Back To The Future previews- Page 3

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 6:12am

I’m aware that previews are for fixing, but it seems like because that audience was filled with who it was, they could think there isn’t work to be done. The producer behind me announced at intermission, “The audience is loving it! Retirement!!!” as if to say, this’ll be his new cash cow. In its current state, I wouldn’t retire yet, sir.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 6:19am

JustAnotherNewYorker said: "Wondering what their marketing people are doing? $45 lottery tickets, so two for $90. How about you make it $44 so that you get to 88 dollars for two? They have a bunch of $84 seats. Did nobody think to make them $88? And also have a tier of seats for $151?"

Promise you to at doing this would amount to about 2 additional tickets sold. So the people (marketing doesn’t set lottery pricing) are making themselves an additional dollar on lottery tickets is what they’re doing.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 7:13am

What was the problem with the curtain call tech? I saw the video tagged to the BTTF Instagram and it seemed identical to the London curtain call.

I had a similar response to some people here when I saw the show in London six months ago - sat there quite indifferent and even shrugging a few times. Meanwhile, the audience around me - lots of repeat attendees I’m sure - went nuts like the show was the perfection they’d been waiting for. 
Sounds like a similar differing-reception is happening here. I’d thought about seeing it here in case it liked it more, but the previous posts have reminded me of what a shrug-fest the thing was for me. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 8:25am

So Roger Bart is basically doing his usual Roger Bart acting technique? How predicable?!?!

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 8:35am

ACL2006 said: "So Roger Bart is basically doing his usual Roger Bart acting technique? How predicable?!?!"

Yes but worse and on hyperdrive. 

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 11:15am

DramaTeach said: "Liked it, but didn’t love it. The good:

1) Hugh Coles is fantastic. He’s a perfect mix of Crispin Glover’s George with his own spin. He nails it all.
2)Casey Likes was a great Marty. He has his own take on the character, and I appreciated that. Went until about 11:05 and started at 8:15.

3) The DeLorean! Holy cow, that thing steals the show in many moments.

4) Jennifer is usually a throw away for me since we only see her briefly at the beginning and end, but I liked this Jennifer’s portrayal. It felt more romantic.

The Bad:

1) Roger Bart’s Doc. He screams for 2 1/2 hours, and they’ve turned the character into a foolish dope. His pants split and I’m supposed to crack up? He thrusts emphatically and we’re supposed to be highly entertained? Nope. He’s working hard, I’ll give him that, but it’s partly how they’ve written him in the musical and partly how he’s portrayed.

2) Lorraine doesn’t give her character much personality except for when she sings her horny song about her son. We know nothing else about her and the delivery is also missing personality.

The In-Between:

1) Songs are a mixed bag. I liked most in the first act and once the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance happened and we got to the 50s classics, the second act picked up, but there were a few rough ones at the beginning of act two. .

2) Mayor Goldie Wilson has a great song, but I didn’t love Jelani’s delivery. I didn’t think his voice was strong enough (and I really liked him in Ain’t Too Proud), and he mumbled through a few things, so I couldn’t make out what he was saying when delivering his lines.

Show started at about 8:20 and went until 11:05. It’s loyal to the movie (very) but changes it up in a few necessary moments. I can’t talk about changes from London, as I didn’t see it there, but I did enjoy this imperfect show."

This sounds exactly what I experienced last year in London.  The father was great, London's Marty wasn't that great but after seeing "Almost Famous" I could see Casey Likes doing a better job.

The one thing that you reminded me of when I saw it, was the "love" interest between Lorraine and Marty.  While it was in the movie, I found it incredibly cringe worthy on stage whether it's because of it's 2023 and the movie was in 1980's or because of her song, which I don't remember, only that it was really cringy.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 12:13pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "ACL2006 said: "So Roger Bart is basically doing his usual Roger Bart acting technique? How predicable?!?!"

Yes but worse and on hyperdrive."

I'll pass just based on this.

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 1:10pm

Can’t comment on the Broadway production, but we saw this in London last month and had such a great time. 
 

it’s a fun show, a good spectacle, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. 
 

The finale blew both our minds, and the audience had a blast.
 

Go into this for some nostalgic fun, and a dash of spectacle, and you’ll have a good time. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 2:53pm

It's fluffy fun which everyone knows going in. The masses want to turn off their brain for a few hours and there's nothing wrong with that.  Go see Hamlet if you're interested in high art. 

[scripps]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 3:13pm

Sure, there's only been one full performance at the time this will be posted but I will be that person and ask where are the lotto and rush seats located? I want to see Roger Bart do his thing in hyperdrive but I don't want to pay more than $45.

[yyys]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 3:16pm

Well the ending was the best part...

DAME said: "We left after act 1 in London. Just not our thing. Kind of sad this got a transfer. Weird how such a legendary theater as the Winter Garden has become the home of tacky movie transfers."

 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 3:29pm

yyys said: "Well the ending was the best part..."

It’s true. When it ended, I said “Great!”

 

[DAME]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 3:36pm

Sutton Ross said: "It's fluffy fun which everyone knows going in. The masses want to turn off their brain for a few hours and there's nothing wrong with that. Go see Hamlet if you're interested in high art."

I love fluffy fun. Hamlet bores me.  I just didn't care for this.  

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 3:47pm

I feel like this show is part of another bad trend I've noticed of shows that have no interest in making big changes/improvements during the preview period. I feel like previews nowadays are for ironing out kinks in the technical aspects like sound and light, and maybe fine-tuning some performance choices. But I hardly ever hear about shows cutting or adding songs or changing plotlines. 

I realize this production came from London which makes it even less likely to be changed in any meaningful way. 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 3:52pm

Sutton Ross said: "It's fluffy fun which everyone knows going in. The masses want to turn off their brain for a few hours and there's nothing wrong with that. Go see Hamlet if you're interested in high art."

There's nothing wrong with fluffy fun from time to time, but there's nothing wrong with wanting more.  Art can also be fun, and fluffy fun can have substance.  There's no reason to limit yourself to one or the other.

Updated On: 7/2/23 at 03:52 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 4:10pm

They tried to give this substance but it doesn’t really work. I skip “For the Dreamers” every time I listen to the album.

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 5:02pm

yyys said: "Well the ending was the best part...

DAME said: "We left after act 1 in London. Just not our thing. Kind of sad this got a transfer. Weird how such a legendary theater as the Winter Garden has become the home of tacky movie transfers."

Well that depends on what you deem "best".  Assuming it's the same as in London you get TWO interpolated "pop" songs (not written by the composers, brought in because both songs were in the film to meet the film audiences "expectations" at the show's tail end, which is the kind of thing I hate. 

However, the show is well directed and, as I always say, that makes a big difference, no matter the quality of book, lyrics and music.  And those items aren't terrible.  I enjoyed the show but would have no interest in seeing it again.

[RumTumJM]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 5:14pm

KevinKlawitter said: "Sutton Ross said: "It's fluffy fun which everyone knows going in. The masses want to turn off their brain for a few hours and there's nothing wrong with that. Go see Hamlet if you're interested in high art."

There's nothing wrong with fluffy fun from time to time, but it's there's nothing wrong with wanting more. Art can also be fun, and fluffy fun can have substance. There's no reason to limit yourself to one or the other."

GREAT POINT! Dare I add the word "escapism" too!

Everyone, no matter how their life is going at the time, can benefit from periodic opportunities to "put it all aside" and have a (hopefully) good time!

 

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 5:38pm

First thing I’m noticing from the photos going around is the grid-circuit build out doesn’t seem as substantially built out into the audience. 

[starlightlocamotion]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 5:58pm

Let's get into it...Caught the matinee today. It's really in great shape for only having two full runs under it's belt (including the matinee today). I think it is such a fun time and that it will be around for a while. That said, there are a few songs that I would cut or rework. There are also a handful of songs that just kind of end abrubtly...and therefore feel like an unfinished thought...(Or rather why even keep this in the score). BUT overall this show is definitely one of the better film to stage adaptations of the last decade.

Casey Likes is giving a knockout performance as Marty. He evokes Michael J Fox without ever living in his shadow. While I also think the actor playing George is a standout...I really detest his Act 1 number that he sings in the tree ('My Myopia'. It seems creepy & the song itself is really not needed. 'For the Dreamers' & 'Teach Him a Lesson' also don't currently work for me. I also think the number with Marty & his family towards the start of the first act could use some tweaking.

Rodger Bart is IMO pretty outstanding in the show. I think it is a pretty impossible challenge to reinvent the wheel with this role & while he does make it slightly more unhinged. I personally think it works really well considering this is a musical.

The set, technical aspects & the car are quite a marvel. Kudos to the team for not cheaping out on any aspect of this show.

As I said, I think with the continued love for this film over the years this show should run for a long time. But even on it's own...I think it really works. There are things to fix. But they have time. 

The show won Best Musical at the oliver awards last season. Beating out the likes of FROZEN & MOULIN ROUGE. While that might seem a low bar to some, I find it to be a pretty encouraging sign that this show has legs. 

 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 6:21pm

You just reminded me of the George McFly song in the tree. I’d blocked that out after seeing the show in London and you’re right, quite creepy in a similar way to the Mom having a crush on the son sequence - both several-minute waxings of creep which in the film were just a few seconds, and therefore more funny and endearing. 

In the show they’re cringeworthy.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 7:40pm

If it won the award in London I doubt they’re even thinking about tweaking anything unless their is some backlash. 

[JustAnotherNewYorker]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 7:50pm

starlightlocamotion said: "...'For the Dreamers' & 'Teach Him a Lesson' also don't currently work for me. "

Interesting to see different takes on this. 'For the dreamers' (and it's little reprise in the clock tower scene) was the only song I really liked

Updated On: 7/1/23 at 07:50 PM

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 8:20pm

For everything still wrong with Once Upon a One More Time, it is so wildly improved from where it was at when previews begun and I have so much respect for the producers and creatives for implementing the sheer amount of changes to it that they did. I hope this production takes advantage of the same opportunity it has over the next month instead of just … being complicit in whatever middle of the road state it’s in now.

Updated On: 7/1/23 at 08:20 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/1/23 at 9:13pm

But that middle of the road won them a major award and it’s still running so…. In their minds it is perfect