| re: Spoiler request: Off-kilter choices in Act I? | |
| Posted by: | wsxblue 06:04 am EST 12/11/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Spoiler request: Off-kilter choices in Act I? - wsxblue 05:58 am EST 12/11/14 |
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| (my notes from another board) This was my first Amanda Denhart production I have seen . . . The orchestra is huge because it's a mix of students and professional - sometimes it doesn't matter - sometimes it obvious. I spent act one hating almost every single choice. The cast starting off in stylized street clothes and music stands - as if apologizing for the orchestra is on stage, and they change during the opening number. There are no trees, no woods - it's just on the Elizabethan stage. There is no real delineation between the narrator and the mysterious man - which is very odd - and I think confusing for my guest who had never seen the show before. The wolf is played by two actors, a deaf company member acting and signing the role, the prince singing it. It was very odd, but there sexuality seemed to be stripped from the Wolf/Red relationship. The wolf in the bed just looked very amateur - although some of their special effects later were quite fun, and rough magic - which was good. (I wish they would cut the pyro in Act 1). Some quite fun costumes, but Cinderella look like she was wearing a mother-of-the-bride dress (it was truly unflattering). I don't like the addition of the “Our Little World” – I feel like it’s un-needed, but, I think they did some very fun stuff with it. The biggest sin in this production’s act 1 is there is a lot of audience participation – they choose audience members to play the birds to pick up lentils, to be the hen, even to be the brown cow, there is a lot of interaction with the audience. This for me completely ruins the moment in Act 2 when they break the forth wall with the narrator – for me, one of the best moments in the show.- they were already aware there was a forth wall, they already had broken it. There are also a lot of “ad libs” and “contemporary references” – end of Act 1 includes some references to “Single Ladies” choreography in the oddest end of Act 1 I have seen. Then Act 2 comes along, the sun is now set, it’s a darker play, it’s darker out. And I actually think Act 2 is pretty damn good. There are some wonderful choices – including a bit different orchestration at the end, some very interesting staging choices, and some great blocking for Agony reprise. My only minor quibbles are how the do the giant, and the since I never bought the father / narrator – his song with the son felt very hollow with me. ** END OF SPOILERS ** BUT . . performance wise, the performers are knocking it out of the park. I love Ms. Laube’s witch. The Rapunzel was fantastic. Great Baker and Baker’s wife (And some of the best staging of the wife / prince “moment”). Both of Princes are amazing. And the ending moved me in a way that the show had not quite done for. So in a way, although the first act was not my cup of tea – the show left me floored. | |
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| Single Ladies choreography? Seriously?? | |
| Posted by: | DistantDrumming 04:59 am EST 12/12/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Spoiler request: Off-kilter choices in Act I? - wsxblue 06:04 am EST 12/11/14 |
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| Ugh. I hate audience participation as well. Well, unless Dame Edna's involved. And, you know, I'm a practicing homosexual - I love Beyonce - but that kind of reference sounds so cheap and obvious (and, by 2014 standards, dated at this point, anyway!). Thanks for making me feel better about missing this production. ;) | |
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| re: Single Ladies choreography? Seriously?? | |
| Posted by: | bicoastal 06:35 pm EST 12/12/14 |
| In reply to: | Single Ladies choreography? Seriously?? - DistantDrumming 04:59 am EST 12/12/14 |
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| If you are in L.A. do not let this put you off. I don't recall this particular bit of business anyway which means it was pretty negligible. If you are a fan of the show, there are so many good things about this production, especially in the second act, that you should see it. (And again, this comes from someone who doesn't like the show all that much. Although this is my third journey into the woods in a month!) | |
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| re: Spoiler request: Off-kilter choices in Act I? | |
| Posted by: | bicoastal 06:53 pm EST 12/11/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Spoiler request: Off-kilter choices in Act I? - wsxblue 06:04 am EST 12/11/14 |
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| As I have never been much of a fan of this show, I welcome anything one can do to make it different and interesting and less literal. The audience interaction didn't bother me (which might be a bit more limited than in Oregon, but I'm not sure if you wsxblue are referring to that or the current Annenberg production) because the fourth wall was broken immediately with the music stands and transitions during the opening number. Though I was a bit confused at first, I loved this process because it became about telling a story, and these fairy tales are stories that are told over and over to generations. That, of course, is the power of this adjusted ending, because it now shows us why we tell stories, why it's important to do that. Regarding the Narrator/Mysterious Man, I have never liked that material and never thought it played well. I just don't get the point so I had no problem with how they played it, although I can certainly see how someone would be confused by it. As for the Wolf and the sexuality with Red, it was one of those director choices that I didn't have a problem with. The film of the Giant-ess was the big problem for me, it was way too literal and real in a production that fought against literal a lot. I liked the "panto" feel of this production, it was a breath of fresh air and way more satisfying for me than the last Bway revival or the last local production I saw. On the other hand, we are mostly in agreement on the second act! | |
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