Home For The Holidays on Broadway- Page 4

[moira8]

Posted: 11/20/17 at 9:40pm

So I saw this tonight. The rest I can tolerate, but Bianca Ryan was just awful!

Danny A. said in closing that he was honored to be there with the greatest musicians and singers OF ALL TIME. But even he stuttered a bit on that one. Me, I actually laughed out loud when he said that.

The guy in front of me had his phone up recording the whole closing song. It was only towards the last few notes when I noticed that he completely forgot to press the record button. Recording time displayed: 00:00:00. I would have thought that was the perfect ending for this night, except I feel bad for the guy.

When I picked up my tickets, the rep had a whole stack of comp tickets — probably about half a foot high. Orchestra section was full, but I’m pretty sure more than half were comps.

[Golenboybway]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 1:55am

But how can i get a comp to see this mess?

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 8:37am

I don't know what's sadder for Broadway, this show or the recent outpouring of Scott Rudin stories on that other thread.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 11:24am

Celtic Woman just made my day!

[PopAria]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 12:51pm

Saw this last night and wanted to sleep on it before i posted my thoughts. Here goes- Let's just say there are daily cabarets downtown at The Duplex, and at Don't Tell Mama, and even at Marie's Crisis that provide the same experience as Home for the Holidays usually for the price of 2 drinks.  

The more I think about it, the more I am sure you will have an amazing time just 22 blocks north of this at THE BEACON THEATER for Mariah Carey's Christmas show.  I saw Mariah's show last year and had a BLAST. 

Home for the Holidays didn't even have half naked male dancers to get distracted from the poor singing. 

Updated On: 11/21/17 at 12:51 PM

[CoolDogeGuy]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 10:30pm

I just saw the reviews on Did He Like It?

Yikes.

Quoting Hollywood Reporter's review: "Morose over being stuck in the city during the holidays? Tired of seeing those same old perennials like the Radio City Christmas show or The Nutcracker? If you answered yes and wish to throw yourself even further into seasonal depression, there's a new show on Broadway that's just the ticket." 

Ouch.

And Time Out New York's review: "“Please be advised that Home for the Holidays contains haze effects,” warns a sign at the August Wilson Theatre, and boy, does it ever. First there is the hazy concept. This tacky pop-up Broadway concert, the yuletide equivalent of a Halloween costume store [...] Then there is the hazy singing: breathy, baroquely melismatic ornamentations, as though the vocalists were skating on thin ice and afraid to stay on a single note for more than a quarter of a second. And then there are the hazy stories. “I don’t know if this really happened or was one of many dreams I had as a little boy,” says Aiello, recalling a 1945 encounter with Christmas bells. “Either way, it is a memory I will treasure my entire life.”

Ouchhhhhh.

Sorry, Home for the Holidays. First of all, this "Broadway Celebration Concert" came out of nowhere and no one even expected it. Yes, the whole cast is great (especially Candice!!!), but this show doesn't make any sense. Who thought of this in the first place? 

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 10:36pm

So, I saw on Instagram that they had a truck shooting searchlights into the sky in front of the theater. Anyone see it? I’m sure THAT’LL turn business around. 

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 10:39pm

Unless it's a typo, last week they sold 5.5% of their gross potential and were 57% full, with a $14.71 average ticket price. And that NYT review ain't gonna help their sales. Can this even make it to January?

[10086sunset]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 10:46pm

 This really sounds like it shouldn’t be missed. 

 

Updated On: 11/22/17 at 10:46 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 10:51pm

Am I the only one that just found out James Brown III, who will be playing the king in frozen, costume designed this show..... what?!!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 10:56pm

These reviews are absolutely hilarious. I can't remember the last time the critics were so savage. 

Some more gems:

Expertly recalling the sort of entertainment you'd experience on a cruise ship or in a low-rent Vegas casino, Home for the Holidays is a Christmas show only Ebenezer Scrooge could love. 

"I was somewhat apprehensive about doing this show," Aiello admits at one point in the torturous evening. His instincts were correct.

She [the bachelorette] informs us that she's fulfilling a lifelong dream by appearing on Broadway, but her hopelessly stilted delivery only goes to prove that one person's dream is an audience's nightmare.

...so called-headliners, who come across like they're performing in front of a mirror. Judging by the glazed response from the audience, they might as well be. 

Bring back Donny and Marie.

Ms. Ryan appears unsure of what to do with her pipes, or of how to behave in front of an audience- her go-to gesture is to vaguely rearrange the air with her right hand. 

Home for the Holidays is unlikely to remind you much of home, unless you were raised in a department-store elevator. 

Bristowe, who is featured in the show for approximately four minutes, says that being on Broadway "feels like a Christmas miracles," which rather seems like lowering the bar. Looking out on a sea of glum and bored faces at the end of the show, she gamely asks, "Are we in the holiday spirit or what?" The only honest response is: What?

 

[CoolDogeGuy]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 10:58pm

WhizzerMarvin said: "These reviews are absolutely hilarious. I can't remember the last time the critics were so savage."

Oh my gosh, I TOTALLY agree! These are the funniest reviews I have ever seen in my life! I wish I could go to New York and see how bad it is, but I can't afford plane tickets right now as Christmas is on its way and I have to buy presents.

 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 10:59pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Am I the only one that just found out James Brown III, who will be playing the king in frozen, costume designed this show..... what?!!"

More specifically he is credited as "wardrobe stylist" and not costume designer, meaning he took them shopping at Forever 21 and helped them pick out dresses. His bio states: Broadway celebrity stylist to Ramin Karimloo, Mandy Gonzalez, Leslie Odom Jr, Derek Klena. 

I mean it doesn't get any more bizarre. 

Updated On: 11/21/17 at 10:59 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 11:04pm

CoolDogeGuy said: "I just saw the reviews on Did He Like It?

Yikes.

Quoting Hollywood Reporter's review: "Morose over being stuck in the city during the holidays? Tired of seeing those same old perennials like the Radio City Christmas show or The Nutcracker?If you answered yes and wish to throw yourself even further into seasonal depression, there's a new show on Broadway that's just the ticket."

Ouch.

And Time Out New York's review: "“Please be advisedthatHome for the Holidayscontains haze effects,” warns a sign at the August Wilson Theatre, and boy, does it ever. First there is the hazy concept. This tacky pop-up Broadway concert, the yuletide equivalent of a Halloween costume store [...] Then there is the hazy singing: breathy, baroquely melismatic ornamentations, as though the vocalists were skating on thin ice and afraid to stay on a single note for more than a quarter of a second. And then there are the hazy stories. “I don’t know if this really happened or was one of many dreams I had as a little boy,” says Aiello, recalling a 1945 encounter with Christmas bells. “Either way, it is a memory I will treasure my entire life.”

Ouchhhhhh.

Sorry, Home for the Holidays. First of all, this "Broadway Celebration Concert" came out of nowhere and no one even expected it. Yes, the whole cast is great (especially Candice!!!), but this show doesn't make any sense. Who thought of this in the first place?"

Some REALLY great pull quotes in these two!

[ethan231h]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 11:07pm

I agree with Elizabeth and the Times.....they should've gotten a queen from Drag Race

[CoolDogeGuy]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 11:12pm

ethan231h said: "I agree with Elizabeth and the Times.....they should've gotten a queen from Drag Race"

Exactly. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 11/22/17 at 12:33am

Wow, NYT describes the show as "limp" and "bland," and two of its performers as personifying "mechanical competence."

Big swing and a miss on every level here.

[grandpianoalex2]

Posted: 11/22/17 at 1:07am

A series of tweets from cast member Peter Hollens... 

 

"Gotta love when a NY Times Reporter rips apart your incredibly talented friends...

Elisabeth Vincentelli, next Time a broadway production holds 15 min just so you can come to our SECOND preview show some respect eh? 

On my fathers grave, you will enjoy the heck out of our show if you come to it. NY times and one persons opinion be damned.

 People throw rocks at things that shine. Broadway our show is awesome and fun and we built it for the people that come and visit NYC. 

It's a great show filled with the Christmas and holiday spirit, and the crowd loves it! And we love doing it and that's what matters. 

Looking for something unique, festive, positive, hopeful and fun? We built it for the kids who will grow up to be us. Come @HolidaysOnBway. 

So sorry @FeldmanAdam didn't like December Song...maybe that means it's not good? What do you guys think?"

[dearalanaaaa]

Posted: 11/22/17 at 1:16am

 Somebody give me a comp ticket to this, since they're not filling any seats clearly. I wonder what would happen if I just wandered in the show that they wouldn't notice due to all the comps. This sounds like an absolute disaster but that's the reason I'd see it.

[hbf]

Posted: 11/22/17 at 1:46am

Closes in two weeks, any other bets?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/22/17 at 8:59am

THEY'RE NOT BAD REVIEWS!!  JUST PEOPLE THROWING ROCKS AT THINGS THAT SHINE, Y'ALL!!  THEY'RE JUST JEALOUS!!  I FEEL SORRY FOR THEM!!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/22/17 at 9:14am

I have to wonder if this will close even a week early. These poor reviews, $15 average ticket price, 50% capacity, comps for anyone that wants them.

[JennH]

Posted: 11/22/17 at 9:50am

grandpianoalex2 said: "A series of tweets from cast member Peter Hollens...



"Gotta love when a NY Times Reporter rips apart your incredibly talented friends...

Elisabeth Vincentelli, next Time a broadway production holds 15 min just so you can come to our SECOND preview show some respect eh?

On my fathers grave, you will enjoy the heck out of our show if you come to it. NY times and one persons opinion be damned.

People throw rocks at things that shine. Broadway our show is awesome and fun and we built it for the people that come and visit NYC.

It's a great show filled with the Christmas and holiday spirit, and the crowd loves it! And we love doing it and that's what matters.

Looking for something unique, festive, positive, hopeful and fun? We built it for the kids who will grow up to be us. Come @HolidaysOnBway.

So sorry @FeldmanAdam didn't like December Song...maybe that means it's not good? What do you guys think?""

I truly love and adore Peter with all my heart, and as aforementioned, him and Evynne are my reasons to see this if I do end up seeing it, but...yeah, this doesn't seem to be good. However, I "was there" so to speak when he released his December Song and yes, while songs about keeping Christmas spirits alive all year round is certainly not new, only ONE of those songs made me weep like like damn child....and it was that one. That fact that he sings it here makes me want to see this just for that. 

[JennH]

Posted: 11/22/17 at 9:52am

dearalanaaaa said: "Somebody give me a comp ticket to this, since they're not filling any seats clearly. I wonder what would happen if I just wandered in the show that they wouldn't notice due to all the comps. This sounds like an absolute disaster but that's the reason I'd see it."

I'll just post again until it happens, same. Comp me please. They've got to be doing rush too by now, right?

Updated On: 11/22/17 at 09:52 AM

[Kalimba]

Posted: 11/22/17 at 10:21am

That poor theatre is going to have to be fumigated after this holiday craptacular.