tale of . . . wow

[bwaybri2]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 12:08am

I am not a 'shrill!' but rather a out of stater who comes to nyc 2 or 3 times a year - I saw totc tonight and it was exceptional - there were some lighting and sound cue errors - and akward set movement - but it is a winner -

I read Roberts 'review' on here earlier today (and all the comments) so I was trying to listen to what others were saying - and there was indeed a strong buzz at intermission - omg its good - what a set - the lighting superb (950 fixtures) - people were talking about coming back - the couple next to me from nj - came in on thursday and came back -

besides its artistic merit - I feel it is going to be a hit - and for the comparison to les miz - yes it is a fair one - but people on the average are more familiar with dickens than hugo - (at least for the tourists that make up a large percent of the house)

I saw Billy on the west end last week and that is a better book - better show - so totc will not be the BEST for 08-09 but . . . it will be one of the top 3 or 4

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 12:11am

Do you mean "shill".

This is "shrill"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-MCmm_50xM

[winston89]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 12:14am

I agree with what you said. I don't think that it is fair to compare this show to Les Miserables. I think they are both different shows and saying that the two are the same is apples and oranges.

I don't think that this will win best musical. I don't like that people are bashing it without seeing it. I also don't like the fact that Reidel said that this show is going to be gone soon so that Hair could take it's place. I f he wanted to bad mouth the show at least wait until the show opens.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 12:39am

I'll be the contrarian, for this thread at least, and admit I fled this at intermission. Ms Santoriello musicalizes every moment in sight with little artistry. The orchestrator has a better sense of melody. When the composer tries, it's a quote from another, better show. Most of the performers do what they can, with the exception of Mr Barbour who is terrible. The only time it has any real energy is when it flirts, albeit briefly, beyond mediocrity to being truly bad: ie the graverobber slapstick trio and Natalie Toro's rant "Out of Sight, Out of Mind." It ain't a flop; it's a fizzle. For those who, based on others' more positive reports, think they might like it, I advise you to see this wan Les Mis retread before opening night.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 1:04am

This thread is shrilling with shill!

[winston89]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 1:25am

chrisampm2, I don't think you can give a fair and honest review of a show unless you see the entire thing. For all you know, act two could have been better then the first act.

I get the impression that the views on this forum are mixed. There are some people who love this show and think highly of it. And, there are others who really don't like it.

And, then there are those who have yet to see it but are going to say it sucks without making a fair assessment.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 1:31am

I don't think that it is fair to compare this show to Les Miserables. I think they are both different shows and saying that the two are the same is apples and oranges.


Why not? TOTC invited these comparisons when they staged their act 1 finale as a cheesy, second-rate rip off of Do You Hear the People Sing and One Day More, right down to staging it in an almost identical fashion.
Updated On: 8/23/08 at 01:31 AM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 1:40am

At first I did not know what show you were talking about. Is it really that difficult to add "...Two Cities"?

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 1:50am

WInston,

I agree with you. If I were a reviewer, I'd have stayed. I consider my post to be a quick chat room report of my experience of the first act. Even so, if I ever mention the show again, I'll restate my caveat that I only saw one half. I would have stayed if, like Carrie, it had veered from the sublime to the ridiculous, but ATOTC seemed fairly consistent You saw the whole thing. Even though you liked it much more than I did - and I respect that - did the second act seem very different from the first?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 1:52am

Saw it for the third time tonight and was completely blown away. James Barbour get better and better with each performance. His song in Act 1 "I Can't Recall" was stunning tonight. Can't wait to go back on September 1st.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 2:03am

"people were talking about coming back"

This is the single notion that EVERY shill presents. No offense.

I thought the thread title was a play on "tale of woe." No?

Updated On: 8/23/08 at 02:03 AM

[winston89]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 2:05am

chrisampm2, I sent you a PM but I am going to post here as well.

without giving anything that happens in the show away. I felt that act one had a lot of side stories that didn't need to be there (like the grave robbing song for example). Act two really got down to business so to speak.

Adam, in regards to saying that this show is a rip off of Les Miserables I have this to say. People who think that this show is a second rate Les Miserables are people who thought that based upon the music from the CD. If and when they see it that is all they are going to think of and they are going to look for ways to show that this show is a second rate Les Miserables. I just don't see how it is a second rate Les Miserables. But, if people want to believe that it is there they are going to look hard enough until they find something that they thing proves their point.

Updated On: 8/23/08 at 02:05 AM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 2:11am

There are some similarities to Les Mis, yes, but Les Mis is a fantastic show...and so is A Tale of Two Cities!

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 2:11am

I saw the second preview and personally, was underwhelmed. Then again, it was only the second preview.

I wouldn't mind sitting through it again after it opens to see what changes have been made! James Barbour WAS pretty amazing.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 2:14am

People who think that this show is a second rate Les Miserables are people who thought that based upon the music from the CD.

Not the case with me, but ok. There is no CD out yet, anyway.

But, if people want to believe that it is there they are going to look hard enough until they find something that they thing proves their point.

You don't have to look very hard. The staging of the act 1 finales are nearly identical.

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 2:16am

At first I did not know what show you were talking about. Is it really that difficult to add "...Two Cities"?

AMEN.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 3:03am

There is no CD out yet, anyway.

Adam, there is a concept recording that's been out for a while.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 3:13am

Yes, the concept recording was made in 2002.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 4:17am

Winston, you love this show, huh? No harm in it. I'm really exctied to see it as well. It's just I can always find you on a Tale of Two Cities thread, ha.

[winston89]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 5:33am

adamgreer, I disagree with you about the show letting itself be compared to Les Miserables just by the direction of the act one closer. First off I didn't see anything even similar to the direction in Les Miserables. But, that is besides the point.

The point that I am trying to make is this. That people have heard the music from the show before they even saw it thanks to the concept CD. And, it seems like right from the word "go" people were thinking that the show was just a second rate Les Miserables. I feel that what you said only proves my point. That people are trying to find ways to compare it with Les Miserables. First the music now the direction.


RentBoy86, The way I see it is this. There are people on here who are passionate about things like LuPone in Gypsy or Title Of Show and enjoy talking about it. Now, I am not the biggest Lupone or Title of show fan out there. But, there is nothing wrong with loving something and enjoying being able to defend it and talk about it.

Now, I wonder how long it will be before Too Darn Hot calls me a shill just for being a fan of the show :)

Updated On: 8/23/08 at 05:33 AM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 7:56am

"Yankeefan, in regards to saying that this show is a rip off of Les Miserables I have this to say. People who think that this show is a second rate Les Miserables are people who thought that based upon the music from the CD."

Did I post on this thread and nobody told me?

[BrianS]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 11:32am

"Now, I wonder how long it will be before Too Darn Hot calls me a shill just for being a fan of the show"

I wouldn't worry... these days, his reputation is sitting at the bottom of some toilet in grand central along with his dignity.

[broadwayfan310]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 11:59am

I absoletely loved this show.. My friends and I laughed and cried it was very moving! One of those shows you can see again and again.. Its so exciting to feel this way about a show.. I think I would even like to read the book now :)

[winston89]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 12:50pm

Yakeefan, I am sorry. I don't know why I used your screen name instead of Adam's. I will edit it right away.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 1:01pm

That people have heard the music from the show before they even saw it thanks to the concept CD. And, it seems like right from the word "go" people were thinking that the show was just a second rate Les Miserables. I feel that what you said only proves my point. That people are trying to find ways to compare it with Les Miserables. First the music now the direction.

I never listened to the concept recording, so your argument doesn't work. I sat there during the first act, watching this mess onstage, and realized what it was they were trying to do. Then, it became blatantly obvious when during the act 1 finale, they all stood in a line and began marching forward, with fog coming out of the stage. When they held up their guns, the picture was complete. All that was missing was for the kid to come running on with a big flag.

First off I didn't see anything even similar to the direction in Les Miserables. But, that is besides the point.

No, that is the point. You're seeing only what you want to see, and ignoring the obvious ripoff in the staging. The fact that many posters have mentioned the comparisons between these two shows should tell you something. But, you'll only see what you want to see.