My thoughts on FINIAN'S RAINBOW- Page 2

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 12:35pm

Kate is certainly on par with any/all of the leading ladies of her generation. I hope this brings her wider recognition as well.

[madbrian]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 12:50pm

I think the word 'radiant' describes her performance pretty well.

[BwayBuff2]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 2:30pm

I saw the show last Tuesday evening and loved it.

Will someone please tell me HOW this story isn't relevant today? Dated? I don't think so. I thought the updated book, while it still has some weaknesses, is wonderful overall.

I agree with Cheyenne Jackson. He's just so bland in everything he ever does. He was bland in Millie, bland in Xanadu, SOOOOOO bland in Damn Yankees, and once again...in Finian's Rainbow I found him to be so beige. He has a gorgeous voice, but the boy cannot act his way out of a bag.

Kate Baldwin is just stunning in this production. She is a wonderful leading lady and sings the score beautifully. I found her to be very strong.

Of course, the performance of the night was Christopher Fitzgerald. That man is so gifted and I loved everything he did on that stage. And did anyone else notice how amazing his legs are!? Those calves!

I actually didn't care for Jim Norton too much...

There was one ensemble member who stood out the most to me. Taylor Frey. What an incredible dancer and he brought so much energy to the stage. Every time he was on stage my eyes were just drawn to him.

Overall, I thought the show was wonderful. The word of mouth is spreading and the show is looking to be more popular than anyone intended. I hope it has a nice run!
Updated On: 12/4/09 at 02:30 PM

[BwayBuff2]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 2:30pm

I saw the show last Tuesday evening and loved it.

Will someone please tell me HOW this story isn't relevant today? Dated? I don't think so. I thought the updated book, while it still has some weaknesses, is wonderful overall.

I agree with Cheyenne Jackson. He's just so bland in everything he ever does. He was bland in Millie, bland in Xanadu, SOOOOOO bland in Damn Yankees, and once again...in Finian's Rainbow I found him to be so beige. He has a gorgeous voice, but the boy cannot act his way out of a bag.

Kate Baldwin is just stunning in this production. She is a wonderful leading lady and sings the score beautifully. I found her to be very strong.

Of course, the performance of the night was Christopher Fitzgerald. That man is so gifted and I loved everything he did on that stage. And did anyone else notice how amazing his legs are!? Those calves!

I actually didn't care for Jim Norton too much...

There was one ensemble member who stood out the most to me. Taylor Frey. What an incredible dancer and he brought so much energy to the stage. Every time he was on stage my eyes were just drawn to him. I think it's funny though...he was fired from Hairspray for being lazy, but gives a great performance in Finian's Rainbow.

Overall, I thought the show was wonderful. The word of mouth is spreading and the show is looking to be more popular than anyone intended. I hope it has a nice run!

[yeomansden]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 3:40pm

I was at the performance last Sat afternoon (so I guess I was there with you, Gimmick) And it was so great. One of my favorite scores played by a full orchestra, done by an amazing cast. As for the book, if you want to see Hamlet, it's on the next block. Is it a bit unrealistic? Yes. Is it a bit silly? Yes. For goodness sakes, one of the major characters is a leprechaun! How realistic or serious are we supposed to take it?!?! Turn your mind off for a while, and just enjoy.

Not the biggest Cheyenne fan here. But I think he did fairly well with this part. His voice really fit the music well, and he gave one of the better acting performances I've ever seen from him. Not the best leading man ever, but he did a good job.

Kate Baldwin was just a joy to see. And hear. Wow, what a crystal clear and lovely voice she has. And she is gorgeous. She just seems at ease with everyone on stage that she interacted with. Whether she was doing a love scene with Woody, a touching moment with Finian, or having a silly laugh with Og, she had a chemistry that just kept you enthralled. My one (and very minor) complaint was that in her angry scenes, especially where she accidentally turns the senator black, she didn't seem to get worked up enough.

But for my money, the show belonged to Christopher Fitzgerald. It got to a point where I couldn't wait for him to come back on stage. His performance was brilliant, and SO much fun. And yes, definitely amazing legs on that man...woof..

And I can't say enough about the ensemble. They were very natural, and everyone seemed to be having a great time up there. The dancing was excellent, and the energy just kept going. There were a few stand outs for me, but I think it was mostly because they were hot...if I take that out of the mix, they all did a fantastic job.

All in all, it was a great day at the theater, and I really hope it does well. The theater was well-filled when I was there, though not sold out. And I do think that some people are underestimating the draw of the show. During intermission, all I heard was people talking about seeing other productions, being in the show or seeing the movie. It is fairly well-known to those familiar with the golden age of Broadway, and well-remembered. Hopefully, that will help, and keep people coming.

edit: And just curious. Is Carmen Miranda better known than Zsa Zsa Gabor that the lyric needed changed?

Updated On: 10/19/09 at 03:40 PM

[BillFinn]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 4:24pm

I was told the Carmen Miranda line was the original. Did anyone else notice in that line the entire cast was very "ehhhhhhhh" while Finian raised his hand in the air like he was proud of red propaganda? It might have just been my performance or I'm reading too much into it. I just thought it was an interesting contrast.

I sort of agree with the comments on Cheyenne in the show, but to be fair that role isn't supposed to carry the entire show w/ Kate and the material he has to work off of isn't sufficient. The show is about the community of Rainbow Valley, not about Woody and Sharon's love alone.

Did it bug anyone else we barely saw Sharon in Act II? There was Idle Poor/Idle Rich, the Wedding Scene, and the Finale. That was it, I think. It just seemed we had SO MUCH Kate Baldwin goodness in Act 1 and then she wasn't in Act II enough.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 9:07pm

The original (1947) lyric for "If This Isn't Love" had the lyric about Carmen Miranda (A big star at the time) and Red Propaganda (A big scare at the time.) It was updated for the 1960 revival to "There's No Glocca Morra/I'm Zsa Zsa Gabor-a."

Kate Baldwin has a new CD being released tomorrow called Let's See What Happens. It features songs by Burton Lane an E.Y.Harburg (though not always together) and includes a lovely reading of "How are Things in Glocca Morra." I just got the CD today from PS Classics and it's a very enjoyable program.

Updated On: 10/19/09 at 09:07 PM

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 9:26pm

Kate also does some great work on Georgia Stitt's Alphabet City Cycle.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 11:47pm

Yankee, I normally agree, but how was it dated? I didn't get a few of the people referenced, but other than that I thought all the jokes still landed and worked. The songs are beautiful and beautifully sung, and I thought the whole show was beautifully realized. I loved all the bits of stage magic, and it's true, the show belongs to Christopher Fitzgerald. He's sublime in the role! I do have to agree that the two leads are kind of wooden, but that's kind of how they're written. I think Baldwin has it in her, if only the director would push her to be a little more quirky. She has her moments, but I think she just needs to bring it up a few notches. The same can go for Jackson, though at times it seemed like he was either bored or just didn't know what to do with the role. It's kind of a boring role, so I think he needs to inject it with some character traits or something - maybe make him stupid or clueless or something, I don't know.

The technical elements are great, and like I said, I really loved the stage magic. When Og took out the apples and the bananas, that was so brilliant.

I think the show might do better than we expect. It seems to be a crowd pleasure, and there really isn't anything all that interesting currently playing on Broadway. I mean nothing has sort of been the "IT" show yet, so maybe this will sneak in there and be a nice diversion from the everyday.

[boombaboy]

Posted: 10/20/09 at 5:28pm

I only wish the material in this satire were dated. Have you listened to the news, read a paper or been down South recently? Finian's Rainbow is incredibly timely and relevant and served beautifully by a talented cast that is directed very well. You may quibble with the leads, but I think they are the most romantic couple I have seen on Broadway in a long time. And there's no way the character of Woody could be played as "stupid" which someone suggested; he is based on Woody Guthrie, an organizer for the rights of poor working people; migrant workers and sharecroppers. This show is full of American historical references which people who are remotely familiar with our history will recognize. Those who aren't can always enjoy the music, singing, dancing and acting as well as the story which is as current as today's headlines.

[AbbyNormal13]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 8:58pm

How early should I get to the theater to get a rush ticket? Is it usually crowded?

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 9:03pm

I think it's odd that when a show doesn't work because of a lackluster production with wooden leads, it's perceived as "dated."

I'm beginning to think that most Broadway revivals are "dated." But Finnian's Rainbow and Bye Bye, Birdie? They're doing just fine, thank you.

I suggest you go out of town to find the really good productions of these classic shows. You sure won't find them in New York.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 9:16pm

"How early should I get to the theater to get a rush ticket? Is it usually crowded?"
I went last Friday and got there around 10 and got front row. I also rushed the Matinee last Saturday but didn't go until 12:30. I got a seat in the left box and there were still four more seats in the box left.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:20pm

I didn't see any "youngersters" in the front row, but I was in the left box, and it wasn't full, and the other box only had two people in it. I got my ticket about 2pm on the day of the show. I don't think you'd have a problem getting a rush ticket to this. If anything, they might just sell you a seat in the balcony.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:30pm

I caught this production on Monday night. The problem isn't that the script is dated. The problem is that the script was written in 1945 when the idea of song and script being fully integrated was still something new. As a result, the songs have little to do with furthering the plot and the script has to be handled really carefully in order to a) make sense b) sell to modern audiences the kind of one off humour that appealed to audiences in the 1940s.

And I'm sorry to say, that yet again, we have been given an inept revival in the hands of an uninspired director/choreographer. Carlyle's handling of the script, in my opinion is heavy handed and incredibly forced - as if to apologize for the material being presented. Instead of investing this community with real people, he's relegated the characters to cartoons - I've seen the Lucky Charms elf have more natural humour than Christopher Fitzgerald.

Pushed Pushed Pushed. And I just wasn't having it.

The production is beautifully sung. Cheyenne Jackson looks bored. Kate Baldwin is miscast. A beautiful ingenue in the role that requires spunk and star charisma.

The blocking is completely lackluster - with half of the enormous stage of the St. James not being used at all. The stage looks cramped and the musical numbers are a series of difficult dance steps strung together with no sense of style, purpose or storytelling. This is particularly tragic for the beautiful actress playing Sharon the Silent, who is asked to completely convey her characterization through a series of sporadic moves that have absolutely no emotional base.

Basically, this is community theatre on Broadway. I'm happy that so many people are discovering the fabulous music of FINNAN's RAINBOW, but like BIRDIE, this really deserved a lot better.

I'm most sad that the basic bar of what people are willing to expect as Broadway calibre seems to be sinking every passing season.
Updated On: 10/22/09 at 10:30 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:10pm

I was surprised to see that the set was so tiny. I mean, I wish the whole "rolling hills" theme would have been carried more upstage and disappeared or tapered out. But I disagree with Og. He is HILARIOUS and had a lot of natural comedic moments. I guess it came off forced to you, but to me it came off genuine and funny. And I don't think Jackson is bored, but I don't think he knows what to do with his character. It's pretty bland, and he needs to inject with some of his natural personality, same with Baldwin.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:16pm

I should probably clarify by saying I like Christopher Fitzgerald - I didn't like how he was directed. He would be a lot funnier if the director let him be a little less earnest and a little more relaxed. He was the leprichan who ate six boxes of sugar cereal and was on a sugar rush overload.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:19pm

I agree with what you're saying, MB; I saw it this week and I thought it was adorable. It's not that the show is dated, it's that it's old. That's a fine - but important - distinction. The ideas are neither dated nor irrelevant, but the structure is underdeveloped because script/score integration wasn't really there yet. But wow, what a score. I hadn't known it prior to this.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:28pm

Me either! And pretty much every song was beautiful and I kept thinking "Yeah, I want to hear that again."

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:31pm

Old Devil Moon definitely made me swoon. A lot. That was one of only two songs that I went in knowing, but I've had it stuck in my head all week!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 2:05am

Most of the people around me were singing along with the actors - which is always annoying. But yes, one of the best scores ever.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 10:36am

I mean I really honestly enjoyed every number. A few weren't my favorite, but nothing to turn my nose to. But it does amaze me how melodic the show was compared to something like Memphis where there wasn't a melody to save their lives.

[fflagg]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 1:37pm

The themes of FR are of course relevant to today. The problem let's face it is that the level of talent THEN is not the same as the level of talent NOW.

The sets, the marquee out front, the cast, the orchestrations. . . do any of them surpass those from the original production? No wonder Cheyenne Jackson is doing TV: he seems like a nice guy but he is just a taller version of Nick Adams. Both are buff, bland, and would be bartenders at Splash were it not for being lucky.