Northwest Children's Theater **Photo credit: Annaliese Moyer**December 13 - January 4, 2009
Review by peanutduck
Cuddle up with screen-to-stage adaptation; some, notably Deidre Atkinson’s Glinda, even channel on-screen counterparts’ mannerisms. Refreshingly authentic: Dopey scarecrow (Ryan Stathos), brimful-hearted Tinman (John Ellingson), Merritt Glover’s feisty malevolent witch with severe case of bandy-legged broom-crotch. Costumes, makeup, and sound - enchanted. Oddities: Natalie Hovee’s Dorothy’s Toto fixation; Munchkins’ ‘Shroomland residence.
27 comments:
I thought they did a nice job of honoring the film while still putting their own spin on it.
I am not sure what you were trying to say about Natalie Hovee's performance but I thought as the youngest principal actor on stage she rightfully interpreted Dorothy's lonliness and held her own.
I think that when you write a review, peanutduck, you should tell us exactly what you liked and didn't like an why. As Anon 2 (above) said, I have no idea what you were trying to say about Hovee's acting.
I too thought there was much to like about Natalie Hovee's performance. However, I got the impression that she was more affected during moments when Toto disappeared or was being frightened than when lamenting over how to get home, which added a strange comedic element to the play.
NWCT, if it wishes to be a contender, and if it wishes to continue doing musicals, has got to deal with its lamentable sound system.
direction, acting, sets, costumes all top notch.
all of it gone to waste because one simply cannot hear a damn thing.
outrageous really.
to pay money and be wholly robbed of the show.
NWCT - you simply must do something about this sound problem.
really.
(and yes, my wife and i have perfect hearing, if you were wondering)
i agree with that -- the sound at NWCT has always been astoundingly lacking.
the reason, i think, is that unlike most venues with accoustic challenges, NWCT does not put the sound op in the audience -- they are up in the booth, where is it impossible to hear what the rest of us are hearing.
seems like such a simple solution really.
it is a shame they seem unwilling to address this problem.
were i them, i would divert whatever money it took from wherever, to solve this problem.
if i were a sponsor, i would demand that they do it immediately.
Sound has been a problem even back in the days before there was a booth (way back in 1994 and 1995). The main reason has always been the architecture of the Northwest Cultural Center - that dome sucks up all the sound. All those arches and the open spaces to the sides of the stage don't help either.
Believe it or not, the sound has actually improved quite a bit over the years but until they are able to make some changes to the building itself, it can't get that much better. I know they have plans for a renovated theater (expanded stage and dressing rooms, new seating, panels to send the sound out into the audience instead of up into the dome, etc.) lying around, but I guess they've never been able to raise all the money required.
Thanks, anon (above) I was going to say that there is only so much a sound op can do when the venue is horrible as far as acoustics. Not to mention that people seem to like to think that wearing a microphone means you can be as quiet as you want.
I still have no idea what you are trying to say, peanutduck. Now it just sounds like you are searching for something you can say was bad :/
sound system?
they have a sound system?
who knew?
domes schmomes --- buy a compressor and crank up the volume.
Dear Peanutduck,
The reason why Hovee aka Dorothy is affected by Toto is because Toto represents a symbol of home, and him being gone causes her to be extremely lonely and more upset! According to the Oz books, if you have ever read them, you would know Kansas is dull, dusty and black and white. The only color is Dorothy, Toto and her imagination. Also, Dorothy parents died and Toto is her confident and friend. All in all, Hovee found reasons to be in the moment which involved Toto.
Whoa, anon 1/03, that's awfully defensive. Are you implying that we all need to have read the Oz books to understand why Dorothy was behaving the way she was? Not sure what you want from peanutduck here (beyond his finally breaking down and confessing that Hovee did the incredible job that you believe she did).
The show was great!
I would like to say that as an actor at NWCT for 7 years, we have tried to fix the sound problem. We have the money, but to fix it, we would have to buy the building which the city will not let us do. We are doing the best we can with the acustics we have, but it wont get any better if we can't buy the building
Then move out of the building
I enjoyed most of the principals with the exception of Hovee. She clearly didn't have the vocals for Dorothy, and some notes were simply painful to listen to. The teen ensemble obviously had a ton of energy that half-way brought the production to life, if not a lot of skill. The jitterbug dance was definitely the highlight of the show.
The comment before is not helpful, and it sounds like a personal attack on the actress.
I agree with the anon above me. Admins should remove 8/11/2009 01:32:00 PM
I did consider the comment carefully and determined that, while it is not a favorable review, it is not an attack on her personally.
THAT IS TOTALLY A PERSONAL ATTACK ON NATALIE HOVEE! She did an AMAZING job as Dorothy. She could hold the moments onstage and stay true to the classic movie. Please remove that hateful and cruel comment at once
-Bryan
Bryan, you don't appear to get the difference between a personal attack and a performance critique. Performers are subject to critiques of their performance and it's not always going to be good. No performer ever nails it every single time for everyone's liking. That's just how it is. If you disagree with the critique, that's one thing, but throwing a hissy fit over it and labeling it a person attack is just plain silly. Seriously. Get a grip.
dear anon.
My friend does have a grip. It is a personal attack. Maybe it doesnt look like it on this blog, but outside, it is. Trust me.
-Friend
I'm sure it's probably harder for kids to take (and it will be interesting to see what the reaction to "Oliver!" at Lakewood is), but it is most certainly not a personal attack, just an honest critique from an audience member. If this is protective parenting in action, my advice, as a performer myself (as well as a parent, albeit of two kids who wouldn't be caught dead on a stage, LOL), is you're doing your child a disservice by not getting them used to the "slings and arrows" of being a performer--getting critiqued simply comes with the job and trying to protect Natalie, who probably is a very nice little girl, ultimately won't help her grow as a performer.
Just to clear things up… We know that was a “personal attack”, because we know who wrote the comment, and it was not their intention to give a critique, it was their intention only to be cruel… Isn’t it weird that a comment like that was posted 8 months after the show closed? Wizard of Oz is over, it happened last December, it’s like beating a dead fish… Regardless of your own opinion of the show, I think it’s time to move on. :)
For my part, I braved a snow storm to see this show with my kids and I thought Dorothy was fine. I don't know if she was up to the role vocally because the sound quality of the rest of show was so poor I couldn't understand anyone.
Now that NWCT has signed a lease giving it "control of the building" (this is all according to it's recent school brochure), can we finally expect better sound quality? Or was that just an excuse? It's one I have heard voiced many times when I have complained; "If only we owned the building we could improve the sound quality of our shows"
I've never understood how this relates but you got your wish NWCT. Here's hoping you can deliver on your promise.
NWCT has had plans for a renovated theater for years. They used to display them in the lobby back in 2001 or so. Part of those plans were these panels (I'm not sure of the correct terminology) that hang from the ceiling and are supposed to keep sound from getting sucked up into the dome (which is essentially why the sound in that space has always been terrible).
Apparently to install those (and make all the other improvements they've been wanting to implement) they needed to purchase the building. That almost happened 6 or 7 years ago but the building's board eventually decided against it. They only agreed to a master lease with NWCT this year because the building would have to be shut down had other (structural) impovements not been made.
I assume the simpler (cheaper) improvements will come first and hopefully the renovation of the auditorium itself with follow soon after.
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