Anyone going to the first preview of COME FLY AWAY tonight?- Page 2

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 2:32am

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm wondering too. I don't really have any special connection to Frank Sinatra, but Movin' Out was one of my favorite theater experiences i've ever had. Though I didn't really know anything about Billy Joel when I saw that either. I was so looking forward to this primarily because I loved Movin'Out so much and because I want to see some fantastic dancing. But now you guys are scaring me.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 8:09am

"I walked past the theatre while using the marquis bathrooms during tech and the theatre doors were wide open. It looked very 'cruise ship' to me. Is there at least a story?"

Nope, no story, though the dancers are each playing "characters" (i.e. they don't change costumes). Calling it 'cruise ship' isn't a great stretch, though my inclination was to compare it to the show put on for guests at a tacky weekend resort.

And, I never saw 'Movin' Out,' but it's my understanding that 'Movin' Out' was somewhat story-centric, and was connected by a narrative thread/throughline, and here we just have people who like dancing that take turns being the center of attention.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 8:39am

"For those who weren't crazy about this, did you like Movin' Out? I was assuming this would be similar, and although I'm not a huge dance fan, I really enjoyed Tharp's take on Billy Joel's music."

Not being a Billy Joel fan, I didn't care much for "Movin' Out." But I think it worked much better than "Come Fly Away." It had a narrative line with which one could connect, and the dancing struck me as more in sync with the songs themselves. Here, there wasn't much of a narrative, and as a previous poster mentioned, seemed little more than a slicker "Burn the Floor." The dancers were terrific, the dancing impressive, but I have to say I found my mind wandering.

It's too bad, because I think that Tharp has imaginative ideas, and possesses a good sense of humor. I don't think they were best presented here.

The best dancing was done to a non-Sinatra sung song, "Take Five." The choreography had a silken, haunting quality that I thought could be the basis of a more poetic, ethereal kind of show, one less literal than people gathered in a night club. I'd like to see Tharp do a show like that.

One strange aspect of last night's performance was that the best dancer of the lot portrayed a character who was so clumsy that he kept falling down. So on the one hand you see him doing the most fantastic moves, and then suddenly he takes a tumble while pretending to be a real clodhopper.

In another sequence, a dancer was shouting over the singing. I guess that can be remedied during previews.

[roadmixer]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 1:22pm

Considering that this show doesn't open until Mar. 25th and that this was the first preview, maybe it's a bit premature (and overly harsh) to start being critical...

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 1:28pm

"Considering that this show doesn't open until Mar. 25th and that this was the first preview, maybe it's a bit premature (and overly harsh) to start being critical..."

I'm sorry, but were they not charging $116 to see this show last night? That means that they need to have a product ready to be shown and ready to be judged and critiqued by those who see it.

[roadmixer]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 1:45pm

Jordan... Like it or not, preview performances are NOT in any way guaranteed to represent the final product of a show on Broadway. When you pay whatever it costs for a preview ticket, you do so knowing that it is not a finished work. The press is not allowed to critique the show... it is unfinished. One could argue that the ticket prices are too high given the "work in progress" aspect of a preview but that is really a whole separate topic. Here is some reading on the subject.... from the NY Times...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/theater/29prev.html?_r=1

http://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/26/theater/city-wants-previews-labeled-but-producers-balk.html?scp=3&sq=Broadway%20ticket%20prices%20previews&st=cse

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 1:49pm

Well that's fine if they want to consider it a work in progress. Just don't charge full prices for something that isn't complete yet.

And out of curiosity, what percentage of an audience during previews actually knows they're seeing a "preview"? I'd venture to say it's not as big as you'd think. Are those people who go to see something just because it interests them not allowed to form an opinion of what they've just seen?

If you're going to present something to the public, preview or not and like it or not, it's going to be judged. Times have changed in the past 20 years or so. Previews aren't like they used to be. You can't have a first preview that completely sucks and not have the world know about it. That's just not the world today.

[roadmixer]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 2:00pm

I take your point Jordan. The real question is IF the producers reduced ticket prices for previews, would that stop anyone from blogging on the show? Not likely... Everyone is entitled to their opinions of course and the Internet has become an excellent way for any voice to be heard whether or not it has merit. Sadly, the lack of a forum for developing new shows with some degree of freedom from "early evaluations" is the result.

Presumably you love theatre or you wouldn't bother to be on this site. All I am suggesting is that slamming a show after the first preview is not in anyone's best interest.

In truth, this age of fast-media like the Internet is actually threatening the ability for new shows to get a fair shake!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 2:05pm

I haven't seen the show yet and I haven't slammed it nor would I until I actually see it. Truth it, a show like this that doesn't fully interest me isn't something I'm going to pay for unless I can do rush or standing room or even TDF and I feel I'm in the vast majority with that thinking.

Secondly, if producers reduced ticket prices for previews it wouldn't stop anyone from talking about it obviously, but it would show good faith on their part that that their work is still a "work in progress". As I said, we live in a different time. Shows need to learn to adapt that and whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is unfortunately irrelevant it's just the truth. You need to have a polished, finished product ready to present the minute that curtain goes up for your first preview otherwise it could be detrimental to the run of your show. And really...I don't think that's such a bad thing.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 2:18pm

FWIW, I never had the chance to follw show through the preview period and see how it evolves to the opening night version until I moved to NYC. If a show is essentially a tested in another market then I would not mind paying regular price for something I really wanted to see...such as the recent "Sunday in the Park with George'. However, I certainly would not pay full price for an Addams Family preview. On the other hand...if they did something like Cry-Baby did- and offer $54 seats throughout the preview period, I would probably go several times. I know that I'm the only person on here who enjoyed Cry-Baby...but it was interesting seeing it evolve throughout previews, and they really did make it better by opening night. I hope the same happens for Come Fly with Me.

Updated On: 3/2/10 at 02:18 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 2:46pm

roadmixer- Isn't the point of previews to discuss what is not going well with a show and fix it?

I certainly wasn't "slamming" the show, and I don't think anyone on the thread was either. No one has come out and said, "This is a piece of crap and you should avoid it all costs!"

I paid for my ticket last night and I absolutely have every right to discuss my feelings about the show, negative and positive.

It seems the general consensus is the dancing was technically on point, but the story/emotional connection wasn't there. Trust me, there have been much more damning (preview) reviews on this site for other shows.