tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34338525034437330.post7799512321261736723..comments2023-02-12T11:24:51.785-05:00Comments on Migdalor Guy's New Blog: It Really Wasn’t That BadMigdalor Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14343484923710511769noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34338525034437330.post-7970960176281735192013-12-06T08:32:49.342-05:002013-12-06T08:32:49.342-05:00These are my thoughts this morning after some pers...These are my thoughts this morning after some perspective. I posted on Facebook.<br /><br />After watching The Sound of Music again (yes I sat through it again for critical perspective) here are my opinions if you care.<br /><br />1. Carrie Underwood can sing. Really, sing. She was so much more comfortable when the music was on. Her movements, her demeanour, everything worked so much better to music. Her acting was extraordinarily weak, to the point of even noticeably glancing at the teleprompter several times. But...she got better as the show went on as she relaxed. Live theatre is incredibly difficult and I give her props for the effort, but taking a beginner's acting class in front of millions of people was probably not a great idea.<br />2. I think that she has potential, but her costar Stephen Moyer was stiff and his voice weak. And he is the professional actor. I've never watched True Blood but I hope that his fans were satisfied. I wasn't. His Captain was seriously maudlin and lacking in charisma and his rendition of Edleweiss was tremendously disappointing.<br />3. The kids were ok. Really. Not bad at all. Especially the young man who played Kurt. <br />4. The rest of the cast was stellar as I expected, especially Audra McDonald who literally laid me flat out with Climb Ev'ry Mountain. Stunning. Christian Borle and Laura Benanti were also excellent. Their experience on stage was so obvious and necessary to the workings of the show.<br />5. My greatest issues were with the production values. While the set was well-done the sound was brutal. Microphones and background noise were so intrusive I found some parts almost unwatchable. The underscore was so loud it actually drowned out the Mother Abbess at the end. This is live TV and NBC blew it badly. The direction of the camera angles was too jaunty at times but it settled during the second act. Honestly, the Oscar telecast is more professional.<br />6. I think that the entire production and cast would have fared better if it had been done in front of a live audience in studio. As well as live orchestra might have helped too. Stage performers thrive off of the energy of direct contact with an audience and it was glaringly missing. Carrie Underwood was at her best when other people were reacting to her voice and you could see that she loved it. <br />7. I have very few issues with the actual changes from the film. I expected them and knew what was coming. This was not a remake, but rather a re-staging of the original play. If you want to get technical, the film is the remake. The show actually flows better in its original form.<br /><br />All in all, it was disappointing. I almost turned it off after Audra's big moment but I persevered. My greatest concern is that this middling effort has turned people off of live musical theatre for television for a while, and that would be the biggest shame of all. Please don't let this production discourage you. PBS has done some wonderful telecasts of live performances. Check out Carousel, Oklahoma, and Light in the Piazza. All excellent. And weird as I am...I just might watch it again. I told you that I need professional help when it comes to The Sound of Music.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13377990352000842532noreply@blogger.com