Bullets Over Broadway or Gentlemen's?

[rlb237]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 3:16pm

I have a spot in a long weekend in NYC for one more show. Originally, I wanted to see Bullets more, but I have heard great things about A Gentlemen's Guide to Murder even well before the Tony noms were announced, and now I'm really torn since seats/prices are relatively similar for both for the night I'm able to go (a Saturday in July).

Thoughts? Opinions? If I put off seeing Bullets until later, does anyone know how long the original cast is supposed to be contracted for?

Thanks in advance.

[pacificnorthwest]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 3:22pm

Gentleman's Guide, hands-down.

Bullets is a big, splashy, fun musical but it's empty calories.

[avyrocks]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 3:24pm

Gentlemen's Guide!

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 3:35pm

Definitely Gentleman's Guide!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 3:40pm

Watch the film of "Bullets Over Broadway"...it's far superior to the musical.

Updated On: 5/1/14 at 03:40 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 3:46pm

I haven't seen Bullets, but I highly recommend Gentleman's.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 3:47pm

Gentleman's Guide, hands down.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 4:02pm

Gentleman's Guide is the better show, but it really depends on what type of show you want to see.

Bullets is the more old-fashioned, big production number-type musical, while Gentleman's Guide is much more of a chamber musical (a lot like "Mystery of Edwin Drood" in style, if you're familiar with that).

I enjoyed both productions though, but Gentleman's Guide was the superior show.

[Queen of the Night]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 4:03pm

Gentleman's Guide. We loved it.

[pacificnorthwest]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 4:09pm

I'd guess I've seen dozens of them but don't think I've heard the term "chamber musical." Googled it and didn't learn much. What's your description of a "chamber musical"?

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 4:21pm

There's no specific definition of a chamber musical, but it's generally used to refer to shows with small casts and orchestras and generally less elaborate staging than a lot of the big blockbusters (based on the term chamber music which by Wikipedia standards is "a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber"). So stuff like the John Doyle "Sweeney Todd" revival or even something like "Avenue Q". Basically the exact opposite of "Spider-Man".

[Queen of the Night]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 4:47pm

Gentleman's Guide reminded me a lot of a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta. The music is in that type of style--a little operetta and English music hall. But very charming.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 5:21pm

Somebody above said that Bullets the movie is far superior to the show. Interestingly, the Village Voice film critic, in a brand new peice, suggests something else. Take a look, it's an interesting article.
Bullets, ,the film or the musical?

[LucyEth]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 5:26pm

If you've seen "Crazy for You" and "Nice Work If You Can Get It" you've seen "Bullets Over Broadway." It's big, big, big, and if that's your thing, go for it. Personally I was numbed by it. "Gentleman's Guide" is a witty, stylish, devilishly clever, but small show without a lot of bells and whistles. Superb performances, with very much an operetta/old style musical feel. For my money, "Gentleman" is the superior show.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 5:40pm

Rather than just give you personal opinions about what any individual poster thinks is better, I'll agree with Lucy above that the show you'll enjoy more depends on your personal taste. Lucy gave you some examples of big, brassy shows (though I thouhgt Bullets to be better than her examples), and one can fairy compare Gentleman's Guide to The Mystery of Edwin Drood in several respects (and to be fair, I preferred Guide.) So which ever way your taste guides you will tell you which of these two shows to see, and I think you'll enjoy either one very much.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 5:50pm

I, for one, absolutely adored Bullets Over Broadway from beginning to end. My face hurt so much from smiling by the end of the night. I would HIGLY recommend it. I have not seen Gentleman's Guide so I can't comment on that, but Bullets was one of the most fun night I have had on Broadway.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 7:15pm

For the record, I originally didn't want to see Gentleman's Guide because people told me it was like Drood, which is a show I did not particularly like. However, I saw it and it's much funnier than Drood, and much more whimsical and entertaining.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 7:28pm

Which is why I also preferred Guide. But in terms of the style of the show, it's not an unfair comparison, though not a perfect one.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 7:47pm

Guide is a better musical but Bullets is a fun show nonetheless

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 8:34pm

"Which is why I also preferred Guide. But in terms of the style of the show, it's not an unfair comparison, though not a perfect one."

No I agree with you. It's definitely comparable. I think the scores are somewhat similar in style, too.

[Up In One]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 9:07pm

Just look at all the awards Gentleman's been nominated for, check its across the board favorable reviews and compare it to those of Bullets. You will be very happy and safe with Gentleman's and you can say you saw the show that won all the awards. If your a musical comedy fan you'll be missing nothing if you miss Bullets. If your a Woody Allen fan you should probably see Bullets. Then again Bullets may not be around as long as Gentleman's if it wins as big as many suggest so you can always come back for Gentleman's

[rlb237]

Posted: 5/2/14 at 9:14am

Thank you all SO MUCH for the replies, recommendations, and opinions! You have all made some excellent points, especially about personal tastes. On that, I'm still torn, because I like both types of musicals (the bigger productions as well as the smaller ones) so I do want to see both eventually. I'm not a Woody Allen fan and have actually never even seen the movie version of Bullets, but wanted to see it onstage as it sounded like a fun, big show. Gentleman's has appealed to me for a long time, ever since I first read about it in November, and I've heard excellent word of mouth about it everywhere (and not just here!) And then once the Tony noms were announced, I figured, uh oh I better get on Gentleman's quick, especially if it does win big (which I expect it will), tickets will be that much harder to get after the Tonys air.

I think I'll postpone seeing Bullets -- does anybody know the time period the original cast is contracted for? I don't want to wait too long on it and miss the original cast.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/2/14 at 11:56am

Believe Gentlemen's will big winner on Tony night and Bullets may be gone before Gentlemen's

I am hoping for a win for score for Bridges though.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/2/14 at 12:10pm

No offense to the poster above who referenced the Voice article on "Bullets" the film compared to the musical, but I cannot believe they claim the musical is funnier than the film. That was simply not the experience I had. Much of what is hilarious in the film simply falls flat on stage, and so many lines were "lobbed at the audience like beach balls", which always rang false to me.
Film: 9
Musical: 5

Absolutely just my opinion.

[djoko84]

Posted: 5/2/14 at 3:24pm

This shouldn't be a discussion...A Gentleman's Guide hands down.