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Post by Talissa on Jul 15, 2004 8:34:21 GMT 11
Wow, where to start? It was a brilliant show. Overall, one of the best TPC shows I've seen, I'd say, with all the cast perfectly chosen in terms of acting and singing, as well as blending very well vocally, and a visually effective design. The 'sky' that appeared towards the end of Act 1 was absolutely gorgeous, and I think got a few quiet "Ooh"s and "Aaah"s when the stars lit up, and there were some wonderful costumes. I absolutely adored Tamsin's dress at the start of Act 2 (I want one!) and her wedding dress looked gorgeous, as did Christen's dress in that scene. The green really suits her. And the set changes worked wonderfully, putting the chorus to very good use without being at all out of character.
Tamsin Carroll was utterly magnificent as Tracy Lord, belting out the music beautifully, and really making the audience feel Tracy's journey. She made an excellent drunk, and the scene in which she introduced herself to Liz and Mike was just fantastic.
Simon Burke was a wonderfully charismatic CK Dexter Haven, singing beautifully and acting out the part to its full potential, really bringing out Dexter's feelings without turning him into a sop.
Marty Fields, though perhaps fading vocally when surrounded by so many brilliant voices, acted the part of Mike Connor well, and certainly endeared himself to the audience.
Christen O'Leary was a gorgeous Liz Imbrie, giving a powerful rendition of "He's a Right Guy", and appearing very wry when Mike was concerned, which worked well. I'm afraid I still had Little Sally stuck in my head, but I think that's my doing rather than hers.
It was fantastic actually seeing Scott Irwin on stage and singing again, and he definitely did well as George Kittredge. His voice was as powerful as ever, and he did well at being "so humourless he's almost funny." Now we just need to wait for him to get something even bigger.
And as for the young Rebecca Hetherington, she wasn't at all out of place in the glowing cast. She was absolutely delightful as Dinah Lord, with a strong voice and gorgeously impudent acting. Well done, Rebecca.
There, that was a little shorter than usual, wasn't it?
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Post by Buff on Jul 15, 2004 8:38:24 GMT 11
There, that was a little shorter than usual, wasn't it?  Buff  |
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Post by Sally on Jul 16, 2004 10:24:31 GMT 11
Not sure I can add anything else!! Re: THAT skirt. I hope your little device didn't pick up my "oh wow!"  the lady next to me sure heard me though...I swear, everytime I made the slighest sound or moved an inch she was looking at me! But I couldn't help it, I saw the skirt and was just amazed! Gorgeous!!! |
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Post by Talissa on Jul 16, 2004 11:13:24 GMT 11
I don't think so. That woman really wasn't a particularly cheerful character, was she? Maybe she was a critic  I want that skirt, though!! |
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Post by Sally on Jul 16, 2004 12:18:03 GMT 11
Phew That woman...gawd!! I sneaked a few glances at her, the most she gave was a grim smile...and there I am, dying of laughter By the way - I was reading the programme on the train home and almost died laughing again, at Marty Fields' biog!!! ;D lol I made my mother read it the second I got home, it was like "read this, THEN I'll tell you everything!" lol I should write something in review but I'm still a bit in awe and most is on my lj anyway So for the 99% of people who don't read that...here goes ;D I'm a big fan already of the film of The Philadelphia Story and a reasonable fan of the film of High Society so I already knew the story inside out and knew what to expect and what to hope wasn't cut and so on I ended up comparing everyone more to the TPS actors more than the HS ones therefore. Dexter's "you're in the pink, Red" I realised would have to be skipped when I saw a blonde Tracy, reminding me that this was HS and not TPS But my very favourite bit was there, from the "who's interviewing who?" scene with Tracy, Mike and Liz: Tracy: "South Bend...it sounds like dancing, doesn't it? You must have had a most happy childhood there." Mike: "Yeah, it was terrific." Tracy: "I'm SO glad." Mike: "No, I didn't mean it that way." Tracy: "I'm SO sorry, why?" It's not what's said, it's the WAY it's said, and I must say if I wasn't already a fan of Tamsin's, her nailing the exact emphasis on the SO glad/SO sorry bit would have instantly won me over. It was PERFECT. I really can't explain what that line does to me when KH says it in TPS short of I need to pause the video so I don't miss the next ten minutes' worth of dialogue. So we already know I adored Tamsin as Tracy obviously and I don't need to rave more apart from the beautiful outfits!! And her "put me in your pocket, Mike!" which was spot on. Next, Mike. I always loved Mike. I always loved Jimmy Stewart as Mike. So my first impression when Marty Fields walked on was, he's not Mike. Took about...oh, two minutes? before he'd more than won me over, and I spent the rest of the show absolutely adoring his Mike, and loving the songs - perfect!!! And for a change I liked Mike more than I liked Dexter. Could never find any fault with his performance either. I'm not as familiar with his work as I am with Tamsin's but from now on he's SO gonna be Mike Connor in my mind. Similar story with Christen who I kept thinking of as Little Sally, and who was, by the end of the scene, actually beating out Ruth Hussey in my affections. As much as I loved Little Sally, I had to love her Liz more. Absolutely brilliant, especially in the kerfuffles with Uncle Willie! Who was also spot on ;D Although my affections there still lie with Roland Young. Simon Burke I was also fairly unfamiliar with but I loved his Dexter. I know, I can't say a bad word against the show! I'd be putting him third though, after Tamsin and Marty/Christen tied. Not that he wasn't good, just that I enjoyed their portrayals a little more. I suppose because with the first three, I compared them to the TPS actors and thought wow, they're better! And with Simon I thought he was as good, but never better - better than Bing yes, but not better than Cary Wow that sounds like I didn't like him, I don't mean it that way at all. I hope someone else understands what I'm trying to get at I also laughed till I cried at the drunk scene. I LOVE it..."when she hit the water, the wine hit her" And!! The staff, changing the scenes. I loved that! Half the time I was so busy watching them singing and dancing, I didn't even notice the furniture being changed. I remember once thinking, where the hell did that seat come from? They were absolutely the perfect touch, and looked to be having so much fun! |
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Post by nadine on Jul 17, 2004 22:57:43 GMT 11
Okay back from Melbourne. Awesome production - love the costumes and the performances superb! I'll write a proper review later on - though I have to say what is it with all the journalists stealing my line about Tamsin channelling Bette Midler? I mentioned that last year and now they're picking up on it a year later! Julia, can you check your LJ comments - I wrote a comment in there after a lovely disaster that occurred with my AR |
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Post by Sally on Jul 18, 2004 15:49:55 GMT 11
Can't wait to read your review I won't write such a huge one for yesterday's matinee as I did for Wed. Just some add-ons: Simon's performance which I couldn't fault on Wed was a whole lot better on Saturday, he just had this extra spark and really made the role his own. It was brilliant! Favourite little insignificant moment: when Mike sat down next to the bottle and champagne glass on the bench, in the background of Tracy and George, and the glass fell over. Marty righted it and it fell again! What with the look on his face and the way the others didn't even appear to notice, it looked positively scripted. There was also a fun moment when the wheel barrow tipped up backwards with him in it And a general amount of laughing and/or trying hard NOT to laugh on stage from he and Simon. Which just made it all the more enjoyable, to see them genuinely having fun as well. And the reason I wanted to know what toy Dexter had in 'Little One' on Wed - just thought it was a teddy on Wed, I didn't notice anything different, but yesterday, it was none other than Play School's Humpty Dumpty. Simon held it up to his face and commented, "haven't I seen you somewhere before?" before getting on with the number - superb!!! |
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Post by nadine on Jul 18, 2004 15:59:06 GMT 11
There was also a fun moment when the wheel barrow tipped up backwards with him in it And a general amount of laughing and/or trying hard NOT to laugh on stage from he and Simon. Which just made it all the more enjoyable, to see them genuinely having fun as well. And the reason I wanted to know what toy Dexter had in 'Little One' on Wed - just thought it was a teddy on Wed, I didn't notice anything different, but yesterday, it was none other than Play School's Humpty Dumpty. Simon held it up to his face and commented, "haven't I seen you somewhere before?" before getting on with the number - superb!!! We had those two moments on Friday - the HD part got a laugh from everyone. Marty in the wheelbarrow, resulted in Marty's literally going flying out of the wheelbarrow and definitely showing more than he should have <g> by the time they got off stage they had completely lost it. |
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Post by Sally on Jul 18, 2004 16:10:41 GMT 11
HD was a classic moment LOL! On Wed, Simon gave the wheelbarrow a twirl so everyone could see what was under Marty's robe Missed the twirl yesterday, righting the tipped up thing seemed to take priority |
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Post by Talissa on Jul 19, 2004 8:34:04 GMT 11
Hee! The Humpty Dumpty is priceless. I wish I'd seen that. And Nadine, I just got to my LJ. Am happy to sort something out. But will talk about that elsewhere. As for the wheelbarrow bit, Val Jellay was sitting right near us, and did you hear her reactions to it, Ann? I was amused |
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Post by Sally on Jul 19, 2004 15:36:58 GMT 11
Val Jellay's reaction to the wheelbarrow..? Drawing a blank! What happened there? I remember being aware of something  All I remember is on Sat, how odd it was when Marty made his first entrance and there wasn't sudden, spontaneous applause from behind me ;D I almost felt like starting it myself! |
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Marty
Backyard Balladeer
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Post by Marty on Jul 23, 2004 18:14:28 GMT 11
Sorry you thought my voice "faded" compared to the rest of the cast. It was a decision I made with Adam Cook, the director to under-sing my songs. More spoken than sung. They were more in character that way. Mike was supposed to be the "real" one in the show. Not my decision but Adam's. However, even though I've been doiing Musicals now for 13 years, I'm not a musical singer, but rather had 20 years in live music gigs, so my voice comes from a different place. Interesting perspective though. Thanks
Marty
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Marty
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Post by Marty on Jul 23, 2004 18:22:23 GMT 11
Um just realised there were more reviews than the first one. Scroll down, idiot. Scroll down. anyways, thanks you guys. Glad you liked it. the wheelbarrow was one of the trickiest props I've had to deal with in my career, apart from maybe the hotel sign destruction I had to do in Crazy For You. They wanted me to bite it. Try biting a piece of wood and spitting out the piece 8 shows a week.
Marty x
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Post by jackjackjack on Jul 26, 2004 1:07:28 GMT 11
I've been somewhat absent lately, but I did see HS on opening night and though late, I thought I'd add my comments.
I hate to say it, but I'm not the HS fan that some of you obviously are. In fact, I have never seen the movie, and only later realised that I had once turned on TPS halfway through. Frankly I think that it is a good story, but it lacks musical highlights.
That said, the musical highlights for me were True Love, which unfortunately lost something from it not being entirely clear that it took place in Tracy's imagination, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
The show was stolen by Christen, who I must be honest, I had never heard of until Urinetown. (I'm a fan now) and also by Rebecca Hetherington as Dinah.
From the others. Marty was great, and not just because he's started reading here. I swear.
Simon I liked, but sometimes he seemed to turn into Bing Crosby. I'd blame my perceptions, but I've never seen the movie, so I maintain it must have been there.
Tamsin was great, but the role was the least suited to her voice that I have seen her play. I've heard her sing (belt out) As Long As He Needs Me, Moments in the Woods and Spanish Rose, and by comparison some of the more balladish moments of HS just didn't seem right for her. I know nothing about singing, so does anyone know what I'm talking about?
Before the show, I was sitting out the front of the Arts Centre waiting for my parents so we could get something to eat before the show. There was aguy out there talking on his mobile: "don't forget the after party tickets." I thought, how come he gets to go to the after party? Later on I got my answer, when I saw him on the stage. Based on the program I make him Davd Gauci. And of course my eyes got drawn to him when the ensemble was on stage. I agree that the staging of the scenery was very clever. The ensemble and supporting characters were mostly very solid. How they can learn a part of that level with such short rehearsal is beyond me. Kudos.
Now, who do I know who's got a Carousel nature....?
James
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Post by Talissa on Jul 27, 2004 12:15:31 GMT 11
Sorry you thought my voice "faded" compared to the rest of the cast. It was a decision I made with Adam Cook, the director to under-sing my songs. More spoken than sung. They were more in character that way. Mike was supposed to be the "real" one in the show. Not my decision but Adam's. However, even though I've been doiing Musicals now for 13 years, I'm not a musical singer, but rather had 20 years in live music gigs, so my voice comes from a different place. Interesting perspective though. Thanks Marty That makes sense. I can see that now. As I said, your acting of the role was wonderful. Well done I guess I'm just too much of a sucker for a pretty voice ~Julia |
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the lady next to me sure heard me though...I swear, everytime I made the slighest sound or moved an inch she was looking at me! But I couldn't help it, I saw the skirt and was just amazed! Gorgeous!!!
All I remember is on Sat, how odd it was when Marty made his first entrance and there wasn't sudden, spontaneous applause from behind me ;D I almost felt like starting it myself!