A STRANGE LOOP On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 39

[Jimbo2]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 4:28pm

I've started posting cryptic messages as a fan of the show on my IG.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 4:55pm

jkcohen626 said: "As far as the intensity of this show, there are a few things to be said about it.

First, this is a REALLY long 1-acter. 1:45 with no intermission is a lot, especially when you combine it with, second, nobody leaves the stage very often and it's often only to get ready for their next scene. There's definitely a lot of run off, costume change, gulp of water, and back on moments in this show for the Thoughts. Third I'd bring up that the Thoughts aren't just the ensemble, they also play all of the supporting roles. This is far from the only show where that's the case, but it does add a lot to have multiple roles you're playing every night. Finally, I'd just add that A Strange Loop is a VERY emotionally intense show. It's a show that would be a lot for anyone, but I'm sure it's especially intense for a group of Black Queer people, many of whom are probably reliving really tough and potentially traumatic incidents from their own lives every night. That can take a lot out of you.

That's not to say it's more or less challenging than being a chorus girl in a show like Some Like it Hot, but I don't think it's the same thing. A dancingtour de force like SLIH can be very hard on the body, but it is VERY different than what would be intense about performing A Strange Loop."

Are you an actor? Not asking to be snarky. But a lot of stuff may seem taxing but that’s the acting. Like maybe the notes actually aren’t hard to hit but if you add in some dramatics, it makes it seem like a big intense moment. Playing multiple characters… I mean they did it in Gents Guide or the recent Christmas Carol. And they did Angels in American for months… there are plenty of other more taxing shows, I’m sure. This just seems like a mess all around. I’d think carrying a big show like Funny Girl is far more taxing. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 4:58pm

Are we taking bets if they actually do all 8 shows this week? Wonder what the Vegas odds are?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 5:14pm

They went through an out-of-town tryout straight into a Broadway rehearsal process, preview period (when everyone got covid), to opening and Tony season, carrying the Best Musical title, and now post-holiday season and back to people getting covid again. I would say it’s not implausible that there’s just a little bit of burnout right now. Unless you’re one of the people performing this particular show, it’s unfair to say how not taxing it is to do it. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 5:33pm

I wonder if the show wasn't closing how many of the cast would extend their contracts? Seems doubtful any of them would. Or if any of them would do the potential tour.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 7:54pm

I think you can make a pretty educated guess if a show is too taxing or not. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 7:56pm

the bend-over-backwards to invent excuses for actors never ceases to amaze. i'm not absolving the producers of anything-- im going solely based on what has been alleged here. AND NOTHING HAS. These actors are frustrated theyre...being asked to perform 8 times a week? As contracted? As expected?

I assumed they were getting sick and the producers werent providing enough covers-- but L Morgan Lee confirmed she wasnt sick, just wanted to "rest up"-- so she seemed angry they didn't cancel the show? None of this makes ANY sense. 

So let them complain away, cryptically, passive aggressively- the show's closing soon, and the producers certainly made their bed here. But the idea that there's something super taxing or tiresome about this particular show that would justify an actor's hostility at being asked to do what they were hired to do-- you all crack me up.

[BJR]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 8:05pm

ACL2006 said: "The rumors are that there will be a limited West Coast mini-tour. Probably just Los Angeles, San Francisco, maybe Seattle & Denver."

Oh, I hope that happens. I had a friend visiting from the West Coast and told him he had to catch it, since unless it gets a national tour, I can't imagine that many LORT A or B regional productions...

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 8:07pm

Unfortunately, there's no way this sells in a red state, hence why it's probably going to be a limited tour.

[MaraczekDeliveryBoy]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 8:30pm

Honest question for people smarter than me on this board. How many covers is normal for a Broadway show of this size? (Is cover the right word? I see cover, understudy, and alternate thrown around. Do they mean different things?)

Looking at the website for Six it looks like 6 principals (obviously) and 5 alternates.

Looking at the website A Strange Loop has 7 principles and 5 alternates. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 8:36pm

This will probably get several regional productions "Pulitzer Winner" goes a long way and can see some of the more liberial colleges doing it at some point 

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 8:37pm

MaraczekDeliveryBoy said: "Honest question for people smarter than me on this board. How many covers is normal for a Broadway show of this size? (Is cover the right word? I see cover, understudy, and alternate thrown around. Do they mean different things?)

Looking at the website for Six it looks like 6 principals (obviously) and 5 alternates.

Looking at the website A Strange Loop has 7 principles and 5 alternates."

Each production of Six has four main alternates. The fifth alternate Marilyn Caserta is a “universal” alt who covers for Broadway and the two tours as necessary. 

Updated On: 1/9/23 at 08:37 PM

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 9:14pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "This will probably get several regional productions "Pulitzer Winner" goes a long way and can see some of the more liberial colleges doing it at some point"

IDK about colleges because it has such a small and specific cast. But a musical with 7 cast members and a small band that can be done with minimal/minimalist sets and costumes and has strong progressive themes and messages sounds like the type of thing that has Regional Theatre Artistic Directors SALIVATING. I'm sure we'll get several regional productions as soon as it comes up for licensing. 

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 9:18pm

JAM is live on Instagram. We'll see what comes of this one. 

https://www.instagram.com/jandymorri/live/ 

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 9:33pm

First big piece of info is that the show was canceled last night because John-Michael had been performing with a cold on Saturday and Sunday and it was just too much to do that 4th show. I assume it was Lyles not Reese b/c I don't think Reese was needed and both of Lyles' understudies are out right now. 

Updated On: 1/9/23 at 09:33 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 9:36pm

ACL2006 said: "Unfortunately, there's no way this sells in a red state, hence why it's probably going to be a limited tour."

Mamma, it didn't sell in a BLUE state. 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 9:56pm

This is just sad all around. A Tony winning Best Musical crawling through its final week. Audiences who have not seen the show should not be subjected to a concert version of the show with Jackson. That might be interesting for folks who have seen the show already, but not at Broadway prices. 

As someone else noted, making actors (many of them understudies) do a concert version is really stressful. I have empathy for the performers. If they are expected to shift into a concert version of the show at a moments notice, I can only imagine what else they have been put through. Clearly they are unhappy. 
 

I hope they have a nice closing. I think this show will have a great life in regional theatres. It’s a thrilling and bold show that I love. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 10:33pm

Bettyboy72 said: "This is just sad all around. A Tony winning Best Musical crawling through its final week. Audiences who have not seen the show should not be subjected to a concert version of the show with Jackson. That might be interesting for folks who have seen the show already, but not at Broadway prices.

As someone else noted, making actors (many of them understudies) do a concert version is really stressful. I have empathy for the performers. If they are expected to shift into a concert version of the show at a moments notice, I can only imagine what else they have been put through. Clearly they are unhappy.


I hope they have a nice closing. I think this show will have a great life in regional theatres. It’s a thrilling and bold show that I love."

Moving into a concert version is, in fact, no stressful. It is less work. Embarrassing? Sure, you want to put the best product forward.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 11:15pm

It's stressful to show up to work and have to do something you're not expecting to do. That's true if you work in a stockroom and have to sell televisions for the day. Just because the performance won't be harder doesn't mean it's not stressful. A lot of performers (and people who have regular jobs) have routines... to be thrown off your routine at a moments notice is stressful. 

Is it call in sick stressful? It wouldn't be for me... but I can't speak for everyone and I don't think you should either. 

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 11:16pm

How is it "less work"? They've been doing the show one way for over a year, and at a certain point it does become muscle memory. When you're suddenly going back to doing the show in what is essentially a rehearsal setting, there's a lot of mental adjusting that has to happen when you're losing the physical component of the performance. 

This particular company has unfortunately been hit with multiple rounds of illnesses, including almost all of them getting COVID in previews, and being sick without enough time to rest and recover is mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing. Different people's bodies heal at different rates and in different ways, and cumulative damage and stress are real things. I had a pretty mild case of COVID a couple of months ago and it still took me a couple weeks to feel fully recovered even with being able to stay at home for a full 10 days. 

Some of you really need a crash course in empathy. There's really no reason for nastiness to be directed toward the actors, who really seem to have had a rough go of it this entire run. 

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 1/10/23 at 2:26am

perfectlymarvelous said: "How is it "less work"? They've been doing the show one way for over a year, and at a certain point it does become muscle memory. When you're suddenly going back to doing the show in what is essentially a rehearsal setting, there's a lot of mental adjusting that has to happen when you're losing the physical component of the performance.

This particular company has unfortunately been hit with multiple rounds of illnesses, including almost all of them getting COVID in previews, and being sick without enough time to rest and recover is mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing. Different people's bodies heal at different rates and in different ways, and cumulative damage and stress are real things. I had a pretty mild case of COVID a couple of months ago and it still took me a couple weeks to feel fully recovered even with being able to stay at home for a full 10 days.

Some of you really need a crash course in empathy. There's really no reason for nastiness to be directed toward the actors, who really seem to have had a rough go of it this entire run."

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. 

I haven't acted in many years. But, when I used to, I was always great at being off-book. I always knew my lines and my blocking and was good at picking up on what everyone else was supposed to be doing as well... but only in context. Sit me down and try to get me to recite the whole scene back to you and I would fail miserably. It just doesn't work like that. It's a bit of a cycle. The words help you remember the direction and blocking which in turn helps you remember the words. It all goes together. Taking out one part undoubtedly makes it a LOT harder. 

And to your second two points, no notes. Perfectly said. 

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 1/10/23 at 2:47am

perfectlymarvelous said: "How is it "less work"? They've been doing the show one way for over a year, and at a certain point it does become muscle memory. When you're suddenly going back to doing the show in what is essentially a rehearsal setting, there's a lot of mental adjusting that has to happen when you're losing the physical component of the performance.

This particular company has unfortunately been hit with multiple rounds of illnesses, including almost all of them getting COVID in previews, and being sick without enough time to rest and recover is mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing. Different people's bodies heal at different rates and in different ways, and cumulative damage and stress are real things. I had a pretty mild case of COVID a couple of months ago and it still took me a couple weeks to feel fully recovered even with being able to stay at home for a full 10 days.

Some of you really need a crash course in empathy. There's really no reason for nastiness to be directed toward the actors, who really seem to have had a rough go of it this entire run."

100%. The callousness in this thread is shocking

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 1/10/23 at 8:41am

Scrolling back, the posts that say a concert version is more work etc etc have a heck of lot more “likes” than the posts that say a concert version is easier/no more work.

If industry people read this board like I’ve heard they do, I’d guess some of those likes come from people who truly understand the difference between full staging brain and concert brain. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/10/23 at 10:04am

For those interested, I got on the actual rush line this morning at 9:25. 3 people in front of me. By the time doors opened at 10:03, there were 15 people give or take.

The computers are currently down so we’re all waiting inside

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/10/23 at 10:08am

Curious to hear who's on tonight and if Jackson will be Usher again.