U2 Tour Dates - Now Official!- Page 150

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/24/05 at 6:03pm

Oh yeah? What is bringing you to La La land?

[mabel]

Posted: 9/24/05 at 11:47pm

Hey guys...Back from Lennon...Uuuuummmm...you didn't miss much.

I wanted to like it (even though in the back of my mind, I knew I probably wouldn't) and it really...it just wasn't very good.

The whole concept of having NINE John Lennon's really didn't work, in my humble opinion. While I understand what they were going for, having a community of actors embracing Lennon's idea that we can and should all live as ONE...it just didn't work. I think the main reason it didn't work was because one actor (Will Chase) was so obviously heads and shoulders above everyone else. Will (and I admit, I've got a bias, having seen and loved him previously in Miss Saigon and The Full Monty...about 5 times) was the only one to really succeed in his track. He was the only one to do a decent accent, and while they obviously didn't care about having everyone "look" like John Lennon (having Julia Murney and Chuck Cooper take turns, etc) it also didn't help that (at least from the rear-ish mezz) Will was the only one who kind of looked like a passable Lennon. He certainly doesn't look like a clone or anything, but he has features that suggest John. So, he looked and sounded like him, and everyone else was a 180 degree turn.

Marcy Harriell, who was supposed to be amazing, was out, and her understudy just did not hit it out of the park as I imagine Marcy did...I fail to get the "genius" of Julia Murney, and after seeing him in 3 different shows, I am pretty much done w/ Chad Kimball. He has the most shrill, piercing voice...more than the other one, two, three...eight people, when he was on, I really got pissed that Will wasn't singing/playing John. I generally rather like trying to keep an ensemble piece, but this really should have been Will's show. Sorry.

Also, something that bothered me. I'm not a fan of the Broadway musical, sans set/costumes/etc. Seriously, if you've got a cast of 9, no real set, and costumes that consist of jeans and t-shirts and an array of jackets, you CANNOT charge the same price for a ticket as Spamalot or any other show that's got a cast of 30+ w/ multiple sets and dozens of costume changes...ok, it's not that I think you need to have a big cast w/ lots of flashiness to make a successful show, both financially and artistically speaking (not a fan of Wicked, Millie, etc but LOVE the "little" shows, like Q, Bee, and Urinetown) BUT, I also think if the big shows can recoup in a timely manner w/ 3x the cast (including stars that have hefty salaries) and all those other expensive design elements, a show like Lennon would be much better off selling their tickets for $60, at TKTS for $30 and potentially sell 2x as many tix (making the same amount of money, or more, but putting more butts in the seats and, if you've got a good show, spreading the word much, much more)....ANYWAY, back to the set bit that irked me (I wasn't intending on that rant being a general thing, there was something very specific that struck me as a BIG miss on what could have been a great moment)...The set was empty, w/ the band in the back and a raked, circular stage in the middle...A raked, circular stage that looked remarkably similar to the Imagine memorial at Strawberry Fields, minus the whole Imagine bit (it was just empty/blank). So, I'm sitting there, thinking, "When are they going to project "Imagine" onto it??? Ugh, it's so obvious. I wish I hadn't thought of it, because when they do it, it would have been so much more powerful if it seemed spontaneous and I hadn't spotted it 15 minutes into the show...Oh well...I guess it'll be at the end when the do "Imagine."...Intermission...Huh? There's a piano there. How are they going to project it w/ the piano there? Well, I guess they'll just get rid of the piano at some point....uh, there's the intro to "Imagine"...the piano's STILL there! Oooh, here we go, a screen lowered w/ a video of John and Yoko, blocking the rest of the stage. That's a little heavy-handed, but at least that damn piano will be gone...There goes the screen. WHAT?!?!?! WHY IS THE PIANO STILL THERE?!?!? I can't believe they didn't project the imagine sign on the big, circular, Imagine memorial-like stage!!! Oh look, people are throwing flowers up ONTO the big, circular, Imagine-like stage! Wouldn't that have been a beautiful moment? A big replica of the Imagine memorial with flowers thrown up from the audience, resembling the actual memorial." Yeah...that irked me a smidge! Wouldn't that make sense though?!?!?! Wouldn't that have been a really nice, do-able moment?!?!? All they'd have to do is put a projection down on it...the whole show was done w/ projections on the back walls (Oh look, the Lennon family photo album) Anwyay, wouldn't that seem like a much more effective way to end the show than the cast just standing on the big, circular, Imagine memorial-like stage...in front of the piano...blocking the piano, because it was no longer needed for the show.

*sigh* It's such a shame. Lennon's music is so relevant and powerful, but having Lennon #5 put on her round "Lennon glasses" to cue that she is now Lennon, and no longer Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (yes, Mandy Gonzales...complete w/ hokey beard and everything) just was not the powerful theatrical moment they were hoping it would be...it just looked silly. And the book was terrible. "John Lennon was born..." [insert song]..."in such and such a year, John Lennon"...[insert song], etc, etc, etc.

Very sad...I got you Playbills though!

---

But when did New Hampshire become--Such a backward wasteland of seatbelt hating crazies?...I mean, only 40 people actually live there. The others are just visitors who come for the tax-free liquor and three inches of novelty coastline. John Hodgeman on The Daily Show (1-30-07)

Updated On: 9/24/05 at 11:47 PM

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 1:03am

So, did you like it?

Thanks for the playbill though!

Yeah, Marcy left the show in Thursday night. She had this time scheduled off to attend a wedding and it just happened that the show was cancelled while she was gone.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 3:58am

I am so sorry, Mab, but I couldn't help but snicker when I saw how ginormous your post was, and then saw that it was a pure rant on the show. You don't write that long when you've seen a U2 concert!

*funniness aside, and I say that with love...*

I thought you'd seen the show before! I take it that's a...no? I absolutely ADORE Will Chase, after seeing him in Aida, and via *coughbootscough* of Little Princess, Full Monty and Miss Saigon. He and Terrence Mann would've been my reasons for seeing the show.

Since I haven't seen the show, I can't really comment on anything you said, but you painted a very vivid and effective picture of what you hated! I think it would've driven me batty if I'd seen the Imagine circle in Strawberry Fields with no Imagine on there! (Which reminds me, love, 10/9, we need to make a pilgrimage to Strawberry Fields so I can put flowers on the circle, okay?) Was the show really as Yoko-centric and critics had complained? Full house? Standing O? (Not that that means anything nowadays.) Did you stage-door it?

Thanks for the Playbill! Even if the show sucked, it's a nice memento!

Patronus, if all goes well (er, I guess not THAT well because this is my option if nothing materializes in New York, job-wise), I'm hoping to land an interview with Icon Productions in either Santa Monica or Burbank. 'Passion Of The Christ' aside, I'm a big fan of Mel Gibson and Icon Prods's movies.

---

"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell

[mabel]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 8:33am

Even though I'm sure it looks like it in my review, I didn't necessarily hate Lennon. I think it was more frustrating than anything else. It was frustrating to see a concept that may have been interesting in theory totally falter...it was frustrating to see someone who's work you admire and respect dealt with in (sometimes) wince-worthy hokey moments...it was furstrating to have the Imagine memorial-like circular stage go "unused" in that regard. I think I latched on to that, because it was just one, really specific, example that embodied how the enitre production really missed the mark. I really am not a fan of jukebox musicals, but I heard about Lennon, I really hoped they'd do something great with it.

And Tiff, it was indeed VERY Yoko-centric. Not particularly surprising, considering they were shooting for telling primarily a post-Beatles story. She was there, btw. They dragged her onstage, w/ her diamond-studded track suit. God, she's TINY!!!

Despite the (very) negative review. I'm still glad I saw it...I'm just sorry that they couldn't have made more of the show.

P.S. Tiff, I may have to hit you up for some of your Will *coughfootwearcough* Anything from Aida? And The Little Princess would be very interesting. *coughgottheothertwocough*

---

But when did New Hampshire become--Such a backward wasteland of seatbelt hating crazies?...I mean, only 40 people actually live there. The others are just visitors who come for the tax-free liquor and three inches of novelty coastline. John Hodgeman on The Daily Show (1-30-07)

[mabel]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 8:38am

Yeah, I guess the inner circle on the actual memorial is smaller in proportion to the rest of it (on the circular stage), but it was still close enough that they could have done something w/ it and made an interesting moment out of it.

---

But when did New Hampshire become--Such a backward wasteland of seatbelt hating crazies?...I mean, only 40 people actually live there. The others are just visitors who come for the tax-free liquor and three inches of novelty coastline. John Hodgeman on The Daily Show (1-30-07)

Updated On: 9/25/05 at 08:38 AM

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 9:49am

Hmmm, my wife is a huge Beatles fan. I honestly am not that into them and don't really know too much about that.

Is going to Strawberry Fields something we should consider while in NY?

I'm hoping to land an interview with Icon Productions in either Santa Monica or Burbank.

Ah, cool. I live pretty close to Burbank and my wife works in Santa Monica. If you have a choice - you definately want to be in Santa Monica.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 5:27pm

I am so intensely angry at my parents, it has furthered my resolve to go on this trip. (Not that there was any intention of bailing after last week, but now I certainly don't feel guilty.) We got into a huge row, the layout of my bedroom has been changed against my will (it doesn't sound like a huge deal, but think about having someone re-arranging the furniture in YOUR sanctuary in the most uncomfortable of manners AND threatening to kick you out of the house if you don't help them move the bed into a position that will further inconvenience you.) I say screw the Mamma Mia! tickets - the money can go towards my lovely Tiffany jewellery instead! I've got that cramp-of-anger in my stomach. Grr. GRR.

What else is there to plan for the trip? In fact, can't I just move there??? (Warning - Nic, once I'm your roomie, I'm your roomie for life. *evil laughter*)

And Mab, once you read this, how was the flea market??

---

"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell

[Ellie3]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 5:43pm

Parents suck. (Eeek, unpleasant imagery!)

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 5:50pm

It gives me a migraine just thinking about them. Or maybe that's because my mother "accidentally" knocked the foot of my BED into my TEMPLE, and got mad at me when I snapped and screamed at her.

---

"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell

[Ellie3]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 5:55pm

Smother them whilst they sleep.

Or better yet, just don't waster your energy getting so haught up about it! Just be the model of reason - make it hard for them to justify their crankiness. Rise above it! Easier said than done, I suppose...but it's all I got.

*sympathizes*

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:01pm

*simmers*

I think I'm too old to be living at home still.

How are you doing, m'dear?

---

"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell

[Ellie3]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:06pm

Meh, okay.

What do you call a goat who lives by the sea?

Billy Ocean

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:13pm

What do you call a sleepwalking nun?

A roamin' Catholic.

---

"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell

[Ellie3]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:16pm

What do you call a goat auditioning for Simon Cowell?

Billy Idol

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:17pm

Wow.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:29pm

What do you call a guy who doesn't fart in public?

A private tutor.

---

"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:32pm

What did the fish say when he swam into a wall?


Damn.

[Ellie3]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:33pm

What do you call a lady with just one leg?

Eileen

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:33pm

HAHA!! (My brother's told me that joke a couple of times and it's STILL funny.)

You know, I've still got 10 pounds to lose, and I'm thinking my sandwich (20 grains, 11g of net carbs per slice) probably goes against the laws of Atkins.

---

"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell

[Ellie3]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:35pm

Tiff - eat whatever you want!!!!

(Everyone will be looking at me, anyway! )

What do you call a Russian with three testicles?

Whojanickabollockoff
Updated On: 9/25/05 at 06:35 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:54pm

...I don't get it.

---

"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:58pm

Tiff, regarding the Flea Market thread...

"flipping a bitch" is American slang for "making a U-turn or turing around quickly"

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 6:59pm

Ahhh...you crazy Yanks. I was wondering why no one would address the issue to me on the Flea Market thread!

Mabel, you're online! HTF was it??

---

"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell

[mabel]

Posted: 9/25/05 at 7:00pm

Hey all...back from the Flea Market. It was fun, but there wasn't a whole, whole lot of interest. Pretty slim pickings in the window card department...No Pillowman window cards.

Here's what I got:
-An autographed Pillowman script (only $10!!! I was SHOCKED! I kind of winced asking the guy, because I was expecting it to be $40+...at least $20...definitely not $10, considering it'd be $15 w/ tax at Barnes and Noble!)
-A Spelling Bee speller placard signed by the cast (#21 for my 21st birthday!)
-A string of pearls from I Am My Own Wife
-Urinetown button
-BC/EFA mug
-And a couple of NYC map/book things that they were giving away.

...Not really a whole lot, considering the fact that my money went rather quickly!

I also got Tiff a Spelling Bee booklet w/ props from the show (each spellers aplication form) that has each page signed by a cast member, and Pat (I'm very jealous, as I got you the last one) I got you an autographed picture of Norbie from his prom!!! I'll have to make myself a color copy of it, because it is tres amusant!

ETA: I forgot, I got a creepy little garden gnome and The Garden Gnome Book, an illustrated history, becuase it was too funny not to get for $2!

---

But when did New Hampshire become--Such a backward wasteland of seatbelt hating crazies?...I mean, only 40 people actually live there. The others are just visitors who come for the tax-free liquor and three inches of novelty coastline. John Hodgeman on The Daily Show (1-30-07)

Updated On: 9/25/05 at 07:00 PM