CATCH ME IF YOU CAN PREVIEW THOUGHTS — Page 2

Yes, Patti did one of the demos.

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I'm watching the 30 Rock episode with Patti LuPone!

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Unmemorable, generic score but that's no surprise.

I agree with MrBundles - granted it is an out of town run (and the first preview of it, nonetheless) so there's some work to be done, but I was really blown away and had a fantastic evening. Looking forward to returning at the end of the run to see how it has evolved, and will post more in depth thoughts sometime tomorrow. All the leads were fantastic - Aaron is (to borrow from Bundles again) electric when onstage and Norbert is absolutely hysterical.

"I'm watching the 30 Rock episode with Patti LuPone!"

Great episode!

Running on very little sleep, so forgive the errors and random, disorganized thoughts.

Design: seems like the entire back wall is LCD, as I saw scan lines. What essentially could have turned out monotonous projections on a canvas is circumvented by cut-outs in front that only reveal parts at a time.

Lighting: this show is kind of dark. Lots of dimmers, low lighting and spots.

Orchestra: is on a riser that kind of resembles a swoosh that moves from center to rear. Sound's not too loud in mid-mezzanine. Some of the individual mics are still unbalanced as Rachel DeBenedet essentially overpowers Tom Wopat in one of their duets. A couple of other mics seem low as well.

The music: feels catchy, seems period. A few feel random and unnecessary. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who have to listen to something ad nauseum before it sticks.

The show itself is kind of meta; lots of breaking the fourth wall as characters narrate, refer to the show itself as "the show" and interact with the orchestra and audience.

The plot progression is clean, moves along, with some meandering points. Hanratty (Norbert) seems to have way too many numbers in the beginning about how eccentric/isolated/sees the world in black & white.

Aaron Tveit as Frank Jr. is...pretty much what he's always been. the enunciation of his lines make him come off a little stilted. But what the hell was with that unintentionally hilarious (right before intentionally hilarious) crying jag at the end? Good Lord, Ms. Reva Shayne, quit yer caterwauling.

What's with the way with the way women are depicted in the show. Frank Jr's mom is a slut. Cheryl Ann is a slut. The stewardesses are sluts. The nurses are sluts. The only one who isn't a slut is sweet, virginal, retainer-wearing Brenda. Whom Frank, naturally immediately falls for. Is this a deliberate effect of the story being lensed through Frank Jr's eyes? 'Cause it's kind of icky.

Hanratty: What can i say about Norbert? he has that goofy, disarming charm that connects so well with the audience and makes what is essentially a straight man role sympathetic. You want to root for him. Sort of the subversive underdog. Though he tends to upstage Aaron when they're on together, their scenes together crackle.

The Frank jr./Hanratty relationship is fascinating - two men on opposite sides of the law finding sort of a camaderie in their isolation and loneliness. It's especially poignant in the Christmas phone call scene.

The two Franks are another issue. The father/son relationship seems nebulous. It feels more like the kid checking in with his gym teacher and giving him updates once in a while. I don't see that Frank Jr. desperately wants his father's approval and to bring his family back together. I don't see Frank Sr. trying to live his life vicariously through his son - until this is all fed to me at the end. If I have to be told what's going on instead of it being inferred, then it's not working.

I heard a few people humming the Act 1 finale on the line to the bathroom and all throughout intermission, so that's a good sign. There does seem to be some random, "Hey let's sing a song here" numbers. In fact, there is a scene that does exactly that - pushing the envelope between meta and twee.

Kerry Butler doesn't show up until Act 2. she has one solo (arguably the most memorable song in the show) and holy ****, does she knock that pretty l'il thang into the stratosphere. However, as it really doesn't seem to progress the plot, and feels more like a hit single, it could be easily cut.

Hanratty/Frank Sr. at the bar goes on far too long.

Standing O in the mezzanine at the end. As reference, it didn't happen at Shrek, but did at Memphis.

Thanks for the review! Sounds like they have a few kinks to work out... hopefully these can be worked out.

"Kerry Butler doesn't show up until Act 2. she has one solo (arguably the most memorable song in the show) and holy ****, does she knock that pretty l'il thang into the stratosphere. However, as it really doesn't seem to progress the plot, and feels more like a hit single, it could be easily cut. "

This was actually the one thing I was nervous for! I'm glad she nailed it! The one of her on youtube is.. um, not my favorite version, but again, that was youtube... Either way, I hope it doesn't get cut (like you suggest it could be), imo, it's probably the strongest number from everything I have heard, but when I see it, I'll be able to tell for sure, otherwise I'm taking your word on it!

I highly doubt it is, I don't even know how they'd stage it within the context of the narrative, but I have to ask. Is the scene from the movie with Christopher Walken and the watch in the show?

ACT I

"Live in Living Color!"..........................................................Frank, Jr. And Company
"Fifty Checks"........................................................................................Frank, Sr.
"Someone Else's Skin"...........................................................Frank, Jr., Ensemble
"Here I am (To Save the Day)"...................................................................Hanratty
"The Jet Set".........................................................Frank, Jr., Pilots, Stewardesses

"Breaking All the Rules"....................................Hanratty, Cod, Branton, Dollar, Men
"Needle in a Haystack".........................................................................FBI Agents
"You Gotta Pay For Love"......................................................................Cheryl Ann
"The Man Inside The Clues".......................................................................Hanratty
"Butter Outta Cream"............................................................... Frank, Jr., Frank, Sr.
My Favorite Time of Year".................................Hanratty, Frank, Jr., Frank, Sr.,Paula


ACT II

"Doctor's Orders".........................................................................Frank, Jr., Nurses
"Don't Be A Stranger".....................................................................Paula, Frank, Sr.
"Little Boy Be A Man".................................................................Hanratty, Frank, Sr.
"Seven Wonders"..........................................................................Frank, Jr., Brenda
"Bury Me Beside the One I love".................Roger, Carol, Brenda, Frank, Jr., Company

"Fly, Fly Away"............................................................................................Brenda
"Goodbye"................................................................................................Frank, Jr.
"Strange But True".................................................Hanratty, Frank, Jr., and company

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The show-within-a-show part didn't bother me too much, though some of it was a little too cutesy wink-wink for me.

Song list:

[Act 1]
Live in Living Color - Frank Jr & company
Fifty Checks - Frank Sr
Someone Else's Skin - Frank Jr, ensemble
Here I Am (To Save the Day) - Hanratty
The Jet Set - Frank Jr, Pilots, Stewardesses
Breaking All the Rules - Hanratty, Cod, Branton, Dollar, Men
Needle in a Haystack - FBI Agents
You Gotta Pay For Love - Cheryl Ann
The Man Inside the Clues - Hanratty
Butter Outta Cream - Frank Jr & Sr
My Favorite Time of Year - Hanratty, Frank Jr, Sr, Paula

[Act 2]
Doctor's Orders - Frank Jr, Nurses
Don't Be a Stranger - Paula, Frank Sr
Little Boy Be a Man - Hanratty, Frank Sr
Seven Wonders - Frank Jr, Brenda
Bury Me Beside the One I Love - Roger, Carol, Brenda, Frank Jr, Company
Fly, Fly Away - Brenda
Goodbye - Frank Jr
Strange But True - Hanratty, Frank Jr & Company

I was quite excited to attend the performance last night as every one of us who got tickets only got them within the last week due to the preview cancellations and the addition of last nights performance. As I walked into the theatre, I immediately noticed the merchandise booth which was selling two different types of shirts, the movie on DVD, the book, magnets, solo CD's, and a blue flight bag, which was practically the same bag that Boeing Boeing sold. Tom Wopat happened to come in, stand next to the booth and was talking to people and signing various autographs, which seemed odd. As the crowd grew in the lobby (the theatre was not open at this point), the lovely Seattle heat and humidity began to create some type of new weather, which was miserable, and smelling of extreme body odor, very reminiscent of going to the theatre in London during the summer.

Once the doors were open, the audience flooded the theatre and it became apparent that there was an energy in the audience that I became excited about. Jerry Mitchell came in and sat about two rows behind me with his pad of paper, and as soon as the artistic director of the 5th came in and talked about how we would be the first audience to ever see the show, I was pumped.

First of all, I was very lucky to have gotten seats in the fourth row center as the mics went out a few times, and I was close enough to be able to hear everything. Nothing seemed unbalanced, and the sound was perfect...well, from my area.

The Set
The set was made up of two LCD screens...one behind the orchestra and one that could be flown in at anytime in front of them. The rear LCD never moved. At the start of the show, the stage was black, with a black wall covering the orchestra. I found the cut outs to be very interesting as they would only reveal different parts of the LCD and orchestra at a time.

The Music
Lush orchestrations. I actually enjoyed the music much more than I was expecting, and more than anything I loved the swooping set piece that held the orchestra and allowed them to be a part of the show. This was almost identical (but in a different design) to HAIRSPRAY VEGAS, because the orchestra as a whole could be moved downstage and back upstage.

The Performances
I can't really say much about Aaron And Norbert other than that they were perfectly cast. I am in awe of Norbert and how spot on he was last night after everything he has been through. Yes, Kerry is BARELY in the show. She makes an appearance for about 5 seconds at the top of the show, and then doesn't appear until ACT II. Though, she is able to have a true diva moment with her beautiful performance of "Fly, Fly Away." It is truly hilarious to see her wearing the braces.

A personal favorite of mine was Linda Hart...and she plays the accordion! That's all I'm going to say.....Also, Felicia Finley is HOT. HOT. HOT. HOT.....red hair....sexy dress. She embodies hotness (and prostitution, I guess :P)

Everything Else
I personally usually hate shows that break the fourth wall and involve the audience, but for some reason with this show, I loved it. I thought it worked beautifully. I love how the show started out at the end and made it's way through as if the characters all knew they were telling a story. Also, *spoiler*, the audience sing-a-long was hilarious.

I loved Mackie's costume designs. Colorful, stylish, vintage, but not overdone.

I was most impressed with how polished this first performance was. I could feel the energy and excitement from both cast and audience, and I feel very lucky to have been there. I'm just a bit worried now to see The First Wives Club next month...eek!

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I'm sorry but the whole concept sounds stupid to me. But then again, I suppose the show isn't trying to be high-art or have any sort of dramatic purpose other than to entertain. I just thought the movie balanced the commercial film/indie film aspects so well. I don't know, it just seems weird, but who knows. It maybe great. I'm glad Norbert is doing well, I expect nothing less!

Since when does musical comedy need to have a "meaningful story"?