CAROUSEL on Live At Lincoln Center Tonight at 9PM!!- Page 2

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 1:06am

Mueller was perfection as Carrie, I've been waiting to see her in a role worthy of her talent.
I think of her more as a character Actress with Killer vocals, I too thought of her Fannie in her close-ups, but can she belt?

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 1:17am

Latitudex1 - THANK YOU!!!

[DAME]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 2:33am

I don't know what the deal is but I was bored by the whole thing. And I love Carousel.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 2:49am

This is simply glorious. I am speechless. The talent, the orchestra, the set, the lights, the costumes, and the staging... everything is absolute perfection.

[AdamTheLatteBoy]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 6:59am

Anyone else having trouble with the PBS stream, seems the sound goes out of sync for me about 16 minutes in?

So frustrating!

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 7:03am

OK it wasn't just me. It's one of my favorite musicals but it was just sort of "off"...So many amazing voices - but dramatically, it just didn't really catch me the way I expected. I can't even explain why..

Nathan Gunn has an amazing voice but I don't see him as Billy, wrong personality. Same with Kelli and some of the supporting characters - I don't know.

Tiler Peck as Louise was my favorite part of the whole show - she was captivating in every way.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 7:23am

DVR set to catch it at midnight. (Boston Area)

[John Adams]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 8:15am

Oh, thank the Heavens... I thought I was alone in my opinion, too!

I agree with DAME and KathyNYC2

There are some really fine moments:
* The ballet is beautifully performed by Tiler Peck
* I was very moved by Kelli O'Hara's monologue to Billy just before You'll Never Walk Alone
* John Cullum was very enjoyable as Starkeeper

But for the most part, I found the performances stodgy and wooden (especially Nathan Gunn, who never seemed to know what to do with his hands, other than to point his fingers at everything). Stephanie Blythe (as Nettie Fowler) wasn't able to emote beyond the choreographed arm gestures and blocking she was given.

In the park bench scene, Kelli O'Hara is the most morose Julie Jordan, ever. Her "If I Loved You" is so melancholy that you can actually see the tears welling in her eyes at the end.

Overall, I thought all musical aspects were too dark and "Wagnerian" sounding. The Carousel Waltz lacked any feeling of "lilt" from the orchestra, and the vocals from the ensemble were also consistently overly legato, and lacked emotion (all the 'rhythmic speaking' seemed particularly robotic). The operatic vocal heaviness of the ensemble also added to the feeling of "darkness". "Clambake" was so drowsily legato I thought I'd fall asleep! I mean, I get that they're all full and probably ready for a nap, but this is the opening number for ACT II... Without the visuals of lighting and set pieces to create mood, this was just boring.

On the technical end, the sound is atrocious! Even if I ignore the wooden, operatic acting, I could not listen to this as a recorded concert. The chronic >CLOMP<, >CLOMP<, >CLOMPING< of feet, and the hissing from mics when there was no dialog is so distracting! It's as loud (and in some spots louder) than the performers' vocals.

I didn't hate this concert version, but I wouldn't feel badly if I'd missed it.
Updated On: 4/27/13 at 08:15 AM

[Jon]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 8:40am

It was nice to hear Jigger's music sung well, especially after the croaking of Fisher Stevens (who was great, acting-wise) in the last revival.

[John Adams]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 8:59am

>> "It was nice to hear Jigger's music sung well, especially after the croaking of Fisher Stevens (who was great, acting-wise) in the last revival."

Yes! I also enjoyed Hensley's underplayed humor, particularly his delivery of the line regarding Jigger's mother.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 10:00am

I noticed that some of Carrie and Jigger's dialogue was cut during her "seduction" scene.

Minor quibbles aside, I really enjoyed the telecast last night. I had no intention of staying up to watch as it started at 10 (I taped it), but I watched the whole thing.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 11:02am

Gunn has never been much of an actor--either on the operatic stage or singing Broadway in concert--but his voice is damn perfect for this music. It was great to hear Billy's songs elevated to a higher level. His voice and O'Hara's blended beautifully. Honestly, I can't think of anything I've liked O'Hara more in.

The smaller roles were so luxuriously cast, as only a concert can do--Cullum, Burton, and Hensley were all superb. I found Blythe to be a more than capable actress, and she sang the hell out of Nettie's music.

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 11:06am

The full video of the concert on the Live From Lincoln Center PBS page wont play for me am I the only one??

[BruceWayne5148]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 11:21am

I've been trying all morning and can't get it to play either... Every other PBS video will play except that one. I've even updated all my software. Fingers crossed it'll get fixed...

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 11:24am

I am having the exact same problem Bruce, every video is playing BUT the one we want!

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 11:24am

I am having the exact same problem Bruce, every video is playing BUT the one we want!

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 11:48am

I have found in general that the PBS website for Lie at Lincoln Center is very sporadic in working properly. The video can play perfectly one day and then another day, it will break up 10 times during one song. it's frustrating. I haven't been able to figure out a good reason why...time of day, etc.

But I would just hang in there and keep trying. It's just not reliable 100% of the time.

[jon2]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 1:48pm

Here's my theory: miscasting is becoming more of a problem as these kind of concerts have become more like fully staged productions with minimal scenery. Nathan Gunn might be just the guy you want to hear singing Billy -- but he's totally miscast once it turns into a full production. For my money, every single person in this one seemed wrong for the part except maybe Blythe, mostly because they all read as too urban and literate for the parts they're supposed to be playing, esp. Mueller and Danieley, who seem like they've wandered in from Park Slope.

[theaternut]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 2:04pm

I was bored as well.Nathan Gunn was stiff. I kept thinking he must be boring in bed.

[theaternut]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 2:13pm

Mueller was awful.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 2:47pm

I think a few of the edits to the libretto were... weird (the Carrie and Jigger stuff was mentioned)--but I'm not sure why they just didn't do it uncut. There must have been at least 20 mins trimmed off.

Still, I'm glad I saw it, and it was beautifully sung. My one big disappointment was I knew the ballet would be wonderfully danced, knowing the performers--but the choreography was incredibly bland. They may as well have just used DeMille's or McMillan's from the last revival.

Posted: 4/27/13 at 2:59pm

Just to say that the video didn't play for me either earlier in the day, but it seems to be fine now. Look forward to watching it!

Carousel - PBS Updated On: 4/27/13 at 02:59 PM

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 3:07pm

Re-airing at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in the D.C. area. Thank goodness. I'd meant to DVR it last night and forgot.

[gossipguy215]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 3:52pm

Why did they cut the "Entr'acte"? I's one of my favorite parts of any musical, and with the NYP It could have been wonderful...

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 4/27/13 at 4:59pm

This confirmed why Carousel is my favorite musical. I thought Fisher conducted the rarified score with tremendous sensitivity and the cast, for the most part, was sensational. What was with Burton's dialect? Brighton by way of Williamsburg? No, Gunn isn't the greatest actor in the world and couldn't bring the emotional life to it that, say, Michael Hayden did, but he sang the living thing out of the score. The ballet is the best choreography I have see from Carlyle and I don't mean that as faint praise. Rando did a great job of staging it and I didn't sense the sound issues others have mentioned, especially considering that they were catching a live performance. All in all, an utter triumph IMHO.

An earlier poster thought O'Hara's reading of "If I Loved You" was too melancholy, but that's what's called for. Neither of them believe they deserved to be loved. "Soon you will go...", "Never ever to know...", "'round in circles...", "let my golden chances pass my by." These are not ebullient, carefree thoughts. I say congrats to all involved!

Updated On: 4/27/13 at 04:59 PM