BYE BYE BIRDIE first preview...

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 9:25am

So how many of us are going to post our thoughts at intermission?


Post it in here. Can't wait.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 9:28am

The only reason why this show is gonna have so many first preview comments is because of the ticket price.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 9:31am

That is certainly true. I wouldn't have missed the first preview though, $10 or not.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 9:45am

Ugh. My BlackBerry Storm doesn't cooperate with BWW. Sadness. Otherwise, I would post my intermission thoughts.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 10:24am

Do you go to the mobile site? My Storm works on the mobile site.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 12:10pm

Thanks RyToast! It works!

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 12:24pm

I cannot WAIT to judge this show based on all of your brief thoughts on Act 1 of the first preview!!!!

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 3:52pm

^ LOL

[EugLoven]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 5:19pm

^^^
Double LOL


Come on guys, have some class and post your thoughts AFTER you have gotten home from Act 2.

PS: See yall betches there tonight! Say hi if you see a familiar BWW face.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 8:56pm

Unless some cast members have a few scenes off they're already in intermission. That's one short act 1!

[changinandhow]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 9:10pm

Slight threadjack, but how do you get to the mobile site, RyToast?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 9:13pm

w.broadwayworld.com

[changinandhow]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 9:17pm

Miraculous. Thank you!

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 9:20pm

It's really cute! The sets and costumes are awesome. There are some projections, but they approriate. The orchestrarions sound a bit thin.

Performances are great, but Ginas singing needs some work.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 9:20pm

Despite rough performances (that will be better by opening, I'm positive) from John and Gina, the show is perfect. The costumes, the sets, the choreography, the lights. Everything. It's exactly what BIRDIE should be. Fun as hell. And the score sounds as good as ever. My only complaint is the theatre queens around me nitpicking everything (naturally). But that's beside the point.

[jagfkb]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 9:46pm

So wait, how long is this show? 90 minutes or something?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 10:29pm

The show just let out. I'll write a full review tonight, but I LOVED IT.

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 10:32pm

Can we also hear from others who didn't have a Bye Bye Birdie avatar before they saw the show, please?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 10:34pm

Guess I'm not allowed to have an opinion. Ridiculous.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 10:37pm

You are. You just seem like it you were pre-destined to like it, given your avatar.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 10:42pm

Lol Blaxx. I also love the "it's perfect except, x, y, z, etc, etc". It's the new "all I can say is...wow!" followed by a lengthy review. Well if all you can say is wow, why are you saying anything else? And if it's perfect why did you follow that by a list of things that are imperfect?

I agree, can I have a review not given by a self-appointed shill who would enjoy the show even if they murdered children during "A Lot of Livin' to Do" and farted on their face during "Put on a Happy Face"?

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 10:51pm

Oh, just let the boy (girl?) have their say. I for one am curious about the production. We can all diligently screen the histrionics within the review.

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 10:59pm

Notice my use of the word "also".

I'm sorry, but I think ColorTheHours was going to rave about it no matter what.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 11:02pm

Exactly.

As I said earlier, ColorTheHours was already in love with the show before he even saw it. The fact that he walked away "loving" it is hardly a surprise.

I'm much more interested in hearing ljay's take on things.

Updated On: 9/10/09 at 11:02 PM

[dramadude]

Posted: 9/10/09 at 11:04pm

We can only hope this will get better. I have no idea whether it was the acoustics or the actors, but everyone including the orchestra (with the exception of BIll Irwin) were not singing out. I was sitting in the center orchestra and there were parts where it seemed as if the orchestra (even during the overture) and actors were holding back. Maybe it's been a rough week of rehearsals, but even little Allie Trimm was not singing out like I've seen her before in previews for "13".

Matt Doyle was adorable. Great voice, great acting. He really is invested in his part.

Bill Irwin was phenomenal. Truly a seasoned actor, good enough singing voice. He scored the majority of the laughs.

Dee Hoty was okay. Spot on as Mrs. MacAfee, but overshadowed by Irwin.

Jayne Houdyshell did a great job of being Albert's annoying, controlling mother.

Allie Trimm was good. Not great like I had expected, even though with all new roles and rough rehearsal hours on a teenager, she shined more in "13". It seemed like she too was holding back... a lot. She was cute and fit the part, but didn't quite fit into one of the lyrics as being taller than Hugo.

Nolan Gerard Funk did well for his debut. He's very built as the audience gets to see when he enters for breakfast at the MacAfee house in nothing more than tube socks and boxer briefs. His singing was nice and his characterizations were close to dead on.

John Stamos was adorable, but very stiff, as a previous poster had noted. He'll melt into this part in no time. His charm and mellow voice did him well, albeit still soft spoken like many of the actors.

And here is where the ball drops... Gina Gershon. Every time she opened her mouth it was like buzz kill to the show. She reminded me of Christina Applegate in "Sweet Charity": not really singer, but an okay to good actress. Her voice killed the show and each scene she was in. Andrea Burns would have killed in this role, but as a friend pointed out, she may have very well outshone Stamos. I loved Gershon in Boeing-Boeing, but this was not her niche. To Gershon's credit, she redeemed herself slightly towards the end of the show when she exaggerated her Spanish on Mae Peterson. Her comedic timing is good, but lets put it this way, Allison Janney sings like Celine Dion in comparison to Gershon.

I see why Roundabout paired the two actors as both a box office draw and the previous experience that each of them has with Roundabout, but even with previews... this birdie has a lot of flying to do before it gets off the ground.

Updated On: 9/10/09 at 11:04 PM