45am

I'd interact with Will Swenson any day.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 7:54am

Im guessing they will be conducted by tv monitors. Thats what usually happens.

And after reading that review this show has gone straight to the top of my list of "To See" in New York this summer .

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 8:09am

With the Orchestra on different levels on the back wall, how are they conducted?

The conductor, Nadia something or other, is at the bottom level, facing the rest of the orchestra. She also doubles as one of the keyboard players. She was most definitely using a video camera, as her image was projected onto the monitor that hangs down from the front mezz. Also, she, along with the rest of the orchestra, was in costume.

So sitting in Seat 101 in Row A of the orchestra will be incredible?

If you like having the cast right on top of you for much of the show, then yes. They spend large amounts of time sitting on the steps in the aisle, so you'll be right there. You will probably be asked to give one of them a kiss or dance at some point, though, just so you know.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 8:42am

adamgreer, Caissie has been plagued with vocal problems in the past and I'm wondering if this is the case here. I saw her in a show a few years ago and her vocals were quite good at that time.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 9:06am

What is the merchandise like?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 9:59am

adamgreer, Caissie has been plagued with vocal problems in the past and I'm wondering if this is the case here. I saw her in a show a few years ago and her vocals were quite good at that time.

I know all about her well documented vocal problems. I thought the time off she took would have fixed the problem. Based on last night, it may not have.

[rwlevin]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 10:08am

"One bit of oddity....I had no idea this show was going to inspire people to come in "costume." There were a large number of audience members dressed as hippies tonight. I wonder if this is going to be a regular occurrence, or if this was just the first nighters. "

That happened in the park too so I wouldn't be surprised that people, especially those who win the lottery or those who see the show multiple times, will come dressed up.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 10:25am

Did you notice about how many people were doing the lottery and how many seats they gave out?

[countrygurl5872]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 10:28am

As far as merchandise goes, they didn't seem to have all of it in yet. They didn't have a poster or program last night (which I'm assuming they'll get in), but they have 5 different shirts, a magnet, and sweatshirt. They were all very cute!

If anyone wants to check out the set, some of the casts blogs are recorded on the stage with the set up (hairbroadway.com), so you can get an idea of it.

And adamgreer, I agree, I don't know how the energy will work on a different night. Then again, they managed it in the park, so we'll see!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 10:28am

Hate the "dressing up" stuff. (Except for Rocky Horror!)

[countrygurl5872]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 10:34am

For anyone that was there last night, do you know who was filmed outside of the theater? They got all of lotto and did some interviews during lotto and going into the show. Just curious.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 10:54am

rOcKs- thanks for answering all our questions! you know we love this show since last summer at Delacorte.

******

I am going to New York City for this revival and BILLY ELLIOT.

My predictions still hold...

BEST REVIVAL- HAIR
BEST NEW MUSICAL- BILLY ELLIOT (this is a no-brainer, any broadway -enthusiast can figure this out, by now!)

I am predicting that HAIR will be the Best Reviewed Revival show this season!
MARK MY WORDS!

J*
Updated On: 3/7/09 at 10:54 AM

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 11:02am

These positive reviews are making me so excited! I just bought a ticket for the 22nd. It's Left Orch Row B seat 9, I'm hoping that is not obstructed at all.

I'm obsessed with the bios on the website. So great.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 11:14am

I wouldn't count all the Tony chickens just yet. Although some here have issues with WSS, it's the financial juggernaut and we have no idea how the Tony committee will react to it. My prediction still stands that the Billys will not win Best Actor, although Gavin Creel just got injected into a race that was narrowing down quickly with each badly reviewed show. Matt Risch, Oliver Platt, Will Chase, Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell are all out of the running, so it looks to be between Brian D'Arcy James, J. Robert Spencer, and Creel for now (my only issue is that Hair is such an ensemble show that Creel will be forgotten. Expect the nominations to shake out like this:

David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish - Billy Elliot
Gavin Creel - Hair
Brian D'Arcy James - Shrek the Musical
J. Robert Spencer - Next to Normal
(Depending on category placement for Bierko): Malcolm Gets, The Story of My Life or Craig Bierko, Guys and Dolls.


...Sorry I just turned this into a Tony prediction thread.

Updated On: 3/7/09 at 11:14 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 11:14am

You're gonna have a great time from that seat, taylor!