A STRANGE LOOP On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 12

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 4/21/22 at 2:59pm

I couldn't find the post, but I agree that Inner White Girl is going to be pretty much the only song they can perform at the Tonys. I think it could be cute if they could mash in a portion of "Tyler Perry Writes Real Life" too

[lachri5]

Posted: 4/21/22 at 3:18pm

Boundary was performed a lot in the show's early days

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/21/22 at 6:58pm

I think "Intermission Song" would be a great Tony number. It's unapologetic, tells you what the show is, and altering the two swears would be very easy. Either way, I imagine the team already has a plan of attack, knowing they'd have to present something tv-friendly.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 4/21/22 at 7:08pm

Stellar profile on Jaquel Spivey in todays NYT.  Hard to believe he’s only 23, he goes 100mph the entire show and delivers a hell of a performance. 

 

[lachri5]

Posted: 4/21/22 at 7:42pm

Also Memory Song is a great song to perform at the Tony's. "One lone black gay boy I knew who chose to turn his back on the Lord" sums up (one aspect of) the show pretty nicely. Also Periodically could work too. There are plenty of songs to choose for TV performance.

Updated On: 4/21/22 at 07:42 PM

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 4/21/22 at 8:11pm

lachri5 said: "Also Memory Song is a great song to perform at the Tony's. "One lone black gay boy I knew who chose to turn his back on the Lord" sums up (one aspect of) the show pretty nicely. Also Periodicallycould work too. There are plenty of songs to choose for TV performance."

Yeah you’re right. I guess I’m just thinking of what song would make Tony viewers who probably wouldn’t want to go see the show be convinced to. I think for me Inner White Girl is comical but also has a good message

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/21/22 at 8:26pm

If we’re talking Tony performances, this is one show that would absolutely benefit from having a montage of selected parts of songs to highlight different aspects of the show.

[kurtal]

Posted: 4/21/22 at 10:42pm

I saw this during previews at Playwrights and, while I liked it, I didn't really know what to do with it.  It took me so long to process the unexpected nature and style of the show that, frankly, I missed a lot of the emotional impact. 

But tonight, on Broadway (TDF tickets, Orchestra G8), holy sh*t.  This show reached inside of me, grabbed ahold of my soul, and squeezed as hard as it could.  I was blown away by Usher's journey and I understood his catharsis deeply.  

There are some scenes that drag, and Jaquel's delivery of the Tyler Perry solo number wasn't as sharp and hilarious as Larry's was.  But the last half an hour was just so emotionally raw.  I'm absolutely wrecked.

People are going to hate this show.  The people who need it are going to love this show.  Place me firmly in the latter category.

[forfivemoreminutes]

Posted: 4/21/22 at 10:56pm

I was also there tonight and the audience was incredibly enthusiastic (although some white people around me were wincing at the first use of the n-word - the Black people around me didn't seem as bothered). This show is probably the best thing I've seen on Broadway this season, or possibly ever. I'm not Black, nor am I a gay man, and I think this is theatre at its best - telling a story that's highly specific to a group of people who would otherwise never hear it, while ALSO creating a story that's so true to life that the people who the story is about will recognize themselves in it (which I saw around me tonight as well). The story itself is incredibly well crafted and hard-hitting, and there are a lot of uncomfortable truths here that I don't think many or any Broadway shows have touched on before (obviously the racism in the gay community, the racism and homophobia of the Broadway community, the homophobia within Black communities, how someone like Usher who straddles all of these communities can feel like he doesn't have a place). I'd be shocked if this doesn't win the Tony for best book, and I think Jaquel would be a great pick for best actor in a leading role too - he was incredible tonight. To be fair, the whole cast was - I wish there was an award for "best ensemble," because all the Thoughts were killing it. And it seemed like the sound mixing issues mentioned by posters on previous days had been mostly solved tonight - I was in row J on the aisle and could hear everything perfectly. In short, HIGHLY recommend this show. I think in some ways this show might be ahead of its time - I don't see a short-term future where this tours Middle America - but I think maybe fifteen or twenty years down the line, this could have a hugely successful revival and perhaps a tour to go with it. 

[wewdie]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 9:21am

Hi everyone,

I'm really curious about A Strange Loop.  I'll be back in the city for a few days in June.  I want to The Music Man.  I've already seen Company, but really want to see it again.  Do you think A Strange Loop will be around a while where I could see the next time I'm back?  Do we think it can be beat out Six for the Tony for Best Musical?

[BJR]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 9:36am

forfivemoreminutes said: "To be fair, the whole cast was - I wish there was an award for "best ensemble," because all the Thoughts were killing it."

Had the same thought watching it. And I think it'll result in a couple of them getting featured nods (namely L. Morgan Lee), but as an ensemble, it may be since Doyle's Sweeney you've had an ensemble this impressively supporting the whole evening.

 

[binau]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 9:53am

wewdie said: "Hi everyone,

I'm really curious about A Strange Loop. I'll be back in the city for a few days in June. I want to The Music Man. I've already seen Company, but really want to see it again. Do you think A Strange Loop will be around a while where I could see the next time I'm back? Do we think it can be beat out Six for the Tony for Best Musical?"

I would see the show in June TBH. It’s not a sure bet it’ll either win the Tony or financially sustain itself without it. 

[ShowBro]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 10:10am

I have still yet to see ASL advertised on television, although I think that word of mouth here in NYC is definitely catching fire.

I am really hoping we see RuPaul drop the new commercial with Bob The Drag Queen’s voiceover this week during RPDR!! 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 12:09pm

This show is very exciting. I saw it last night, and my only fear is that the world isn’t ready for it. I hope I’m wrong. Besides the sound issues the whole production is firing on all cylinders. It’s extremely provocative, thrilling, hilarious, shocking, heartbreaking, inspiring…I need to listen to this complex score and allow this show to come into clearer focus in the next few weeks. It’s overwhelming.

I really hope they can fix the sound issues because I felt like I missed a third of these rapid fire, layered lyrics. I hope it wins Best Musical.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 12:11pm

And I hope Antwayn Hopper gets nominated for a Tony because his commitment is hilarious, fabulous, and very impressive.

[stlrod]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 2:39pm

Someone mentioned they had a code that was about $20 better than LOOPBOX and now I can't seem to find the post.  Anyone have it?  Thanks

[Jimbo2]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 5:49pm

Just back from today's matinee. This is the 3rd preview I've seen. I felt the main problem with the sound was gone and even noticed some minor changes. Jaquel seems to have grown in the role of Usher and I thought this was the best performance of the 3 I've seen. 

I left emotionally drained and crying as usual, as the lyrics to the last song really hit me.  

Another good example for the reason of having a Tony Award for Best Ensemble.

As of tonight, the show is frozen.

Updated On: 4/23/22 at 05:49 PM

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 5:58pm

Saw this at Playwrights and thought it was fine. I respected the effort greatly.

Saw the Broadway transfer last night — extraordinary.

It’s bigger and more emotionally gripping than it was off Broadway. This is how you do a transfer. It will win the best musical Tony. Period. And deservingly so.

As another person said, the sound has to get tighter. As of last night, the first half was a loud, jumbled, mess. The sound designer has a lot of work to do, but other than that, the show is flying.

I prefer Jaquel as the lead over the off Broadway actor. He brings a pizzazz to it that lifts the show to new heights. And he can saaaaaang!

Bravo to the team!

Updated On: 4/23/22 at 05:58 PM

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 10:44pm

I think there’s nothing wrong with not connecting to a piece of art, so long as that’s not solely driving your critique when you see it’s connecting so well with many people who are different than you. There are times where you can remove yourself from critiquing if you don’t have much more to add besides it not being your cup of tea. I think especially with this show reading the room is a necessary thing. We have had so much media greenlit and directed to white men in the 20-50 range that it’s also clouded how they take in things when they aren’t the target demographic suddenly. 

[broadfan327]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 12:46am

I started listening to the score on Spotify yesterday, I definitely missed some of the lyrics from when I saw the show last week.  It is worth a listen to after seeing the show.  (I never want to hear a score before I see a show).

[broadfan327]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 12:51am

binau said: "wewdie said: "Hi everyone,

I'm really curious about A Strange Loop. I'll be back in the city for a few days in June. I want to The Music Man. I've already seen Company, but really want to see it again. Do you think A Strange Loop will be around a while where I could see the next time I'm back? Do we think it can be beat out Six for the Tony for Best Musical?"

I would see the show in June TBH. It’s not a sure bet it’ll either win the Tony or financially sustain itself without it."

I agree, this show is going to have limited appeal, however great it is.  If it wins Best Musical, it will probably have a run in length similar to Fun Home.  This will likely not tour in middle America as noted above, will likely not be performed in schools in the future, so there will not be many outlets to see this show.

[BJR]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 8:55am

A run similar in length to Fun Home would be extraordinary for this - Fun Home recouped!

It has always had commercial challenges ahead of it, given how provocative the material is. But it is absolutely the Best Musical of this season.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 12:24pm

100%

[Jimbo2]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 12:43pm

I won the lottery for the show tomorrow and can’t go. Monday 8pm Row AA seat 108 message me if you want it.

 

Update: Ticket is gone. Enjoy!

Updated On: 4/24/22 at 12:43 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 1:02pm

I do enjoy how the need for producers to take chances on original musicals on Broadway is regular topic of discussion on this board, but then we get an excellent example of one and the concern is how it’ll play with tourists and Middle America. 

Updated On: 4/24/22 at 01:02 PM