A Year of Magical Thinking, Old Acquaintance- which one?

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:32pm

I will be in town at the end of this week for work. I already have a ticket for Curtains, the only new musical I have yet to see apart from Xanadu/Grease, and am currently debating between A Year of Magical Thinking and Old Acquaintance. My question is, have any of you seen both of these productions, and if so, did you like one better than the other?

Because of their show schedules (no Sunday evenings), I can only see one of them. I like dark, edgy plays and generally don't have a problem with solo performances. For example, I Am My Own Wife remains one of my favorite theatrical experiences.

Also, if anyone would like to take an onstage seat for Xanadu off of my hands for Aug 11 8 PM, please PM me. I am asking face value.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:38pm

Well, if you're talking about a Sunday matinee, your choice is made for you. The Year of Magical Thinking is totally dark on Sundays, which means Old Aquaintance is your only option.

If you're not talking Sunday matinee, I haven't seen them both, but Magical is an amazing experience.

Updated On: 8/6/07 at 03:38 PM

[mominator]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:41pm

Year of Magical Thinking I s wonderful and Vanessa Redgrave is astounding, but it is a really heavy show. OA is a lot lighter and the two leads are great together, if I had to choose it would be Year of Magical Thinking. (btw I did see both shows on the same weekend)

[Lm4dham05]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:43pm

I have seen both of these shows. Year of magical thinking is amazing. Old Acquaintance is also great, but not dark really. I loved both of them. Its pretty much a toss up between the two. I'd say go see Year of Magical Thinking ( i aggree with Jordan) Its an intense amazing experience.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:43pm

Yeah, I know that Magical Thinking does not have a Sunday matinee performance. I am looking to go Saturday evening. Matinees won't work this time around due to needing to be at a conference.

I think I might go for Magical Thinking.

Thanks.

Updated On: 8/6/07 at 03:43 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:45pm

Magical Thinking. It's heavy but not oppressively so. And it's Vanessa Redgrave onstage solo for 95 minutes. AMAZING.

[mominator]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:49pm

Go, enjoy, and bring a hankie!

[folkyboy]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:52pm

i HATED The Year of Magical Thinking so much. Old Aquaintance sucks too but it's not nearly as bad as that book on tape they are passing off as a play with Vanessa Redgrave.

i'd go see Old Aquaintance before i'd see The Year of Magical Thinking if i were you.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:56pm

It is SO much more than a "book on tape". But there's just no convincing some people otherwise.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:01pm

Are student rush tix to YOMT worth it? I'm thinking of sneaking into the city to see it behind my mom's back hehe, but I don't want to spend the money to see this if my view is particularly obstructed. Then again, it is just Redgrave sitting there, right?

I read some of Didion last year and enjoyed her and I respect Redgrave a lot, so I am definitely interested. I doubt anything is going to top Gypsy! and Frost/Nixon this year for me, but you never know.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:03pm

I've seen both shows. While I love Redgrave, Magical Thinking was a total let down. If you are even the slightest bit tired when you walk into the show, it will feel like eternity. And it's just not very well written. Old Acquaintance has it's problems too. It's very dated, and it's plot is nothing to write home about. But it is a lot of fun, the sets are gorgeous, and the two leading ladies are quite good. I would go with Old Acquaintance.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:05pm

I've done student tix twice and they're fine. You might miss the picture they put up at the end, but that's not a part of the show. Definitely worth it.

Regarding the tired thing, I guess it depends on the person. My parents had been up since about 3 in the morning and couldn't believe it was "already over" when it ended. And my dad falls asleep in front of his favorite tv shows and movies at the drop of a hat. Granted Vanessa was extra "on" that night, but I was amazed and thrilled that they loved it so much.

Updated On: 8/6/07 at 04:05 PM

[Rudy2]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:14pm

^ Thanks Jordangrl, I think I will definitely go see it then and take my chances. Most things that people find boring I find stimulating, like "Deuce" or Norah Jones albums. :)

[Lm4dham05]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:16pm

Rudy- i think you will like it alot

and as mominator bring some tissues

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:19pm

I know this isn't important, but why no Xanadu?

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:22pm

I bought an onstage seat and am having major second thoughts about both sitting there for a show I am likely to hate as well as seeing the show in general.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:25pm

Hmm...is there a reason you're going to hate the show? Just doesn't appeal to you?

The show has gotten stellar reviews. I sat onstage - it was a great experience overall! The show itself is eh, but sitting onstage made it 10 times more fun and better! I had a smile stuck on my face. So my advice is to just suck it up and see Xanadu. You *might* like it. And if you don't at least you can brag to your friends that you were in a Broadway show.

If you REALLY don't want to, then I can't really help you with your other choices because I haven't seen them. Old Acquaintances looks a tad more interesting, though.

Updated On: 8/6/07 at 04:25 PM

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:32pm

I generally don't like campy shows and it is usually very obvious I don't like something so I don't want to be onstage and be forced to fake enjoyment. Also, I realized after the fact that there are stairs involved to get up to the stage and that dancing is encouraged at the end (I have some mobility/balance issues)...it is enough for me to say "no thanks" to avoid weirdness.

I really don't know what I was thinking when I bought the ticket...

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:35pm

Haha...whatever floats your boat.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 6:23pm

i'll agree with bjh and say that Harriet Harris really sells Old Aquaintance home to ya. a lot of the plot basically relies on poor exposition but there's few moments that are gems in what otherwise would have left me quite disappointed. you'll leave smiling out of that one. whereas you're gonna wonder how to get your money back for Vanessa Redgrave.

they had to FAKE their way through reviews of The New York Times for Magical Thinking. even Xandadu got a great review from The Times! all i'm saying is, if you go see Redgrave, remember this post when she picks up that book on stage! you're gonna wish you had listened!

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 6:27pm

She has the book at the VERY END for a very specific reason.. You make it sound like she's reading the entire time.