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Company
Jul 5, 2007 13:37:36 GMT 11
Post by jackjackjack on Jul 5, 2007 13:37:36 GMT 11
I thought this was a marvelous production. The set was stricking (though what was with the chess board). The costumes really gave it a different feel, though consistent with the idea of the songs that come out of Robert's head.
I did feel that it was a stretch to involve the girlfriends in the Side By Side number, which was about his relationship with the married couples.
As for performances. Love Chelsea, love Trisha, love Simon Burke. David and Tamsin were great but perhaps they're voices were a bit tired. If I were recording it I'd go with another take.
Anne Looby handled Ladies Who Lunch okay. Perhaps more spoken that it could have been, but the character has never really grabbed me so it's hard to judge her performance.
The supporting characters were solid and I was reasonably impressed with the accents.
Now, bring on Sondheim.
James
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mara
Backyard Balladeer
Posts: 23
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Company
Jul 6, 2007 21:54:00 GMT 11
Post by mara on Jul 6, 2007 21:54:00 GMT 11
Can someone explain to me why newspapers say it opened yesterday when I saw it last Saturday???
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megziid
Backyard Balladeer
Posts: 9
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Company
Jul 6, 2007 22:57:14 GMT 11
Post by megziid on Jul 6, 2007 22:57:14 GMT 11
Last night was the official opening night, so decreed to coincide with Stephen Sondheim's attendance. All performances prior to that were previews.
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mara
Backyard Balladeer
Posts: 23
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Company
Jul 7, 2007 14:34:29 GMT 11
Post by mara on Jul 7, 2007 14:34:29 GMT 11
Oh ok, thanks for explaining that. I was really confused to why there were no reviews out yet.
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benz
Backyard Balladeer
Posts: 14
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Company
Aug 4, 2007 12:28:23 GMT 11
Post by benz on Aug 4, 2007 12:28:23 GMT 11
Saw this production on Thursday night. Overall I enjoyed the show. I found it entertaining and thought that the performances were solid and committed. There is no doubt that there was a vast amount of talent up on the stage and not surprisingly, the singing was excellent, especially from David Campell and Tamsin Carrol. That said, I must admit that in many ways I was also disappointed. Apart from the very excellent Anne Looby, I didn't believe a word that any of them said! The performances across the board were so huge that there was barely an honest moment to be found. I felt the acting was pretty average. Perhaps direction? Chelsey Plumley's performance was SO over the top that I sat perplexed "what the hell is she doing?" To my mind she missed the truly heartbreaking moments that make that role so wonderful. This happened a lot - to everyone. It really wasn't until the scene between Anne Looby, Bill Zappa and David late in the second act that I felt truly affected and I thought Looby's "Ladies Who Lunch" a revelation. I'm a huge David Campell fan and as usual he was vocally spot on but I just could not buy Bobby's big "shift", nor did I buy the tears at the beginning of Being Alive. Sorry. Christie Whelen was hillarious!! That girl is definitley one to watch and Pippa Grandison was also extremely funny, finding every laugh in her scene. So, please remember that these are merely my opinions. My final verdict - I belive that this is a pretty top notch production but one that misses many oportunities to really move us.
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