#2
Posted: 6/27/14 at 4:32pm
I was there. The cast is very talented and do well with the material (although Euan Morton is basically wasted in his role) but the book is a mess and the score gets very, very repetitive.
Ideas and characters aren't developed, everything feels very rushed (although it ran about 2:40 last night), and I felt like the show didn't know what its focus should be. It would've worked better if it just focused on Jeremy Kushnier's character, Leo, as opposed to EVERYTHING involved in the building and dropping of the bomb. Also, I felt like the framing device of the Oppenheimer hearings, with Oppenheimer serving the show as basically only a narrator, was a bad choice. Especially since we barely see him involved in the building process.
Ideas and characters aren't developed, everything feels very rushed (although it ran about 2:40 last night), and I felt like the show didn't know what its focus should be. It would've worked better if it just focused on Jeremy Kushnier's character, Leo, as opposed to EVERYTHING involved in the building and dropping of the bomb. Also, I felt like the framing device of the Oppenheimer hearings, with Oppenheimer serving the show as basically only a narrator, was a bad choice. Especially since we barely see him involved in the building process.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
#3
Posted: 6/27/14 at 11:31pm
Unfortunately, this is quite a misfire. But it is quite useful as a case study on how NOT to do a show.
- Do not wait until 8:01pm to start seating people, as the line is out the 3rd floor door, down the entire staircase and onto the 2nd floor intermission lounge.
- Do not start the show 17 minutes late at 8:17pm, especially when the show is just under 3 hours long (if a show ends just past 10:40pm, that makes it a little under three hours long). 17 minutes late is simply unforgivable.
- Do not have a rambling book that is hard to follow and undeveloped characters that are one-dimensional who we simply do not care about.
- And most of all, DO NOT HAVE BLINDING LIGHTS throughout almost the entire show. The first few minutes have a blinding blue light, and within the first 15 to 20 minutes we're treated to blinding and flashing on & off strobe lights, and all other kinds of bright lights. I spoke to several people at intermission and they all agreed the blinding lights are really really harsh. They simply have to go.
- Do not wait until 8:01pm to start seating people, as the line is out the 3rd floor door, down the entire staircase and onto the 2nd floor intermission lounge.
- Do not start the show 17 minutes late at 8:17pm, especially when the show is just under 3 hours long (if a show ends just past 10:40pm, that makes it a little under three hours long). 17 minutes late is simply unforgivable.
- Do not have a rambling book that is hard to follow and undeveloped characters that are one-dimensional who we simply do not care about.
- And most of all, DO NOT HAVE BLINDING LIGHTS throughout almost the entire show. The first few minutes have a blinding blue light, and within the first 15 to 20 minutes we're treated to blinding and flashing on & off strobe lights, and all other kinds of bright lights. I spoke to several people at intermission and they all agreed the blinding lights are really really harsh. They simply have to go.
Updated On: 6/27/14 at 11:31 PM
#4
Posted: 6/28/14 at 12:12am
Saw this during its way way out of town tryout in Sydney. The show then was a mess: too long, confused book, unlikeable characters, and not a single memorable song. Sounds like it took its problems to New York.
#5
Posted: 6/28/14 at 1:02am
How did this come from Australia to NY and it's still the same mess? Who are the people putting money into these shows? Jeez.
#6
Posted: 6/28/14 at 10:32pm
Easily one of the worst things I have ever seen. Someone else mentioned it, but it bears repeating, THEY BLIND THE AUDIENCE THROUGHOUT THE SHOW. LED and moving lights mounted to the upstage wall hit you at eye level in every song. Ironically the cast is lit almost exclusively in backlight or sidelight- so you can't ever see their faces. Personally, I think the bad lighting is meant to draw attention away from a truly amateur book and cliche assortment of songs. The show is staged like a theme park show, and the choreography consist of spinning a long table around in circles. There is also a comically bad pantomime section with the table moving to suggest passage of time. It is sad to see a talented cast subjected to a really bad creative team. The most amusing part of the show Friday night was the dark haired man house left in Row E who laughed loudly at every bad joke- he had to have been on the production team. I expect the critics will make many references to the bomb dropped on it's audience. If you are going to see the show, bring a pair of sunglasses- you will thank me.
#7
Posted: 6/28/14 at 10:39pm
In the Sydney try out the show had a scene with an exploding goat. Please me tell that has been cut.
#8
Posted: 6/28/14 at 10:42pm
"Ironically the cast is lit almost exclusively in backlight or sidelight- so you can't ever see their faces. Personally, I think the bad lighting is meant to draw attention away from a truly amateur book"
Sounds like the same approach they used with The Library at the Public.
Sounds like the same approach they used with The Library at the Public.
#9
Posted: 6/29/14 at 12:28am
No exploding goat. I agree this was one if the worst shows I've seen this month. The Anthem was way more entertaining.
#10
Posted: 6/30/14 at 11:55am
The pushing around that stupid table really irritated me. And why was everyone so ANGRY during every song? The intensity didn't seem warranted or earned.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
#11
Posted: 6/30/14 at 12:23pm
They should have played Blondie's "Atomic" - that would have kept the crowd's interest.
#12
Posted: 6/30/14 at 12:46pm
I love a good trainwreck. I'll be there at the 4th of July matinee.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#13
Posted: 6/30/14 at 1:14pm
^ It's not even a fun bad show like Scandalous or Soul Doctor. It's just bad.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
#14
Posted: 6/30/14 at 1:17pm
"The Anthem was way more entertaining."
Oh god.
Oh god.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#15
Posted: 6/30/14 at 1:20pm
Sounds like this show at least keeps its audience awake. The Last Ship is like watching golf after Thanksgiving dinner.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#16
Posted: 6/30/14 at 1:24pm
" The Last Ship is like watching golf after Thanksgiving dinner."
Hahaha, that is so funny, Matt! Have you ever had to do that?
Hahaha, that is so funny, Matt! Have you ever had to do that?
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#17
Posted: 6/30/14 at 2:16pm
Everything is too loud and bright at Atomic to attempt to nod off.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
#18
Posted: 6/30/14 at 3:08pm
The bright lights are meant to keep the audience awake, and I guess it's working.
#19
Posted: 7/2/14 at 11:05pm
While I don't think it's as awful as you all made it out to be, it is certainly problematic. The score: bleak. The book: bleak. The lyrics: bleak. But there's an interesting journey there, and they seem to have trimmed quite a bit since some of you saw it.
The table drove me crazy, as did the lighting (which rarely lit the actors and often blinded the audience).
But I suppose I've seen a great deal worse.
Gettelfinger seemed very sick tonight as her songs were ROUGH. She sounded a lot like Alice Ripley, God love her... But Kushnier is quite magnificent and working very hard (though his accent slips)...
I thought we were off to great start with Euan's first (and only) number. But... Ah, well.
The table drove me crazy, as did the lighting (which rarely lit the actors and often blinded the audience).
But I suppose I've seen a great deal worse.
Gettelfinger seemed very sick tonight as her songs were ROUGH. She sounded a lot like Alice Ripley, God love her... But Kushnier is quite magnificent and working very hard (though his accent slips)...
I thought we were off to great start with Euan's first (and only) number. But... Ah, well.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#20
Posted: 7/6/14 at 12:26pm
I rather liked it. It's a very difficult subject and I thought it was played well. The audience seemed to like it very much.
All you that have seen it at the beginning of the previews. much has changed as per Phil Foxman, the composer who I had a very nice chat with during intermission. First two scenes were omitted and that seemed to change for the better the rhythm of the show. Will be curious to see reviews. Show opens on July 13.
All you that have seen it at the beginning of the previews. much has changed as per Phil Foxman, the composer who I had a very nice chat with during intermission. First two scenes were omitted and that seemed to change for the better the rhythm of the show. Will be curious to see reviews. Show opens on July 13.
#21
Posted: 7/6/14 at 6:21pm
Pammylicious, if you don't mind, can you explain how the show now stars? Thanks.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
#22
Posted: 7/6/14 at 6:47pm
Sure...two Japanese young people are speaking in Japanese to each other for a minute or so, then there is a flash of light in the background. Next scene Oppenheimer in court. No more flashing lights for a while.
#23
Posted: 7/6/14 at 10:10pm
After reading the comments here, I was expecting an all out assault on the senses. By intermission I suspected there must have been some significant changes. That was confirmed in a post-show conversation with a technician.
1. Lights have been significantly cut back (and redirected) since the early performances.
2. As mentioned, the beginning of Act I has been trimmed. Also Act II - the complete number "Headlights" has been moved from the top of Act II (after "Holes in The Donuts") to Act I. It has replaced "Highlights" (Prelude).
I would love to hear from someone who saw this early on and is willing to go back, particularly those who complained of confusion in the story. The story is, in my opinion, quite clear.
Jeremy Kushnier is in fine vocal form. Sara Gettelfinger is, regrettably, not.
Unlike some, I like the device of having Oppenheimer as a narrator in Act I and antagonist in Act II. I especially like his last interrogation scene, surrounded by the others. That's an interesting choice.
1. Lights have been significantly cut back (and redirected) since the early performances.
2. As mentioned, the beginning of Act I has been trimmed. Also Act II - the complete number "Headlights" has been moved from the top of Act II (after "Holes in The Donuts") to Act I. It has replaced "Highlights" (Prelude).
I would love to hear from someone who saw this early on and is willing to go back, particularly those who complained of confusion in the story. The story is, in my opinion, quite clear.
Jeremy Kushnier is in fine vocal form. Sara Gettelfinger is, regrettably, not.
Unlike some, I like the device of having Oppenheimer as a narrator in Act I and antagonist in Act II. I especially like his last interrogation scene, surrounded by the others. That's an interesting choice.
#24
Posted: 7/13/14 at 11:35am
I got around to seeing this last night and didn't terribly enjoy it but also didn't think it was one of the worst thing ever. It was mainly just mind boggling subject matter for a rather boring musical. None of the producers stood out to me so I'm guessing it's just Australian investors who money to waste.
As many of you have already said one of the most egregious things about the production is the lighting design. It served the dual purpose of blinding the audience from having to look at a pretty terrible "set" and keeping them from dozing off (which I nearly did). When I'm seeing a show I don't really want to be focused on seeing lights move around and shine random places. I also took issue with the tiny lights that gave you the location/time. All those damn things blinking were distracting from the show itself and I just kept wondering why it was happening.
My next major complaint is with the set and that fvcking table! If I had to watch that thing spin around one more time I was going to go insane. Certainly there had to have been a better option to use for all those purposes like I dunno PROPS!
The superfluous songs were all very forgettable. The most offensive to me was the "American Amore" song that introduces us to Fermi. It was actually cringeworthy and jarringly out of place. The same can be said for "Holes in the Donuts." I get that you don't want every song to be a dour rock ballad but you can't go completely to the opposite end of the spectrum like these two did.
The actors were generally fine although the accents were all kind of a mess for me. I honestly have no idea why Euan Morton was in the show if he's going to sing one song. Seems like they could have gotten a straight up actor for that role. I'm also in the camp of hating Oppenheimer as the framing device for the show because I never grasped his involvement in the project.
My least favorite part of the evening was *SPOILER?* when the strobe lights starts and Jeremy Kushnier beat up the Japanese couple. It was laughable and didn't have the kind of dramatic impact I'm guessing the creative team thought it would.
If you're looking for a train wreck this ain't it. Just a very boring musical with a forgettable everything.
As many of you have already said one of the most egregious things about the production is the lighting design. It served the dual purpose of blinding the audience from having to look at a pretty terrible "set" and keeping them from dozing off (which I nearly did). When I'm seeing a show I don't really want to be focused on seeing lights move around and shine random places. I also took issue with the tiny lights that gave you the location/time. All those damn things blinking were distracting from the show itself and I just kept wondering why it was happening.
My next major complaint is with the set and that fvcking table! If I had to watch that thing spin around one more time I was going to go insane. Certainly there had to have been a better option to use for all those purposes like I dunno PROPS!
The superfluous songs were all very forgettable. The most offensive to me was the "American Amore" song that introduces us to Fermi. It was actually cringeworthy and jarringly out of place. The same can be said for "Holes in the Donuts." I get that you don't want every song to be a dour rock ballad but you can't go completely to the opposite end of the spectrum like these two did.
The actors were generally fine although the accents were all kind of a mess for me. I honestly have no idea why Euan Morton was in the show if he's going to sing one song. Seems like they could have gotten a straight up actor for that role. I'm also in the camp of hating Oppenheimer as the framing device for the show because I never grasped his involvement in the project.
My least favorite part of the evening was *SPOILER?* when the strobe lights starts and Jeremy Kushnier beat up the Japanese couple. It was laughable and didn't have the kind of dramatic impact I'm guessing the creative team thought it would.
If you're looking for a train wreck this ain't it. Just a very boring musical with a forgettable everything.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
#25
Posted: 7/13/14 at 11:37am
Yeah, sadly, that beating sequence is quite laughable. And that damn table... Oy! That "American Amore" song is still there? That flabbergasts me.
Was Gettelfinger in strong voice? I'm dying to know because I can't believe that 3 days after I saw her someone else said she sounded rough.
Was Gettelfinger in strong voice? I'm dying to know because I can't believe that 3 days after I saw her someone else said she sounded rough.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
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