The Schoenfeld Theatre, formerly known as the Plymouth and once considered to be the Shubert Organization's premier house for plays, has been lovingly and expensively refurbished. The crystal chandeliers and all ceiling lighting appear to have been replaced by glorious new fixtures, and all fabrics, curtains, carpets and seats have been elegantly replaced. Every inch has been repainted. I don't know if the men's loo in the lower lobby, nor the box office lobby, have changed much, but there appears to be a new ladies lav on the mezzanine level. The theatre's new colors remind of the stunning Haymarket Theatre in London. What a pleasure to see this venue polished and refreshed. (I didn't know it needed it!)
As for the show - a mixed bag. The central performances of O'Hara and Pasquale impress as expected, and it is perhaps a shame that the book doesn't focus virtually exclusively on them and get delivered in a tighter 100 minute chamber musical format. In opening up the book and movie, and providing book scenes and musical moments for subsidiary characters, the creators now have a show that runs nearly 3 hours and feels long and diffuse. It's easy to see where cuts could be made (starting with Hunter Foster's two songs, an awful second act opening scene at the State Fair, and a gloomy "When I'm Gone" near the conclusion of the show), but I don't think the generally maudlin story is ever gonna knock the socks off theatregoers.
Having said that, people who know the story will not expect a razzle dazzle musical. But, they should expect something that is adult and moving. Despite a lot of very pretty music and the two extraordinary leads, and even envisioning a show made tighter by sensible cutting and rewrites, it is not clear if they will succeed. The show barely touches one's heart at the moment.
There were no apparent flubs in tonight's performance, although O'
Hara at one point said "I'll get some film for your ice" instead of "I'll get some ice for your film" but she caught herself and corrected it - and maybe that is how it is scripted.
Several audience members mentioned at intermission that they were distracted by the set - which gets us to one of the most disappointing aspects of the show - the scenic design. It was tedious watching ensemble members frequently carrying the kitchen set, tables and chairs, on and off stage - largely because there was nothing else to distract the eye from watching the scene changes. But, more than that, I thought there was a lack of imagination in the show's design, and the failure to give us an actual covered bridge, or reasonable facsimile, was unforgivable. Also, I expected some scenic references to the Kincaid character's photography - not what they did in THE HAPPY TIME years ago, but some way of using photography as a scenic design element.
As for the music...???? It all seemed pretty enough in the theatre, and a song about life rushing by in a second ("One Second & a Million Miles") seemed lush and powerful. I thought O'Hara's Act 1 opening song ("To Build A Home") was undistinguished and hard to follow (with her Italian accent). One of the lyric's that took me out of the moment was in the unnecessary "He Forgave Me" sung by Francesca' sister. It went something like: "a woman can do anything she wishes...but don't ask her husband to do the dishes..."
I will leave it to others to discuss whether O'Hara and/or Pasquale seem too young for the roles they are playing, whether they age appropriately, whether O'Hara needs better wigs, etc etc.
Front row orchestra seating will be excellent as the stage is low, and there is an orchestra pit between the stage lip and front seats. Tonight's performance appeared to be SRO. Director Bartlett Sher and composer Jason Robert Brown conferred at rear orchestra during intermission. Neither one was smiling much...
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