The King and I previews thread - Page 3
The King and I previews thread
#50The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/12/15 at 10:16pm
From which seat was this picture taken?
I am so jealous of everyone there!
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#51The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/12/15 at 10:19pmThe two photos I found and posted were on Instagram; I'm unsure as far as seat location goes.
#52The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/12/15 at 10:27pmtheres going to be a cast recording. so happy!
#54The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/12/15 at 11:36pm
It's going to be a very special production! Pacing and Wantanabes diction need the most work, and these are fixable. The procession in act two is mostly all gone and while it has beautiful orchestrations the cut was necessary for timing. This should be a very stunning production by opening.
Updated On: 3/13/15 at 11:36 PM
#55The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/12/15 at 11:57pm
Nearly 3 and a half hours? Holy crap that is long. 
Did anyone sit in the front row all the way to the right side through Lincoln Tix or if you didn't, do you think they are halfway decent seats? Got them for the end of April...
Glad to hear things went well!
ads08
Understudy Joined: 3/29/14
#56The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:05am@n2nbaby that's exactly where I sat with linctix and they are amazing seats. Actors may have their backs to you at some points, but almost every actor sings on that side of the stage - we got an amazing close up view.
#57The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:06amOh yay! That makes me so happy! Thank you @ads08! :)
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#58The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:07amWere you able to see the whole life-changing boat entrance from those seats? That's where mine are too.
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#60The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:14amAs far as the boat goes, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near the front of the orchestra for that.
#61The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:21amSame. Row J had a wonderful view of it.
#62The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:26amBefore I post my review, I must say that I've never seen this show before tonight. Personally I thought it was great. Kelli is out of this world. Her voice seems to be stronger and this is truly the perfect role for her. Ken brought a new meaning to "are you speaking English!?" Personally I say No he wasn't. He really needs to work on his diction if he wants to receive good reviews. The set is beyond incredible but I must say that the crew had a very hard time moving it. Can I also mention how one of the servants basically fell into the orchestra pit within the first 30 min of the show. Luckily he caught himself and continued off stage. I will consider seeing the show again after opening just to ensure a clean cut version. Also I have to give huge props to Ashley Park, who I found to be the next strongest onstage behind Kelli. The kids were super cute too but their entrance lasted a good 5 min and needs to be cut down. The show started approx. at 8:05 and didn't end until approx. 11:20. Needless to say they should work on pacing as well as making "The small house of Uncle Tom" (ballet) a lot shorter
#63The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:27am
Also, did Kelli's wig bother anyone else? Depending on the angle and the lighting, it looked like this -
#64The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:31am
I just got home. It definitely felt like a first preview- tons of set glitches, pacing issues, DICTION- but if there's anyone who can fix this stuff it's Bartlett Sher.
I hate to start off with such a negative, but since it stuck out like such a sore thumb, Watanabe's diction was at times atrocious. Thank god we all know the words to A Puzzlement or it would have been five minutes of watching a Polish movie without subtitles. There would be lines/exchanges where is diction would come into focus and he'd get a laugh or required reaction, but other times words at the end of sentences would be swallowed or thrown away. It didn't ruin the evening, but it certainly threw things off at times. I will say I think his acting is there- we just need to understand the words or it won't work.
To balance all this out was the stunning performance from Kelli. She could do no wrong tonight. Even the Hello, Young Lovers reprise turned into a showstopper. Getting to Know You was delightful (everything with the kids played well), and she had a nice rapport with Watanabe in the dialogue before the temple scene and surrounding Shall We Dance. Kelli is the anchor holding down the show and is turning in yet more splendid work.
Ruthie Ann Miles added a lot of depth to Lady Thiang. The character is younger and more vibrant than usual. Something Wonderful (one of my favorite theater songs ever) was beautiful.
Ashley Park has a crystal clear soprano and sings Tuptim with lovely passion. Lun Tha really is an underwritten role, but he's played by hottie Conrad Ricamora (Oliver from HTGAWM!!!). And he's bare chested whenever on stage so can't really complain there.
The physical production is sometimes breathtaking. The sets, lighting, costumes- all the first rate quality we have come to expect from LCT. Catherine Zuber can probably make some more room on her mantel after her showing tonight.
The ballet was a highlight; much of the original choreography was used or was at least inspired by Robbins' work.
The show is already in good shape, but in time I think it grow into something special. I look forward to seeing it later in previews.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#65The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:37amThanks, Whiz! I can always count on you!
Buddy Plummer2
Understudy Joined: 5/4/12
#66The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:39am
^ in agreement with Whizzer; this production is spectacular.
I think once they start on time (the house opened at 7:45), and once some pacing issues are fixed, it will run at 3 hours exactly (where an R&H show should about run).
The ballet was a major highlight: the applause lasted for a solid minute afterwards.
#67The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:44am
:)
I went into this with very high expectations, probably the highest expectations of the season along with Curious Incident and Wolf Hall.
In a way it was refreshing to see a first preview that was a little rough around the edges. All too often shows (and performances) are completely frozen at the first preview and despite the vocal cries of some claiming things have time to improve, rarely are changes made. Luckily, Sher has stellar material to work with, but this production WILL actually improve and morph into the greatness that it has the potential to be, or at least that is my sincere belief and hope.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#68The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:50am
Wow, nice to hear such nice things about the first preview and whatever needs to be fixed, Bartlett Sher knows what to do. Didn't SOUTH PACIFIC have a really good first preview but was there some things that was rough around the edges as well?
Updated On: 3/13/15 at 12:50 AM
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#69The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 12:56am
An excellent production of a beautiful show, happily respectful of the material. The show itself is so rich, so warm, so human --- it seems only to grow in stature with the passing years. It shows once again how R & H tower over everyone else.
Kelli O'Hara has never been better. Ken Watanabe is giving a very thoughtful performance, marred somewhat by intelligibility problems.
The design is handsome, and the boat effect in the first scene is particularly impressive. The ballet is very well done.
It's great to have this classic musical back in a production that does it justice.
Updated On: 3/13/15 at 12:56 AM
#70The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 1:02am
How was "Shall We Dance"? I hope it was spell-binding.
#71The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 1:16am
The Shall We Dance sequence was well-done and the dancing received applause.
After Eight brings up a good point that bears repeating: it is respectful of the material. It trusts the material. It doesn't feel the need to be anything other than what it is. These are rare, but very welcome qualities in revivals of late.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#72The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 1:23am
^Tell that to Christopher Renshaw...and David Henry Hawng.
I'm really loving that pre-show curtain and the designs from the opposite sides of the stage.
Updated On: 3/13/15 at 01:23 AM
#73The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 1:59amLove reading these first preview posts - especially from good ol' reliable Whizzer. Sorry to hear about Watanabe's diction. You'd think that was something they worked on from the beginning. I'm not a muscle queen, but kind of surprised that the scrawny kid from HTGAWM is playing Lun Tha, but Watanabe is an imposing figure, so I guess I can see how the contrast between the two would work well. I hope this is as big a hit as South Pacific as I don't have a prayer of getting back to NY before 2016.
#74The king and I previews thread
Posted: 3/13/15 at 2:16amI'm frankly shocked that Watanabe's dialect hasn't been of more concern from the beginning. I remember complaints about it from the people I saw Batman Begins and Inception in theaters with; that's with IMAX speakers and the best take in his favor. He's got a great natural richness to his voice, and I'm still very excited to see him. I'm sure it's something they'll work on as best they can.
