Did Anyone See "A Bed & A Chair" At City Center Tonight?
Did Anyone See "A Bed & A Chair" At City Center Tonight?
#1Did Anyone See "A Bed & A Chair" At City Center Tonight?
Posted: 11/13/13 at 12:04amI assume they had a dress rehearsal tonight. Did anyone go? And if so, can you let us know what the hell this show is, exactly? I mean, I'm looking forward to it but I have no clue what it is.
#2Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 12:55amDitto. The cast and Sondheim have me very curious...but trusting word from this board when deciding whether to go.
#2Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 1:55am
It wasn't a dress, they're still teching the show, the dress is tomorrow.
However, I had the opportunity to sit in on the tech, and my god, it's beautiful. I hope no one is expecting a full blown piece of theatre, it's definitely in the "staged concert framed by a concept" realm, but the orchestrations are incredibly inventive, the choreography is extremely well presented and utilized, and I thoroughly enjoyed the parts that I saw.
I'm on my way back home currently, but I'll post more once I'm off my phone.
"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise
#3Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 5:40amwicked_beast4 - Thank you for the post, I look forward to hearing more. How great you got to go to the tech.
#4Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 7:52amAll I want for Christmas this year if for PS Classics to record this.
#6Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 9:42amI'm going tonight and am VERY excited! Bernadette!
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#7Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 9:44am
I am dying to hear more about this.
I'm counting on you Whizzer!
....but the world goes 'round
#8Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 10:29am
Sorry for the delay!
Full disclosure, this being a tech run I only saw the first half of the show before I had to leave for another engagement, but it's definitely an event worth seeing.
(Potential SPOILERS ahead?)
The stage is simply set with a bed and a chair, the orchestra upstage center of the action, and a massive projection screen at the rear of the stage that is used to show imagery of New York. There are 2 sets of couples (Bernadette & Norm, and Jeremy & Cyrille) as well as a dancer representative for each of the 4. The dancers are shadows for each performer, expressing through movement what the singers are conveying through song. Each of the couples exchange partners over the course of the evening, climbing into bed with the other's significant other, and the rotating dancing couples perform gorgeous pas de deuxs as the couples sing their hearts out in the beds.
John described this piece as first and foremost being a celebration/exploration of New York City, and these couples are our gateway into what is an incredibly inventive night of reorchestration and the reinvention of some of Sondheim's most beloved songs. I won't give too much away, but the singers are in great voice (especially Jeremy Jordan, he makes full-voiced B flats seem effortless). For the most part most of the melodies are completely intact, but the orchestrations give (IMHO) an incredibly satisfying New York Jazz sound to the numbers.
A few standout numbers:
Bernadette with Broadway Baby
Jeremy Jordan with Losing My Mind (intelligent direction) and Giants in the Sky (simply, stunningly beautiful, and like no version of the song I've ever heard before)
Norm with Someone is Waiting
Cyrille with You Could Drive a Person Crazy
If y'all have any questions, ask away, I'll do my best to answer, though again I left before they had finished teching the whole show.
It really will be a beautiful night at the theatre, if only because it's been awhile since I've heard Sondheim sound this gorgeous.
A few parting shots:
Ladies Who Lunch/Agony mashup sung by Bernadette
Send in the Clowns is a dance
You get to hear the new song "Rainbows" written for the Into the Woods movie
I Wish I Could Forget You is the finale
"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise
Updated On: 11/13/13 at 10:29 AM
#9Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 10:32amWow, it sounds amazing! Jeremy Jordan is singing Losing My Mind? I can't wait to hear that! (Going on Sunday.)
#10Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 10:35am
Very interesting. But tonight isn't the dress isn't tonight, tonight is the first actual performance. So I guess they're not doing an open dress rehearsal.
#11Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 10:38amYou're completely right-- sorry about that. I honestly had no idea when the first official performance was, but John had said last night that tonight was "a final dress open to the public," so that's why I assumed.
"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise
#12Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 10:40am
I am moist with excitement right now.
....but the world goes 'round
#13Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 10:54amThe funny thing is that there are still plenty of seats available. I bought my tickets as soon as it was announced, during the MasterCard pre-sale. I really thought this would be a sellout!
#14Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 10:57amI blame that on how horribly the show was marketed. I mean, we had to wait until the dress rehearsal to know if it was a concert or a book musical or a jazz show. Whoever was in charge of that should seriously never be allowed to market a show again.
#15Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 11:05amI think you're right. When I recruited my friends to buy tickets with me, I told them, "I don't know what it is, but I bet it will be good!" Not the way to sell a show. I wonder if the weeknight performances will even be available on the papering sites.
#16Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 11:07amDoes anyone have the Peer 2 Peer code for this? I thought I was still receiving the emails, but apparently not. Thanks!
#17Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 11:20amWell with reviews like that, I have to buy a ticket!
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
yfs
Featured Actor Joined: 11/1/13
#21Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 1:25pm
"Did wicked_beast4 never make it home?"
That really made me laugh.
wicked_beast4 - thank you for the full report. The show sounds very exciting, so wish I could afford a trip to New York to see this.
Whizzer - hope you have a great time tonight and look forward to reading your thoughts.
I too hope this gets recorded but I really don't see it happening.
indytallguy
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/08
#22Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 1:58pm
Crazy man that I am, I'm considering using an award ticket and hotel points last minute to come in and see this.
For those who see it tonight, I'd love to know how "Must not be missed" you would consider it to be for a Sondheim lover. Thanks.
#23Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 2:11pm
I can't imagine no one would record this. It's Sondheim.
And Marsalis is equally revered in Jazz circles.
Maybe a Jazz label live Verve will foot the bill.
....but the world goes 'round
#24Did Anyone See
Posted: 11/13/13 at 2:16pm
Damn these super-limited runs.
CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES
