HOME ALL THAT CHAT ATC WEST COAST SHOPPIN' RUSH BOARD FAQS

LOGIN REGISTER SEARCH THREADED MODE

not logged in

Threaded Order | Chronological Order

re: You left out half his answer.

Posted by: JAS 01:11 am EDT 05/10/15
In reply to: You left out half his answer. - TimDunleavy 10:26 pm EDT 05/09/15

Nothing in the libretto says that the performers have to be able to act and play instruments. But cutting all the recit lead-ins to "Life Is" made the opening very awkward: the show seemed to start in the middle of the song, which it kind of did. And Mazzie, in an odd role to begin with, was not helped at all by her awful wig and costume. She just kept popping up in various places. ("Look, Vrenios--there's that woman again! Who IS she?" "I don't know; I thought YOU invited her!")

The serious shows Encores! presents are always tricky--you need to be careful trimming the book, or the balance stumbles. Act two of ZORBA at Encores! seemed rushed and felt unsatisfying.

I'm guessing Bobbie would've had some say in casting, and the casting was often head-scratchingly odd: why cast John Turturro when he CAN'T SING or dance?? And Zoe Wanamaker, who created a fascinating, heartbreaking Mme. Hortense, had enough trouble with her singing to make her performance uncomfortable for me to watch.

And the less said about the awkward choreography, the better!

As happy as I was to hear the score again, this was, for me, one of the weaker Encores! productions.


reply to this message |
re: You left out half his answer.

Posted by: AlanScott 02:40 am EDT 05/10/15
In reply to: re: You left out half his answer. - JAS 01:11 am EDT 05/10/15

The published script does suggest that a lot of them should play instruments in the opening number — "Everyone has some sort of instrument and they accompany the chorus, both with the instruments and vocal background."

But I nonetheless agree with you. I think only a few people played instruments in the original production. In the Tonys clip, you see a bunch of people holding instruments, but my sense is that most of them never actually played the instruments. There were three bouzouki players onstage who sometimes played, and it does look like perhaps a couple of other people in the cast did genuinely play during the opening number (though possibly not). But there is absolutely no reason that you need to have people playing, especially for an Encores! production. I presume they did have some bouzouki players in the orchestra, and I can't see why they couldn't have been in the circle for the opening number and then joined the orchestra.

I also agree that when they hire people with no experience in musicals for leads at Encores!, it's risky. There's a limited rehearsal period and no preview period. Just an invited dress. Someone with no experience in musicals might be able to get comfortable with a full rehearsal period and a few weeks of previews, but that doesn't happen at Encores!


reply to this message |
re: You left out half his answer.

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 11:58 am EDT 05/10/15
In reply to: re: You left out half his answer. - AlanScott 02:40 am EDT 05/10/15

"Someone with no experience in musicals might be able to get comfortable with a full rehearsal period and a few weeks of previews, but that doesn't happen at Encores!"

Excellent point. And this has also been true of at least two musically disastrous performances by non-singers in productions of musicals by the New York Philharmonic: Gabriel Byrne in CAMELOT and Stephen Colbert in COMPANY.


reply to this message | reply to first message


All That Chat is intended for the discussion of theatre news and opinion
subject to the terms and conditions of the Terms of Service. (Please take all off-topic discussion to private email.)

Please direct technical questions/comments to webmaster@talkinbroadway.com and policy questions to TBAdmin@talkinbroadway.com.

[ Home | On the Rialto | The Siegel Column | Cabaret | Tony Awards | Book Reviews | Great White Wayback Machine ]
[ Broadway Reviews | Barbara and Scott: The Two of Clubs | Sound Advice | Sound Advice Upcoming Releases CDs/Books/DVDs, etc. | Off Broadway | Funding Talkin' Broadway ]
[ Broadway 101 | Spotlight On | Talkin' Broadway | On the Boards | Regional | Talk to Us! | Search Talkin' Broadway ]

Terms of Service
[ © 1997 - 2015 www.TalkinBroadway.com, Inc. ]

Time to render: 0.016869 seconds.