CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Previews- Page 8
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Previews
JasonC3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
#175CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Previews
Posted: 10/27/21 at 5:58am
I like spectacle and brassy shows, but on some levels, that is easier to pull off than what Caroline accomplishes.
Caroline, or Change, for me, reflects a craft and attention to detail that audiences may not fully realize at first glance. As in Fun Home and Sunday in the Park with George, to name two others, the specificity of the lyrics and the music in Caroline add a depth of meaning that can be revelatory in a well-designed production.
NormaDesmond3
Swing Joined: 3/1/18
#176CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Previews
Posted: 10/27/21 at 12:33pm
Saw the show last night as well and largely agree with everything you said, Jordan.
After hearing the somewhat mediocre word of mouth, I went in with low expectations, but came out really enjoying the show.
Small critiques:
- The costumes for the washer, dryer, and radio gave me major Starlight Express vibes...and not in a good way. The Dryer looked like he was gearing up for a rave.
- All the performances were tremendous. However, I do think John Cariani had a bit of an off night.
- The staging for the moon was a bit annoying, as I had nosebleed TDF orchestra seats, and I frequently struggled to see her when she was in the top right/left corners of the stage. Her costume reminded me of a Ziegfeld Follies beauty 😍.
#177CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Previews
Posted: 11/7/21 at 2:24pm
At Jenna Russell’s concert London she just announced that the MD of her show Nigel Lilley (who is working in NYC on Caroline, or Change but appears to be temporarily in London) is returning back to New York next week to record the Caroline, or Change cast album!
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Alexander Lamar
Broadway Star Joined: 2/16/16
#178CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Previews
Posted: 11/7/21 at 2:39pm
binau said: "At Jenna Russell’s concert London she just announced that the MD of her show Nigel Lilley (who is working in NYC on Caroline, or Change but appears to be temporarily in London) is returning back to New York next week to record the Caroline, or Change cast album!"
Fabulous news!!
#180CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Previews
Posted: 11/7/21 at 3:29pm
I saw the show on Wednesday afternoon last week with a friend and didn't have too much frame of reference beyond just the general idea of the plot and it was really well done. My friend knew the show prior and was completely bowled over by the end. The show isn't my normal cup of tea, but the performances were incredible and the message of the show sadly remains very relevant.
I was in the rear mezzanine and there were definitely a fair number of seats and a few rows with open seats, but it was a small but mighty audience.
Sharon's performance was incredible and you could feel the huge emotional release of Lot's Wife as Caroline bottles up so much through out the entire show to that moment. The moment between Caroline and Noah that sets off the last half of Act 2 was so intense and you could hear a pin drop in the room as things began to spiral between them.
I thought Caissie was wonderful and as always she sounded great and such a drastic change from playing Elsa in Frozen. You could tell that Rose was trying to be kind and helpful in her actions, but also struggling in her own ways to fit into her new husband and stepson's world.
I had loved Samantha Williams in Dear Evan Hansen and her Alana is one of my favorites, but this was just an absolutely star making moment for her. She has such a fantastic voice and she pours so much passion and life into her performance. She's absolutely one to watch in the future, because she's going to be a star!
I loved The Radio so much and I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about how fabulous they were. The Moon was also a standout and being in the rear mezzanine I got the full impact of her appearances. The Washer's costume was cute (it reminded me a bit of a Lady Gaga outfit) and she did a great job overall as well. The Drier was fine, but it was hard to understand him at times which is partly I think a sound issue at Studio 54 in general. The Bus has such a great entrance and moment, but he also suffered from being hard to hear at time as well. A lot of the opening parts of the show were hard to hear when the appliances were singing together.
Someone in another thread mentioned how ugly the set design is and it was pretty ugly, but I feel like that's kind of part of the whole thing.
I'm planning to go back toward the end of the run with a HipTix and while the show doesn't fit the mold of my normal cup of tea, it's such a well done production that I'm excited to witness the performances again.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 11/7/21 at 03:29 PM
Zion24
Broadway Star Joined: 3/27/19
#181CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Previews
Posted: 11/14/21 at 8:27pm
revisited this today. its still in top shape, though some voices werent as over the top amazing this time around. I have to say that Caissie Levy and Samantha Williams have especially only gotten better, both giving searing beautiful performances and sounding phenomenal doing it. I still think Nkenge is directed to sing in an operatic tone that makes no sense for this show.
Sharon Clarke wasnt nearly as powerfully vocally as she was the last time I saw her, but shes really gotten this role down to perfect. More than last time, it felt like the show dragged a bit when she was off stage. the first time I saw it I couldnt understand why some of you thought Act 1 was bad but today I totally got that- Act 2 was on fire but Act 1 took a while.
i brought two family friends visiting from LA, both old school theater buffs and both in the film industry. I warned them that they might be disappointed by the non-hummable score, but i was surprised how much they enjoyed the singing. they said something interesting during intermission: its impossible to get Kushner to edit himself, and that shows. I hadnt thought of it that way because I think its a powerful piece, but that comment has stuck with me all day.
#182CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Previews
Posted: 11/14/21 at 8:40pm
"its impossible to get Kushner to edit himself"
He's CONSTANTLY editing himself. With almost every production he adds and edits. There are suggested edits in published versions of his plays. There are several published versions of many of his plays. The sprawling nature of Kushner's work is an intentional part of his aesthetic. It's not because he doesn't edit himself.
Jesus saves. I spend.
Zion24
Broadway Star Joined: 3/27/19
#183CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Previews
Posted: 11/14/21 at 9:19pm
KJisgroovy said: ""its impossible to get Kushner to edit himself"
He's CONSTANTLY editing himself. With almost every production he adds and edits. There are suggested edits in published versions of his plays. There are several published versions of many of his plays. The sprawling nature of Kushner's work is an intentional part of his aesthetic. It's not because he doesn't edit himself."
i think they meant that he is known for not taking notes well to slim stuff down. that he self-edits and moves things around doesnt really speak to that. they're speaking from experiences with him in film, but regardless, there are more than a couple detours that i think the play wouldn't miss. i say this as a huge fan of Kushner's work and a fan of this production.
