I do think what was really lacking from this show was a song that really stood out, or anything that really grabbed the audience. I thought it was a good start, but I think some things need to be reworked before it goes to NY.
A lot of the music seems to be going for evoking waves by doin a slow rise and fall, but in the end this is just lulling the audience to sleep. The Celtic peices that are thrown in are beautiful, more of that would be lovely. There need to be more fast paced songs earlier on, and it might be nice to throw in a few more laughs here and there.
Also, I thought Queen Elizabeth was terrible (I saw it 10/20). Her vibrato was practically vibrating her head off, and I can understand how this could be an interesting comic device but it isn't good singing, and it makes her very difficult to understand. I think the same effect could be done with a little less vibrato and more presence. (And maybe she could avoid destroying her voice as well.)
And I think the entire first 20 minutes needs to be reblocked, and the songs looked at. There is far too much "and now we face the audience and SING VERY LOUD" With so much of that in the beginning it leaves very little places for the audience to build to. At this point, we have no idea what is going on, or why we should care, and having a bunch of men sing at us very loudly is unlikely to make us care. I agree that a lot of what is accomplished there could be done through dialogue, and then built into song as the musical progresses.
Also, I can swordfight better than that. Perhaps the fight choreography needs to be rehearsed more vigourously, since it plays such a large role in the show.
I enjoyed the show, and I think it could be amazing, as it is now I think it will die on broadway.
Needs Serious Work
I do think what was really lacking from this show was a song that really stood out, or anything that really grabbed the audience. I thought it was a good start, but I think some things need to be reworked before it goes to NY.
A lot of the music seems to be going for evoking waves by doin a slow rise and fall, but in the end this is just lulling the audience to sleep. The Celtic peices that are thrown in are beautiful, more of that would be lovely. There need to be more fast paced songs earlier on, and it might be nice to throw in a few more laughs here and there.
Also, I thought Queen Elizabeth was terrible (I saw it 10/20). Her vibrato was practically vibrating her head off, and I can understand how this could be an interesting comic device but it isn't good singing, and it makes her very difficult to understand. I think the same effect could be done with a little less vibrato and more presence. (And maybe she could avoid destroying her voice as well.)
And I think the entire first 20 minutes needs to be reblocked, and the songs looked at. There is far too much "and now we face the audience and SING VERY LOUD" With so much of that in the beginning it leaves very little places for the audience to build to. At this point, we have no idea what is going on, or why we should care, and having a bunch of men sing at us very loudly is unlikely to make us care. I agree that a lot of what is accomplished there could be done through dialogue, and then built into song as the musical progresses.
Also, I can swordfight better than that. Perhaps the fight choreography needs to be rehearsed more vigourously, since it plays such a large role in the show.
I enjoyed the show, and I think it could be amazing, as it is now I think it will die on broadway.