Amélie

[Brooks0214]

I think it’s unfortunate that Amélie closed so soon. Has anyone seen the show and what were your thoughts on it? Has anyone listened to the cast album? Thoughts on that? Curious to see what people think of the show since it’s not talked about very much!

[dramamama611]

Nobody talks about it because it closed a year ago.

If you do a search, you'll find dozens of threads about the show.

[mar6411]

Preview thread.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1099614#4900576

Review thread.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1100238#4910715

Enjoy.

[Impossible2]

I was always a little disappointed that I missed this despite the reviews.

I loved the film and based on some of the absolute dribble that gets great reviews makes me me wonder if I would've still enjoyed it.

[TotallyEffed]

Impossible2 said: "I was always a little disappointed that I missed this despite the reviews.

I loved the film and based on some of the absolute dribble that gets great reviews makes me me wonder if I would've still enjoyed it."

 

I think you mean drivel. :)

[Impossible2]

TotallyEffed said: "Impossible2 said: "I was always a little disappointed that I missed this despite the reviews.

I loved the film and based on some of the absolute dribble that gets great reviews makes me me wonder if I would've still enjoyed it."



I think you mean drivel. :)"

Nope I meant dribble :p

[UncleCharlie]

He's obviously talking about Magic/Bird cause there was some dribbling in that, though I didn't think it got great reviews.

[haterobics]

I got a papered Magic/Bird seat for $5 and think I overpaid. Definitely some dribbling in that one.

[Trina55]

I saw it, and was into the cast album for a little while. I found it sort of strange but charming. Having never seen the movie, I just assumed all the odd elements came straight from there. I will say that Phillipa was an absolute joy to watch from beginning to end, and I thought a couple of the songs - particularly Adam C-B’s big numbers - were pretty great.

[(Insert Clever Name)]

I also saw it. It was a cute little show with decent music, and honestly I liked it better that the great comet.

[JBroadway]

I’m convinced that they ruined the show by over-fixing it. I saw the vey first preview at Berkeley Rep, and while It wasn’t perfect, I thought it was extremely charming and actually pretty well-written, when you look at the lyrics, and the use of various musical motifs and themes. I didn’t get to see it on Broadway, but I have listened to the cast album and seen parts of a bootleg. And I truly believe that they ruined the show between Berkeley and Broadway. The music was blander, the lyrics were more trite and awkward, and they seemed to be trying to hard which made them lose the unassuming charm they had originally.
I know some will disagree with me, and say it was bad from day 1, but this is what’s I firmly believe.

[BroadwayConcierge]

This show remains among my list of worst things I've ever seen on Broadway. A complete and total misfire in every sense, which was so disappointing since I'm a big fan of Phillipa Soo.

[Alex Kulak2]

I've listened to both the Berkeley and the Broadway versions of the score, and the Berkeley is much better. The opening number in the Berkeley version is gorgeous, and the Broadway cast album is just so bland. Hopefully Messe and Tysen backtrack on the rewrites and we get a decent West End/Off-Broadway production in the future.

[CATSNYrevival]

The marketing and artwork for Broadway didn’t help either. It’s hard to imagine what they were thinking. A decapatated floating head doesn’t sell tickets.

[Alex Kulak2]

To be fair, the original movie poster, featuring Audrey Tautou giving this possessed china doll look, isn't too appealing either.

[CATSNYrevival]

At least her head is attached to her body.

[TotallyEffed]

Alex Kulak2 said: "

To be fair, the original movie poster, featuring Audrey Tautou giving this possessed china doll look, isn't too appealing either."

 

The film poster is extremely iconic.

[GeorgeandDot]

I adore the film and I thought the musical was one of the worst things that I've ever seen. The story just doesn't work as a musical. Certainly not one with such bland music.

[Shh_413]

The poster is iconic because Amelie stands out (because it's red on green). Her face gives off a mischievous look to the audience. The stars in the background give off a whimsical vibe. Both of which symbolize her personality in the film, a woman who is basically an adult version of Luna Lovegood who breaks the fourth wall. Bruno Delbonnel (the cinematographer) does an excellent job of increasing her isolation with making her stand out from the beige/yellow surroundings. You don't need any background research to understand it.

Pippa just looks like a floating head with no fingertips. The uninitiated won't understand the point of the raspberries (which, if you can notice them against the also-red background, look like her hand is diseased; Laura Benanti said it best). Which is unfortunate, because the lighting in the show makes her stand out loads of times.

[BernadettePeters]

Stupid decision by Phillipa  Soo to do this weck of a show instead of Comet. Which would of got her a tony nom her 2nd

 

 

[bwaylistener]

I loved it. I thought it was quirky, colorful, heartwarming, and fun. I enjoyed the music and listen to it often. Phillipa's voice was outstanding, and I thought she was adorable in the role. But then again, I love several shows that a lot people here seem to hate, and I was bored to tears by a show that gets nothing but praise here, so maybe my tastes just aren't refined enough, haha. Anyway, I saw the closing show and I'm so glad I didn't miss out! I would definitely see it again, too.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

I just didn't think it needed musical treatment. The film itself already has an iconic, memorable score and it's incredibly cinematic that it would be hard to musicalize for the stage. From what I saw of the Broadway show from The Today Show, the score seemed incredibly bland (with that generic post-2000 Broadway sound that's so boring and unmemorable and unmelodic), it was missing the Frenchness, and Phillipa Soo was missing the edge and mischievousness that Audrey Tatou brought to make Amelie an interesting and sort of complex character. I mean that number where she helps a blind man cross the street seemed like a Simpsons parody of a musical with no character in their singing and the blind man at the end sounding like a cartoon going "who are you?" Like really?

I just Googled the poster to remind myself of what it looked like, and gosh, whose idea was that? Whose idea was it to put raspberries on her finger tips against a similarly colored red background next to the floating head of Phillipa Soo? The Bway poster made her look like an annoying, generic oh-so-twee magical pixie dream girl when the character isn't actually like that despite the waif-like appearance of Audrey Tatou.

[greenifyme2]

bwaylistener said: "I loved it. I thought it was quirky, colorful, heartwarming, and fun. I enjoyed the music and listen to it often. Phillipa's voice was outstanding, and I thought she was adorable in the role. But then again, I love several shows that a lot people here seem to hate, and I was bored to tears by a show that gets nothing but praise here, so maybe my tastes just aren't refined enough, haha. Anyway, I saw the closing show and I'm so glad I didn't miss out! I would definitely see it again, too."

I also loved it. Won a lottery seat for front row center, and turns out the Walter Kerr has the best front row of any theater I've been in so far. Agreed that the show was super quirky and so stinkin' cute. I watched with my hands clasped below my chin, tears in my eyes, and I was so sad when it ended (90 minute shows are far too short!).

[VernonGersch]

Amelie wasn't good, at all.

90 min shows are phenomenal  

[Elegance101]

I left thinking it was cute, but not right for the season. With such heavy-hitting new musicals, I knew it wouldn't stand a chance. I also like Phillipa Soo, but she seemed miscast, like she was mimicking the idea of a "manic pixie dream girl." She was acting. I, too, wish she had continued with Great Comet, especially because I personally found Denee Benton to be so bland, her performance actually made me appreciate Phillipa Soo more.

But the music was fine, the staging was cute, and the performances were enjoyable enough. If they had maybe done another tryout and brought it in this season, it might have fared better. But, then again, who knows?