Boeing Boeing at the Paper Mill

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 5:18pm

I couldn't find any threads on this so I figured I'd start one up.

Has anyone seen this? Trying to figure out if it's worth it; I'm also waiting to see if a block becomes available on TDF.

I love Beth Leavel but I do have a hard time imagining her in a play.

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 5:38pm

Click in the latest headlines to see a photo call of the show. I actually guffawed when I saw her in the fat suit they added to her thin frame.

I bet she's a hoot. Hope to see it myself. PaperMill is closer than NYC, so it's a nice change of scenery without having to pay turnpike tolls too!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 7:06pm

Saw the matinee today. Overall, it's a really good production. The pacing is fast, the jokes land, and the audience enjoys it.

Leavel steals the show- she's absolutely hilarious as Berthe. She has a completely different take on the character than the equally hilarious Christine Baranski did, but it worked. She's using this completely over the top, absolutely ridiculous French accent, but the play is a farce, so it fits right in.

The other standout was Brynn O'Malley, who played Gabriella. John Scherer was fine, but kind of a poor man's Mark Rylance. The rest of the cast was all quite good.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 8:02pm

Thanks for the report Adam. I live very close to the Paper Mill and usually there's lots of coverage of the latest production in the local media but for this show, local newspapers (and BWW) have been strangely silent. I wonder if it has something to do with it being a play instead of a musical? Sad nonetheless.

I'm so glad Beth's doing a great job!

PitPro - me too, which is why I try to make it to most of the Paper Mill's productions that I am at least somewhat interested in.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 8:13pm

Not sure if it was the weather today or just peoples' lack of interest in this play, but there couldn't have been more than 100 people at the matinee today.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 8:19pm

adamgreer, does this production feature an extensive choreographed curtain call like the Matthew Warchus production?

[binau]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 8:22pm

100 people, in a 1200 seat theatre [wikipedia]?? (I.e. less than 10% capacity?). That is quite amazing.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 8:26pm

Yes, they all dance. However, it's not quite as elaborate as the one from the last revival. Berthe's place in the curtain call also got dropped.

Also, no lollipop for Berthe at the curtain call. Updated On: 1/22/12 at 08:26 PM

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 9:26pm

My mom and dad went on Wednesday evening. They got tickets for Christmas. They said they really enjoyed it. But, they also commented that the theater was pretty empty.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 9:54pm

I'm starting to think there's very limited interest since as I mentioned before there is little coverage in the local media. Very unfortunate.

I do hope they offer good discounts if that's the case though because I haven't seen much and a good discount will definitely convince me to go.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 10:05pm

And despite all of the reports about small audiences, there are no discount tickets to be found on NJartstix.org for this show for the weekend.

Oh, well.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 1/21/12 at 10:12pm

Musicalsfan - I know, it seems strange. Maybe since it just opened earlier this week they're waiting? I can't think of why else they'd refuse to over discounts when from multiple posters we've heard it hasn't been more than 10% full.

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:00am

Perhaps if they offered a free charter/shuttle bus from NYC Penn Station or Newark Penn Station (to avoid the hefty NJ Transit expense & long waits), they'd get more interest. They are located in a very remote location and it's expensive & VERY time consuming to get to.

Round-trip NYC subway + NJ transit fare is over $20 per person, not to mention a VERY long ride if you just miss the infrequent NJ Transit suburban railroad. It can easily take 2+ hours to get there via mass transit from anywhere in the 5 boroughs that's not midtown Manhattan. Most people don't want to make that trip.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:35am

Millburn, NJ is hardly "very remote."

For what it's worth, the plays NEVER sell well there. For a couple of years they eliminated them entirely and just did musicals. They only very recently started adding one play back in to the season. They're also doing this show on the heels of two enormously successful musicals- Newsies was a sell-out, and White Christmas did extraordinarily well. I imagine a 6 character play doesn't cost them very much to run, either.

Two other interesting items:

-There are no understudies listed in the playbill. I've been a loyal Papermill subscriber since the late 1990's, and this is the first show I've seen with no understudies listed.

-My one and only disappointment with Leavel's performance is that she doesn't do the porthole bit that Baranski did so well. The porthole is still there, but Leavel doesn't utilize it the way Baranski did.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:37am

Steve - I agree it's inconvenient but their target isn't primarily a New York audience. There are lots of theatre fans in NJ believe it or not.

It's not as though there's a consistent problem with the theatre overall. For example, when the Paper Mill had Newsies just this past fall the entire run sold very well and by the end it was almost entirely sold out. The problem they sometimes have is that they put on a production or two each season that is not popular and they seem to be hesitant to discount. Unless it's something I really want to see (like Newsies), I'm only going to go if I can get a reasonably-priced ticket. And I can easily drive there, so that's not the issue. I just can't justify paying full price to see a production I only have some interest in when it's cheaper for me to to pay roundtrip train tickets to Midtown and see a show on Broadway (discounted or rush) than go to the Paper Mill. I think that's the real problem they're running into right now.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:40am

Broadwaydevil, FYI, they sell the side orchestra for $25. I bought those tickets today and was able to move into a center orchestra seat before the show began. It's a really good deal and a nice way to see the show for a lot less money. And given how well this show is selling (well, not selling), the ability to upgrade your seat is a given.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:40am

Adam - I agree with you and I hope this doesn't mean they'll be cutting out the plays entirely. I used to be a subscriber but I've found over the years, like I just mentioned, that they put on at least a couple of shows every year I have no interest in (White Christmas and Once on this Island this year).

Also, when it's cheaper to see a Broadway show (and yes the Paper Mill has put on some great productions over the years but they cannot compare to the budget, talent, and variety Broadway offers) for a Jersey resident, it's hard to commit to paying a subscription. Instead, I'll wait for a discount. If none comes, I probably won't be back to the Paper Mill this season. With so much new theatre coming to New York, I simply can't justify it.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:42am

Do they house their actors? They mostly have New York City based actors, so it can't be that hard to get to, right? I mean, the actors probably stay in the city and just travel out there for the shows?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:42am

Do they house their actors? They mostly have New York City based actors, so it can't be that hard to get to, right? I mean, the actors probably stay in the city and just travel out there for the shows?

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:42am

Well that renders my previous post sort of irrelevant. Hmm maybe those usually sell out so I've never noticed that they were $25? Are they sold as partial view? I'm just wondering - will someone who paid a lot more for their seats be angry if I moved? Will the staff?

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:45am

Rippedman - if you live in Manhattan you take NJ Transit from Penn station directly to Millburn (usually around a 35-40 minute train ride in my experience) and it's maybe a 10 minute walk to the theatre. Especially on off hours, the train doesn't run too often which makes it a bit inconvenient.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 12:49am

They don't house their actors. They bring them in on a van from the city. I know this because one evening, prior to a performance of Oklahoma, the stage manager came out onstage to tell us the curtain would be delayed because the van that transported the cast from the city was caught in traffic.

Hmm maybe those usually sell out so I've never noticed that they were $25? Are they sold as partial view? I'm just wondering - will someone who paid a lot more for their seats be angry if I moved? Will the staff?

They're listed on the website as "orchestra 3." They're not listed as partial view, and honestly, they aren't. The site lines from all the seats are really quite good there. The staff has no problem with people moving their seats when it's not full. Today it was an usher who encouraged us to move. The only time they don't sell them for $25 is when the show is a hit- after the Newsies reviews, they immediately pulled them and sold them for the same price as the rest of the orchestra.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 9:47am

Thanks for the info, adamgreer. My first experience with Papermill was Newsies, so I didn't know the orchestra can be cheaper and less full. A discount/cheaper seating option is definitely an incentive, as I live in Queens and getting to and from Papermill via public transportation is almost five hours in commuting/waiting time.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 9:53am

It can easily take 2+ hours to get there via mass transit from anywhere in the 5 boroughs that's not midtown Manhattan. Most people don't want to make that trip.

Then don't come.

None of this is within Paper Mill's control. It is in NJ.

When I wanted to go see Follies in DC, I sucked it up and paid the Amtrak train fare.

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/22/12 at 10:12am

Round-trip NYC subway + NJ transit fare is over $20 per person

Round-trip to Millburn--$16
Two subway swipes--$4.50

Total travel cost--$20.50

Okay, $20.50 is "over $20," but seriously? That's still relatively cheap.

I don't know where people are getting these time estimates from. I've been going to Paper Mill from NYC for years. It's literally NEVER taken me more than 45 minutes to get from Penn to Millburn. And it never should, barring major traffic or a railway accident. I lived in Astoria for years, and it usually takes 15-25 minutes to get from Ditmars Blvd to Penn by subway. The entire trip usually took me 60-80 minutes each way, meaning just a little over two hours travel time total. Unless you live in deepest Brooklyn or the Bronx, I can't imagine it taking as long as some people on here are estimating.

As for train volume, I always try to see matinees, because in the afternoon and early evening there are usually plenty of trains. Millburn is a commuter town; the later in the evening, the less trains they run, and the more spread out the arrival/departure times become.