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| Carmen Jones at CSC | |
| Posted by: hobokenken 11:00 pm EDT 06/21/18 | |
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| Saw it tonight. I will start off by saying that I have always been a great admirer of this show and loved the big production it had some 20 years ago in London. And, while the CSC production is small in scale (not much in the way of sets and just a six piece band) it definitely is a winner in its own right. Gorgeously sung throughout by a very talented cast. Standouts are Anika Noni Rose as Carmen, Soara-Joye Ross as Frankie and David Aron Damane as Husky Miller. Despite little in the way of scenery, the boxes at the far end of each side were meant to evoke a factory/warehouse as were the paneled walls. The "in-the-round" concept worked well in giving the sense of how trapped some of the characters were, not to mention that Husky is a boxer and it resembled a boxing ring. The only negative was that the actor playing Joe was not strong enough. His voice was beautiful but to believe in the end of the story, Joe must be full of emotion throughout.....an over the top jealous lover as well as an angry victim. He didn't emote enough and that hurt the story. Despite this flaw, it is definitely recommended. You won't be able to take your eyes off of it. |
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| re: Carmen Jones at CSC | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 11:22 am EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: Carmen Jones at CSC - hobokenken 11:00 pm EDT 06/21/18 | |
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| I saw the London production (directed by Simon Callow) as well, and the one at CSC. I can't agree it's a good piece - many of the lyrics are risible (not in a good way), and the new plot strains to invent a story that parallels Merimee's CARMEN, but set in WW2 America. And the more or less cartoon African American dialects written into the book and lyrics by Hammerstein (in a non PC time) don't help. I thought the cast was strong - with Joe the weak link, actor wise and vocally. About an hour of the show is gone, so the plot careens from place to place, even more than in Bizet's opera. And the final moments where Carmen is killed by Joe (no spoiler unless you have lived under a rock!) carries no punch - really badly staged. I have seen this moment in the opera be heart wrenching, brutal. Especially in the Peter Brook/Marius Constant LE TRAGEDIE DE CARMEN. Anyone recall what they did at CSC with Poncho de Panther From Brazil, and Act 2 song in the original. The miniscule orchestra (piano, volin, Bass, cello, french horn, woodwind) sounds thin and way underpowered. And the boxer, 'Husky Miller' has the cheapest looking boxer robe you may ever have seen. Also for some reason, the theatre had several flies in it, who had a great time hopping from performer to performer. I find this show a charming artefact, but otherise not very good. CSC doesnt give you a program when you enter, but you can get a home printed one on the way out. The program is also online. There is no song list. Probably because the song titles are (examples) 'Dere's a cafe on de corner', 'Dat's love', and 'Dis flower'. |
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| re: Carmen Jones at CSC | |
| Last Edit: JAS 03:42 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
| Posted by: JAS (Jas576@aol.com) 03:41 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Carmen Jones at CSC - NewtonUK 11:22 am EDT 06/22/18 | |
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| I disagree about Hammerstein’s lyrics: they’re offensive if you sit and read them out, but when you soften the pronunciation, what you get are quite possibly the finest English translation of an opera libretto ever. Hammerstein’s lyrics are witty and clever, and often thrilling: Carmen’s part in the Card Song is a thing of beauty, as is “Dere’s a Cafe on de Corner.” The Pancho number, which, I believe, is the smugglers’ chorus following the card song is cut. |
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| ^ Spoiler for those of us who are living under rocks | |
| Last Edit: Singapore/Fling 12:42 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 12:41 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Carmen Jones at CSC - NewtonUK 11:22 am EDT 06/22/18 | |
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| I mean, really, I don't know that "Carmen" is at the level of "Hamlet" or "Othello" in terms of the ending being iconic and beyond possibility of being spoiled. Also, I imagine the reason the theater had some flies in it is that the door was open to allow people to walk inside so that they could take their seats and watch the show. |
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| re: ^ Spoiler for those of us who are living under rocks | |
| Posted by: ryhog 12:53 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: ^ Spoiler for those of us who are living under rocks - Singapore/Fling 12:41 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
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| It could be worse. Many years ago I was in a Broadway house (can't remember which, or for what show) into which a bird had flown during the intermission. (Even birds get into second-acting I guess.) It was pretty comical. After vain efforts to entice it to leave, the show went on. And yes birds draw more focus than dogs. | |
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| re: ^ Spoiler for those of us who are living under rocks | |
| Posted by: MikeR 01:31 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: re: ^ Spoiler for those of us who are living under rocks - ryhog 12:53 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
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| I was once in a production of Annie Get Your Gun when a squirrel fell from one of the coves and scampered up the aisle. It was 12 years ago, so I can't remember if our Annie had the wherewithal to take aim at it or if we just talked about how funny that would've been... | |
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| re: ^ Spoiler for those of us who are living under rocks | |
| Posted by: Esther 02:42 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: re: ^ Spoiler for those of us who are living under rocks - MikeR 01:31 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
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| Too funny! Had a squirrel run up and down the aisle at the movies, a million years ago. Bill Murray/Stripes. Theater is a condo now. |
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| re: ^ Spoiler for those of us who are living under rocks | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 01:08 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: re: ^ Spoiler for those of us who are living under rocks - ryhog 12:53 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
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| I'm sure we all know a few shows we have seen in our theatre-going lives that could have been helped by a bird in the house! I once worked on a show that had a pony in it. First day of tech at the theatre, someone left a loading door open for a few minutes. The pony disappeared into the (not to be named) city. We cut the pony from the show. It was found - 48 hours later - grazing in a city park. So there IS a happy ending! | |
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| re: Carmen Jones at CSC | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:15 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Carmen Jones at CSC - NewtonUK 11:22 am EDT 06/22/18 | |
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| "Anyone recall what they did at CSC with Poncho de Panther From Brazil, and Act 2 song in the original." Thanks for your report, but I don't understand this question. You've just seen the CSC production and you don't remember what they did with that song? Or did you mistype and are you asking about the London production? |
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| re: Carmen Jones at CSC | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 02:16 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Carmen Jones at CSC - Michael_Portantiere 12:15 pm EDT 06/22/18 | |
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| I have just blanked out if I actually heard those lyrics last night ... | |
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| Running tIme? Thanks! nm | |
| Posted by: allineedisthegirl 10:05 am EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: Carmen Jones at CSC - hobokenken 11:00 pm EDT 06/21/18 | |
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| re: Carmen Jones at CSC | |
| Last Edit: Blactor 08:01 am EDT 06/22/18 | |
| Posted by: Blactor 08:00 am EDT 06/22/18 | |
| In reply to: Carmen Jones at CSC - hobokenken 11:00 pm EDT 06/21/18 | |
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| Strange, was there the other night and thought Duncan was great in what looks like a tough role. But agreed, great production (though the orchestra seemed a little thin at times). |
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