Shaina Taub's SUFFS at the Public to feature Phillipa Soo, Nikki M. James, Jenn Colella, Grace McLean, Taub, and more- Page 11

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 10:11am

Someone on Twitter said the show will get a cast recording per Shaina. Not that it was in doubt, really, but just a matter of when. 

https://twitter.com/jenatesse/status/1517697808299663361

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/28/22 at 10:49am

Finally saw this last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes it’s way too long and a lot of the other issues mentioned already, but I thought there was much more to like than there was to dislike. I love a sung through score and thought this one did it very well (it’s hell when it’s not good).
 

Taub, Soo, Colella and the rest of the cast (no understudies last night) were all fantastic but I walked away completely in love with Grace McLean. Her voice is one of my new favorite things in the world. 
 

Also they moved a lot of people down last night before the show started. Not sure if there was a reason for that many empty seats but aways nice to get a better seat than you had going in. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/28/22 at 11:38am

I’m surprised they’re recording this production and not waiting to record a Broadway cast album. Unless Broadway is no longer expected?

[Soozie]

Posted: 4/28/22 at 12:34pm

Will there be a cast recording in the future? Yes, most likely. 

Will there be one at this juncture after The Public Theater run? Likely not. 

Updated On: 4/28/22 at 12:34 PM

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 4/28/22 at 12:57pm

There is a lot of great, strong foundational material here, but I think it needs plenty of sharpening and revision before it moves to Broadway. It feels very “world premiere” and “rough draft” in its current incarnation, which I totally get, but if the path is being paved to Broadway, I hope they wait a few years to go it.

The cast is truly fabulous, with Colella, Soo, and McLean as the standouts. All three would be Tony contenders with their current performances if this was on Broadway.

To be honest, I wasn’t as impressed by the music as others seem to be. It is at its best when the songs are conveying a character’s emotions or hopes, fears, anxieties (for example, Jenn Colella’s “This Girl” was a highlight for me). But the overwhelming majority of the show is singing through exposition and, for me, not in a particularly engrossing way. I kept thinking about the song “Stay Alive” in Hamilton, which is one of the most history- and exposition-dense songs in the show, which serves a purpose in order to move us from Burr’s intense character development moment in “Wait For It” into the major plot point of “Ten Duel Commandments.” Suffs, to me, felt like 90% of the show was “Stay Alive.” Just a lot of shoving facts and moments into song after song, with not enough character development, musical brilliance, or emotional journey-taking that makes good theatre so compelling.

As many have said, it is far too long (my performance went nearly over three hours). I also personally despised 

 

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the ending, where they bring out the women of future generations to get the torch passed on from Alice Paul. It was the only time in the show where I felt like an agenda was being shoved forward. If you trust the material and the message, then you can end the show within the contained narrative and trust the audience to recognize and understand that the message transcends generations.

Right now, on the whole, this gets a B/B- from me, but I saw so many glimmers of A+ work being done. I hope Taub gets the time and space after the Public run is done to make the edits and revisions necessary to turn this into a truly brilliant work of theatre.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 1:07pm

Show is cancelled tonight and no mention was made of possibly switching tickets to another date. Guess they’re all sold out and not extending. Sad.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 1:09pm

They've been releasing seats on a daily basis, so I'd recommend checking regularly if you still want to go.

[smokeline2]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 1:40pm

I saw this last night. Phillipa Soo and Ally Bonino were out, so there were two swings on to fill their understudies' ensemble roles, plus a third ensemble member who was also out. All the understudies were great. Looks like I'm lucky the performance was able to go on. 

I found this show very emotional, seeing it so soon after the Dobbs draft leak. Lyrics like "How long must women wait for liberty?" hit hard. It's clear that this story is as relevant as ever. That's why I strongly disagree with the prior poster's opinion about the ending.

 

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I think this show would be a failure if it only focused on the historical narrative. What is the point of telling this story now, 100 years later? In this climate, it's clear that there is more work to be done for women's freedom, and especially for non-white women. As a relatively younger woman, I found it deeply moving to see the energy carry on through the generations, and left inspired to do more. In my opinion, that kind of commentary about the story is what makes it art.

That said, it's not a perfect show. There are moments that drag, and I didn't love the set. Plus there was a song towards the end of Act 1 that was staged and sung as if it were the Act 1 finale - to the point that several people got up and left their seats when it ended - but it kept going for one more scene/song. I can see why they wanted to end the act the way they did because of how the idea loops back, but it was awkwardly done. 

I'm not sure this is ready to go straight to Broadway. As others have said, it still feels a bit like a draft. A late draft, but a draft nonetheless. I do hope that this show has more of a life after it closes, and they get the chance to make a few more edits and eventually transfer.

For those impacted by the canceled shows, definitely give it a shot on another date even if you can't get an official ticket. There were quite a few empty seats, and they moved almost the entire last two rows down right before the show started. I'll bet that they'd be able to sell a ticket to someone waiting for a last minute opening.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 2:16pm

Tomorrow's performances are also cancelled.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 2:16pm

Tomorrow's performances are also cancelled.

[whatever2]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 8:07pm

so ... any hope of a further extension?

[whatever2]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 8:07pm

so ... any hope of a further extension?

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 4:22pm

All performances through 5/22 are cancelled.

[jiaxing_26]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 4:48pm

Welp. My tix got canceled twice, guess I just have to wait for a transfer sometime in the future now.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 5:00pm

I’m wondering if the lack of good reviews and award nominations mean that the transfer is dead in the water (and I had on pretty good authority it was going to transfer in the fall. Of course, that was while it was in previews).

[Kitsune]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 5:08pm

I have tickets for Friday the 27th. Coming in from out of town, so fingers crossed that they're able to return by then.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 5:15pm

^Thinking the same thing: I've got tix for the matinee on the 29th.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 5:15pm

Oh, well. Both times I’ve had my tickets canceled. Not meant to see it, I guess. 🤷🏻‍♂️ was what I was most looking forward to, but…. It’s a first world problem so…. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 5:36pm

If anyone questions whether or not they should be stagedooring right now…between show cancellations this weekend and now this, you shouldn’t be questioning that anymore. Go home. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 4:24pm

Now cancelled through Wednesday the 25th.

[@z5]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 4:37pm

Heather, dear, get off your high horse.

 

Why are you obsessed with stage dooring? Yes, it’s sad what’s happening but don’t act as if people in shows don’t do anything else but perform. They engage with the public regularly and probably in more risky situations. 

[mcsquared]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 8:56pm

Kitsune said: "I have tickets for Friday the 27th. Coming in from out of town, so fingers crossed that they're able to return by then."

That's when I'm supposed to go to--hoping that it'll still happen.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:07pm

I could see this taking a "A Strange Loop" route and going to an out of town tryout after this run. It didn't get "Smash hit transfer right now" vibes like "Kimberly Akimbo."

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:25pm

RippedMan said: "I could see this taking a "A Strange Loop" route and going to an out of town tryout after this run. It didn't get "Smash hit transfer right now" vibes like "Kimberly Akimbo.""

I think that "Strange Loop" route could be positive. Feels like Mean Girls/"fetch". I feel like so many people are trying to make this the next Hamilton, but inside of Founding Fathers it's "Founding Women". Maybe we need to face the facts: could it be not as good as we think or want it to be?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 10:25pm

This show's road forward is tricky. A lot of the critics simply didn't like the score and structure of the show, so it might be a situation where no amount of rewriting will please the critics. The reviews probably scared off some investors & theatre owners too.

Another full out-of-town production might be a waste of money because they could do a lot of work in workshops and labs –– but then again, Broadway might be a waste of money because this thing won't sell to the masses without raves. I don't see this getting a radical overhaul because what the critics disliked is just sort of baked into the show.

(I loved the show)