The Ten Commandments
Oct. 30th, 2004 09:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serafina20So, I got to see the Ten Commandments today with Val Kilmer. I can't say I was disappointed becuase I went in with very low expectations. So it was all good. Val was fine, but the rest of the cast was absolutely fantastic. Even with the poor songs they sang, I was melting. Just... wow.
After the first act, they moved everyone who was in the mezzanine down to floor. My seat was actually worse, sinc I sat behind a tall person and half the stage was blocked, but that was okay. I still had a very nice view of Joshua, played by the beautiful Adam Lambert and a pretty good one of Kevin Earley, whom I actually talked to afterwards. So moving wasn't a complete waste.
And then, after the play was over, Val Kilmer and the cast came out for a meet and greet. The problem was I could barely hear and had a really bad seat (even though I'd moved up; I always choose wrong). And then, the stupid fangirls (women?) in the audience asked embarrasing questions, from "Can I shake your hand" to, "May I please have a hug." And then there were a lot of mundane questions but, really, the problems with the play were not cast problems (even Val was fine), so what could you say to them?
The most important points are I talked to an actor (something I've never done before) and he was really really cute and he smiled at me. I didn't have a pen, sadly, so i didn't get to get his or Adam's autograph (I'm kicking myself), but I did trade my program in for one autographed by Val, so that was cool. And, you know, I got to be in the same space as Val, so I was happy.
The Ten Commandments webpage has a feedback form. I sent them the feedback behind the cut tag. I thought about giving my phone number (because, obviously, they're going to listen to me *rolls eyes*), but I wasn't sure if it was going to be posted in a forum or privately. Afterwards, it says all info is kept private. Oh well.
And I just found out the play is going until December, so now, even though it wasn't the best, i want to see it again. What can I say? I love musicals.
I just got back from seeing the "Ten Commandants". I must admit that, although the crew was absolutely fantastic, the costumes beautiful, and story promising, the actual show left a lot to be desired. The main problem is that there is no strong narrative thread that holds the plot together. You have the basics, but depend too much on the source material which, lets face it, while very powerful and thought provoking, does not make an entertaining story in and of itself. The story of Moses is one built on character and faith, but this, sadly, does not alone translate well into a staged musical.
There is hope, however. You have a very talented writing team, lyricist, and composer. You also have a good outline of a plot. What you need is an element that brings everything together, ties the story, builds plot, conflict, etc., and--and I can't stress this enough--explains what is going on and it's importance.
Yes, your audience most likely knows the story and, yes, hopefully your audience *should* know the story of Moses, but we've paid to be told this story. Your play assumes we know what's going on and who each and every character is. I knew what was happening, and yet I found myself confused and disconnected at times.
What your play needs is a narrator. Someone to introduce us to the story and be our eyes, ears, and tour guide throughout. Someone to introduce the theme (a variation of the final song, perhaps, or the theme of brotherhood, or even the coming of the prophet) that will echo throughout the show. This person can explain more clearly why the pharaoh has decided all the infants must be killed, talk about the tragedy and how the people wept and prayed for God and what is happening on stage. Basically, the narrator will provide exposition that is badly needed in order to help keep everything clear and moving along swiftly without losing the audience.
I think the perfect narrator would be Joshua. It could either be set up as Joshua passing the story on to the next generation of Jews, or he could simply be telling the story. He's an excellent choice since you have him in the show from nearly the beginning, he's heir to Moses' throne, so to speak. You could, of course, add an outside narrator in, but I think that having one of the Chosen act as the eyes and interpreter to the audience, the story would be much stronger and easier to follow.
My other suggestions would be to have a scene between Moses and Nefertari alone before she marries Ramses. Show that there is actually a reason for her to love him. That way, when she delivers the line to Ramses about the only man she ever loved killed her son, it would be a lot more powerful. As it stands, I was wondering the entire first act why the love triangle existed in the first place.
I think the entire show could benefit from slowing the action down and getting more into character motivations and feelings. It's very flashy and quick moving and I came away with a very superficial understanding of it. I really think that, with a story as important as this, there needs to be more than surface and flash.
I don't mean to sound as if I didn't enjoy the show. I did enjoy it. Your actors are talent and engaging, and I enjoyed watching them perform. However, I think the story is weak and some of the effects (the paint-shop blood on the doors, for example) and silly. There were times that I couldn’t help rolling my eyes or sighing at some of the effects or the way the story pushed on without waiting to explain things. I was also frustrated when I couldn't quite get what was going on. I honestly think that a narrator of some kind--any form of exposition for the transitional bits--will help with the overall unification of the story.
Thank you.
After the first act, they moved everyone who was in the mezzanine down to floor. My seat was actually worse, sinc I sat behind a tall person and half the stage was blocked, but that was okay. I still had a very nice view of Joshua, played by the beautiful Adam Lambert and a pretty good one of Kevin Earley, whom I actually talked to afterwards. So moving wasn't a complete waste.
And then, after the play was over, Val Kilmer and the cast came out for a meet and greet. The problem was I could barely hear and had a really bad seat (even though I'd moved up; I always choose wrong). And then, the stupid fangirls (women?) in the audience asked embarrasing questions, from "Can I shake your hand" to, "May I please have a hug." And then there were a lot of mundane questions but, really, the problems with the play were not cast problems (even Val was fine), so what could you say to them?
The most important points are I talked to an actor (something I've never done before) and he was really really cute and he smiled at me. I didn't have a pen, sadly, so i didn't get to get his or Adam's autograph (I'm kicking myself), but I did trade my program in for one autographed by Val, so that was cool. And, you know, I got to be in the same space as Val, so I was happy.
The Ten Commandments webpage has a feedback form. I sent them the feedback behind the cut tag. I thought about giving my phone number (because, obviously, they're going to listen to me *rolls eyes*), but I wasn't sure if it was going to be posted in a forum or privately. Afterwards, it says all info is kept private. Oh well.
And I just found out the play is going until December, so now, even though it wasn't the best, i want to see it again. What can I say? I love musicals.
I just got back from seeing the "Ten Commandants". I must admit that, although the crew was absolutely fantastic, the costumes beautiful, and story promising, the actual show left a lot to be desired. The main problem is that there is no strong narrative thread that holds the plot together. You have the basics, but depend too much on the source material which, lets face it, while very powerful and thought provoking, does not make an entertaining story in and of itself. The story of Moses is one built on character and faith, but this, sadly, does not alone translate well into a staged musical.
There is hope, however. You have a very talented writing team, lyricist, and composer. You also have a good outline of a plot. What you need is an element that brings everything together, ties the story, builds plot, conflict, etc., and--and I can't stress this enough--explains what is going on and it's importance.
Yes, your audience most likely knows the story and, yes, hopefully your audience *should* know the story of Moses, but we've paid to be told this story. Your play assumes we know what's going on and who each and every character is. I knew what was happening, and yet I found myself confused and disconnected at times.
What your play needs is a narrator. Someone to introduce us to the story and be our eyes, ears, and tour guide throughout. Someone to introduce the theme (a variation of the final song, perhaps, or the theme of brotherhood, or even the coming of the prophet) that will echo throughout the show. This person can explain more clearly why the pharaoh has decided all the infants must be killed, talk about the tragedy and how the people wept and prayed for God and what is happening on stage. Basically, the narrator will provide exposition that is badly needed in order to help keep everything clear and moving along swiftly without losing the audience.
I think the perfect narrator would be Joshua. It could either be set up as Joshua passing the story on to the next generation of Jews, or he could simply be telling the story. He's an excellent choice since you have him in the show from nearly the beginning, he's heir to Moses' throne, so to speak. You could, of course, add an outside narrator in, but I think that having one of the Chosen act as the eyes and interpreter to the audience, the story would be much stronger and easier to follow.
My other suggestions would be to have a scene between Moses and Nefertari alone before she marries Ramses. Show that there is actually a reason for her to love him. That way, when she delivers the line to Ramses about the only man she ever loved killed her son, it would be a lot more powerful. As it stands, I was wondering the entire first act why the love triangle existed in the first place.
I think the entire show could benefit from slowing the action down and getting more into character motivations and feelings. It's very flashy and quick moving and I came away with a very superficial understanding of it. I really think that, with a story as important as this, there needs to be more than surface and flash.
I don't mean to sound as if I didn't enjoy the show. I did enjoy it. Your actors are talent and engaging, and I enjoyed watching them perform. However, I think the story is weak and some of the effects (the paint-shop blood on the doors, for example) and silly. There were times that I couldn’t help rolling my eyes or sighing at some of the effects or the way the story pushed on without waiting to explain things. I was also frustrated when I couldn't quite get what was going on. I honestly think that a narrator of some kind--any form of exposition for the transitional bits--will help with the overall unification of the story.
Thank you.
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Date: 2004-10-31 12:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-31 09:04 am (UTC)Thanks. :)