Claybourne Elder & Brynn O'Malley to Lead Signature Theatre's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE- Page 3

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 9/2/14 at 7:21pm

A bar serves many things besides alcohol. And if it's the "pub" that the poster is talking about, I don't blame him because they have fantastic food there.

[trensalores]

Posted: 9/2/14 at 9:08pm

okay awesome thanks! hopefully all goes well. And I've read a bunch of these reviews, and I'm really excited to see the show later this month!!

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 9/2/14 at 9:35pm

Just to be clear...I was leaving a pub and bumped into him (he wasn't at said pub). More than likely he was leaving a CrossFit WOD, considering how in shape he's in.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 9/4/14 at 12:58pm

Saw it last weekend. Nice, able production. While the production values and overall level of talent wasn't quite to a Broadway level, it wasn't significantly far behind.

A strong piece of advice, though: if at all possible, don't sit in the side sections, sit in the main, center section. The stage is thrust but plays entirely downstage to the center of the house, and, given the show, the recreation of the painting at the end of act 1 and deconstruction at the end of act 2 are entirely lost. You spend the entire show looking at the actors from a 120* angle from where they're facing, looking at actors' backs while they block the actor facing them. You're effectively watching the show from an upstage wing, since most of the action and entrances occur downstage of your seat.

It didn't ruin the show for me, having seen it multiple times elsewhere, but it did for my girlfriend, who missed a lot of the magic of the show, from the visceral power of the end of each act, to the beautiful interactions in tight blocking during "We Do Not Belong Together" and "Move On."

As far as I know, these seats are not marked partial view, but they almost unequivocally are. I got a very good deal on my tickets, but it looks like they're mostly sold at nearly the same price as the full-priced center-section seats, and that's wrong.

It's poor design, and if the thrust stage and exit ramps are a limitation of the theater, perhaps this show was not the best choice for that space.

Just a heads up. If you can get a center section seat, definitely go see it. Otherwise, it's probably only worth it for big fans of the show.

[indytallguy]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 6:39am

Saw this last night. I particularly the emotional tone and singing from Dot, George's mother, and Yvonne. Elder for all in my party was a very weak George. He chose an expressionless and generally angry characterization. While I can see why, it really did not come off well. Songs sorely tested his range and he was off-pitch multiple times. Very disappointing. Jules was irritating beyond belief with a flamboyant characterization that was just out of scale with everyone else.

First time in the MAX and have a huge neck cramp from having to constantly turn my head to focus on blocked scenes in the show. Sound design was horrible rendering long swatches of dialogue or singing unintelligible or inaudible because of the lack of balance with the orchestra. Very ticked off that this was a $100 ticket given all these issues.

That said, Sunday is Sunday and when the cast comes together and sings each act's number you are reminded again what a masterpiece this is.

Updated On: 9/21/14 at 06:39 AM

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 9:29am

So I FINALLY saw this again for the second time (after seeing the very first preview). A MILLION times better. The only problem I had was Elder still did that thing where he would hit the note a little flat and then vibrato out the correct note.

We got stuck in the bar stools because we decided to do rush seats instead. We got extremely lucky in that a performing arts high school was there that night and apparently blocked off the entire orchestra… which left a few rows of seats empty from students not going therefore we were able to sit right in the center for the price of $30.

A little warning to people who have never been to Signature Theatre… their seats HURT no matter where you sit.

[morosco]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 12:11pm

It doesn't look like they're selling the upper level seats for this show. Has Signature stopped selling those altogether? Loved sitting up there. Basically just one row of seats.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 5:44pm

They are still selling them as far as I know. There were people up there both shows I went to. The bar stools sit right behind them.

[morosco]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 5:49pm

Got it. THank you!