Moulin Rouge at Emerson Colonial Theatre Reviews- Page 2

[barcelona20]

Posted: 8/6/18 at 11:44am

ladypresent said: "barcelona20 said: "I think standingovation went a bit over the top, but I generally agree with most of his analysis. Brantley must have been in a Isherwood Rock of Ages mood."

right? i mean 6 years later and it being one of the longest running broadway shows in history shows that isherwood had no idea what he was talking about...right?
snob"

Ooh, name calling! I love it.  Sure, I won't hide the fact that I prefer shows by Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, and Adam Guettel.  And if it makes you feel better, I think Moulin Rouge has the potential to run just as long as Rock of Ages, which I've said previously.  Rock of Ages was fine for what it was.  However, in the case of artistic merit, I agree with the BWW reviewer and standingovation more than Brantley.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 8/6/18 at 1:49pm

Bob Verini of Variety gives ''Moulin Rouge!'' a rave review:

''Yes, they can-can — they can transform Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 absinthe-tinged fantasia “Moulin Rouge!” into a socko stage spectacular. The story’s been strengthened in this splashy production, while expectations of cinema-inspired visual splendor are met and even exceeded. … With 70-odd pop smashes — from Piaf to Perry, from “Lady Marmalade” to Lady Gaga — baked into its dialogue and DNA, “Moulin Rouge!” has a battery that never runs down. Future prospects on Broadway and beyond, following this brief premiere engagement resuscitating Boston’s venerable Emerson Colonial Theater, seem as rosy-red as the luscious crimson wash poured over the whole business.

https://variety.com/2018/music/reviews/moulin-rouge-review-broadway-musical-1202895995/

Updated On: 8/6/18 at 01:49 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/6/18 at 4:29pm

standingovation79 said: "REN598...nothing gives. I'm a HUGE fan of this movie. I, like i'm sure lots of musical fans, have thought this was a no brainer bway adaption for years. But there is such a thing a bad show, and this is it. This is, in my opinion about as bad of an adaptation as they could have created. Sorry, not sorry. And i've read Brantley's reviews and seen his interviews for years, this does not seem like his taste at all to me. Who knows, maybe he really did just like it. I have to say, and I've thought this for a while now, taste is dead. Most people don't even know what a good show looks like anymore. this show has no book, is not focusing on good storytelling, is sloppily directed with no focus on tone, is unimaginatively desgined in a way that is theatrical, and has an abysmal leading male performance....if you like it, ok great...but this is not what i was hoping for with this show at all, and lots of people commenting are saying the same thing."

It's one thing to voice your opinion. You are most certainly entitled to one. It's another thing to force it down other people's throats. 

Let others see the show and judge for themselves. It's not your job to change people's minds or deter them from seeing a show they may want to see.

[sdrick]

Posted: 8/6/18 at 5:52pm

standingovation79 said: "the only thing that rings TRUEabout Brantley's review is the BADLY WRITTEN book by John Logan (I can't believe the check cleared after the producers saw what his book read like).

It smells to me like he's trying to reel it in after his misstep with the review for Head Over Heels.

That's BALDLY written, not badly . . . baldly.  Here's the definition:  " without any extra detail or explanation; plainly; bluntly."

[sdrick]

Posted: 8/6/18 at 5:55pm

Baldly: without any extra detail or explanation; plainly; bluntly.

 

[millie12]

Posted: 8/7/18 at 11:31am

I am floored by the reception. But these are all very much not substantive reviews. All of which call the show entertaining. None of which say anything about the writing or its' merits as a substantive offering in the musical theatre canon. It seems, like many others, the critics are blinded by the sets, lighting and belting.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 8/7/18 at 12:20pm

Not all "official" reviews are as brightly and bubbly as NYTimes and Variety.

"Speaking of the audience, I would be remiss if I did not report that on the Saturday night I attended “Moulin Rouge!,” the full house responded with an enthusiasm that seemed to me as overproduced as the show. Prolonged applause froze several production numbers for so long that the dancers’ muscles started to quiver. But for my part, I would have preferred to leave the theater with tears in my eyes rather than with a shower of confetti hearts in my hair." 

https://www.wbur.org/artery/2018/08/06/moulin-rouge-colonial-theatre-boston-broadway

"Viewers who flock to spectacles like Cirque du Soleil or who grew up crowding concert tour stops plus fans of “Mamma Mia!” and the like will spread a good word about “Moulin Rouge!” Some others of us, not so much."

https://www.patriotledger.com/entertainmentlife/20180806/theater-review-moulin-rouge-musical-is-whirling-fantasy-from-beginning-to-end

"It would also be helpful if there were stronger chemistry between Olivo and Tveit. If she were a bit more enamored and vulnerable and he a bit more brooding and sincere, together they might be able to ignite a strong enough spark to make their love story truly epic and eternal. Currently, their love can't compete with the sensory overload. And when their story does finally resolve on what turns out to be a heartfelt ending, the moment is obliterated by that needless mega-mix finale."

https://www.broadwayworld.com/boston/article/BWW-REVIEW-MOULIN-ROUGE-Spins-Wildly-At-Bostons-Restored-Emerson-Colonial-20180805

"With things moving as quickly as they do, the thing that is sacrificed is the depth of the relationships, especially between Satine and Christian. We know that they are passionate about each other, but don't feel it as much as we feel the danger between Satine and the Duke, or the protectiveness that Zidler feels for Satine. As good as Olivo and Tveit are in their individual roles, there is a lack of sexual spark between them."

https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/regional/boston/boston395.html

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 8/7/18 at 1:13pm

Let's get real: In the bigger showbiz picture, the N.Y. Times and Variety ARE the ''substantive'' reviews. How many folks were breathlessly awaiting to hear from WBUR, a public-radio station in Boston,  or the Patriot Ledger, a local paper in Quincy, Mass., whose daily circulation is 38,000? If you hate ''Moulin Rouge,'' I imagine the Times and Variety raves are galling and infuriating since you don't agree. If they had panned ''Moulin Rouge,'' its detractors would feel vindicated and be crowing, ''See? I told you it was terrible!'' But I'll bet the producers will take the Times and Variety raves over anything WBUR or the Patriot Ledger have to say.

But at the end of the day, the audiences will have their say. And even in the mixed reviews, the critics acknowledge that ''Moulin Rouge!'' is a crowd-pleaser (much to the chagrin of its haters).

Updated On: 8/7/18 at 01:13 PM

[barcelona20]

Posted: 8/7/18 at 1:19pm

Wayman_Wong said: "Let's get real: In the bigger showbiz picture, the N.Y. Times and Variety ARE the ''substantive'' reviews. How many folks were breathlessly awaiting to hear from WBUR, a public-radio station in Boston, or the Patriot Ledger, a local paper in Quincy, Mass., whose daily circulation is 38,000? If you hate ''Moulin Rouge,'' I imagine the Times and Variety raves are galling and infuriating since you don't agree, but I'll bet the producers will take them any day over anything WBUR or the Patriot Ledger have to say."

When did I ever say that the NY Times and Variety aren't more "valuable" from a marketing perspective?  Of course they are.  I just wanted to respond to Millie's comment to demonstrate that there are many reviewers who weren't "blinded" by the sets.  Why is it so hard for you to acknowledge that not everyone loved the show?

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 8/7/18 at 1:24pm

There's no show that ''everyone loves.'' But why is it that hard to believe that there are people (and critics) who happen to LOVE the show, as much as those who HATE it? Both things can exist.

Updated On: 8/7/18 at 01:24 PM

[barcelona20]

Posted: 8/7/18 at 1:33pm

It's not hard to believe at all, but is there anything wrong with presenting both sides?

Updated On: 8/7/18 at 01:33 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 4:42pm

 

Review: Spectacular! Spectacular like fireworks. This show is going to be on Broadway for a very long time.

http://gregorykatsoulis.com/2018/07/a-review-of-bostons-moulin-rouge-the-musical/

 

[BroadwayBrat]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 8:07pm

I finally saw the show last week and I have some thoughts: (Spoilers)

The show opens with an incredible Lady Marmalade, then switches gears to Christian telling the story.  I think they should switch it.   Let him come out first, then blow up the stage with the opening number.   Just a thought...

I was sad that they decided to cut "One Day I'll Fly Away" - I personally loved the song and thought it expressed Satine's feelings perfectly.

I think they are overdoing the whole "Let's cram a bunch of pop songs into a medley".   When done well, it works.  However, IMHO it happened too many times.   

Act 2 is too long

I didn't like the opening of act 2.  It's BIG and BRIGHT (and the cast kills it), but I thought it could have been shorter.    I am in the minority on this, the audience went nuts when it was done.

The curtain call is WAY too long.   I know they are trying to send the audience out of the theater singing, but the "mega-mix" at the end went on too long for me.

With that said, I think the show will do well on Broadway.   I thought the cast was excellent.  The concerns about the leads (age difference, lack of chemistry) was not noticeable to me.  The set design was cool.   The seats in the pit area are not good.  Too much action happens behind them.   The people in those seats seemed annoyed they had to keep turning around.

Updated On: 8/8/18 at 08:07 PM

[EllieRose2]

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

Any talk of a cast recording?  A lot of shows have done recordings before they hit Broadway. 

[msmp]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 8:48pm

EllieRose2 said: "Any talk of a cast recording? A lot of shows have done recordings before they hit Broadway."

I haven't seen anything, but I've asked on social media a couple times; no responses, but that's not all that unusual.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 1:11pm

New Review:

https://www.zealnyc.com/moulin-rouge-gets-a-lavish-pre-broadway-tryout-in-boston/

[barcelona20]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 1:21pm

Miles2Go2 said: "New Review:

https://www.zealnyc.com/moulin-rouge-gets-a-lavish-pre-broadway-tryout-in-boston/"

"Moulin Rouge as a whole is genuinely moving — more so even than the film"  

Insanity.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 1:45pm

Or, you know, different opinions.

 

I didn't like the movie, and while I didn't love the stage show - I did like it.  Enough that because my seats were so awful, we're going to see it again.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 1:50pm

You can like Moulin Rouge the stage version for being an incredible spectacle, a fun entertaining evening singing along to your favorite songs by talented performers, but saying that it is more moving than the film is complete insanity.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 12:07am

I finally saw it tonight after my performance from last month was cancelled. I've never seen the movie, so I have no opinions based on that.

I did like it, but I think act 1 was worse than act 2. It had too many song medleys that made no sense and ended up being slightly cringworthy. I think some either need to be removed or edited. Act 2 was definitely too long. And I also was not into the happy cheery curtain call after the ending. It kind of made it not that important. I just wish I could see it again with a different audience that is not distracting. I wonder if that partially ruined my enjoyment. I do hope it comes to Broadway, but after tweaking it a bit.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 1:25pm

The show closes in Boston today and there's still no word of an official Broadway transfer yet. This show was the theatre highlight of my summer (if not, my year). Really hoping we get news soon.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 1:40pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "The show closes in Boston today and there's still no word of an official Broadway transfer yet. This show was the theatre highlight of my summer (if not, my year). Really hoping we get newssoon."

You haven't seen much this year then have you?  Of course it's transferring, don't be silly.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 1:50pm

Lots of shows haven't announced yet for the spring- or at least the POTENTIAL is there .   If the rumors ARE true, they aren't even opening this season. and not until next summer.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 6:38pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "The show closes in Boston today and there's still no word of an official Broadway transfer yet. This show was the theatre highlight of my summer (if not, my year). Really hoping we get newssoon."

 

 

My agent friend said that discussions are happening for Broadway.

Updated On: 8/19/18 at 06:38 PM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 8:07pm

Interestingly, the show’s Instagram page just deleted all of its Boston posts and replaced it with a large multi-post graphic of an exclamation point with the windmill at the bottom—and it says BROADWAY underneath.

I am lit. Please come this season!!