Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Some Quotes....
Dear Evalyn, ( from darling Eric H. who wrote the book and lyrics)
Yes, a new recording is in the offing. John Yap wants to do it (after seeing the show last night) and I think it is likely to happen, but all is not set just yet.
And, no, I have no idea why the "cultural critic" of the Times came last night.
A damn good musical, rich in intelligence and emotion. Enjoyable, thought-provoking entertainment. Charming and quirky. Sophisticated melodies blend well with a sensitive book and deftly crafted lyrics. A quintet of Broadway musical veterans sings and acts with obvious relish. A striking set. Lighting that captures all the right moods. Luscious, intimate orchestrations. A much needed sign of intellectual life in New York’s musical theatre world. – Musicals101.com
A genuine charmer. Its lovely, melodic score is sensitively staged and beautifully sung. The voices send chills down a music lover’s spine. Director Gabriel Barre smoothly and nimbly maneuvers his cast through the shifts between the real and fantasy sequences. The small St. Peter’s Theater is the perfect setting to bring out the show’s delicate intimacy. Who said small can’t be beautiful?
– CurtainUp.com
A Fine and Private Place wins you over. Equal parts fantasy and reality, this is not gloomy graveyard fare. Visitors will feel welcomed. All of the characters matter and all are memorable. In a strong and strong-voiced cast, the standout is Christiane Noll in a performance that is beautifully sung and compellingly acted. Soaring anthems to the magic of love are tempered with realism. “The bravest hearts wind up in pieces,” sings Gertrude Klapper. When the pieces fit, as they do in A Fine and Private Place, it’s well worth taking the chance.
– AmericanTheaterWeb.com
The most captivating embrace of the season occurs between two characters who never even touch. The ecstatic, erotic moment in question happens in the second act of A Fine and Private Place, the gentle new musical being produced by the York Theatre Company. What’s more, it happens between two ghosts. The show has all the emotional and theatrical power you could wish for. Richard Isen’s music is always beautiful, at times even magically rapturous, and surging with restful romanticism. Erik Haagensen’s book and lyrics show great care and creativity. Glenn Seven Allen and Christiane Noll make powerful impressions in their songs. “No One Ever Knows” is heartfelt, the emotional peak of Evalyn Baron’s performance. Joe Kolinski sings his music robustly. Director Gabriel Barre is a one-note hoot as the Raven, and his staging of the ghost-human interactions is beautiful.
– TalkinBroadway.com
A Fine and Private Place is an admirably ambitious piece with a lot to offer audiences. A charming and romantic musical fantasy. Isen’s music is light and pretty and Haagensen’s lyrics are pleasant. Director Gabriel Barre has mounted a well-acted, nicely sung and visually imaginative production. Barre is fun to watch as the raven and delivers his wisecracks well. Glenn Seven Allen and Christiane Noll make for an attractive and well-sung couple, playing their scenes with warmth and sincerity. Evalyn Baron is quite tender and sympathetic as the lonely Gertrude. Joseph Kolinski is comical and hearty in the role of Jonathan. James Morgan’s set, Jeff Croiter’s lights and Scott De la Cruz’s projections create exceptional design work executed with the kind of taste and artfulness that puts many large-budgeted musicals to shame. The York’s production contains enough charms to delight lovers of intimate, romantic musicals. Sublime theatrical bliss to be savored and adored.
– BroadwayWorld.com
Richard Isen and Erik Haagensen are to be commended for writing this gentle love story. Strong performances: Evalyn Baron’s acting is nicely nuanced, Christiane Noll and Glenn Seven Allen sing their roles beautifully, and Joe Kolinski also sings well. Gabriel Barre flies away with the show; his comic timing is delicious, and his little bits of business add enormously to the fun. Excellent work from the design team: James Morgan's fluid set design creates a variety of playing spaces; Jeff Croiter's lighting does an extremely effective job of creating the ghostly world; and Pamela Scofield's costumes, especially for the raven, are excellent.
– Theatremania.com (that married couple, I think)
Often-impressive work. The four leads do well; credit goes to director Gabriel Barre. York subscribers should be pleased. A Fine & Private Place gets points for being an unconventional musical displaying originality and heart, not to mention attractive performances. Regionals looking for an earnest and economical musical should give this tombstone tuner an afterlife.
– Variety
Erik Haagensen and Richard Isen's understated score displays musical and lyrical sophistication. There are lovely songs, chief among them the haunting "Close Your Eyes," beautifully sung by Noll. The actors deliver engaging turns, with Barre giving a nicely detailed physical performance as the persnickety bird.
– NY Post
...and so it goes...today is a much-needed day off, and i had an early moring commercial call down at House Productions on 15th Street...the meat-packing district is now so chic and interesting, it's like being in a forgeign city, so, I stayed downtown and invited Ken Kliban to join me for lunch...a dear old pal (we did the SOCIAL SECURITY Tour together, buthad known each other from Circle Rep days for years...so much fun to be with him and catch up on life...he came to see AFPP the other evening and we re-connected...I am glad to have him back in my life...so glad.
Tonight: Mexican food with Miriam and Peter. Paul and Steven having a great time out on the West Coast. Lucky them. Though it is a gorgeous Spring day here. I feel free.
And so much to do and think about. Always. Must begin reading Sharon Salzberg's books in preparation for a weekend I will be spending in her presence at the end of May. A buddhist retreat. In the Catskills. Can hardly wait.
Yes, a new recording is in the offing. John Yap wants to do it (after seeing the show last night) and I think it is likely to happen, but all is not set just yet.
And, no, I have no idea why the "cultural critic" of the Times came last night.
A damn good musical, rich in intelligence and emotion. Enjoyable, thought-provoking entertainment. Charming and quirky. Sophisticated melodies blend well with a sensitive book and deftly crafted lyrics. A quintet of Broadway musical veterans sings and acts with obvious relish. A striking set. Lighting that captures all the right moods. Luscious, intimate orchestrations. A much needed sign of intellectual life in New York’s musical theatre world. – Musicals101.com
A genuine charmer. Its lovely, melodic score is sensitively staged and beautifully sung. The voices send chills down a music lover’s spine. Director Gabriel Barre smoothly and nimbly maneuvers his cast through the shifts between the real and fantasy sequences. The small St. Peter’s Theater is the perfect setting to bring out the show’s delicate intimacy. Who said small can’t be beautiful?
– CurtainUp.com
A Fine and Private Place wins you over. Equal parts fantasy and reality, this is not gloomy graveyard fare. Visitors will feel welcomed. All of the characters matter and all are memorable. In a strong and strong-voiced cast, the standout is Christiane Noll in a performance that is beautifully sung and compellingly acted. Soaring anthems to the magic of love are tempered with realism. “The bravest hearts wind up in pieces,” sings Gertrude Klapper. When the pieces fit, as they do in A Fine and Private Place, it’s well worth taking the chance.
– AmericanTheaterWeb.com
The most captivating embrace of the season occurs between two characters who never even touch. The ecstatic, erotic moment in question happens in the second act of A Fine and Private Place, the gentle new musical being produced by the York Theatre Company. What’s more, it happens between two ghosts. The show has all the emotional and theatrical power you could wish for. Richard Isen’s music is always beautiful, at times even magically rapturous, and surging with restful romanticism. Erik Haagensen’s book and lyrics show great care and creativity. Glenn Seven Allen and Christiane Noll make powerful impressions in their songs. “No One Ever Knows” is heartfelt, the emotional peak of Evalyn Baron’s performance. Joe Kolinski sings his music robustly. Director Gabriel Barre is a one-note hoot as the Raven, and his staging of the ghost-human interactions is beautiful.
– TalkinBroadway.com
A Fine and Private Place is an admirably ambitious piece with a lot to offer audiences. A charming and romantic musical fantasy. Isen’s music is light and pretty and Haagensen’s lyrics are pleasant. Director Gabriel Barre has mounted a well-acted, nicely sung and visually imaginative production. Barre is fun to watch as the raven and delivers his wisecracks well. Glenn Seven Allen and Christiane Noll make for an attractive and well-sung couple, playing their scenes with warmth and sincerity. Evalyn Baron is quite tender and sympathetic as the lonely Gertrude. Joseph Kolinski is comical and hearty in the role of Jonathan. James Morgan’s set, Jeff Croiter’s lights and Scott De la Cruz’s projections create exceptional design work executed with the kind of taste and artfulness that puts many large-budgeted musicals to shame. The York’s production contains enough charms to delight lovers of intimate, romantic musicals. Sublime theatrical bliss to be savored and adored.
– BroadwayWorld.com
Richard Isen and Erik Haagensen are to be commended for writing this gentle love story. Strong performances: Evalyn Baron’s acting is nicely nuanced, Christiane Noll and Glenn Seven Allen sing their roles beautifully, and Joe Kolinski also sings well. Gabriel Barre flies away with the show; his comic timing is delicious, and his little bits of business add enormously to the fun. Excellent work from the design team: James Morgan's fluid set design creates a variety of playing spaces; Jeff Croiter's lighting does an extremely effective job of creating the ghostly world; and Pamela Scofield's costumes, especially for the raven, are excellent.
– Theatremania.com (that married couple, I think)
Often-impressive work. The four leads do well; credit goes to director Gabriel Barre. York subscribers should be pleased. A Fine & Private Place gets points for being an unconventional musical displaying originality and heart, not to mention attractive performances. Regionals looking for an earnest and economical musical should give this tombstone tuner an afterlife.
– Variety
Erik Haagensen and Richard Isen's understated score displays musical and lyrical sophistication. There are lovely songs, chief among them the haunting "Close Your Eyes," beautifully sung by Noll. The actors deliver engaging turns, with Barre giving a nicely detailed physical performance as the persnickety bird.
– NY Post
...and so it goes...today is a much-needed day off, and i had an early moring commercial call down at House Productions on 15th Street...the meat-packing district is now so chic and interesting, it's like being in a forgeign city, so, I stayed downtown and invited Ken Kliban to join me for lunch...a dear old pal (we did the SOCIAL SECURITY Tour together, buthad known each other from Circle Rep days for years...so much fun to be with him and catch up on life...he came to see AFPP the other evening and we re-connected...I am glad to have him back in my life...so glad.
Tonight: Mexican food with Miriam and Peter. Paul and Steven having a great time out on the West Coast. Lucky them. Though it is a gorgeous Spring day here. I feel free.
And so much to do and think about. Always. Must begin reading Sharon Salzberg's books in preparation for a weekend I will be spending in her presence at the end of May. A buddhist retreat. In the Catskills. Can hardly wait.
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