"Lestat," registration, and more

Wow. So, tonight I saw Lestat, perhaps the most painful theatrical experience of my life. I went into the show figuring that all of the bad comments I'd read online about the show were just being too tough. It's rare that I see a show and don't at least leave having enjoyed myself. With Lestat, I just wondered how so many talented people could have gone so wrong. Elton John and Bernie Taupin are certainly not untalented. Leads Hugh Panaro and Carolee Carmello are certainly talented. Somewhere along the long journey to Broadway, however, someone should have gently pulled the creative team aside and urged them to adapt any other book, or any other idea.

To start, the pacing and structure of the show was a mess. Scenes don't seem to play naturally, and they jump uneasily from dialogue to song with little build up to support the songs as they come along. The songs have a distinctly "Elton John" sound, and most of them are at least decent. Some ("Embrace It," "To Kill Your Kind") are embarrassingly bad, some are mediocre, and a few are standouts ("Right Before My Eyes," "The Crimson Kiss," "Sail Me Away"). On top of that, one number particularly stood out, and that was "Welcome to the New World," sung during the scene where Lestat journeys to New Orleans. It worked well within the context and seemed as if it would make a great Elton John single.

As for the cast, everyone was at least fine. Hugh Panaro was vocally strong, but he sometimes seemed aware of the weaknesses of the piece, and his acting sometimes brought out the flaws in the writing. Carolee Carmello was just a standout all around. She's so talented, and she brings a quality to her character that definitely shines through in the overall show. As Armand, Drew Sarich was the only weak link for me. He seemed to be acting in a cartoonish manner when he should be more menacing as the villain. Another standout was Allison Fischer, the youngest member of the cast, who, as Claudia, is quite impressive. She delivers the mediocre song "I Want More" with gusto and is a general light admidst the failure of the piece.

The design of the show was drab for the most part, with embarrassing projections during the "swoons" (bitings). It felt as if someone was cutting up a lot of old parchment paper and constructing sets from it.

Some parts of the show were just laughably bad, as when the mythical vampire Marius emerges from the abyss at the end of Act One, when Carolee Carmello's Gabrielle pounces on her first victim, and when Lestat, having just been thrown off a building, lies mangled on the floor of the stage, still singing.

I just really can't believe how bad it was and that I can never go back and retrieve those hours of torture.

In other news today, I registered for my classes. My final schedule is:

MON
12:30-1:45 – Foundations of Journalism
2:00-3:15 – Natural Science I: Einstein’s Universe

TUES
9:30-10:45 – Musical Theatre
11:00-1:45 – Major Playwrights: August Wilson

WED
12:30-1:45 – Foundations of Journalism
2:00-3:15 – Natural Science I: Einstein’s Universe

THURS
8:00-9:15 – Foundations of Journalism Recitation
9:30-10:45 – Musical Theatre
3:00-4:40 – Natural Science I: Einstein’s Universe Lab

After finding out that my German class was closed, I made a mad dash to the Dramatic Literature department to declare my major so I could snatch up a spot in the August Wilson class that I wanted to take so badly. Luckily, I got it, which was probably the high point of my day. I was surprised how easy it was to declare the major -- fill out a short form, and it was in the system within a few quick minutes once I handed it into the department. I was also initially going to take Cinema & Literature, but I replaced that course with Einstein's Universe so I can make sure I have my requirements done on pace.

I also found out from my mom that her work is looking to hire some summer interns, so I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get one of those because of the nepotism factor and because I worked there before. I really like The American College, so I hope I get one of the positions. My mom said there are openings in maitenance filling out paperwork and dealing with contracts and clerical work and also in the alumni association, which I think would be more interesting. It always feels nice to have a full-time job where you're making decent money on a fast pace. It's nice to go home for the day and know that you've earned at least $50 rather than the $24 or so that I make for each shift at the Phonathon (not that I don't like the Phonathon).

Anyway, it's been a really busy day. Tomorrow I'm accompanying my friend Jenna and her dad on college tours of Marymount Manhattan and NYU, so that will take up most of the day. Then, I have to work. This weekend is going to be quite hectic.