Porgy And Bess 1st Preview- Page 4
Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
vitamins
Understudy Joined: 6/15/06
#75Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/27/11 at 12:46am
As a huge Porgy and Bess fan, I was quite disappointed by the show. If you're not familiar with the opera, you will probably enjoy it, but for those of use so familiar and in love with every second of it to hear key things missing and changed is startling and uncomfortable.
It's sad, because the cast is so freaking talented, and could do so well under the direction of anyone else.
Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't coughed up $150 to see it.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#76Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/27/11 at 1:19amIf I understand Paulus's scheme correctly, vitamins, that just means you're a stuffy old fuddy duddy who doesn't understand that what they did to Porgy & Bess had to be done for its own good.
Twitter @NamoInExile
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miss pennywise
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/04
#77Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/27/11 at 1:59amWhat vitamins said.
http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html
**********
"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"
~ Best12Bars
#78Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/28/11 at 1:24amMy apologies, uncageg. Didn't mean to doubt you. I believe you. Just thought I'd add my own perspective on what I used to assume was rudeness when it probably wasn't. I can't count the number of times I've seen cast members come out and be all "Hi, how's everyone tonight?" and stand there like dummies without getting asked for their autograph. It was quite common, mostly with actors with smaller roles, but was awkward nonetheless. Some would just fly by obviously pretending they were in a hurry until someone called them and they'd be all "who? What? Me?" lol. In my experience stage actors are among the most humble and friendly people I've met and so when I hear how one was rude I can't help automatically giving them the benefit of the doubt. =)
Recreation of original John Cameron orchestration to "On My Own" by yours truly. Click player below to hear.
#79Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/28/11 at 10:14amNo problem My Oh My! I thought it was cute with Ms Daniels when she signed our side, was ready to go after we chatted and was pleasantly surprised when the other side called her back as she was about to walk away. She seemed a bit giddy about it.
Just give the world Love.
#80Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/28/11 at 11:37amAnyone know anything about rush tix on this show yet?
#81Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/28/11 at 11:39pm
This was such a frustrating experience at the theater! It's so close to being wonderful, and yet still so far.
To start on a positive note Norm Lewis was fantastic and owns the show. It is his story anyway, and Bess is always a more secondary character whether in the original or the new and unimproved Paulus version. People going to expect an Audra showdown might be a tad disappointed. She is wonderful, as always, but this isn't her piece.
I thought everyone in the cast was fine except David Alan Grier, who just does not have the right type of voice for my tastes. I did not like his "There's a Boat dat's leaving soon for New York" AT ALL. He didn't even attempt to hit the high note at the end. They cut my favorite bit of Bess' right after that too when she sings, "You low crawling hound, get away from my door!" and then calls him a rattlesnake.
The new orchestrations stink too. All the excitement after "There's a Boat..." has been cut completely. So sad not to hear that in the theater.
There is SO much potential here for this to be a wonderful production. Sure the set is ugly as sin and doesn't evoke any specific time or place, but you could make it work. The costumes are nice. All you really need though is to rely on the score and book to pull you through with the right actors and you'll be fine. Too bad Paulus didn't had neither the faith in the material nor her audience to do just that.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
Tony2600
Understudy Joined: 12/5/09
#82Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 12:00amI too loved Norm Lewis’s Porgy when I saw the show in Boston and like you, thought he owned this show. Unfortunately, Mr. Brantley totally dismissed him in his September review and I don't expect him to change his mind two weeks from now.
#83Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 12:14am
I remember Brantley barely mentioned him and gushed and gushed about Audra, which would be a misstep on his part if he repeats for the Broadway review.
Norm really deserves his due for the spectacular performance he's giving, especially when the production itself does no one any favors. It's like Paulus has set up a series of hurdles and Norm jumps each one with grace and ease.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#84Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 12:23amWith a jacked up hip!
Twitter @NamoInExile
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#85Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 4:03pmDoes anyone know the running time for the show?
#86Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 5:07pm
Jordan, about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Whizzer, I am almost positive she said tnat line after the ...to New York song the evening I saw it.
Just give the world Love.
PitPro2004
Broadway Star Joined: 2/15/04
#87Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 8:40pm
I'm surprised this show made it to Broadway considering everything I read indicated it was going to close out of town.
I don't mean that in a condescending way, I just thought that there was a slim chance it was coming in. I guess someone found some money or...?
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium!"
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#88Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 8:52pm
I don't think the problem was ever $ but concern over the damage the Sonheim lette may have done.
I'm pretty certain that that line existed as well -- and I'm far from being an officianado so I wouldn't have heard the line anywhhere before.
I agree: I thought Norm was phenomenal.
I liked Grier -- both in his acting choices and his presence, although his singing was leagues away from the rest of the cast.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#89Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 9:20pmI remember thinking the whole time I was in the audience in Boston how great this entire cast was and how I wished I could hear them sing the entire score.
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you.
--Cartman: South Park
ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
egghumor
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/9/11
#90Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 9:25pm
I want to go back to Whizzer and the discussion line regarding Norm Lewis' performance. I'm a huge fan of Norm Lewis and so like most, I was terribly disappointed in the review he received (not having seen the production) at Yale.
Could it be that during the no-performance interim that Diane Paulus (or someone) focused on strengthening Lewis' performance.
Haven't people posted that the show at Yale seemed under-rehearsed, especially the second act? If so, that could well account for the lack of enthusiasm for Lewis' Porgy. Perhaps Paulus' felt that Lewis could take care of himself as an actor and therefore she put more time into staging rather than working with the lead actors closely. Just a thought. Bottom line: I'm glad people feel he's holding his own with Audra McDonald, who is such a force of nature.
miss pennywise
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/04
#91Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 10:44pmPersonally, I adored Norm Lewis's performance. He practically seems like he's in another show because he comes across as someone you genuinely like and care for, and there are too few multi-dimensional characters or moments in this production.
http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html
**********
"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"
~ Best12Bars
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#92Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/29/11 at 11:14pmI've been a fan of his performance since I saw him at A.R.T.
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you.
--Cartman: South Park
ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
#93Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/30/11 at 12:44am
I didn't go to the out of town in Boston so I can't comment whether Norm has significantly grown in his performance or not. I took Brantley's snub as his way to worship his diva Audra, and still be able to pan the rest of the production (Paulus). The good thing is we all know Brantley has re-evaluated performances from try-outs/off-Broadway runs and given raves where he once was mixed.
At the end of the day it doesn't matter if Norm gets raves or is barely mentioned. It will take nothing away from the thrilling performance he is giving.
As far as the line of recitative I mentioned Audra did not get to sing- After "There's a boat" she sang nothing except a few weepy lines of "There's a boat" to Clara's baby. Perhaps she spoke a similar line, but she definitely didn't sing in the rather thrilling way it was written, and Audra could have knocked it out of the park! (If I'm not mistaken as written it's the last line she gets to sing.)
The brilliant, brilliant orchestrations of "There's a boat" that underscore Sporting Life and Bess' exit are gone and they both exit on a bit of a whimper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh5ijrsHx5Q
Here's what I'm talking about. If you just want the ending orchestrations go to about 3:40, but the whole clip is worth hearing.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#94Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/30/11 at 12:48amI saw the show tonight, finally. Full disclosure (and embarrassing to admit) but, besides a few songs I don't know PORGY & BESS. Maybe it's my lack of knowing this show that I just fell in love with it. I thought it was a gorgeous production and sung superbly by everyone involved. There wasn't a second I was bored or distracted by the set (which I didn't find ugly, just plan and rather fitting for what I saw on the stage). I just really loved it and can't wait to go and listen to the original "full" score now.
#95Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/30/11 at 1:05am
Jordan- this could definitely be a case of "what you don't know can't hurt you." A good friend of mine wasn't familiar with the show and he had the exact same reaction as you. I guess it's just hard to erase the recordings I've listened to over and over for years. This production is wonderfully sung, other than Grier, but when passages have been cut, and gorgeous, symphonic orchestrations have been hacked it's hard not be a bit disappointed.
I will be going back to see this a few more times, because even a flawed Porgy is better than no Porgy. Also, compared to Godspell and On a Clear Day this revival seems like a million bucks.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#96Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/30/11 at 1:08amI was very surprised that Bess wasn't the main focal point of the show. I figured it would be "The Audra Show" which excited me, but I gotta say I wasn't at all disappointed with it being "The Norm Lewis Show". His voice has never once let me down and his acting was fantastic. I definitely hope he gets that Tony nomination!
#97Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/30/11 at 1:12amYeah as I mentioned above, Brantley's review is very deceiving because he acted like Audra gave this 2 and half hour tour de force and didn't even mention Norm, when in fact it's his show. I don't see how he couldn't be a shoe-in for a Tony nom.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#98Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/30/11 at 1:15amThe thunderous exciting but almost demonic sounding thump of the orchestra at the end of There's a Boat is one of my highlights in the score (along with the similar effect in What You Want With Bess). Really any production that doesn't use that to their emotional and storytelling power is missing a big point.
#99Porgy And Bess 1st Preview
Posted: 12/30/11 at 1:18am
Even though the show is titled "Porgy & Bess", is Bess considered leading or featured? I guess she's the leading female role in the show, but I could see it being featured as well...
Updated On: 12/30/11 at 01:18 AM
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