Moulin Rouge (professional) reviews- Page 6

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 4:05am

Looks like the various tracks have been released on YouTube.

Here's Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo doing ''Come What May'' ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsWQy-5WXDc 

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 5:17am

For a show that charges so much for tickets, you’d think they’d find a way to make it not sound so cheap

[griffin24]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 7:08am

Has anyone sat in the partial view seats in the stalls? They are the cheapest at $99 exc fees! Ive had a listen to the recording and they have done some clever stuff with the songs 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 7:12am

Sat in the very last row of the mezz which are the $99 seats and you do miss stuff that's happening on the catwalk. Since there's nobody behind you, you can technically sit on top of the seat (although I'm sure it's not officially allowed). There were people doing it.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 7:13am

The OBCR sounds truly spectacular in my opinion.

[griffin24]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 7:22am

bwayphreak234 said: "The OBCR sounds truly spectacular in my opinion."

It really does! The stuff that they're doing with the medleys ares so so cool!  Elephant love medley is amazing

[griffin24]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 7:24am

DramaTeach said: "Sat in the very last row of the mezz which are the $99 seats and you do miss stuff that's happening on the catwalk. Since there's nobody behind you, you can technically sit on top of the seat (although I'm sure it's not officially allowed). There were people doing it."

I cant find those seats on Ticketmaster. Where did you gets those seats?

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 1:59pm

griffin24 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "The OBCR sounds truly spectacular in my opinion." 

It really does! The stuff that they're doing with the medleys ares so so cool! Elephant love medley is amazing"  

i really like it as well  I think it helps that I came relatively late to discover the bliss of musical theater so I mainly used pop/dance music to transcend a fairly miserable childhood. I actually listened to Casey Kasem’s Top 40 countdown every Sunday and even set my tape recorder to start recording the countdown in case we got home late from church. I kept notebooks where I wrote down each week’s songs and respective chart positions for that week and the week previous. For a brief period I actually thought I might become a radio dj.  

Also, even before I was sure what to make of the movie (I eventually decided over the years that it was pretty great) I loved the movie soundtrack with its often genius mash-ups and reimaginings. I loved Kidman’s and McGregor’s singing. The fact that they weren’t naturally known as singers only seemed to add to the resonance. It added a vulnerability and also caused them to act the songs rather than just hit the notes. Kidman was especially winning as someone who seemed vulnerable in palor and voice of someone who is close to death although in reality anyone that close to death would likely still not be that lovely. (I also love her rendition of Unusual Way from the Nine movie soundtrack).

Ironically, I think these pluses above may also prove to contribute to the things I find the weaker elements of the OBCR (and potentially the show when I see it on 9/2.  Songs most often transcend and do that bliss thing in our brains when they build. The movie often found a way to do this even when mashing up songs. The OBCR does this much better than I expected, but sometimes it does feel like “Name That Tune” which doesn’t make the bliss part of my brain explode. Maybe seeing it live will change those parts for me. OBCRs often don’t truly come alive for me until I see the show.

I also miss the vulnerability of Kidman/McGregor. At least on the OBCR, Olivo/Tveit hit the notes perfectly, but I don’t feel the high stakes present in the movie, but once again maybe 9/28 will change that. Olivo doesn’t come across as someone dying of consumption. 

The message board and critical reviews and this OBCR have helped me adjust my expectations going in. I’ll certainly expect a Spectacular Spectacular, but maybe not much emotional resonance. And I cry at a good chunk of theater I attend, but I may stay dry-eyed at this one. We’ll see.  

But I do enjoy large chunks of this OBCR. The production value is lovely. I think I may be best going in appreciating it as a lovely theatrically staged concert. Years of seeing Madonna (I’ll be seeing her for the 7th and 8th times on this trip) have made greatly appreciate concerts with a high level of theatricality, musical reinterpretation and thematic elements. On these notes, this might just the bill.

Also, Tveit’s and Olivo’s Come What May is simply lovely which gives me some hope for emotional resonance. 

Additionally, Lana Del Rey’s new album came out today as well. By my measure, it’s the best album of the year thus far, but repeated listens might put you in a deep, deep funk. This album is the perfect antidote to that. 

Updated On: 8/31/19 at 01:59 PM

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 9/5/19 at 12:10pm

Sounds like Karen Olivo is out of both shows today. Very curious to hear reports. 

[schubox]

Posted: 9/5/19 at 11:18pm

CT2NYC said: "Sounds like Karen Olivo is out of both shows today. Very curious to hear reports."

She was. I didn’t see the name of who replaced her but her and Tveit had 0 chemistry. It was painful at times. She sounded great though 

[gleek4114]

Posted: 9/5/19 at 11:26pm

I was there today for the matinee. Ashley Loren went on as Satine for the very first time. On the contrary, I thought she and Aaron had wonderful chemistry. I never saw Olivo in the role so I can’t compare, but from what others around me were saying, apparently Ashley played it sweeter and with less grit. I thought Ashley was in fabulous voice and she didn’t miss a beat, crazy to think it was her debut in the role, and she hasn’t even had a put in! She was on for the evening show as well.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 9/5/19 at 11:49pm

To be honest, Tveit hasn’t had chemistry with a costar ever so...

[schubox]

Posted: 9/6/19 at 12:08am

SouthernCakes said: "To be honest, Tveit hasn’t had chemistry with a costar ever so..."

Yeah it may be him. I asked my gf and she had a similar opinion. There just wasn’t anything convincing about their relationship. The whole book kind of suffers from a lot of telling and not showing. It seems more concerned with the spectacle of it all, which is pretty great admittedly 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 9/6/19 at 2:58am

To say Aaron Tveit categorically can't act is ridiculous, considering his over 15-year career as a professional performer of Broadway, TV and feature film. As for ''Moulin Rouge!,'' Ben Brantley of the New York Times raves that Christian is a role that Tveit was ''born to play'' and that his ''passionate and uncompromising performance'' is his ''best Broadway work to date.'' David Rooney of the Hollywood Reporter adds: ''Tveit has never been better or in more glorious voice.'' And Kelsie Gibson of PopSugar Entertainment says she ''can't get his rendition of 'Come What May' out of [her] head,'' citing Tveit's ''gorgeous voice and talented acting chops.''

Among his other Broadway shows, ''Next to Normal'' earned him the Clarence Derwent Award from Actors' Equity and the Helen Hayes Award in D.C. ''Catch Me If You Can'' garnered him nominations from the Outer Critics, the Drama League and the Astaire Awards. On the big screen, Tveit starred as Enjolras in ''Les Miserables,'' and on the small screen, as Danny Zuko in ''Grease: Live!'' It's idiotic to think that Michael Greif, Jack O'Brien, Tom Hooper, Thomas Kail, etc., would entrust their musicals and movies to a guy who can't act.

Tveit also has starred in ''Graceland'' and ''Brain Dead,'' TV dramas that didn't require any singing, and has guested on many others: ''Gossip Girl,'' ''The Good Wife,'' ''The Code.''

Bottom line: Tveit is thriving in a big Broadway hit, praised by Alex Timbers, Baz Luhrmann and Nicole Kidman, and they all know ''Moulin Rouge!'' better than any of us ever will.

Updated On: 9/6/19 at 02:58 AM

[Pose2]

Posted: 9/6/19 at 4:26am

Wayman_Wong said: "To say Aaron Tveit categorically can't act is ridiculous, considering his over 15-year career as a professional performer of Broadway, TV and feature film. As for ''Moulin Rouge!,'' Ben Brantley of the New York Times raves that Christian is a role that Tveit was ''born to play'' and that his ''passionate and uncompromising performance'' is his ''best Broadway work to date.'' David Rooney of the Hollywood Reporter adds: ''Tveit has never been better or in more glorious voice.'' And Kelsie Gibson of PopSugar Entertainment says she ''can't get his rendition of 'Come What May' out of [her] head,'' citing Tveit's ''gorgeous voice and talented acting chops.''

All this, all day. Clearly, that poster has a personal issue with Aaron, which is sad. He is incredible, friendly, and is in the show of the year, so his opinion does not matter one bit. 

[schubox]

Posted: 9/6/19 at 7:27am

To clarify, I thought Tveit was great last night. His singing and acting were both fantastic. There was just 0 chemistry with Olivo’s understudy. To me it seemed to be on her end. She just wasn’t believable. And like I said, the writing is pretty clunky in parts, and that doesn’t help

[LittleCheno]

Posted: 9/6/19 at 4:42pm

Just a random question in follow up to KO being out---is anyone of the cast above title on this one?

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 9/6/19 at 6:16pm

LittleCheno said: "Just a random question in follow up to KO being out---is anyone of the cast above title on this one?"

 

None of the cast have above the title credits - I checked my Playbill (cover and interior listings), window card, my pics of the Al Hirschfield Theatre exterior, even the souvenir program and cast insert. Karen Olivo is listed before Aaron Tveit, and Danny Bernstein last on the Playbill show main page, and the cast listing page is alphabetical. 

 





 

 

Updated On: 9/6/19 at 06:16 PM

[Nycat63]

Posted: 9/7/19 at 10:24am

SouthernCakes said: "To be honest, Tveit hasn’t had chemistry with a costar ever so..."

I hate to say it, but this is true. I have not seen Moulin Rouge yet (will in November) but I've seen just about everything else Aaron Tveit has been in on stage and screen. I'm a huge fan of his voice, which is sublime and I think only getting better with age, and he's certainly wonderful to look at. That said, what he's lacking that affects his chemistry as a romantic leading man is what used to be called "sex appeal."  You can be insanely good looking and lack that sort of magnetism - or more importantly for an actor, the ability to portray romantic and sexual chemistry - and I think that's what I've always been missing from him (compare, for instance, to Tam Mutu, who just oozes sexy). The fact that he's not the strongest actor in the world - let's be honest - he's kind of just straight across the plate and seems not to get beyond that - doesn't help. But I never bought him as Danny Zuko, or especially Roger in Rent, or in his romantic/sex scenes in CMIYC or Graceland or Braindead. I really wanted to, I just didn't. I think N2N has still been his most believable performance because it played to his strengths rather than weaknesses. 

No disrespect to him or those who disagree on here, this is just my two cents, and I consider myself a fan nonetheless. I'm coming to NY mainly to see him in Moulin Rouge, so I'm on your side but just calling it like I see it. His voice remains one of the best on Broadway so not taking anything away from that. Maybe Moulin Rouge may change my mind about his acting if he was truly "born to play this role."  Even if it doesn't, I know I will enjoy his performance from a vocal standpoint and the show as a whole.

 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 9/7/19 at 12:46pm

I finally saw it last night.

I agree with everyone about the chemistry, but I think it does feel more organic in Act 2. I think Act 2 as a whole is much, much better than Act 1.

Also, I started to get really annoyed with the audience laughing every time they recognized a song. Kinda kills the moment.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 9/7/19 at 2:39pm

YvanEhtNioj said: "Also, I started to get really annoyed with the audience laughing every time they recognized a song. Kinda kills the moment. "

 

This happened a LOT when I saw the show, and especially for songs I didn’t know it not only took me out of the moment but made me feel like I was missing out on an inside joke or something. 

 

Updated On: 9/7/19 at 02:39 PM

[schubox]

Posted: 9/7/19 at 4:22pm

YvanEhtNioj said: "I finally saw it last night.

I agree with everyone about the chemistry, but I think it does feel more organic in Act 2. I think Act 2 as a whole is much, much better than Act 1.

Also, I started to get really annoyed with the audience laughing every time they recognized a song. Kinda kills the moment. "

Exactly my thoughts. I thought Act 2 was stronger too. And the audience laughing really took me out of some of the moments. The songs aren’t played for laughs, so I’m not entirely sure why people find it so funny 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 9/7/19 at 4:34pm

This show had one of the worst audiences I’ve encountered. One lady sneezed a very girlie sneeze the audience giggled a bit. She did it two more times and the audience laughed. The actors kept going, but it definitely took me out of the moment. Then we kept hearing a ding like someone was getting a text. Sounded like it was coming from next to me, but the lady didn’t react. Finally the person next to her checked her own phone and said, “It’s not mine” so the lady checked hers and realized that that’s where it was coming from. But instead of just shutting the volume, she RESPONDED to the next and then FORGOT to shut the volume, so it dinged again. She used it during intermission and forgot to shut it AGAIN during the second act until it dinged and I gave her a death stare. There were a couple other rude moments, but those were the worst.

I thought the show itself was a spectacle and more about that than anything else. The leads were good individually but not great together. Costumes, sets, and the entire ensemble were fire. If, once one of the leads leaves, they can find a replacement with more chemistry with the one who remains, the show will be stellar.

[djoko84]

Posted: 9/7/19 at 5:20pm

Of course the audience is terrible at this show, it's made up of tourists who only go for the pop songs. They don't go to the show to see something innovative and revolutionary. They just want to be entertained and have a good time, not to be transformed by a piece of theatre (which this show obviously doesn't do).

[IHeartNY2]

Posted: 9/7/19 at 5:28pm

djoko84 said: "Of course the audience is terrible at this show, it's made up of tourists who only go for the pop songs. They don't go to the show to see something innovative and revolutionary. They just want to be entertained and have a good time, not to be transformed by a piece of theatre (which this show obviously doesn't do)."

I'm a native New Yorker and love this show. Am I less of an intellect that you?