Critics Weigh in on Encores! staging of Do I Hear A Waltz?
From May 11 to 15, New York City Center’s Encores! series presented a concert staging of Do I Hear A Waltz? by Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim. The cast featured Melissa Errico as Leona Hamish, Richard Troxell as Renato De Rossi, joined by Claybourne Elder, Karen Ziemba and Sarah Stiles. Here are some excerpts of reviews of the production, which was directed by Evan Cabnet; Rob Berman was the music director:
Though Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim are arguably the two greatest writers of American musical theater, their one collaboration — Do I Hear a Waltz? — was a fizzle. Some of the reasons are all too evident in the equally fizzly Encores! production, which is erratic and mild in a way that suggests the show’s history of overcompromise. … The two men were temperamentally unsuited … More than that, they brought clashing ideologies to the table. Rodgers was wedded to a form of musical storytelling that Sondheim, in just a few years, would shatter with shows like Company and Follies. Approaching Arthur Laurents’s story for Do I Hear a Waltz? from opposite sides of an aesthetic divide, the best they could achieve was a stalemate. … Many shows that look on paper like they shouldn’t work have nevertheless been brought to glory by terrific stagings. Do I Hear a Waltz? is not one of those; it’s the opposite. The conflicts and compromises that leave their marks on its material are subtractive, not additive, making it very difficult to pull off. — Jesse Green, New York Magazine
The rarely seen show has many qualities that make it deserving of another look. … There are some gorgeous ballads, including “Someone Like You” and “Take the Moment,” beautifully sung by veteran opera singer [Richard] Troxell, as well as the joyous title song. But there are also such sardonically funny numbers as “This Week’s Americans,” “What Do We Do? We Fly?” and “No Understand.” None of it registers as among Rodgers’ or Sondheim’s best work, but even their second-tier material is superior to almost everyone else’s. … At first, the gorgeous [Melissa] Errico seems an unlikely choice for the role of a woman unable to find love, but the actress delivers an emotionally complex, haunting performance. The rest of the ensemble is equally fine: Troxell displays a rugged sexiness and swoony voice as the determined seducer; [Karen] Ziemba is amusing as the trenchant innkeeper … and Sarah Stiles nearly steals the show with her deadpan comic turn as the English-challenged pensione employee whose deathly slow march to a ringing telephone is a comic highlight. … It’s easy to see why Do I Hear a Waltz? failed originally and why it probably couldn’t sustain a commercial run now. But as always, one must be grateful to Encores! for providing the opportunity to reassess this flawed gem. — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
In its current, beautifully assembled Encores! incarnation, directed by Evan Cabnet, Waltz still comes across as a show about the pursuit of passion that has little passionate urgency itself. As it charts the bumpy course of Leona’s summer love affair, the show feels as anxiously ambivalent as its heroine. Its odds of ever being reborn as a commercial Broadway success are slight. … But [Encores!] inestimable value lies in its presentation of shows we might otherwise never see — and of talented performers stretching muscles they rarely have a chance to use. I can’t say that this Waltz ever thrilled me. But I was fascinated by every second of it, and by the unresolved conflict of talents it embodies. — Ben Brantley, The New York Times
Although the Encores! semistaged production doesn’t hide shaky spots — how could it? — and is a bit dry and underwhelming, the show is a fascinating, seldom-seen curio. There are some terrific songs, especially for the male lead, plus surprisingly and laudably grown-up themes like morality and infidelity. … Rodgers’ melodies have typical sweep and bounce. Sondheim’s lyrics boast signature wit and acid. The songs capture the dynamics of curdling couples and unhappy relationships. — Joe Dziemianowicz, New York Daily News
CHRISTA SKILES is the associate director of marketing for the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.



Trackbacks
online casino free play https://casinoonlinek.com/
betmgm online casino nj https://onlinecasinoad.com/
best online casino deposit bonus https://casinogamesmachines.com/
jack online casino https://conline-casinos-hub.com/
san manuel online casino promo codes https://onlinecasinos4me.com/
foxwoods online casino promo code https://online2casino.com/
foxwood online casino https://casinoonlinet.com/
top online casino https://casinosonlinex.com/
konscious keto https://ketogendiet.net/
90 second keto bread https://ketogenicdietinfo.com/
write college essay https://anenglishessay.com/
essay paper writing service https://topessayswriter.com/
writing essay for college https://yoursuperessay.com/
custom writing essay https://checkyouressay.com/
gay sweden dating https://gayprideusa.com/
gay dating affiliate https://gayfade.com/
archer gay dating sites https://gaysugardaddydatingsites.com/
critical thinking quotes https://criticalthinkingbasics.com/
critical thinking pdf https://criticalthinkinginstitute.com/
critical thinking definitions https://criticalthinking2020.net/
critical thinking theorists https://uncriticalthinking.com/
introduction essay https://choosevpn.net/
why umich essay https://topvpndeals.net/
essay format mla https://tjvpn.net/
essay steps https://thebestvpnpro.com/
read my essay to me https://vpn4home.com/
common app essay prompts https://vpnsrank.com/
research essay outline https://vpn4torrents.com/
essay rubric https://windowsvpns.com/
2thessaly
dinner for eight gay dating https://gaysugardaddydatingsites.com
chat avenue gay room https://bjsgaychatroom.info/
gay tips for gay bottom dating https://gaypridee.com/
gay video cam chat https://gaytgpost.com/
snap chat gay teens cum https://gay-buddies.com/
gay autism dating vancouver washington https://speedgaydate.com/
seven fortune slots https://freeonlneslotmachine.com/
i won $4 at penny slots https://candylandslotmachine.com/
slots machines https://pennyslotmachines.org/
myvegas slots https://slotmachinesworld.com/
slots canyon inn https://slotmachinesforum.net/
free quarter slots https://beat-slot-machines.com/
free slots 777 sizzling 7s https://411slotmachine.com/
interactive slots https://www-slotmachines.com/
filthy rich slots free https://slotmachinegameinfo.com/
dissertation proposal writing services https://dissertationwriting-service.com/
dissertation editing services https://help-with-dissertations.com/
nursing dissertation writing service https://mydissertationwritinghelp.com/
history dissertation help https://dissertations-writing.org/
3estimates
best dissertation writing https://professionaldissertationwriting.org/
dissertation review https://professionaldissertationwriting.com/
buy a dissertation https://helpwithdissertationwritinglondon.com/
dissertation defense presentation https://dissertationwritingcenter.com/
medical dissertation writing service https://dissertationhelpexpert.com/
18 month doctorate without dissertation https://accountingdissertationhelp.com/
do my dissertation https://examplesofdissertation.com/
tips for dissertation writing https://writing-a-dissertation.net/
dissertation proposal help https://bestdissertationwritingservice.net/
writing service https://businessdissertationhelp.com/
dissertation writing support https://customdissertationwritinghelp.com/
master dissertation https://writingadissertationproposal.com/
dissertations writing https://dissertationhelpspecialist.com/
medical dissertation writing service https://dissertationhelperhub.com/
help with dissertation https://customthesiswritingservices.com/
online casino paypal https://download-casino-slots.com/
hollywood casino pa online https://firstonlinecasino.org/
online casino bitcoin https://onlinecasinofortunes.com/
online caesars casino https://newlasvegascasinos.com/
safe online casino https://trust-online-casino.com/
casino online gratis https://onlinecasinosdirectory.org/
platinum reels online casino https://9lineslotscasino.com/
casino ohne anmeldung gratis online spielen where
riverbelle online casino https://internet-casinos-online.net/
online cash casino https://cybertimeonlinecasino.com/
betmgm nj online casino https://1freeslotscasino.com/
hallmark casino online https://vrgamescasino.com/
betmgm pa online casino https://casino-online-roulette.com/
betfair online casino nj https://casino-online-jackpot.com/
borgata online casino nj https://onlineplayerscasino.com/
las vegas online casino real money https://ownonlinecasino.com/
royal casino online https://all-online-casino-games.com/
speaking rock casino online https://casino8online.com/
free vpn for phone https://freevpnconnection.com/
vpn avast https://shiva-vpn.com/
vpn service usa buy https://freehostingvpn.com/
free vpn for netflix https://ippowervpn.net/
best free vpn windows https://imfreevpn.net/
buy vpn with perfect money https://superfreevpn.net/
best vpn wirecutter https://free-vpn-proxy.com/
best vpn for india https://rsvpnorthvalley.com/
gay dating websites https://gayedating.com/
single gay dating site https://datinggayservices.com/
topchatsites chat https://freephotodating.com/
date women free https://onlinedatingbabes.com/
online websites https://adult-singles-online-dating.com/
datiing websites https://online-internet-dating.net/
men dating sites https://speedatingwebsites.com/
asian dating https://datingpersonalsonline.com/
freeadultdating https://wowdatingsites.com/
fb dating https://lavaonlinedating.com/
100% inspektion https://freeadultdatingpasses.com/
best date online https://virtual-online-dating-service.com/
ourtime logga in https://zonlinedating.com/
dating sites https://onlinedatingservicesecrets.com/
best casino online usa https://onlinecasinos4me.com/
viva slots vegas™ free slot casino games online https://online2casino.com/
online casino michigan https://casinosonlinex.com/
gay kink chat https://newgaychat.com/
gay bi and male text chat https://gaychatcams.net/
gay chat cam ramdoom https://gaychatspots.com/
gay chat roulette adult https://gay-live-chat.net/
gay dot com chat room https://chatcongays.com/
free gay chat room https://gayphillychat.com/
gay chat https://gaychatnorules.com/
gay zoom webcam chat https://gaymusclechatrooms.com/
gay chat free no cost https://free-gay-sex-chat.com/
free gay cam to cam chat https://gayinteracialchat.com/
gay tennessee chat rooms https://gaymanchatrooms.com/
college paper writer https://term-paper-help.org/
someone to write my paper https://sociologypapershelp.com/
custom note paper https://uktermpaperwriters.com/
college paper ghost writer https://paperwritinghq.com/
where can i find someone to write my paper https://writepapersformoney.com/
buy dissertation paper https://write-my-paper-for-me.org/
help with paper https://doyourpapersonline.com/
how to write my paper https://top100custompapernapkins.com/
someone write my paper for me https://cheapcustompaper.org/
websites that write papers for you https://writingpaperservice.net/
papers help https://buyessaypaperz.com/
write my paper for me fast https://mypaperwritinghelp.com/
pay to do paper https://writemypaperquick.com/
buy psychology papers https://essaybuypaper.com/
buy cheap paper https://premiumpapershelp.com/
what should i write my paper on https://ypaywallpapers.com/
write my paper in 3 hours https://studentpaperhelp.com/
sex games for free https://cybersexgames.net/