September 21, 2011

CANDIDE: Audience Comments


Lauren Molina (Cunegonde) and Geoff Packard (Candide)
Have you seen Candide? Please share your comments with us.


What do you make of the philosophies put forth in Candide -- that everything happens for the best as Dr. Pangloss teaches, or for the worst, as Martin believes?

Have you seen other productions of Candide? How did this one differ?

Were any storytelling techniques director/adaptor Mary Zimmerman utilized in her script or staging particularly memorable for you?

Did you attend a post show conversation? What comments surprised you or made you think differently about the play? Would you attend a post show conversation again? What were you thinking about on the way home from the theatre?

The Huntington Theatre Company's presentation of Candide plays now through October, 16, 2011 only at the B.U. Theatre. Get tickets and information or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800.

19 comments:

Ellen on Facebook said...

LOVED this production of Candide at the Huntington Theatre Company. One of the best plays I've ever seen.

Ken on Facebook said...

This production is a revelation! If you're within 100 miles of Boston you must see this show! I traveled 3,500 miles to see it. And it was worth it!

@KLiss on Twitter said...

Go see Candide at the Huntington. Great music. Great cast. Great staging. One of the best shows I've ever seen.

VM on Goldstar said...

Brilliant! Great voices, acting, & staging!

bunky said...

Brilliant production that highlights the dark undertone of the original Voltaire yet maintainsthe bright sparkling bouyancy ofthat peice as well. Truly Glitters and is gay! possibly the best of all possible Candide's!

Fred Hochberg said...

Dear Mr. DuBois and Mr. Maso and the Huntington Board,

My friends ask 'How do you make time slow down?'. The answer is buy a subscription to the Huntington as an entire family; revel in plays which transcend time, speak thereafter.

Last night's Candide left us awestruck. We will reread the Voltaire, see Lillian Hellman's original words, see what Hershey Kaye did with Bernstein and to thank all of the actors and your staff. What unbelievable joy you provided.

We have been with you for over ten years and thank you again for last night and what you have done for Boston.

Fred Hochberg

MSullivan said...

Particularly enjoyed the staging post Spiderman and ALW-like excess. Voice, music and casting were very good. Acting was a bit campy for my taste.

Methia said...

When so many Broadway shows use canned music, what a delight to have a live orchestra!

Dan McElaney said...

Production was as good as theatre can be. Reread Voltaire after seeing the production and was really glad how faithful to Voltaire the musical book had been.The slow motion murder scene of the Jesuit/brother was wonderful

Dan Mcelaney

Anonymous said...

We have been twice, once on subscription and once because that experience was so wonderful we had to experience it again. We are now trying to find time to see this fabulous production once more before it closes. Also, I want you to know that the music(Bernstein and the orchestra and cast), thankfully, will not leave my mind.

Anonymous said...

My wife and I saw Candide last night. We just wanted you and the gang down there to know that we have seen a lot of great theatre over the years. This show was an absolute delight in every way, and I found the acting and the staging to be nothing less than amazing. The young woman who played to lead was extraordinarily talented. Walking home, somehow, the pavement had turned to clouds. Cheers-Dan Moran

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed the show — good acting and singing.

Of course it's really easy for Voltaire to satirize the idea that this is the best of all possible worlds, except, what he's really satirizing is the idea that this is the best of all imaginable worlds.

Sara Glidden said...

What a lovely, lovely production!  I think this might be the fifth – or even the sixth – Candide that I have seen, and I was delighted by how fresh, poignant and powerful it was.  And human – which it hasn’t always seemed to be for me.  Candide’s speech about optimism would have made the afternoon well spent, even if I hadn’t enjoyed everything prior to it.  And of course, the glorious, glorious music.  Congrats to everyone!! 

Anonymous said...

I am still laughing. I loved the sheep and the tiny boats and waves. how rediculously funny. the physical comedy was brilliant and the singing gave me goosebumps, especially the final scene with entire cast.

Anonymous said...

So VERY excited to see another Mary Zimmerman production! Then to realize, as we took our seats, it would have a LIVE orchestra...well...we were over the moon!

richard said...

This play/opera brings out the best in performers and directors. I have seen 2 previous productions and enjoyed them enormously. This one was just as good as my memories of the others. You have to have a good cast and orchestra in order to attempt this piece, otherwise you wouldn't get away with it. We are so lucky in Boston to see fine productions of both Porgy and Candide in one season.

Anonymous said...

This production rivals Huntington's very best work - "Journey to the West" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" among them - with an extraordinarily talented cast, and staging/production values that are creative and superlative. Zimmerman and Huntington - what a fantastic team!

Anonymous said...

The staging of "Glitter and Be Gay" was brilliant and superbly performed by Lauren Molina. Likewise, the last scene and profound humility in the face and movement of Geoff Packard. Notwithstanding having listened to the original cast recording countless times, I never really "heard"/appreciated/understood the lyrics of "Let Our Garden Grow" until I heard Geoff Packard sing them. One of the finest musical theatre productions that I've ever seen!
- Michael L.

Anonymous said...

"Candide" was absolutely Fabulous! Lauren Molina, Geof Packar, Cheryl Stern, etc. were wonderful! I hope that we be seeing more of this fine company - especially Lauren Molina whom I enjoyed seeing at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in "Ten Cents a Dance". What a talented actor!