Why, it's a photo a spying pal just sent me from the Nederlander. Guys & Dolls looks packed, huh? Even those ladies in the foreground look apprehensive, as they whisper "Is Nathan Lane still in this?"
Speaking of Suckwatch, A Tale of Two Cities was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award, for Outstanding New Broadway Musical! No wonder those critics are in the outer circle, they'll never get inside at this rate!
I hear that A Tale of Two Cities is every inch the hot mess I predicted! An anonymous industry insider called me during intermission at a recent performance, urging me to "get to the theater right now and see what's left of this mess, because there's no way they could possibly have any more performances after tonight!" From my pal's description, the show sounds like a hodge-podge of the worst moments of Les Mis, The Scarlett Pimpernel, and Jekyll and Hyde. Oh my!
I don't see what could be so terrible about a show that starts it's press releases with these words:
A Tale of Two Cities, a new musical to quicken the hearts of fans of sprawling romantic historical epics — the kind of show where characters in the shadows sing about the light of tomorrow — begins its Broadway life Aug. 19 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. (emphasis mine)I mean, wow.
A Tale of Two Cities had its opening night down in Sarasota last weekend. Thankfully, I wasn't there. But others were! And here's what they thought. They were largely kinder to the show than I expected, but it's not off Suckwatch until I say so. Recognize.
Stage Notes was there, and called it "A Tale Worth Telling". "The work’s not yet done, but this Broadway-bound musical is on the right path, thanks especially to a handful of stirring Jill Santoriello songs, Michael Donald Edward’s brisk staging, Tony Walton’s ingenious scenic design and a strong company led by James Barbour, pouring his soul into a towering performance as Carton."
Local paper The Herald-Tribune said the show, "needs work to make it more dramatically and emotionally compelling, mostly in the first act... There is much to praise about the show, and it certainly will impress Asolo audiences. But it needs more punch before it is ready for Broadway."
Variety was relatively kind to the musical, acknowleging it's many similarities to Les Miserables (including an act one closer titled "Until Tomorrow" - not kidding.) "Santoriello has crafted some pretty melodies and a few comic songs (at least one of them unnecessary) matched with lyrics generally better at revealing character traits than advancing the story. But in both script and direction, the show needs more dramatic tension and greater emotional punch."
Everyone seems in agreement that James Barbour and Natalie Toro are turning in top-notch performances, and that it's a fairly compelling story, if one that we've, uh, seen before. I've definitely witnessed director Michael Edwards making magic out of lacking material before. But can Broadway really stomach another epic drama musical about love and redemption, set against the backdrop of a war in France?
Via playbill:
Derek Keeling, a handsome competitor from TV's "Grease: You're the One That I Want," will play French aristocrat Charles Darnay in the Broadway-aimed musical A Tale of Two Cities when it world premieres in Florida this fall.
...the twentysomething actor who was known as "wholesome Danny" in the 2007 reality competition...
The serious-minded pop epic in the tradition of Les Misérables was previously announced for an early 2006 commercial launch that never transpired...
"The musical's sweeping score embodies the emotional pyrotechnics that ceaselessly explode throughout the show's breathtaking two hours. This is an emotionally drenched evening that encompasses unconscionable conspiracies, life-threatening schemes, countless betrayals, secret designs, complete political upheaval, pre-meditated mass murder, mob violence, survival against inhuman odds, unconditional love, unrequited love, indescribable love, heroic courage, breathless bravery and human sacrifice."
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