From what people are saying at what they are telling me is that "Out of the Sun" aka the cancer song has got to go and all his (Tony) songs start with same tempo and all sound the same.
That's exactly how I feel, Robbie2.
Last night I was thinking about the lasting power of this show and although I enjoyed it, I can't see it lasting very long if the reviews aren't stellar. Might be tough to hold out to Tony nominations.
Swing Joined: 11/30/14
Oddly enough,Out of the Sun is my favorite song in the show so far!ugh,I feel terrible!
I just feel like the point of "Out of the Sun" is reiterated a dozen other times throughout the show so why sing about it?
True...why sing it when it's spoken and referenced during the show.
Listening to score as I am typing this and it sounds very much Cy Colemanish with colors of Sondheim mixed with K&E.
Swing Joined: 11/30/14
I want to like the score more but I can't really put my finger on why I don't. Anywhere but here seems like it could have went further but missed the opportunity and it feels like the ensemble characters have more songs/scene exposition than the leads like Friki, Friki .
Understudy Joined: 2/19/09
Oncemorewithfeeling captures my same sentiment. I saw the show at Paper Mill and thought they did an excellent job for putting it on it's feet for the first time. But, what has happened in the past year? It seems to have lost it's way. What was charming last year is now annoying. (ie Tony Danza ad libs, Nancy Opel chewing up the scenery) And, the staging seems to be less inventive and clunky. The producers decided to have such a long preview period, but I think with their low grosses they may want to consider moving opening up a month sooner to capture some business before the dark winter. Rob McClure is charming but doesn't seem genuine. Tony Danza should call out sick for a few days prior to opening and work on healing his voice. He does not sound healthy. I now have a new found respect for Kinky Boots and why audiences love that show. It has a better book, better choreography and better staging. Both are based on entertaining movies. One is an entertaining musical.
Can someone give me some lyric help? This is a small thing but it drives me crazy every time I listen to the "Betsy's Getting Married" track:
Thirty-one years I climbed that hill
Seventeen years I'm on the pill
??????????????????
It sounds like she's saying, "Least I'm not beans on J-8's till", but that can't be right. I can't find the lyrics printed online anywhere yet.
I think that line is something about how someone she knows is still on J-Date.
Featured Actor Joined: 11/1/05
I guess that would make sense, but since I've never in my life heard of J Date (thanks, Dr. Google) no wonder I didn't get it.
I like a lot of the recording, but some of it sounds like prime material to be cut in previews. And a few of the lyrics are just a little sloppy. I don't like the passage in "Anywhere but Here" about a rusty swingset for our baby to ride. Really, you want your baby to get tetanus? And I'm not sure you "ride" a swingset. When's the last time you heard someone tell their kid to go outside and ride their swingset?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
The skin cancer song needs to go. Whether or not they cut it will be a real litmus test of whether they're trying to fix it.
Yeah, "Out of the Sun" feels like it crosses the line of taste. And "Higher Love" feels way too long on the recording. Maybe it works as a production number on stage, but it's a skip on the recording. And the airport song either needs to go or be built into some genuine wit. Really, knocks on flying through Atlanta? Failed stand-up material.
On the other hand, things like "I Love Betsy", "Betsy's Getting Married/The Game", "Come to an Agreement", "You Made the Wait Worthwhile" and "Isn't That Enough?" are very successful numbers to me.
'And "Higher Love" feels way too long on the recording. Maybe it works as a production number on stage.'
It doesn't, at least not fully.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/29/08
does anyone know what the view is from front row center mezz? i bought tickets for there and just read online that when newsies was at the nederlander, those were horrible seats because there were speakers or lights blocking peoples views! I know there's a railing there, I'm not concerned about that, but is it an obstructed view because of the lights or anything? if anyone has any info, it would be appreciated :)
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Yeah, "Higher Love" didn't quite work for me either. It's just okay.
JRB had a taste problem with the terminal illness song and jokes about it in 13, too.
Updated On: 12/2/14 at 01:34 PM
I thought "Higher Love" was probably the best number in the show.
"Airport Song" is very funny and while it serves a purpose in context, it could probably be replaced by some dialogue.
When I think about the show and when I was listening to the OBCR during my prep today, I realized that an issue I had with the show is that many songs do nothing to significantly advance the musical. They're not really moving the show forward. Effective dialogue or changing the songs up some would be more effective.
Any reason why this is previewing from 11/18-1/14...8 weeks???
This premiered a year ago @ Papermill and had a healthy run along with mixed-positive reviews and a rave from the TIMES but do they really need such a long preview period if many say that the show is pretty much frozen and no significant changes have been made since it started previews on 11/18? It seems crazy that the producers & creatives are so satisfied with the production even though many on this board say it needs to gain back the funny edge and energy along with punching up the comedic book scenes and liven up the choreography. For those that saw it at Papermill, what has changed for the better now Broadway?
Featured Actor Joined: 5/2/13
"And the airport song either needs to go or be built into some genuine wit. Really, knocks on flying through Atlanta? Failed stand-up material. "
I don't think it's knocking flying through Atlanta in anyway. It's just supposed to be funny because it's so far out of the way. How would it make any sense to go from Honolulu to Atlanta and then back to Vegas?
It's a sort of commentary on bizarre airline routes.
Stand-by Joined: 8/13/07
re: Hairspray0901
Those are great seats!
I saw it from front row mezz and it was a perfect view for this show...
Updated On: 12/3/14 at 08:30 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
Does anyone remember the current running time? Seeing the show later today and need to plan a meet-up.
Thanks!
I was on the street at 4:40 from a 2:00 show.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
Brynn O'malley instagramed a pic of Rob with pages of changes made to the show so they are definitely working on it for those of you who think otherwise
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