CORAM BOY - Not to be missed. (NO spoilers here)- Page 2

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 11:11pm

<< look boys and girls, a big underwater scene!

>>

Which is beautifully done, IMHO- !

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:24am

I have been hemming and hawing about what to post about the show, which I saw last Thursday. I agree that there was a definite dichotomy between Acts I and II, but I had no problem following the story, nor did the three rows of high school students that we found ourselves in the midst of. It was interesting to note that we were expecting this loud, boisterous group to ruin the performance for us, especially as their teacher had refused to tell them what it was about and none of them seemed to have looked it up on the internet. Two minutes in and they were dead silent. At the close of Act I, the lights came up and most just sat there in shocked silence and two of the boys had tears running down their cheeks. At the end of the show, they were the first ones on their feet and the rest of the house quickly followed.

Like I said, I wasn't sure what to write about this show and then Saturday morning, just before a wedding I was to perform, it all came together. I have been watching and 'doing shows' for over 30 years but this was the first time I really feel that I saw someone Craft a show. I've seen a lot of great theatre but I can't recall the last time I saw every element come together so deliberately and completely. It actually made for a pretty good sermon (sets, props, costumes, God as Director, etc all made for excellent allegories with an overall theme of don't just 'do' a marriage, 'craft' one).

I may write more on the specifics of the show later, but for now, I wanted to get something down. No show will be everyone's cup of tea and I respect the right of people to have other tastes though I often wonder why there is no middle ground on these boards. People love emphatically or hate viciously, while the fact remains there's a lot of 'Eh, it was OK' out there. Even, dare I say it, some P-shaw.

For those who asked about student rush, you have the facts right on this thread, but don't forget that the Producers are offering half price tickets for students 12-18 with an adult admission to encourage young people to experience the theatre. That may help too.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:55am

I got a student rush ticket for the front row of the rear mezzanine Saturday afternoon. Place was empty. I moved to the orchestra for Act II.

Visually stunning, not enough substance. Agree about Camp, Maxwell, and Elbrick, but I also think that Brad Fleishcer is giving one of the best performances of the seaston.

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 11:34am

It was pretty packed when we went on Thursday, I'd say a pretty easy 95% capacity. One of the funniest moments of the evening was our usher, who explained to anyone who would listen that she had been at the theatre for thirty years, and that she just needed a quick peek at your ticket. We were seated in the midst of three rows of high school kids who, having the block, wanted to sit with their friends. She worked her tail off trying to get everyone into the right seats and a few kids actually swapped ticket stubs to placate her. After she moved on, I explained to the kids in front of me that it was important for everyone to be in the correct seat in case an airplane flew into the theatre and we needed to identify them by their dental records. Still, it was nice to hear her enthusiasm for the show having 'seen it all' over her years there.

[myManCape]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 3:18pm

Just a comment on the score, while I have yet to see Coram Boy the show must be ruled by the Tony Committee to be a new musical in order for the score to get a nom. Coram Boy is billed as a play and will be considered a play, thus no score nom.

[myManCape]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 3:18pm

Just a comment on the score, while I have yet to see Coram Boy the show must be ruled by the Tony Committee to be a new musical in order for the score to get a nom. Coram Boy is billed as a play and will be considered a play, thus no score nom.

[mominator]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 5:00pm

Another vote to SEE THIS SHOW! I do feel bad for the folks who left. Chating with the people around me we were wondering how much more are we going to be put through?

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 5:13pm

Agreed ! Must be seen !!! I have been pushing people to see this show--- make up your own minds about it- Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but its great theatre, IMHO !

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:08pm

Must be seen as an example of how to dazzle with big loud theatrical effects without having anything at all to say about much of anything at all.

I guess it will do fine for the high school kids or anyone who needs to have constant special effects and rotating stages and angels on wires and lots of STUFF all over the place so they can think they're getting their money's worth.

The theatre staff of TIME OUT should be forced to see it and see if they still think that British theater is better than American theatre.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:16pm

<< Must be seen as an example of how to dazzle with big loud theatrical effects without having anything at all to say about much of anything at all.

>>

"big loud theatrical effects"? How so? Which are you referring to? The "water scene"? Thats FAR from a "theatrical effect"-

Actually, its very simply done, but works beautifully.

This show is not Disney Theatrical- (not knocking Disney, but its not the same type of production)

I totally respect your opinion about the show, but I think your off on your reasoning.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:26pm

"Just a comment on the score, while I have yet to see Coram Boy the show must be ruled by the Tony Committee to be a new musical in order for the score to get a nom. Coram Boy is billed as a play and will be considered a play, thus no score nom."

Not true. Plays are allowed to be nominated, as long as the score is original.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 9:49pm

Sorry, 1232, but the water scene is a theatrical effect, actually a bunch of theatrical effects combined.

Other theatrical effects: the virtually incessant rotation of the turntable, the ropes that descend to indicate a shipboard sequence, the angel, the big silly unnecessary underwater sequence, the screaming of the choir, the dream sequence with the puppets, on and on and on and bloody on.

There's nothing wrong with my reasoning. These are all effects. Theatrical effects are cool. I like theatrical effects when they serve the show, not overwhelm the show. In CORAM BOY they are ultimately ARE the show, because the script is a bore, the story is overloaded and overheated. Agonizing.

Edited to remove some plot-related spoilers, my apologies.

Updated On: 5/1/07 at 09:49 PM

[BroadwayBulldog]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 11:20pm

Roscoe, Shame on you for insisting on posting spoilers. You, too, Testing1232.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 7:35am

I edited my post to remove some plot-related spoilers. My apologies. Is it a spoiler to discuss the scenic and theatrical elements of a production?

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 9:03am

Thank you for removing the spoilers. I was pretty pissed off when I saw them and had to think twice, delete my original post, and leave the boards not to respond. It's funny how I can suffer through the negativity that so many feed on here but posting spoilers in the No Spoilers thread really struck a nerve.

That said, it's funny but being a design kinda guy, I kept waiting for them to USE the turntable and it seemed like forever before they did. I found the scenic devices to be organic to the show, a few ropes to represent a ship is hardly an excessive staging. As for the final scene? Tarzan did it better, in my opinion, but their staging worked for their production. I enjoyed the scenic elements and lighting immensely but never felt it took away from the story, in fact, I foud it to be beautifully Crafted as a whole. Just my opinion.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 12:32pm

<< Sorry, 1232, but the water scene is a theatrical effect, actually a bunch of theatrical effects combined.
>>

Oh, no doubt its an "effect", but your OP stated "big, loud, theatrical effect"- Its far from that---

[Testing1232]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 12:35pm

<< Roscoe, Shame on you for insisting on posting spoilers. You, too, Testing1232.
>>

Bulldog---- The "water scene" has been mentioned NUMEROUS times on the boards by others (myslef included - (and I did post "SPOILER" at that time)

If someone mentioning a "water scene" spoils a show for you, my sincere apologies. I purposely, did not go into any other details of the scene- I cant speak for Roscoe-

[Testing1232]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 12:40pm

<< I enjoyed the scenic elements and lighting immensely but never felt it took away from the story, in fact, I foud it to be beautifully Crafted as a whole. Just my opinion. >>

Agree, totally---

And as far as the effects overwhelming the show (as Roscoe stated), I have to disagree here- To me, the acting and the
beautiful voices take care of that-