Spring in the OC: Lucas Gabor, Kayla's first, and other thoughts

[bwayfan418]

OK, I saw 3 performances in Costa Mesa after seeing the show a year ago in Tempe, so I was excited to see the new cast and all the changes.
Friday Nov 20:
Lucas went on for Melchior and I was so excited to see him! His Melchi was very understated, especially in comparison to Kyle's. I enjoyed it and his voice was very nice.  I thought he could have punched a few more lines, but his Melchi was unsure, thoughtful, and clearly naive.  He was very awkward in the hayloft scene, but in a good way.  He looks young which helps, but he and Christy look sort of similar which freaked me out a bit.  He didn't have much chemistry with Taylor, but that is understandable as an understudy.  His LB and TYK were very beautiful.
Sidenote: He was very sweet and humble at the stagedoor and he sat behind me onstage the next day and it was heavenly to hear his harmonies.
Kimiko called out at intermission, so Kayla unexpectedly got to go on for the first time as Thea! Of course, Thea doesn't do much in the second act, but Kayla looked adorable and was really rocking out in TF, so congrats to her!
Saturday matinee and evening (I was crazy and went twice, first onstage, then orchestra where I moved to front row after intermission):
Seeing Jake was great because he was inbetween Kyle and Lucas.  He clearly thought he knew everything, but clearly didn't.  He brought arrogance, but it was very childish.  His voice is very nice, and his final note in TYK gave me chills.  His MBN was FIERCE! His LB was so moving, you could really see the anger and pain he felt, which carried over to the graveyard.  He and Taylor were so funny together and really seemed to be close. I was quite impressed with Taylor.  His vocals got stronger with each performance, and he rocks out hard to DDS.  His suicide monologue wasn’t as powerful as Blake’s and he could have built it up a bit more, but still good.  He changed things up each night which was fun to watch.
General thoughts:
I miss the old MWBM choreography, but the girls are still so fierce.
No one can ever match Andy’s crazy stomps in BOL.
LOVED the stuff Matt and Angie added in Junk. I was right next to the piano and was dying of laughter.
The slaps in the “I failed” scene need to go. REALLY.  Moritz is not afraid to tell his dad because he thinks he will be beaten, but because he is ashamed. It should be psychological.And it takes away from the Wendla slap.  So yeah, I think Blake had the right idea to take them out.
LOVED the Whispering harmony with Melchior.  Jake’s was amazing.
Andy got so much funnier in WOYB reprise.  He is such a performer.
The new Ben is adorable, has a great voice, and is a very believable Ernst, but Ben Moss had a bit more chemistry with Andy.
Ok I’ll end now! I love the show, and this cast is so amazing and keeps it fresh every time!!!

[Farrell]

Thanks for the thoughts.

Just a side note though- it was never Blake's idea to take the slaps out of the "I failed" scene. It depends on the two actors and which way works better for them.

[NICHOLAS!]

You saw Lucas the second night he was on! Good thing cause he was so much better on Friday!

[LaylaPassed]

good review, but yeah the slaps depend on the chemistry between the actors playing Adult Man and Moritz. I personally think that for John Wodja's Adult Man, the slaps fit in perfectly. Henry's character didn't need the violence though.

[Joan Jess]

Sorry I haven't seen the show since it was on Broadway so what do you mean about changing the MWBMR choreography? No more angsty stomps?!?

[LaylaPassed]

I didn't notice the lack of stomping.. Steffi and everyone else still seemed just as into it.

[Farrell]

Unless they have changed the choreography since Milwaukee, MWBMR is the same as I've always seen it.

[Joan Jess]

good because I was getting worried.

[bwayfan418]

They just toned down the movement. Look at the first MWBMR tour video compared to the other one.
I think I read in an interview that Blake specifically asked to remove the slaps because they weren't working with him and the Adult Male, but in any case, I think the scene should also be purely psychological. But that's just my opinion.  Still Taylor and John had me in tears during that scene.
MWBMR first leg of the tour- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jJHCtQYpYE
MWBMR second leg of the tour- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4eYruRzpqA

[yourwound819]

Wow there actually is a fairly large difference between those 2 videos... Kimiko especially stands out in the 2nd one as having NO emotion and no energy, which is strange because I felt like she had plenty of energy in the first one and more than plenty the time I saw her live.

[bwayfan418]

Yeah Kimiko was great live, but she looks uncomfortable in the second video.  I like the Wendla movement in the first one too. And the tour choreography was always different from Broadway.  But if you ever sit onstage, watch Taylor during MWBMR. He rocks out so hard and it's so cute!

[LaylaPassed]

i never trust the videos. they are in no way a representation of what goes on onstage.

omg taylor rocking out makes my life! sitting next to him during mwbmr was incredible!

[broken wishes]

i noticed the MWBMR choreo as different. they don't stomp right away and their stomping has changed a bit and is a little toned down. kimiko used to do this signature slap and she doesn't anymore. she doesn't really bring too much to it whereas before she stood out.