Vacation Notes 5b aka The Pirate Queen

Mar 20, 2007 21:02

I'm posting this review ahead of my day recap. My bad, my bad.

March 10, 2007 Evening )

jeff mccarthy, stephanie j. block, broadway, live recordings, music, the pirate queen

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joran March 21 2007, 01:27:09 UTC
I have seen both Miss Saigon and Les Miserables (twice). I am pleased you have been spared these horrors. However, you are vastly more educated in their subjects than I.

One of the key notes for my attending The Pirate Queen was: this viewing was of my own volition.

Heehee.

EXCEPT for Grace O'Malley.

That's because she's abnormal, of course.

The audience needs to believe that there's a meeting of equals between Grace and the Queen when she's presenting the plight of Ireland and you're not meeting an 'equal' or anyone near that level when for three quarters of the performance, we've been hearing a constant mockery of the English.

That's a good point, and I believe that's what the Queen's awakening moments are supposed to capture. Her isolation. However, it may take a solid grounding in court history (and at least, a viewing of Marie Antoinette) to make that connection, and the chirping dancing things did not help ( ... )

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pdt_bear March 21 2007, 02:47:53 UTC
The audience needs to believe that there's a meeting of equals between Grace and the Queen when she's presenting the plight of Ireland and you're not meeting an 'equal' or anyone near that level when for three quarters of the performance, we've been hearing a constant mockery of the English.

That's a good point, and I believe that's what the Queen's awakening moments are supposed to capture. Her isolation. However, it may take a solid grounding in court history (and at least, a viewing of Marie Antoinette) to make that connection, and the chirping dancing things did not help.

Perhaps if the role were completely rewritten and recast... I mean, despite what I said about England being a natural villain of its oppressed nations, it doesn't have to be a stupid one. Or a weak one. Somber and dark and complex is preferable. Perhaps the court scenes are meant as contrast? Or comedic relief?
The chirping dancing things - either the Ladies-in-Waiting, or else, the Ministers of her Court. Both sets of ensembles are... meh ( ... )

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