They have each brought along all those hopes, disappointments and expectations gathered from previous relationships, as well as the well-meant cautionary advice of their relatives, concerned co-workers and therapists.
Friday, February 05, 2016
Fresh, more intimate 'First Date' to debut in Pittsburghx
They have each brought along all those hopes, disappointments and expectations gathered from previous relationships, as well as the well-meant cautionary advice of their relatives, concerned co-workers and therapists.
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4 comments:
I think that if you told someone 15 years ago, that Pittsburgh would be premiering the tour of a Broadway show, and that the show was being reworked to audiences for the first time in our city, they wouldn’t believe. This reveals a lot about the cultural status of Pittsburgh and what the city has transformed to. Also, I find it interesting that they are reworking a show that much from Broadway. Normally, I feel like you hear of a smaller set or cutting some ensemble members, etc., however I haven’t really heard of deciding to cut cast members and make them perform multiple parts. I will be curious to know that if the new version continues to tour, if it will perform in houses like the CLO Cabaret. And the article does make note of the face that they chose not to do in a proscenium setting, however I feel like it may be difficult to find places like that across the country.
I love the concept behind this piece. As someone who has very recently had the experience of a first date, I can confirm that the sheer excited tension of walking up to the front door/restaurant table/movie theater ticket window/parked car/bowling alley/roller rink/dimly lit alley behind Pittsburgh's hottest club is enough for a few fully staged numbers, ensemble included. I especially like the decision to include in the cast a plethora of exes, relatives, and therapists. While I'd normally be a bit skeptical of a first-date musical, quick to identify it as overly saccharine or overwrought, and even more eager to dismiss the characters as unrealistic or simple caricatures, I am honestly intrigued by this premise, and excited to see it open in Pittsburgh. As Ben mentions above, I think the decision to premiere the show here is a sign of this glorious city's theatrical renaissance. I await whatever comes next, both to the city and to this musical, with bated breath
A couple years ago, I stood outside the Walter Kerr theatre across from the Longacre, frantically eating a slice of pizza before the show. I was going to see First Date purely because Zachary Levi was the lead, and I really was not expecting anything even mildly good. However, the show, while not astounding, was surprisingly well done. I think it's good that the writers were able to identify the problems with the show and were willing to fix those problems and try again. The show is pretty one dimensional. There's not a whole lot of deeper meaning beyond what is visibly happening onstage, but it's still a heartwarming and entertaining show. I've heard that the set for this production is far more intimate and interactive than the Broadway set, which is something I'm very excited to see.
I saw First Date twice when it was on Broadway. Mostly because Zachary Levi was the lead and I was SO excited to see him in a show. I guess Claire and I have something to talk about now. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the show, and the level of talent in it. I thought the original cast was wonderful, Krysta Rodriguez's voice is out of this world, and I thought the show was actually adorable. I knew after the first number that it was never going to be anything that ran for a super long time, it had a few catchy songs, that I left the theater humming, but nothing that I was so passionate about that I went home and bought it. Regardless I loved the show. It was short, and fun and I laughed my head off. I thought it perfectly described what it was like to go out on a first date, especially a blind one, and that the sentiment was a little crude, but still very sweet. I am sad that I haven't gotten a chance to go see it while it's here, but hopefully I can get there before it clothes. I'd love to hear the music again, and see what the tour does with the show, and what changed there are.
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