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We just got our tickets to see this on Halloween!

Sounds good. Are you reading the book first?

I read the book in high school and hated it. So I don't know. I like other Dickens, but wasn't a big fan of this one.

I feel like I should read it again before seeing the show, but don't think I will have a chance. Maybe I will try to read it right after.

The show was very good. It was not without problems, but overall I'd recommend it. It was pretty true to the heart of the book, I think, and had some little nods to the more famous lines and passages.

There were a few problems with the direction however. A few of the actors seemed to be too aware that they were in a big, sweeping, epic drama of a musical and as a result overacted a bit. It's distracting to me to see actors act. When I watch a performance, I want to be able to pretend that it's real. Also, everyone spoke with British accents. It made it difficult to distinguish which scenes and characters were Parisian and which were in London. Another issue I had was with the set changes. Stage crew in modern dress would sometimes be seen on stage for entire scenes. It was very distracting.

All of the lead actors were brilliant, though, and it is a show I would see again.

I just saw that is is closing already. Hopefully, it will tour. I would like to see it and it is to bad it is closing so soon on Broadway.

It is closing, yes. They had planned to go through January but the theatre owners are kicking them out to make way for Hair. James Barbour (the lead) says that they are hoping that the producers will be able to get a tour together with the money they had set aside to get them through January. However, I doubt that any of the original cast will be in the tour since most of them have already agreed to do the workshop for The Count of Monte Cristo.

A funny aside: a friend of ours in the business called it "A Tale That's Too Shitty." Heh.

I think the main problem with the show was that it was trying too hard to be Les Miserables or The Scarlet Pimpernel. There were scenes and songs that were OBVIOUSLY influenced by Les Miz. And it's just not good enough to be compared to either of those. I think the show could be successful with a lot of work and if it found a way to set itself apart from the inevitible Lex Miz comparisons.

I was sorry to see it closed, as I had hoped to catch it. Seems like Monte Cristo so soon after, especially since Two Cities didn't get a long run might not be the greatest idea...but who knows?

Did they relese a cast recording? I'd like to listen to it sometime!

There's a concept album, but not a cast recording. The show was only open for a little over a month, so I'm not sure if they ever recorded one, and if they did, if they would release it.