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| Author | Topic: Opening Doors Review |
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 Sister Rose
Registered User
Registered:
5/4/2004
From:
NYC | posted: 10/1/2004 at 10:09:48 AM ET
I saw the first performance of Opening Doors last night at Zankel Hall (scored a free ticket from somebody at work who couldn't go). It was really good. I wasn't familiar with any other performers except Greg Eddelman. Everybody was great - of course in my opinion its hard to go wrong with Sondheim. The performance was sort of choreographed with lots of movement on stage. The songs were usually in threes and sometimes were arranged in medleys. There were two screens in which they would put pictures of Sondheim at different points of his life. In between songs, there was a recording of Sondheim's voice - kind of a biography of his life and work. The song sequence was also arranged to what Sondheim had just said. He also said that the greatest actresses who could also sing his songs the best and who immediately came to his mind were Bernadette and Angela Lansbury (the pictures on the screen at that point were Bernadette in her beautiful transformation costume from Into the Woods and Angela from Sweeney Todd). I had a front row seat! At intermission I stood up and surveyed the audience but didn't spot our Queen. I'm excited that I'm seeing it again on the 9th with PAFan. It is very enjoyable!
"Anyone who stays home is DEAD!"
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 GYPSY1527
Registered User
Registered:
2/20/2004
From:
New Jersey
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Dot
Fav. BP CD: Sondheim Ect.
| posted: 10/1/2004 at 10:42:31 AM ET
yeay Sarah! I'm seeing it tonight and can't wait. We can discuss it tomorrow! 
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Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 10/1/2004 at 10:52:42 AM ET
I love that Sondheim mentioned Bernadette.
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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: 10/1/2004 at 11:01:51 AM ET
Has anyone ever watched Sondheim watching Bernadette perform? The look on his face (which is usually covered by a big smile) is the cross between a huge enamored fan and a VERY proud father. It's very sweet.
I'm really hoping to see Opening Doors but I'm very shy on money this month. I noticed there is apparently a discount code available for Sunday's performance. Does anyone know what it is?
Also, Sister Rose, where were your seats and were they good? Would you recommend staying away from a certain section of the hall? Thanks.
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 Rose
Registered User
Registered:
9/28/2003
From:
NY
Fav. BP Song: No One Is Alone and Some People
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Rose/The Witch
Fav. BP CD: Gypsy
| posted: 10/1/2004 at 11:06:23 AM ET
Is there a tape of anything she did that you can see Sondheim watching her?
"Oh no, you won't. No, not a chance. No arguements, shut up and dance."
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 Jean
Registered User
Registered:
6/7/2003 | posted: 10/1/2004 at 11:11:52 AM ET
I am beyond happy that the concert is good--thanks, Sister. I always worry that they'll get the wrong performers, or that the material will have no meaning, but this is really something to look forward to.
Sondheim on Bernadette, from the New York Times interview by Frank Rich, March 2000:
"Sondheim thinks 'stars are great' for the theater, but doesn't believe the theater has any stars now except itinerant visitors from movies and TV. Bernadette Peters comes closest, he says, but when 'she does a show that's a hit like 'Annie Get Your Gun,' she has to stay with it for two years. In the old days, Bernadette would have done at least as many shows as Merman, a couple of dozen. She's done maybe 10 shows.' "
You know, Moljul, I never really noticed how Sondheim watches Bernadette, but I sure did notice the look on her face during the "Sondheim, A Celebration At Carnegie Hall" which I can't interpret but was obviously quite emotional.
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Sister Rose
Registered User
Registered:
5/4/2004
From:
NYC | posted: 10/1/2004 at 11:12:21 AM ET
My seat was on the very first row! It was crazy - it was a little too close actually. PAFan and I are a little further back next time but still on the floor. Now that I know that Zankel is fairly small, I would suggest going for the $38 seats...I looked up at them and they aren't that high and aren't that many. I don't think there are any bad seats in the house. It's not like in Stern Hall at all.
Forgot to say also that accompaniment is piano, upright bass and cello on stage.
I was wondering about Sondheim. He and Bernadette seem to have a close relationship. Maybe he thinks of her as his daughter - he's certainly old enough to be her father. He talked about in the recording last night about how he just never had a long term relationship. Sounds like he was pretty much screwed up by his parents when they divorced. His mother had custody of him and he chose to go live with his father as soon as he was old enough. He was quite humerous too - everybody laughed during the recorded sections.
"Anyone who stays home is DEAD!"
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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: 10/1/2004 at 11:18:02 AM ET
What about a box seat kind of close to the stage? From the picture on the website it looks like it would be very far to the side of the stage. Would that be a bad angle? Or am I viewing the picture wrong. It seems like the first few boxes are actually to the side of the stage and not in front of it. Does that make sense?
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Jean
Registered User
Registered:
6/7/2003 | posted: 10/1/2004 at 11:21:01 AM ET
Moljul:
I can't answer your ? about the seat, but is this the discount you mean? Theatermania.com, an $85 seat for $35. You have to sign up (it's free) which should take just a few minutes.
theatermania.com
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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: 10/1/2004 at 11:24:18 AM ET
I got it but thanks any way. Read your PMs.
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Sister Rose
Registered User
Registered:
5/4/2004
From:
NYC | posted: 10/1/2004 at 11:24:19 AM ET
The boxes on the side are still not right above the stage so they didn't look bad to me - at the angle I was standing on the floor anyway they looked fine. I heard that Zankel was designed to have only good seats so it shouldn't be too bad. I would say that I don't think it matters if you're too close since it's not a huge theater plus its not really acting.
"Anyone who stays home is DEAD!"
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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: 10/1/2004 at 11:24:49 AM ET
Thanks that helps a lot.
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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: 10/1/2004 at 12:08:34 PM ET
Well I got a ticket for Sunday's matinee and now I can get back to the discussion. The clip that comes to mind is of a program on a college campus. I can't remember what it was or how I have it but I remember a clip of Sondheim watching Bernadette and he was just beaming with pride. Maybe someone here recognizes what I'm talking about and can identify it.
Jean, what portion or song at the Sondheim Celebration are you particularly talking about? Not A Day Goes By or Sunday?
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Jean
Registered User
Registered:
6/7/2003 | posted: 10/1/2004 at 12:16:36 PM ET
Moljul, the college program is the SMU (Texas)Award Show to Sondheim–performed in late 1994, shown on A&E Jan 1995 (and I know how you got it--you're welcome  .) I'll have to find that tape--I think I know where you mean: when he is playing the piano and when he is in the orchestra listening/applauding
At the end of the Sondheim Celebration Sondheim hands a microphone to Bernadette and she looks at him with some kind of emotion or look on her face that I can't quite figure out but is clearly emotional and not just one of those actressy-smiley faces.
EDIT:I just re-read this--not to imply that Bernadette herself gets that smiley look, but rather to say that many performers kind of set their faces into a "look", more like they are acting rather than showing a real emotion. It appears to me that she is not "acting" at that moment.
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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: 10/1/2004 at 12:20:30 PM ET
Jean, I thought you were the one who gave it to me but I just wasn't sure. I should have gone with my instincts. Sorry.  And yes THANK YOU!
I'll have to go home and watch my Sondheim DVD. I do remember him giving her a HUGE hug when he passed the microphone off.
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futuremamarose87
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2004 | posted: 10/1/2004 at 3:33:41 PM ET
I remember seeing that expression on her face. It's the look that anyone would want to be given. It was so sweet and genuine.
Isn't she JUST AMAZING?!
"It was like being high when you reach those high notes."
~Bernadette Peters
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