Daniel Fish-Directed OKLAHOMA! Lassos its Way to St. Ann's Warehouse- Page 5

[Graymerchant]

Posted: 10/8/18 at 12:07am

The way the dream sequence has been talked about multiple times. I'm not going to get to see the production and I'm curious as to how it is staged and how it differs from the original. Could anyone give me a description? 

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 10/8/18 at 12:07am

am I the only one not really feeling the coustumes and sets. It makes it look like they are having press day during rehearsals.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 10/8/18 at 2:10am

I adored the costumes when I saw it. The whole production feels hyper-realistic and the costumes and set really add to that. This is a seriously great production. Major thumbs up to directors and producers who make bold and innovative choices without sacrificing the actual show on paper. After the bland, hackjob that was this recent Carousel revival, I really welcomed this production.

*SPOILERS ABOUT THE DREAM SEQUENCE*
This production chose to create more of a mood piece than an actual story. I really liked it and the use of modern dance. The dancer was great and was able to express the struggles, the anxiety, and the suppression of female sexuality in America. The female dancer enters the stage through a massive cloud of smoke in a shirt that reads "Dream baby, dream." She dances by herself and is joined occasionally by a group of other female dancers who gallop across the stage like horses. The female dancer also comes face to face with Curly and Jud. Cowgirl boots fall from the ceiling and the other girls run onstage and grab them as the cast enters and stands across from each other. The main dancer scoots across the stage towards Laurey and then someone yells "wake up Laurey" and the cast jumped into the hoedown. I hope I remembered it all correctly, but it created a great nightmarish dream sequence that was filled with anxiety.

[Kimbo]

Posted: 10/9/18 at 10:37am

Maybe this has been addressed a page or two back in the thread (though I did skim), but since it seems like there are limited theaters where this might transfer,  I'm just wondering whether anyone has heard anything or what anyone thinks the chances are of  a further extension at St. Ann's, for even an additional week or two? (i realize it was already extended once, before the reviews came out).  Dropped the ball on this one.

[macnyc]

Posted: 10/9/18 at 12:03pm

If you're looking for tickets, Kimbo, there is a rush. I bet you'd get in.

Also, I wanted to mention that I took the ferry over to Dumbo from Wall Street. It's a nice, short ride, and very pleasant on a nice day. The theater is right there near the ferry stop.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 10/9/18 at 4:24pm

Kimbo, the next show there starts in early December, so I’m guessing there will not be an extension.

[Bro_on_Broadway]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 10:46am

whatdoesntkillme said: "Has anyone had success with the mobile rush or cancellation line? Thinking of trying for tomorrow."

UUUghhh.. I've been trying the rush on #TodayTix for several days - even down to watching the seconds and clicking at exactly the right time. I have had ZERO luck, even when it says there are tickets left, I click and it says they're all in someone's carts!!! Grrr. Are there Bots snapping these up? Anyone have any luck??

[ccbway]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 11:52am

I got them through mobile rush. I would just...keep refreshing, reloading the screen. I saw that "In other people's carts" notice quite a bit, but eventually something was available and I was able to purchase. Don't just give up because immediately it's not available.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/12/18 at 11:43pm

Just got back from tonight’s performance. While I didn’t fully connect with all of the directorial choices, I thought it was a pretty stunning evening of theatre.

I thought it was disturbing and audacious with some truly excellent performances. The orchestrations are wonderful and perfectly compliment the tone. Loved the Dream Ballet - so violent and atmospheric. I thought Rebecca Naomi Jones, Alli Stroker, and Mary Testa were the highlights of the cast, but really everyone is great.

It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s an incredibly invigorating interpretation of the text. We need more directors like Daniel Fish to take on classics like this and leave no stone unturned in their examination of how it speaks to the society it’s being performed in.

[rg7759]

Posted: 10/13/18 at 9:34am

i also loved everything, staging, band, performances. and disturbing as it should be. and the ballet isnt even the best part, thats how good it is. and if you cant get a mobile ticket, i recommend just going there and say youre willing to sit behind the pole, and theyll probably accommodate you better than that.

[greenifyme2]

Posted: 10/13/18 at 8:16pm

Took my mom to this today, we’ve had our tickets for almost 6 months and didn’t know what we were getting into until the recent reports. We were prepared for it to be different, I even had a back up plan in case my mom thought it was too strange.

We loved it. I think it helps we lucked out with I just happened to buy the 2 best seats in the house, but what an incredible piece of theater. I’ve never seen anything so classic presented with such a fresh new perspective. And again maybe it was our seats but I didn’t have any issue at all with the acoustics in the room.

[little_sally]

Posted: 10/15/18 at 12:16pm

Overall I really liked it, and appreciated Fish's choices even if I didn't love them all. I thought the cast was excellent all-around, and the whole production made the show fresh (unlike that recent Carousel revival.)

I did not care for the dream ballet, and still don't really know what to make of it. If you don't know the musical, you're going to be really, really confused as to what is suddenly happening.

The show runs almost 3 hours and I felt it, sitting in those hard wooden chairs. So be prepared. (Also, the lights are up for about 98% of the show and the woman right across from me decided to knit through the entire first act. It was so distracting.)

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/15/18 at 3:32pm

little_sally said: " I did not care for the dream ballet, and still don't really know what to make of it. If you don't know the musical, you're going to be really, really confused as to what is suddenly happening.

That’s a broad generalization you’re making. My husband and I didn’t know the show and had no problem interpreting what was happening. Laurie inhaled opium/morphine and had a bad trip. Pretty straightforward, considering.

[Klubby]

Posted: 10/16/18 at 10:19am

If anyone just happens to have an extra ticket for tonight, please let me know. I've tried to rush thinking I was fast but I'm just not fast enough! lol

[Zzk6126]

Posted: 10/17/18 at 10:21am

If anyone has a ticket they are able to sell for tonight’s performance (10/17) let me know. I’ve been dying to see this show and had no luck doing the rush the past couple of weeks.

[TonightsMarquee]

Posted: 10/21/18 at 1:12pm

SOLD!

Updated On: 10/21/18 at 01:12 PM

[TonightsMarquee]

Posted: 10/21/18 at 2:36pm

-whoops-

Updated On: 10/21/18 at 02:36 PM

[qafgenius122]

Posted: 10/21/18 at 10:59pm

Decided to try the cancellation rush today for the matinee, got to the theatre around noon, they opened the doors for us and let us wait inside in a very organized line, took names at 1 (hour before show) and heres the best part... WE COULD LEAVE!! They didn't start selling tix til 1:55. Bravo to St. Ann's for such an impeccable cancellation set up. I was about the 9th person in line, and I did not have high hopes considering that one person could purchase two tix (20 bux CASH ONLY) but I GOT IN at 2pm on the dot, show started a bit late, trying to accommodate as many cancellations as they could, which I really appreciate. When the show started I did still spy some empty seats, as well as spotting the aforementioned obstructed seats, I was very luckily sat in the center section, third row, a perfect view.

Note: I have never seen a production of Oklahoma! I have seen the film once, but I am very familiar with the score through owning many cast albums. My in short review is I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! A few key thoughts...

The lighting of the entire production is stunning, it added to the immersion in a way for me, even during non-immersive moments; Black outs included. I also, contrary to some ppl here, thought the sound design was fantastic, never missed a word, but again I was seated pretty much dead center. I love how I went into this production thinking I was going to see one thing, and completely having my mind blown by what I actually witnessed. No, this is not your parent's version of Oklahoma! The orchestrations are beautiful and the band is excellent, I would not mind a cast recording of this production, though I do not see it happening, nor a transfer. Not every unique theatrical experience needs to move to Broadway, sure a longer run would've been nice, but I'd say see it while you can, if you can.

I have been a Damon Daunno fan since Hadestown, and he has yet to disappoint me, his voice, its something special. While I wouldve loved Amber Grey, I definitely did not mind RNJ, she's another powerhouse vocalist, but also showed some of her subtle skills here as well. Mary Testa, nuff said! And Ali Stroker (a star), James Davis and Michael Nathanson, are all in great voice and very funny in their respective roles. Now that dream ballet, was it what I wanted it to be, no, did I fully understand it, no, but was it thoroughly enjoyable and did she dance the hell out of it, yes for sure. This is a great production of a classic R&H musical, that statement in and of itself is reason enough to go see this show.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 10/27/18 at 11:31am

Knew the show would be "different" but this was strictly a DIRECTOR'S production, having just touches here and there of what the show was really about. Yeah, I've been watching O! on stage and screen for many years  but was still not prepared for the "imagination" of the director. R&H must be doing pinwheels in their respective graves. After seeing this last night, and then coming home to read the reviews (mostly favorable, but not all), still can't make sense of Fish's directorial decisions, and his fairly dramatic script changes, especially the end. Perhaps some of the additions come from the original GREEN GROW THE LILACS, but certainly not the end (no spoilers). And that "dream" ballet? Don't get me started...Agnes DeMille must have been cursing from the beyond to see her name so prominently used in the credits.

This was a fairly psychotic blend of standard musical comedy and an experimental director's attempts to stretch the material beyond the breaking point. And I'm assuming that Ms. Jones is ill, as her singing was weak and hoarse most of the night, barely able to sustain notes. After reading the reviews, many of which commented on her singing, I felt a bit cheated. No understudies?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/27/18 at 12:42pm

“R&H must be doing pinwheels in their respective graves.”

“Agnes DeMille must have been cursing from the beyond”

I find it curious when people make statements like this, given that both parties were very much experimental in their time and were regarded as breakthrough pioneers of their respective forms. I’m sure - unlike those who view R&H and DeMille’s work as sacred artifacts not to be dissected - all three individuals would have regarded this production highly for reinterpreting the very themes they were exploring for a new day and age.

But sure. Keep assuming these artists thought their final product was forever the golden standard.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 10/27/18 at 1:50pm

I hope a cast album is made with these arrangements. Anyone heard of any plans?

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 8:08am

FYI, some seats are available for both of today's shows:

https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/990289?_ga=2.121898507.1261294326.1540573387-2133182361.1537922030

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 10:37am

On Thursday I showed up at 5:30 for standby. I was fifth or sixth in line and got tickets no problem. At the performance I saw there were at least 4 more people who got in after me.

Can I just say I was floored by the production. “People Will Say we’re in Love” was so intense and beautifully performed by both actors. All of the actors had distinctly modern personalities which I thought was a particularly interesting choice. I thought the complex relationship between Jud and Laurie was particularly highlighted in this production. For me Ado Annie and Will were the weaker links in the cast. The ending literally left me mouth hanging open almost too moved to start clapping. It’s definitely an Oklahoma! that feels appropriate for Trump’s America.

Also I feel like the old ladies singing along at the end missed the point of the production.

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 10/28/18 at 10:37am

On Thursday I showed up at 5:30 for standby. I was fifth or sixth in line and got tickets no problem. At the performance I saw there were at least 4 more people who got in after me.

Can I just say I was floored by the production. “People Will Say we’re in Love” was so intense and beautifully performed by both actors. All of the actors had distinctly modern personalities which I thought was a particularly interesting choice. I thought the complex relationship between Jud and Laurie was particularly highlighted in this production. For me Ado Annie and Will were the weaker links in the cast. The ending literally left me mouth hanging open almost too moved to start clapping. It’s definitely an Oklahoma! that feels appropriate for Trump’s America.

Also I feel like the old ladies singing along at the end missed the point of the production.

[teatime2]

Posted: 11/11/18 at 2:48pm

The production closes today! Any insights on a possible transfer/cast recording?