SUFFS Previews- Page 6

[stoptheworld38]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 10:22pm

I live in Vermont which is where Shaina Taub grew up and I was very excited to see this great article and front page feature that just came out in this week's local paper: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/waitsfields-shaina-taub-arrives-on-broadway-starring-in-her-own-musical-suffs-40679260

Coincidentally I was actually just where she went to high school for a choir rehearsal on Monday. Also volunteer with the local theatre company that she did a few shows with as a kid/young teenager.

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 10:22 PM

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 11:43pm

well this was disappointing, although it has its moments and is certainly a worthwhile effort despite its flaws. this is one i was most looking fwd to, given the subject matter and type of historical tale being so up my alley. 

what a story to tell, and im so glad shaina is telling it. she is the opposite of Lin Manuel Miranda: she acts and sounds great (it seems insane, now that ive seen her, that she wouldnt play this role) BUT her score is monotonous (all blends together into one pleasant mush) and the lyrics are totally predictable in that cringey "are they gonna rhyme head with bed...yup they just did" kinda way. and whereas hamilton performed a story, Suffs tells it to us, and instead of packing five textbooks worth into 2.5 hours, it feels like Suffs does the opposite. it focus on the same, uncomplicated tale for 2.5 hours. so many missed opportunities.

we of course take for granted that the notion of women not being able to vote is patently insane, but we are never SHOWN it. the Black women powerfully remind us that the hard-won rights here weren't nearly enough...by saying so. Everyone falls apart at a tragedy in act 1, but it was lost on me what was so special about that person until then. also, its a shoddy production. and by that i mean there are some purely amateur moments that were staged in a way that would be more appropriate for a fancy high school. those prison scenes? the stretching and "dancing" around fire surrounding the President up on a bizarre platform? and while its perfectly fine to have a minimalist set or otherwise require us to use our imagination, but this production does a halfway job of it, which is so much worse: the same wooden walls slide in/out every few seconds, a tiny table and chairs pop up and down nonstop.

and yet. at times the show takes off, or punches you in the gut. Great American Bitch is a hoot and brings the show to life after a slower start. Ida B Wells has some moments in Act 2 that broke my heart. Emily Skinner's Act 2 song is a stunner, a show stopper, everything you could want. And the Woodrow Wilson shtick is hilarious. A great ending and I love what Taub is trying to say about generational protests, about the push/pull of social movements. I wanted to like this so much more....

the cast is uniformly excellent- Taub being a real surprise, but of course Jenn Collella is doing great work too, and Nikki James is doing some subtly fine work here like I have never seen from her before. Grace McLean is hilarious, Emily Skinner eats the two scenes shes given, Hannah Cruz sounds fantastic (based on what she did tonight, it feels like Soo would be totally miscast in this role...)  Tsilala Brock stuck out to me as the only awkward, false note here- her performance is timid and unconvincing (in a role that should be stir us up), and in a show that pointedly focuses on race i cannot fathom why they'd cast a Black actor as the Irish chief of staff to the President in 1915. 

because the staging is so unoriginal (walk on, walk off, curtain up, everyone step forward) there are no bad seats at all, and i wish i hadn't spent $$ on front mezzanine. there was some sort of medical incident in the front right mezz tonight towards the end of act 1- i thought they might call to stop the show, but the staff seemed to resolve it during intermission. third medical incident in a bway theater in the past week. 

Updated On: 4/17/24 at 11:43 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 12:04am

I took a friend to see this tonight and wasn’t sure how he’d like it but he said it’s now his favorite musical of the season and I came out of it again feeling the same way. I just love this show. 

[yyys]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 8:58am

Is Shaina doing Sunday matinees? I'm looking at April 28th.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 9:13am

Taub has no scheduled Sundays off. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 10:15am

I've spent the morning reading about Senator Harry Burn (who cast the deciding vote for ratification) and his Mother, Febb Ensminger Burn who sent the letter, which convinced him vote "aye". There's a very interesting article about them, mentioning others included in this musical , where you can read the actual letter here and her legacy for writing it. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 10:17am

In the middle of the spring "theatre dump", saw this last night. I liked it, a little less than Gatsby, but it was fun, full of real "songs" (my new criteria for what I consider a good show) and lovely performances.  I may have liked it a little more if I hadn't just seen the Stereophonic matinee, but that play still had ahold of my heart (I think it will be hard pressed for me to enjoy any of the many shows I'm about to see as much).

I did not see this at the Public.But I can't even imagine Philippe Soo giving a performance at all like (or as good as) Hannah Cruz! She was terrific and I missed her when she wasn't onstage.

A lovely history lesson that was fun and tuneful in a Schoolhouse Rock kind of way. I think it has a strong chance at some nominations...

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 4:07pm

I’m really curious why they don’t have Hillary Clinton doing a preshow announcement for this show. It seems like it would be a given for her to do it, especially since they don’t even have one at this point. 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 6:46pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I’m really curious why they don’t have Hillary Clinton doing a preshow announcement for this show. It seems like it would be a given for her to do it, especially since they don’t even have one at this point."

And Malala. What a pair!  My respect for the production grew exponentially when I heard who would be producing. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 8:17pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I’m really curious why they don’t have Hillary Clinton doing a preshow announcement for this show. It seems like it would be a given for her to do it, especially since they don’t even have one at this point."

i had the same thought- Hillary, a true legacy of the Suff movement, telling us to turn off our godamn phones would be epic. They had Senator Warnock do it for Parade and shes ten times more known and affiliated with this show.... no brainer.

After a day of marinating with this, I still cant pretend to have enjoyed the score/lyrics situation, but it really is impressive what Shaina Taub did here, putting it all together and performing in it so well. I expect her to get solid reviews and many nominations in her future. What a talent.

[yyys]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 1:09pm

Is the front row too close for this production?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 1:23pm

I’ve never sat front row there but Seatplan photos make it appear to be a high stage. 

[TBone]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 1:42pm

yyys said: "Is the front row too close for this production?"

I sat in the fourth row this past weekend, and I thought even that was too close. The stage is very high.

[yyys]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 2:00pm

ok thanks guys!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/22/24 at 2:06pm

The stage is high, and there's also a lip that goes about 6 inches above the stage deck (likely covering lights, but could also be an insurance measure for the actor who uses a wheelchair or for the fire sequences). So if you like to see the floor (or the flames), sit further back in the orchestra or in the mezz.

[TamzBway]

Posted: 4/29/24 at 5:29pm

Has anyone tried digital or in-person rush for this lately? Any idea on seat locations? Also, does anyone know if Nikki M. James has been out for matinees? Heading into the city this week and am trying for this on Wed matinee/Fri evening/Sat or Sun matinee. Thanks in advance!

[Symsyd]

Posted: 4/29/24 at 10:25pm

I won digital lottery for tomorrow night and I’m in right orchestra, Row J Seat 10.