BOMB...bay dreams. The reviews are in...- Page 2

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 11:07am

Eirk yes, typical Bollywood movies are supposed to be ridiculously predictable but very watchable.

[LouW95]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 11:16am

I walked out on the show in London. This is something I do not often do It wasnt that I didnt get it, I simply thought it was not good- they even lip synched!!!!! No matter how I feel, I wish all productions good luck and a long run.

[mominator]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 11:20am

They lip synched??? Yikes that is always bad. I was rerally hoping that show would fly. Maybe w/ ALW's named attached to it it may fill up with tour busses from out of town?

[magicfingers]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 2:08pm

Saw the show with my wife- and we are very astute theatre goers-- and it ROCKED....the critics were clearly ALW bashing with this one, but we were dancing in our seats...How silly to put a show down that is clearly all about fun and escapism...the show was totally sold out, the audience was on their feet at the end and I can't say I have had a better time since I don;t know when. Of course, I have learned MR. Brantley and Mr Barnes and the rest of that ilk..know NOTHING about good theatre (see their reviews for Parade as well as lots of other shows) Anyway, before any of you out there start dissing the show GO SEE IT-- I love reading how people went expecting to hate it (because like robots we all believe what we are told) and than admitted enjoying it as "guilty" pleasure...will someone please explain what feeling "guilty" about having a good time at a show means??!!! The music, sets, costume, dance acting etc were TOP TOP NOTCH... Everyone in the theatre was buzzing afterwards- It was as if the negative reviews didn't even exist...anyway, do your self a favor everyone, at least those that don't carry around "guilt" (LAUGHING) and check the show out.

[DBMaida]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 5:21pm

I saw the show 2 years ago in previews in London. Infact with Sir Andrew sitting right behind me. People think outside the BOX! It's not Oklahoma (thank God!),it's something new and you should all be open to a new form of theatre. Yes, it's over the top but, so are all the BOLLYWOOD films. It's done on purpose. Those Bollywood films box office dollars are refective of that. Our biggest box office $$$$ fall way short by comparison to any of these films there. So, the show is exactly what it is supposed to be - a send up of the over the top Bollywood films where anything is possible. RIGHT? Isn't that the premise behind any musical? Gee, someone steals a loaf of bread that they write a 3 hour musical on and it runs 20 years - go figure!
Bombay is great fun.
The music is enjoyable. Embrace it! Maybe New York isn't sophisticated enough to welcome it? Did I say that? LOL. What we need are more revivials of Gypsy, what a crowd pleaser! Right, Mr. Goldstone!

[tappedout]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 6:59pm

I saw it London a couple weeks ago, and it was just OK. It didn't move me but i didn't detest it either. In the scheme of things i think there is are a plethora of betters shows out there, but i wouldn't walk out of the Bombay dreams theatre either.-Just my opinion

[broadwaybondchik]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 10:41pm

AHHHH,LOL what is bollywood?

[magicfingers]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 12:08am

(sorry this is a double post but thought it was pertinent here)

Ok..since we are quoting reviews how about these for Bombay Dreams:

"As in the best Bollywood films, there is magic galore- in the explosive song-and-dance numbers, infectious score,dazzling costumes, and sumptous sets. Dreams may be from another world, but it's also a good old-fashioned-broadway musical"-Entertainment Weekly (which has one of the largest national circulation of ANY weekly magazine

"A Bombay Dream come true....a lavish and affectionate homage to Bollywood films...Like it's sources, "bombay dreams" stives for nothing more than unabashed entertainment. It succeeds." Daily News

"the numbers are lively,showy and infectious with choreagraphers van lasst and farah khan combining bouncing hip-hop moves and traditional indian flourishes to create an appealing physical vocabulary invigorated by contemporary rhythms....Sets and costume designer thomas and lighting designer vanstone render this world with a lushly colorful palette...The irresistible music by rahman, a bollywood composer, holds the production together...try getting the tunes out of your head" newsday


"like Gershwin, or Lennon-Mcartney, the name stands for melody,quality,energy,instant hummability-a sound both personal and universal, devouring many older forms and transforming them into something gorgeouly new... at a preview last week the audience, perhaps 25 % south asian, seemed to love the infectious songs and rain-drenched dancing. So salaam, Bombay"- Time magazine (the largest ciculation of any magazine in the US)

I could go on with many other reviews dealing with the excellent remarks the cast got, but I think my point is made...For every bad review many great show get, there is a great review as well...I also dare say Les mis did get some terrible notices, and so did cats...the reason they ran along time is because the AUDIENCE, the critics that really matter, loved the shows. Based on my experience seeing Bombay Dreams on Sat, the audience LOVED the show and gave it a ten minute standing ovation- there is no way in hell this show is closing right away, and as we all know from past experience, word of mouth is much more important than reviews or awards...I would recomend before you start speculating about the show, if you are really curious to know how it is going to do try getting a ticket (it is already well sold for the next few months) and see how the audiene reacts to it...THAT is the real factor in how long a show runs..

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 11:50am

I love how whenever anyone mentions a thin plot, someone always jumps immediately to the show about "stealing a loaf of bread". That line in "Jeffrey" was not supposed to be taken seriously. If anyone thinks the musical or 1400+ page novel is about stealing a loaf of bread, they obviously have an attention span no longer than 3 or 4 minutes.

Who cares if Bombay Dreams has a predictable or thin book? The book for Oklahoma wasn't that deep, either. If it's fun and entertaining, then it will probably do pretty well. Unlike Aida, it sounds like the various elements of the show actually go together. I know one scene (Shakalaka Baby) is supposed to be lip-synced because they are filming a musical sequence.

The producers need to bank on the score and the spectacle. With enough promotion, the show could fly.