| Gigi. First preview | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 11:29 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| Well, it's polished for first preview. And the cast iron Victorian staircase and archways is impressive when the curtain goes up. Unfortunately, you will be staring at that set for 2h45m. Maybe they will have it retract for some scenes at the Simon. Only now, invisible walls with pics or curtains are used to signify scen changes or pushed on tables. At least the pediphile feel of the song thank heaven for little girls is gone because it is sung by grandmother ( Clark) and the aunt (dee hoty). I'm glad I'm not young anymore is a duet between Gigi's grandmother and Honore (Howard McGillin) Looking at the song list in the 1973 production, a lot has been moved around in this version. But frankly it doesn't help in keeping the story from falling flat like stale champagne. Sadly, the real stsr of the show is Corey cott playing gaston and not Gigi. He has the voice and the looks to carry away the show. Vanessa Hudgens as Gigi is nice, but I never warmed up to her as a girl snd felt the transformation to women was pretend. I can see why Audrey Hepburn was probably memorable in the play. At intermission I heard several groups say it was dated. But the audience cheered at the end. So who knows if this will be a hit. Song list now Opening It's a bore Parisians Toujours Parisians reprise The gossips She is not thinking of me Thank heaven for little girls Paris is paris again I remeber it well (and so did the asshole couple behind me singing along) The night they invented champagne Act 2 I never want to go home again Thank heaven reprise Gigi The contract I'm glad I'm not young anymore The letter Say a prayer The gossips reprise In this wide wide world Finale (champagne). | |
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| A Dramedy reference | |
| Posted by: | broadwaybacker 02:25 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | Gigi. First preview - dramedy 11:29 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| There is a thread on last night's performance on BWW, and Dramedy's post here is mentioned. He is then later referred by another poster as "the Eyore of ATC." Hey,there's no such thing as bad publicity, right? Eyore, Eyore oh. | |
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| I adore Eeyore... | |
| Posted by: | garyd 06:41 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | A Dramedy reference - broadwaybacker 02:25 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| Once we even had a dog we named Eeyore. An Afghan hound. A beautiful but incredibly stupid breed. Ours lived up to the reputation. | |
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| re: A Dramedy reference | |
| Posted by: | MarkBearSF 05:48 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | A Dramedy reference - broadwaybacker 02:25 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| Gawd only knows there are some Eeyores here (and perhaps even more on BWW!) - but we've all seen Dramedy rave about shows he enjoys - and I find my opinions often coincide with his. ...and I always pay attention to his analysis of the financials! Mark | |
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| Count me as a Dramedy fan! | |
| Posted by: | LynnO 03:27 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | A Dramedy reference - broadwaybacker 02:25 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| I don't think he's such an "Eeyore." Dramedy and I generally share the same opinions on shows, and I often depend on his expertise when I have to make strategic decisions on which shows to see! He has certainly steered me right on many occasions, even though we have disagreed on a mainstream show now and then. :-D | |
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| as long as you realize the you aren't always perfect | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 03:31 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | Count me as a Dramedy fan! - LynnO 03:27 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| In not agreeing with me all the time! ;-) | |
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| re: as long as you realize the you aren't always perfect | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 04:55 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | as long as you realize the you aren't always perfect - dramedy 03:31 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| I am more inclined to perk up and listen when dramedy likes something than when he doesn't. | |
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| Christine17 is my new bff | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 03:17 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | A Dramedy reference - broadwaybacker 02:25 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| The lack of French accents is true. | |
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| The fact that other boards comment on ATC posters strikes me as... | |
| Posted by: | MockingbirdGirl 03:14 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | A Dramedy reference - broadwaybacker 02:25 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| ... hilarious! :-D | |
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| I've been called much worse even on this board. | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 03:06 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | A Dramedy reference - broadwaybacker 02:25 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| It is a problem in my life. Giving an honest opinion on subjects, I'm considered negative and pessimistic. Yet when I rave like honeymoon in Vegas or bandwagon, that doesn't count for anything. One has to be a Pollyanna in every subject to be considered a happy nice person. | |
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| re: I've been called much worse even on this board. | |
| Posted by: | mikem 06:07 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | I've been called much worse even on this board. - dramedy 03:06 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| I personally find the Eeyore comment kind of a head-scratcher. I've read a lot of your posts, and that doesn't come across at all. Honestly, there are other posters here (and especially on the other board) who seem a lot more negative in general. | |
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| re: I've been called much worse even on this board. | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 11:26 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | re: I've been called much worse even on this board. - mikem 06:07 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| I agree completely. I would never have described Dramedy as anything but an honest broker who likes some things, doesn't like others and sometimes just scratches HIS head. I think people often want to shoot any messenger with a story that doesn't match their own. Nothing new there. | |
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| and my review of diner earlier this week was positive and ignored | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 03:29 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | I've been called much worse even on this board. - dramedy 03:06 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| Only bill who asked what I thought responded | |
| Link | http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=2255960 |
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| Diner | |
| Posted by: | Ann 06:05 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | and my review of diner earlier this week was positive and ignored - dramedy 03:29 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| I kind of agree with you, but for all the great music Crow wrote, it's a shame she doesn't like to rhyme her lyrics. Near/non lyrics abound. Love/much, engage/ways, know/own. (oh, I know why - she is in the pop music world, though I'm not familiar with any of her pop lyrics). It kind of ruined the score for me, but if you don't mind that kind of thing, the show is pretty good. I have some quibbles with the book, but the cast is terrific. It's too bad the song that got the biggest reaction from the audience (including whoops, which is the meter I use to judge) is a rip off of Whole Lot of Shakin'. Crow did not need to go there. I have no idea if this would work on Broadway - I'm not good at predicting. Looking forward to being calmed by Lerner lyrics in an hour and a half ... | |
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| You have a much better ear than I do. | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 10:51 am EST 01/18/15 |
| In reply to: | Diner - Ann 06:05 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| To really notice and remember the rhymes or lack of. I didn't find anything jarringly bad and I guess I notice forced rhymes where words picked are only because of the rhyme. I don't think it is ready for Broadway either. But it could have a path of Once on Broadway. | |
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| re: You have a much better ear than I do. | |
| Posted by: | Ann 01:07 pm EST 01/18/15 |
| In reply to: | You have a much better ear than I do. - dramedy 10:51 am EST 01/18/15 |
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| There were dozens - every song. Almost every other lyric. | |
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| re: and my review of diner earlier this week was positive and ignored | |
| Posted by: | broadwaybacker 03:37 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | and my review of diner earlier this week was positive and ignored - dramedy 03:29 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| Actually, I'm seeing Diner tonight and Gigi two weeks from tonight. And I know Ann is seeing Diner right now and Gigi tonight. I am hoping that we agree with you about Diner, and respectfully disagree about Gigi, though I'm probably being overly optimistic. And by the way, I thoroughly enjoyed Hollywood in Vegas a few weeks ago. | |
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| so was that autocorrect or a joke | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 04:01 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | re: and my review of diner earlier this week was positive and ignored - broadwaybacker 03:37 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| Hollywood in Vegas, I did laugh either way. | |
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| re: so was that autocorrect or a joke | |
| Posted by: | broadwaybacker 04:04 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | so was that autocorrect or a joke - dramedy 04:01 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| Autocorrect and failure of human correct. | |
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| That's EEYORE! | |
| Posted by: | showtunetrivia 02:58 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | A Dramedy reference - broadwaybacker 02:25 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| With three E's. Laura, with her nose to the Milne-stone | |
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| re: That's EEYORE! | |
| Posted by: | broadwaybacker 03:31 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | That's EEYORE! - showtunetrivia 02:58 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| Yeah, sorry about that. In truth, I never read me no Winny the Poo. | |
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| re: Gigi. First preview | |
| Posted by: | bodacious 01:12 am EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | Gigi. First preview - dramedy 11:29 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| Thanks for the information. I wouldn't have predicted 'The night they invented champagne' as an Act 1 closing number; the film version doesn't seem to leave one hankering to know what will happen next, as many Act 1 closers do. Does the show nevertheless leave the audience hanging in some way at the end of Act 1? | |
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| re: Gigi. First preview | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 05:00 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Gigi. First preview - bodacious 01:12 am EST 01/17/15 |
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| Interesting. I've always thought of "Champagne" as one of the turning points of the film. | |
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| I do think that is the major problem | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 03:03 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Gigi. First preview - bodacious 01:12 am EST 01/17/15 |
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| Gigi wins the card game to get gaston to take her to the sea. And that is act 2opener. I just didn't think there was much conflict or cliff hanging in first act. It's a great closing number for act 1, but I think some of the conflict in act 2ahoukd be set up in act 1 | |
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| Gigi Act One Closer | |
| Posted by: | Erik_Haagensen 10:52 am EST 01/18/15 |
| In reply to: | I do think that is the major problem - dramedy 03:03 pm EST 01/17/15 |
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| In Lerner's 1973 stage adaptation for Broadway, "I Never Want to Go Home Again" was written specifically to end Act One. As Gigi, Gaston, and chorus cavorted happily upstage toward the end of the number, Agnes Moorehead's Aunt Alicia arrived downstage center, much to the shock of Maria Karnilova's Mamita. That's because Aunt Alicia hadn't left her apartment for years. But she has made an exception once she heard about the trip. She has realized that she might put Gigi into Gaston's bed, which means that such a trip will only compromise Gigi, as there is no agreement/contract in place. She arrives to cut it short, explains her reasons to Mamita, and ends by saying "From now on it's work, work, work; lessons, lessons, lessons" as the curtain slowly falls. | |
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| re: Gigi. First preview | |
| Posted by: | portenopete 12:44 am EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | Gigi. First preview - dramedy 11:29 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| "I remeber it well (and so did the asshole couple behind me singing along)' Thank you for the laugh. | |
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| re: Gigi. First preview | |
| Posted by: | KingSpeed 12:44 am EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | Gigi. First preview - dramedy 11:29 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| Good to hear about Cott. He was sensational as the lead in NEWSIES when I saw it. | |
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| re: Gigi. First preview | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 11:53 pm EST 01/16/15 |
| In reply to: | Gigi. First preview - dramedy 11:29 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| I'm seeing this for Clark and McGillin. I think it's impossible to judge a show by it's first preview. Curious to see how Cott sings Gigi because Louis Jordan singing that song has always been a favorite moment for me in the film. | |
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| I disagree for a revival | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 03:00 pm EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Gigi. First preview - lowwriter 11:53 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| A new musical out of town can have hugr changes even in out of town and definitely by Broadway. A revival, it's going to get lots of tweets and the cast will get more comfortable, but..... | |
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| It's acceptable to judge the viability of a premise and relevance of a story very early. | |
| Posted by: | Delvino 10:19 am EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Gigi. First preview - lowwriter 11:53 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| I strongly agree that no production fully coalesces around the earliest previews. Performers acquire a specific confidence, understanding the shape and demands of playing a whole show very late, circa the 10 out of 12. A first preview can be one of the earliest full run-throughs with design elements. Happens all the time. Yet the material itself, first exposed to air, the subject matter and how it lands in 2015 are certainly fair game. The OP made it clear that a certain mustiness prevails in the text, a flatness of storytelling perhaps associated with translating a beloved if vintage film to another medium (again) in a decade wherein such tales might have less emotional resonance. I don't think it's too soon at all to look at the show's relevance (particularly for a post-millennial female audience, who we're told buy the lion's share of musical seats) and likely connection to a contemporary audience. That's what intrigues me the most here, since it's Broadway bound: why this was revived, who is targeted for tickets, and what is the expectation in terms of providing that demographic a satisfying theatrical experience. Full disclosure: I'm lost as to the why and the why now. | |
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| re: Gigi. First preview | |
| Posted by: | Chromolume 11:50 pm EST 01/16/15 |
| In reply to: | Gigi. First preview - dramedy 11:29 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| Sadly, the real star of the show is Corey cott playing gaston and not Gigi. Might the show have perked up some if he played Gigi? ;-) | |
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| I guess the syntax of the sentence is off | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 11:52 pm EST 01/16/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Gigi. First preview - Chromolume 11:50 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| But you know what I meant. | |
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| re: I guess the syntax of the sentence is off | |
| Posted by: | Chromolume 12:01 am EST 01/17/15 |
| In reply to: | I guess the syntax of the sentence is off - dramedy 11:52 pm EST 01/16/15 |
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| Yes, of course I knew what you meant. But it was fun to read it the wrong way, lol. ;-) | |
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