| Next to Normal, Gun & powder, and GalaPro in DC | |
| Posted by: Ann 09:02 am EST 02/02/20 | |
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| I found the Broadway Center Stage production to be excellent. It's a fully stage production and cast very well, especially in the casting of Rachel Bay Jones. I do admit to preferring the first cast I saw (of this show that is probably in my top five, if not top two), Alice Ripley, Brian d'Arcy James, and Aaron Tveit, but I think that's how these things go.. Jones' singing voice is better/in better shape, but Ripley brought a different level of suffering. The audience reaction at curtain was even stronger than that for the previous parts of this series I've seen (Tommy and Chess), and I can't wait to hear what they will stage next season and wish I get over to see more than one. Gun & Powder is a beautifully staged, tremendously sung new musical at Signature in Arlington. I kind of thought, being directed by Robert O’Hara, there would be a bit more of an edgy aspect, but it's fairly straightforward and earnest (book by Angelica Chéri). There are very well designed and presented projections, more artistic than literal in nature. The cast (from leads Solea Pfeiffer and Emmy Raver-Lampman to the ensemble) cannot be praised enough, and the music by Ross Baum is just stunning, with a number of group numbers and a frequent gospel influence. I hope it goes forward and there's a cast recording. (Though I don't know why the ensemble/Greekish chorus are dress in varying eras of dress (including shorts).) Signature was offering the GalaPro captioning app coverage of the show for. I've heard a lot of promotion about it recently, and I had a bit of trouble understanding lyrics in the first act, so I got it setup during intermission. It presents the captions on the phone, in easy to read, faint red lettering on a black background. They say it will not disturb other theatregoers (and maybe there's some technology that makes it difficult to notice if you're looking at it from the side), but I was really afraid of that, and I turned it a bit more toward my friend on one side of me. And, yes, it's not very obtrusive, though looking up and down from the stage to the phone in my lap wasn't really enjoyable. And then ... suddenly, the captions froze and I got a "You are not connected to the GalaPro network" message in bright white lettering, which was definitely obtrusive. So I flipped my phone over in my lap and I don't think I'll ever try it again to see if it works any better. |
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| Next: | re: Next to Normal, Gun & powder, and GalaPro in DC - richmurphy 10:08 am EST 02/02/20 |
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