Awful experience at Dear Evan Hansen last night

[Dbird122]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 4:08pm

I saw Dear Evan Hansen with the original cast and LOVED it- it was by far my favorite show I had ever seen, so my girlfriend (who hadn't seen it yet) decided to buy us tickets for my birthday.  She paid full price for two excellent seats, and I feel like she threw the money completely down the drain.  Last night's performance was AWFUL, for the following reasons:

-An understudy was on for one of the principal roles, and while I usually love seeing understudies, this one was horrendous and had perhaps the worst voice I've ever heard on a Broadway stage.

-One of the actors forgot her lines, and participated in a duet that sounded like a shouting match instead of harmonizing.

-There were mic problems throughout- often the actors were inaudible, while at other times the sound was blasting/balance was off.

-The audience members in front of us were loudly talking and laughing (even during intense moments) throughout the performance.

My girlfriend said that she could see that the show itself is great, but did not at all enjoy the performance.  I would love if we could either get a refund or get tickets for another evening.  My coworker (who is in the industry) suggested I call the Shubert organization and post here, though he said my only "legit" complaints were the latter two.  Is there anything else you folks suggest doing?

[phan24]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 4:17pm

No

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 4:17pm

Dbird122 said: "

I saw Dear Evan Hansen with the original cast and LOVED it- it was by far my favorite show I had ever seen, so my girlfriend (who hadn't seen it yet) decided to buy us tickets for my birthday. She paid full price for two excellent seats, and I feel like she threw the money completely down the drain. Last night's performance was AWFUL, for the followingreasons: -An understudy was on for one of the principal roles, and while I usually love seeing understudies, this one was horrendous and had perhaps the worst voice I've ever heard on a Broadway stage. -One of the actors forgot her lines, and participated in a duet that sounded like a shouting match instead of harmonizing. -There were mic problems throughout- often the actors were inaudible, while at other times the sound was blasting/balance was off. -The audience members in front of us were loudly talking and laughing (even during intense moments) throughout the performance. My girlfriend said that she could see that the show itself is great, but did not at all enjoy the performance. I would love if we could either get a refund or get tickets for another evening. My coworker (who is in the industry) suggested I call the Shubert organization and post here, though he said my only "legit" complaints were the latter two. Is there anything else you folks suggest doing?" You can call the Shubert Organization, but you will not get a refund. If they are being particularly generous, they MIGHT offer to let you come back and see the show (in a past-date capacity; you probably won't get actual tickets for a specific time). Even the latter two issues are outside their control, so they won't be sympathetic. At the very least, prepare to see Phantom or Chicago, their go-to customer service response.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 4:25pm

Why is this post so wonky?

[jpbran]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 4:56pm

Above comment... yeah the font is spilling all over the right side of the page, over the ads and other links. No idea what this is saying. 

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 5:01pm

Hey, I'm the coworker- it must be off because I had him write his post in an email browser and then copy/paste it- let me try to fix it...

Awful experience at Dear Evan Hansen last night

 

I saw Dear Evan Hansen with the original cast and LOVED it- it was by far my favorite show I had ever seen, so my girlfriend (who hadn't seen it yet) decided to buy us tickets for my birthday.  She paid full price for two excellent seats, and I feel like she threw the money completely down the drain.  Last night's performance was AWFUL, for the following reasons:

-An understudy was on for one of the principal roles, and while I usually love seeing understudies, this one was horrendous and had perhaps the worst voice I've ever heard on a Broadway stage.

-One of the actors forgot her lines, and participated in a duet that sounded like a shouting match instead of harmonizing.

-There were mic problems throughout- often the actors were inaudible, while at other times the sound was blasting/balance was off.

-The audience members in front of us were loudly talking and laughing (even during intense moments) throughout the performance.

 

My girlfriend said that she could see that the show itself is great, but did not at all enjoy the performance.  I would love if we could either get a refund or get tickets for another evening.  My coworker (who is in the industry) suggested I call the Shubert organization and post here, though he said my only "legit" complaints were the latter two.  Is there anything else you folks suggest doing?

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 5:05pm

I was also there last night. The Evan understudy you saw has been with the show for longer than most, if not all of the cast. Ive seen every Broadway Evan, and he is my favorite. True, his voice wasnt as strong last night as it normally is, but he hit every note and acted the role well, which is more than I can say for a few of the full-time Evans. I would say you lucked out by seeing him. It sounds like you saw an understudy slip and decided he was not as good.

I didnt notice the other performance issues you mentioned.

If you had complained before the show ended, MAYBE you would get somewhere. But not now.

Waiter, I know I ate my entire dinner, but the fries were soggy. Can I have a free meal?

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 5:11pm

My friend was there last night. Even though work brings him into NYC a few times a year, this was his first time seeing shows. He saw Waitress Tuesday night, The Bands Visit Wednesday night, and DEH last night after I let him know that StubHub had cheap tickets an hour before start time. He sat Row K in the front mezzanine, I believe. He loved it. He actually said it was his favorite of the three shows. He did not mention any of the problems you observed although he did note that the understudy went on for Evan. He was actually amazed by his performance, especially during the speech and the sofa scene.

[herewegoabc]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 5:20pm

Based on social media and the amount of people who have called out lately, it seems like the entire cast has been under the weather lately, so it's unsurprising that maybe their voices weren't the strongest they've ever been. He is my favorite of all the Evans as well, and I've seen all the Broadway ones.

[Niles Silvers]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 5:29pm

It is live theater with real live human beings.  

[bwaybrent]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 5:35pm

Yeah...no

[LuPita2]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 5:40pm

Yeah no times two.  You don't get a refund because a performer wasn't up to your standards. 

Laughable.  

[Anakela]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 6:03pm

My girlfriend said that she could see that the show itself is great, but did not at all enjoy the performance.  I would love if we could either get a refund or get tickets for another evening.  My coworker (who is in the industry) suggested I call the Shubert organization and post here, though he said my only "legit" complaints were the latter two.  Is there anything else you folks suggest doing?


Wait, your coworker is in the industry, but you're not in the industry? How?

And your in the industry coworker told you that the latter two were your "legit" complaints, one of the latter two being "The audience members in front of us were loudly talking and laughing..." that you could receive a refund for that? I've never heard of anyone staying through the whole show and then asking for and receiving a refund later because the audience was talking. I'd love to know about where that happens. (I did, though, once ask at intermission of a show to sit elsewhere, because of singing-along audience members near my original seat. Helps that it wasn't a sold-out show like DEH, but the house manager was more than happy to accommodate.)

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 6:27pm

Anakela said: "My girlfriend said that she could see that the show itself is great, but did not at all enjoy the performance. I would love if we could either get a refund or get tickets for another evening. My coworker (who is in the industry) suggested I call the Shubert organization and post here, though he said my only "legit" complaints were the latter two. Is there anything else you folks suggest doing?


Wait, your coworker is in the industry, but you're not in the industry? How?

And your in the industry coworker told you that the latter two were your "legit" complaints, one of the latter two being "The audience members in front of us were loudly talking and laughing..." that you could receive a refund for that? I've never heard of anyone staying through the whole show and then asking for and receiving a refund later because the audience was talking. I'd love to know about where that happens. (I did, though, once ask at intermission of a show to sit elsewhere, because of singing-along audience members near my original seat. Helps that it wasn't a sold-out show like DEH, but the house manager was more than happy to accommodate.)"

I don't see the confusion over the OP not being in the industry.  Maybe they work together outside of the industry. A lot of people in the industry have 2 jobs.

Also, people have been known to ask for refund after they have sat through an entire performance. I have seen it. I have also seen them get past dated when the problems happened in the second act. But, as you mentioned, no refunds.

 

[zainmax]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 6:32pm

uncageg said: "Anakela said: "My girlfriend said that she could see that the show itself is great, but did not at all enjoy the performance. I would love if we could either get a refund or get tickets for another evening. My coworker (who is in the industry) suggested I call the Shubert organization and post here, though he said my only "legit" complaints were the latter two. Is there anything else you folks suggest doing?


Wait, your coworker is in the industry, but you're not in the industry? How?

And your in the industry coworker told you that the latter two were your "legit" complaints, one of the latter two being "The audience members in front of us were loudly talking and laughing..." that you could receive a refund for that? I've never heard of anyone staying through the whole show and then asking for and receiving a refund later because the audience was talking. I'd love to know about where that happens. (I did, though, once ask at intermission of a show to sit elsewhere, because of singing-along audience members near my original seat. Helps that it wasn't a sold-out show like DEH, but the house manager was more than happy to accommodate.)"

I don't see the confusion over the OP not being in the industry. Maybe they work together outside of the industry. A lot of people in the industry have 2 jobs.

Also, people have been known to ask for refund after they have sat through an entire performance. I have seen it. I have also seen them get past dated when the problems happened in the second act. But, as you mentioned, no refunds.

"

Did they get the refunds?

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 7:08pm

Coworker here! Uncageg is exactly right- my survival job is at the place where the OP works, and I work(ed) several industry jobs, as well. Having worked as a merch seller at theatres and as a TodayTix concierge, I have seen multiple people get allowed to past-date tickets for reasons like technical difficulties. I figured that the Shubert organization would know there were sound issues that performance and find a way to make good. Also, the house staff should have told the noisy audience members to be quiet. These are both valid reasons IMO to ask for other tickets; disappointing actors are not, but hes allowed to have his opinion.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 7:23pm

Good lord.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 1/11/19 at 8:31pm

My friend and I were at Jersey Boys last night[Australia] and both of us didn't enjoy it though we did stay to the end.

Today we were discussing the show and have now decided that I am going into the box office and demanding a refund.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 1/12/19 at 4:46pm

Just observing that the OP joined the board yesterday just to post that drivel. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/12/19 at 5:18pm

I had a similar experience at KING KONG last night.

There were two ushers in my section and their uniforms didn't match. I was so distracted by this and couldn't concentrate on the show. I mean, I became preoccupied and when the girl went to visit Kong and he was, like, all in chains, I didn't know how he got that way (like in all those chains and stuff). It ruined the show for me so I went to the box office and demanded a refund. The guy in the box office handed me a strait jacket.

....and that's what comes from men and women dancing.