Be More Chill Off-Broadway Official Thread — Page 4

Gink said: "There was nothing in the show I saw that mademe to think Michael was gay--or that Michael, knowing how much his friend was into Christine would make a move. I have no problem with Michael being gay, in the version I saw it doesn't fit.

"

I agree 100%-- he's endlessly supportive of Jeremy pursuing Christine and doesn't come off as jealous/pining after Jeremy at all in the show as originally written. I'm totally fine with them saying Michael is gay. But, I hate the whole "gay character pining after straight best friend" trope and now I'm worried that Michael's become that in this new version.

Still, though. I love Michael in the Bathroom as much as anyone (it's the newest entry in my rep book for auditions and I'm hoping I can get some mileage out of being a girl singing it) so seeing George Salazar perform that song that will be worth the 70 bucks I spent on my ticket.

thealtoslament said: "Gink said: "There was nothing in the show I saw that mademe to think Michael was gay--or that Michael, knowing how much his friend was into Christine would make a move. I have no problem with Michael being gay, in the version I saw it doesn't fit.

"

I agree 100%-- he's endlessly supportive of Jeremy pursuing Christine and doesn't come off as jealous/pining after Jeremy at all in the show as originally written. I'm totally fine with them saying Michael is gay. But, I hate the whole "gay character pining after straight best friend" tropeand now I'm worried that Michael's become that in this new version.

Still, though. I love Michael in the Bathroom as much as anyone (it's the newest entry in my rep book for auditions and I'm hoping I can get some mileage out of being a girl singing it) so seeing George Salazar perform that songthat will be worth the 70 bucks I spent on my ticket."



Seriously!? The video of George singing that song was horrible.

Frenchbacon said: "I'm anxious to hear about the stagedoor. I hope it's nothing like the Mean Girls stagedoor where people egged Barrett. But we'll see!"



Why did they egg Barrett?

n2nbaby said: "The fandom of this show is disgusting and the score is horrible. The cast deserves SO much more."



I listened to the score and barely could listen to it and agree it is Horrible! I why are these fandoms acting like this at the stage door? What is bringing on this stage door behavior?

thealtoslament said: "Robbie:

A very succinct explanation is that Be More Chill is a show about high school losers who, through circumstances (sort of) out of their control, become involved in crazy events--plot-wise, it'sis basically halfway between Dear Evan Hansen and Little Shop of Horrors. Since the show is set in high school and deals with issues that affect young people (popularity, friends, being true to yourself/peer pressure, etc.), with a modern-sounding pop/rock score, it has a big appeal with a certain age demographic. Like Phantom and Rent before them, and now Dear Evan Hansen and Heathers, it's the hot new musical popular with teenagers and young adults who are just learning about obsession.

This article is a little more in-depth:https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/theater/be-more-chill-iconis-salazar.html

ETA: I think it's also an issue of scarcity. The show has had exactly 1 professional production (its premiere in NJ in 2015) and a smattering of amateur/school ones since R&H released amateur rights,so people's familiarity with the show is based mostly or entirely around a cast album. They're probably excited (at best, and desperate at worst) to see it performed live."

Thanks Alto! This kids show is not for us.

Robbie2 said: "thealtoslament said: "Robbie:

A very succinct explanation is that Be More Chill is a show about high school losers who, through circumstances (sort of) out of their control, become involved in crazy events--plot-wise, it'sis basically halfway between Dear Evan Hansen and Little Shop of Horrors. Since the show is set in high school and deals with issues that affect young people (popularity, friends, being true to yourself/peer pressure, etc.), with a modern-sounding pop/rock score, it has a big appeal with a certain age demographic. Like Phantom and Rent before them, and now Dear Evan Hansen and Heathers, it's the hot new musical popular with teenagers and young adults who are just learning about obsession.

This article is a little more in-depth:https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/theater/be-more-chill-iconis-salazar.html

ETA: I think it's also an issue of scarcity. The show has had exactly 1 professional production (its premiere in NJ in 2015) and a smattering of amateur/school ones since R&H released amateur rights,so people's familiarity with the show is based mostly or entirely around a cast album. They're probably excited (at best, and desperate at worst) to see it performed live."

Thanks Alto! This kids show is not for us."

No problem! w/r/t the rehearsal clips, I admit I'm tempering my expectations a little bit because I wasn't blown away, but in context (in my opinion of course) Michael in the Bathroom is a powerful song and as someone who's struggled with various flavors of mental illnesses in my life (and is only a few years older than the character's supposed to be) watching him work through a panic attack is cathartic in a kind of roundabout way. Of course you're well within your rights not to enjoy the show! I can readily admit this show has major flaws, and yet I enjoy it anyway.

I'll never understand the appeal of Salazar. But eh. To each their own, right?

I was there as well. Jesus Christ. My friend text me earlier today that her boyfriend bailed on the show, and asking me to go. I know nothing about this show, but I blindly agreed. Then I read this thread, and was frightened. The audience was garbage, screaaaaammmmmming at everything and super young. I am 30 years old so I am much older than the teen fans here tonight. It was also the first preview, so the audiences could improve but, I highly doubt it. The story was very undeveloped and the score was not great, nor was the singing. I think the obsessive teen fans will love this forever, but I just could not get into it.

I practically ran out to avoid the "stage door" area but got caught in the huge sea of fans that were, once again SCREEEAMING. I was pushed and ran into by multiple people, it was the worst evening I have ever spent at the theater. I'm going to get drunk now because I NEED TO AFTER THAT.

So sorry to hear about those stage door reports! I really hope you're doing all right, as I understand why that could be really overwhelming.

In regards to MITBR, I always feel like George really overacts that song. I, too, have struggled with my own mental health demons, but I much preferred Ben Platt's performance of those issues, as it was a less-is-more approach. When you start screaming and pounding the floor, it loses all emotional resonance for me. The simple way Platt kind of squeaked out those words in "Words Fail" gutted me, whereas Salazar screaming about feeling like a "loser" feels very disingenuous, or like he's trying to give a great performance, not live in the truth of the character.

Updated On: 7/26/18 at 11:20 PM

Elegance101 said: "So sorry to hear about those stage door reports! I really hope you're doing all right, as I understand why that could be really overwhelming.

In regards to MITBR, I always feel like George really overacts that song. I, too, have struggled with my own mental health demons, but I much preferred Ben Platt's performance of those issues, as it was a less-is-more approach. When you start screaming and pounding the floor, it loses all emotional resonance for me. The simple way Platt kind of squeaked out those words in "Words Fail" gutted me, whereas Salazar screaming about feeling like a "loser" feels very disingenuous, or like he's trying to give a great performance, not live in the truth of the character."

That's totally a fair point! For me, I relate to Michael's lashing-out way more than I relate to Evan's less-is-more, probably because my experience of my own anxiety disorder more closely resembles the lashing-out/screaming/etc. But to each their own, etc.

I really don't like Michael having an unrequited crush on Jeremy. It's great that he's canonically gay, but I'd rather they just kept the platonic relationship. It's not like we're rolling in depictions of straight/gay male friendships. Agreed that it makes no sense to have an almost kiss in Two Player Game.

As for the material, I missed the whole fandom craze despite being in that age range, but I've listened to the music and some of the songs are pretty catchy. I like the cast but I probably won't be seeing any production unless reports of the crazed fans change.