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| Author | Topic: All I can say is - SHE KICKED ASS!!!! |
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 Bernadette-Fanatic
Registered User
Registered:
6/11/2002 | posted: 4/1/2003 at 3:54:32 PM ET
How great are the chances of some of these suggestions being heard and possibly changed? Are costumes, wigs, sets, etc usually changed during previews, or are previews more for the actors to find their roles and for the directors and producers to tweak the show?
I am truly a happier person because of Bernadette Peters
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 Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 4/1/2003 at 4:06:42 PM ET
"its sounds like cindy had the best night of the lots of yas!" LOL
well, I was with Cindy, so I had a pretty good time too.
OK, here I go LOL
As soon as I got there and saw the steps leading up to the stage I knew Benadette would be entering from the back of the theater (right down the aisle); and she did.
It was very much like the movie (the Bette Midler version anyway). There was no curtain in the beginning, in fact there was no real curtain at all (it's made of cardboard).
The orchestra began and sounded fantastic (I was in the front row center right next to Marvin's conducting...he looked like he was having so much fun).
The scenery was set up as I expected. It was a stage on the stage so that we could see the children perform as if it were their act, and not Gypsy, and so that we could see Mama Rose and other people behind the scenes so to speak. LOL I thought it was so funny when you could see Dainty June back stage smoking a cigarette.
I, like Cindy, was surprised by Bernadette's appearance. Although I know she had to be dressed for that era, I thought Sam would have had her clothes be a little more form-fitting and her make-up a little more dramatic. The only time I could really tell she had make-up was when she kissed Tammy (Gypsy) on the cheek and accidently left her mark. LOL Don't worry, Bernadette wiped it off her face for her.
"Rose's Turn" and "Together, Wherever We Go" were defintely my 2 favorite performances of the show. LOL I know Cindy said the same thing, but that's because it's so true. The choreography for TWWG was great (it's always been my favorite number from that score).
I was incredibely dissapointed by the audience response!  Bernadette deserved a standing ovation for "Rose's Turn" and she barely got a thunderous applause! I was dying to stand, but I was in the front row & it was evident that nobody else in the theater was going to ge up. Now that I think about it, I should have gotten up anyway...maybe then they would have.
Tammy exceded my expectations. She's not a great singer, but she is a great actress, and that makes up for it. Hey, the real Gypsy wasn't a great singer either.
"Gotta Get A Gimmick" was fantastic, but I really did not need that close-up shot of Mazzeppa's rear end...sorry LOL
Was anyone else thinking of Biork's Oscar Swan dress when they saw Tessy's outfit? OL
The piece of scenery that fell was on the left (the audience left, not the actors). It was the back of where they would keep putting the signs to tell you which state they were in. It didn't hit the floor because it was attatched by hinges, but it still caused a thump.
I wasn't overly impressed by the show, but I did enjoy certain scenes (as I mentioned). I'm hopefull that the couple of glitches in the show will be fixed throghout the course of previews; and since I am seeing the show again right after it officially begins, I will do a compare/contrast post in May.
*Just a tip: if you have any kind of breathing trouble, do not sit in the first few rows! The fumes from the cigarette's are strong. 
<3CMH<3
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 moljul
Registered User
Registered:
4/2/2001
From:
New York
Fav. BP CD: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Fav. BP Song: Dublin Lady
| posted: 4/1/2003 at 4:26:18 PM ET
Christine,
I think it might have been your perception of the audience from being so close to the stage and having a majority of the audience behind you but I was about half way back in the center orchestra and I felt they gave Bernadette a wonderful applause for Rose's Turn - though not a standing O. Hopefully the actors could tell the response they got.
And I completely missed Dainty June smoking backstage though someone else told me they saw it. I must have been concentrating on something else.
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Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 4/1/2003 at 4:49:45 PM ET
That's true. I also felt they were singing rather low, but again, I was right in front of the orchestra.
From where you were sitting, did you fnd them to be loud enough? The actors I mean.
<3CMH<3
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moljul
Registered User
Registered:
4/2/2001
From:
New York
Fav. BP CD: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Fav. BP Song: Dublin Lady
| posted: 4/1/2003 at 5:04:14 PM ET
yes, they sounded terrific. There were a couple of sound problems throughout the night but not volume issues. From my little spot in the orchestra, I felt the entire show came off well and was well received. Everyone was humming the music during intermission.  Of course the guy singing Everything's Coming Up Roses to his wife had a terrible singing voice. 
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Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 4/1/2003 at 7:16:17 PM ET
I forgot to mention how funny it was that Donna was getting all these strange looks from people who must have thought she was Bernadette. After the show I heard a few people yell out" Great job!!" to her LOL
It was also great seeing marvin, Cubby and Bill back in the pit!!!
ok...a minor spoiler here so if you don't want to read on, don't....
I also loved when ever Baby June and Louise and the boys were on stage performing( younger and older) and Bernadette would be in the "wings" reciting the lines with them as a nervous stage mother...she was very funny!
It was also very cute seeing the lamb wearing a little diaper HAHA Good thing for Tammy I guess LOL
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Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 4/1/2003 at 7:45:54 PM ET
Moljul, just for when you see it again (LOL I'm guessing b/c I know I'll be seeing it a few more times) when June is smoking in the wings, it's during the farmboy number and she is stage right.
LOL I know what you mean Cindy. I wonder if the people sitting next to her even realized she was related to Bernadette!
<3CMH<3
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moljul
Registered User
Registered:
4/2/2001
From:
New York
Fav. BP CD: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Fav. BP Song: Dublin Lady
| posted: 4/1/2003 at 7:54:35 PM ET
Thanks. I'll look for it next time - yes, there will be a next time.
The last time I saw Donna was about a year ago and she had her hair straight. Even then she obviously looked a great deal like Bernadette but with her hair slightly curly last night it was even more striking. I also saw Tovah Feldshuh last night. I wanted to go up to her and congratulate her on her performance in Golda's Balcony but I was trapped in the center of the orchestra. Oh well. I encourage everyone to see this remarkable off broadway play about Golda Mier.
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Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 4/1/2003 at 7:59:38 PM ET
Yeah, every other time I've seen Donna her hair has been straight. It got considerably longer since the last time I saw her tho and I thought it looked really nice curly! Although it made her look more like her sister which was sort of a disadvantage to her LOL She sort of looked Mama Rose-ish with the hat on
I really don't want to get into personal details on this board( especially because its not a Donna board LOL) but it scares me sometimes as to how much they really are alike...they way their voices sound, the way the phrase things,their movements!! They could seriously pass for twins I think LOL
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Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 4/1/2003 at 8:10:19 PM ET
SPOLIER ALERT..........
OMG>..I completely forgot to mention how shocking and sort of funny it was that they still left the lines in in the last scene where Louise gives Rose her FUR to wear...sorta weird seeing Bernadette comment on wearing fur LOL
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Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 4/1/2003 at 8:16:24 PM ET
I thought Donna looked fantastic last night. I like the color of her hair; it's different from the last time I saw it; and the curls work for her....well, of course they would when she looks like Bernadette and curlslook great on Bernadette. LOL
HAHAHA that's true about the fur thing. And what about when she said SPCA instead of ASPCA...or something like that.
<3CMH<3
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Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 4/1/2003 at 8:22:21 PM ET
Well, the "SPCA" thing( instead of ASPCA)is written into the original script..I was just hoping that she would have accentuated it more( especially because so many people know she is an animal activist. I'm sure as time goes by that'll change though and she probably will make it funnier.
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Bernadette-Fanatic
Registered User
Registered:
6/11/2002 | posted: 4/1/2003 at 8:56:28 PM ET
I hate to sound picky, but I was kind of hoping that my question could be answered that I posted earlier in this thread. Could someone take a look back and respond to it if they know the answer?
Thanks!
I am truly a happier person because of Bernadette Peters
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Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 4/1/2003 at 9:02:50 PM ET
>>"How great are the chances of some of these suggestions being heard and possibly changed? Are costumes, wigs, sets, etc usually changed during previews, or are previews more for the actors to find their roles and for the directors and producers to tweak the show?"<<
As far as sets, costumes, wigs go.,..it depends..if there are problems with them or they're just not completely done yet then yeah they will be changed. For the most part though its the directing and scene changes that are changed more often. Its a place for actors to find that right balance and to find the best way to play their character. For AGYG ( the revival with bernadette) Old Fashioned wedding was done at the end...during curtain call--atleast as far as I remember...then during previews they changed it around.
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Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 4/2/2003 at 9:38:58 AM ET
I see previews as a chance for everyone (especially those who may not have been doing 8 shows a week for a while) to get back into the swing of things. They need that time to find their audience, enhance their strong points and work on their weak points.
Sometimes songs, phrases, or entire scenes are cut during previews. I doubt they will cut any songs after reading so many articles about how it was insisted they all stay in.
Sometimes scenery and costumes are changed; the placing of the characters on stage during certain scenes may be different. This is why I wanted to see the first preview, so that when I see it again after the official opening, I can see what changes have been made.
As far as AGYG previews...I was at the first preview of that, and I'm pretty sure that "Old Fashioned Wedding" stayed where it originally had been, but I could be wrong
<3CMH<3
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RobRamos
Registered User
Registered:
4/1/2003 | posted: 4/2/2003 at 9:49:26 AM ET
It seems unfair for anyone to expect anything close to perfection, especially considering that this show is previewing cold in NY without the benefit of any out of town engagement. I am sure it will only get better and better every night, as actors solidify their performances and modulate certain aspects of their interpretations. The fact that this show is SO well known to millions gives this cast and production a daunting burden. They need to live up to not one, not two, but three enormously successful stage productions in NY, plus the hugely-rated CBS Tv films with Bette Midler, and the enduringly popular movie with Rosalind Russell. The lengthy preview period will probably serve this production very well. I made it a point to not buy any tickets for the previews, in fact choosing to see it on July 1st, because Bernadette Peters only gets better and better. Ticket sales for the previews have not been huge, and this may be a reason. Previews can be exciting, but for me nothing beats seeing a show after it has opened, after the pressure of facing critics is over, and when the show really takes on a life of its own. Can't wait for July 1st!
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