A STRANGE LOOP On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 13

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 1:52pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "SIX is incredibly clever for a show that's "just a concert" (which I think is a gross understatement). It knows what it is, does it well, doesn't overstay its welcome, and received rave reviews here and in London. It's got a solid store, performances, and production values, and it is written/created by queer & female newcomers to the field. It creates interesting and specific characters without bogging us down with the mundane stuff. And above all, it's a crowdpleaser .Some people here are talking about it as though it's a jukebox revue."

Compared to ASL, it is kinda a “jukebox revue” tho. And you’ve still yet to tell me how SIX is “more artful”."

I'm still waiting for this answer, ha. Especially from someone that didn't see this show. 

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 7:17pm

Kad said: "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."

I think that makes sense....because you need sales to reward the chance. If it flops, it makes it harder for producers to take the next chance. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 11:45pm

I haven't stopped thinking about this show since seeing it at Playwrights and can't wait to visit it soon...

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 11:57pm

It's so incredibly special and I'm so glad you will be seeing it soon. 

[Det95]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 8:58am

This show has sparked a lot of interesting conversation between me and the person I went with to the first preview. I am a zillenial white gay, and my mom, who I went with, is a white boomer. Coming out of the show she didn't understand how integral race is in this show, and kept insisting to me that A Strange Loop could be done by an entirely white cast to the same effect. I don't really talk about gay culture with her, so explaining why race is critical to the impact of the piece opened a dialogue that wasn't there before. It took a couple tries, but she now understands. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 9:36am

Det95 said: "This show has sparked a lot of interesting conversation between me and the person I went with to the first preview. I am a zillenial white gay, and my mom, who I went with, is a white boomer. Coming out of the show she didn't understand how integral race is in this show, and kept insisting to me that A Strange Loop could be done by an entirely white cast to the same effect. I don't really talk about gay culture with her, so explaining why race is critical to the impact of the piece opened a dialogue that wasn't there before. It took a couple tries, but she now understands."

Did your mother…listen to the lyrics? Of literally any song?

I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and blame the sound issues….

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 10:44am

TotallyEffed said: " I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and blame the sound issues…."

I'm crying lol

 

Updated On: 4/25/22 at 10:44 AM

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 3:05pm

I went with my husband and two of our friends the other night and we loved it. None of us knew the plot going in. We've been talking about it ever since. The audio in the balcony was truly awful but otherwise it was an excellent show and I'm thrilled it hit Broadway. I'm also really excited for this to be licensed by regional theaters. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 7:50am

It’s finally time for the show to open as a big, Black, and queer ass American Broadway show!

[BJR]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 8:06am

Had another friend see it and say he couldn't understand a single word of Exile in Gayville. Makes me concerned the show is still having Sound issues and is opening...

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 8:22am

Between the sound issues and any reasonably-priced tickets being in the (awful) Lyceum balcony…I love this show and wish it the best. I hope it gets the great reviews it deserves, and I hope they figure out the sound problems.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 8:34am

It's interesting to see so many comments on the sound design. Sound design is one of those things that is rarely commented on unless it is extremely problematic, which sounds like might be the cast here. I remember Matilda had similar reactions to the sound design when it was on Broadway, and, sadly, the sound for that show remained problematic throughout the entirety of the show's run. I think a lot of that had to do with the accents and children, though. Although, I will say that mixing was always a little off for that show. Anyways, looking forward to the reviews tonight!

[akhoya87]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 8:53am

BJR said: "Had another friend see it and say he couldn't understand a single word of Exile in Gayville. Makes me concerned the show is still having Sound issues and is opening..."

I saw this last night, and also at the Woolly Mammoth in D.C.  (Oddly enough, I was sitting next to the artistic director of the Woolly Mammoth - what are the odds.)  Definitely some sound issues; I remember thinking at various points, "I swear I could actually hear what they were saying during the D.C. show."  Because there's a lot of cross-talk and cross-singing, sound design is particularly critical for this show.  The issues dampen the experience somewhat, I think.

On the second watch, I've confirmed that the show is not my cup of tea, but I respect it for being a good, unorthodox, provocative musical.  The score is terrific, and the actors are incredible.  Jaquel Spivey puts on an epic performance; he performs with the skill and talent of an actor who's been in the business for decades, not someone fresh out of a college MT program.  I hate to single out any of the Thoughts, because all of them are terrific, but L. Morgan Lee is a particular standout.  

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 9:45am

I saw this again last night and didn’t notice any sound issues from the front mezz. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 9:47am

I have to say, the brilliant scores of Matilda and this show are dense lyrically, it can be quite overwhelming on first listen. I wonder if being familiar with the score makes any sound issues less noticeable.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 11:10am

NPR Tiny Desk Concert -

https://youtu.be/ObD7Qjai55Y

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 11:53am

Jordan Catalano said: "I saw this again last night and didn’t notice any sound issues from the front mezz."

I saw it last night and didn’t notice sound issues. I sat in the rear orchestra.

The only part that was hard for me to understand was when Marcus Garvey and the others came out and introduced themselves (there was a lot of echo so it took me a few seconds to realize who they were.)

[stlrod]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 12:00pm

dshnookie said: "NPR Tiny Desk Concert -

https://youtu.be/ObD7Qjai55Y"

WOW!  Tickets bought.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 12:01pm

I saw this last night and ADORED it!!!!

Obviously I agree with all the things that have been said about this show so far. Jaquel is such an incredible talent, each Thought gets their moments to shine, the score and book are fabulous, and it's hilarious, heartbreaking, and cathartic. 

However, I was very pleasantly surprised by elements that I hadn't really heard mentioned before.

It's obviously not some huge dance show, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the choreography. I thought it was fun, fresh, cool, and served the characters very well.

The main set was surprisingly versatile and the set for the climax was AMAZING!!! I also really respect that that whole set hasn't been featured in any of the marketing materials I've seen. It made for a much bigger effect when it's revealed. It was interesting that despite being developed by a totally different design team in a different country at a different time, it ended up looking quite similar to Company with the monochrome, the neon, boxes, and things popping up out of the ground (that's not a criticism, I loved the aesthetic for both shows)

I thought the costumes were also great and, more than the specific costumes, I was impressed but the utilization. They knew when the Thought costumes were right vs. when they needed to add elements (like the robes) vs when they needed to change entirely (Exile in Gayville) vs. when they needed character costumes. 

I have one criticism and one criticism only. I was seated in the balcony and it was surprisingly comfortable and a really solid view for almost the entire show. However, right after AIDs is God's Punishment, the big set rolls backwards and the heads of the three Thoughts on the upper level were JUST out of view. L. Morgan Lee (I think. Again, couldn't see their heads) then delivers a very powerful and crucial monologue essentially conveying the whole point of the show. If she had just sat on the edge of the platform or if they had had the set moved like 5 feat forward, it would have been perfect. Instead we missed a crucial moment in a seat that was not cheap and was not labeled as partial view. 

But that was seriously my only issue! Everything else was AMAZING and I am rooting for this show to get stellar reviews, win a bunch of awards, and have a solid run!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 12:26pm

So glad you enjoyed the performance but as a few people have stated in this thread, the balcony is not ideal for this show and I believe most people talking about sound issues have been seated there. With a code, I don't think it's much more to sit in the orchestra or mezz. Ive had no sound issues in either section. 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 1:00pm

dshnookie said: "NPR Tiny Desk Concert -

https://youtu.be/ObD7Qjai55Y"

Wow. So powerful. Holding back tears. Thanks to all on this board whose earlier comments convinced me to buy tickets for late May despite knowing nothing about the show.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 1:57pm

Sutton Ross said: "So glad you enjoyed the performance but as a few people have stated in this thread, the balcony is not ideal for this show and I believe most people talking about sound issues have been seated there. With a code, I don't think it's much more to sit in the orchestra or mezz. Ive had no sound issues in either section."

I organized this as a member of my college dorm's activities council, so it was free to me and we could only spend a certain amount on it. If I go back (which isn't so unlikely), I would probably do rush, lottery, or TDF and I know those seats are often in the orch and Mezz (and would fix the specific issue I have). 

I didn't experience the same sound issues that others did (regarding volume). IDK if it's just that I have super ears or if they did fix it or if it's just that I am very familiar with the score and was able to fill in gaps in my head. I did think there were some sound mixing issues when people were singing over each other, but didn't have problems understanding them most of the time. 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 8:57pm

I’m outside the theatre. Everyone is leaving now. Here we go..

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 9:03pm

Five stars from Time Out:

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/strange-loop-review-broadway-musical-michael-jackson

"Jackson has made minor edits to the show since its Off Broadway run, but the biggest change is in the central casting: Originated by Larry Owens, Usher—And searching for a sense of himself in the middle of this maelstrom, is Usher ideais now played by Jaquel Spivey in a strong Broadway debut. Although he doesn’t have Owens’s prickly self-assurance or his sometimes scary rawness—his Usher seems younger, less sure, less fully formed—he has a sensitive presence and a beautiful voice. And all six original Thoughts remain the same, and provide terrific support for Spivey even as they undermine his character. All deserve mention by name: They are Antwayn Hopper, L Morgan Lee, John-Michael Lyles, James Jackson Jr., John-Andrew Morrison and Jason Veasey. “I’m into entertainment that’s undercover art,” sings Usher of his ambitions for A Strange Loop. Jackson’s musical delivers on that promise. The COVID shutdown had a lot of us holding our breaths that Broadway would dare to offer something bold and new when it came back. This is the musical we’ve been waiting for. "

[Synecdoche2]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 9:07pm

"an thrilling new show" — Time Out New York

Updated On: 4/26/22 at 09:07 PM