CRY-BABY: I'm Still Crying - 3/24/08- Page 7

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 2:44am

You can't compare Cry Baby to YF or The Pirate Queen. Both of those shows were pretty rotten out of town, got negative reviews and suffered the same fate in NY.

Cry Baby has a good response out of town, got favorable reviews and then they took a giant step back and made the show significantly worse for Broadway.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 2:50am

Wow, I remember Neddy being one of its great supporters when it played in San Diego, and for him to say it's not really good on Broadway must mean the show is in bad shape. That's pretty bad.
Oh well. I will be skipping this one. After learning of how bad the show is there is absolutely no musical I'm excited about seeing anymore, only plays, which is rare but pretty great!

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 2:53am

I am going back after it opens. I am hoping they go back to what they had in La Jolla. I doubt they will...but one can hope, I guess. Updated On: 3/18/08 at 02:53 AM

Posted: 3/18/08 at 6:34am

here is my friend Ben's review

*WARNING* not for those with delicate sensibilities!
And WHERE did you learn those vulgar jazz words!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 6:56am

Yes, the pie and Lucky Strike girls are still there at the end. I think the show was about 2 hours 20 minutes (including intermission) on Saturday night.

A friend of mine had seen it in La Jolla and he said the audience at his performance was very enthusiastic.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 7:15am

hmmmm.....any more reviews?

J* Updated On: 3/18/08 at 07:15 AM

Posted: 3/18/08 at 9:19am

i feel that SCREW LOOSE is the only song that really captures the magic of John Waters.

[dramadude]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 11:19am

Updated On: 4/25/08 at 11:19 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 11:45am

Oh my God, Norn, I loved your friend's blog. It made my day. Thanks for posting the link. And sorry about the excruciating experience of sitting with such a rude audience.

Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:11pm

i just feel so sad for all involved.

i love John Waters, and Elizabeth Stanley is such a nice, kind person. James Snyder seems like a sweetheart.

i really *wanted* to be able to support them all wholeheartedly.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:18pm

Who is credited as lyricist? I noticed two people took songwriting credits, but I don't remember lyricist.

As for the book, I'm somewhat surprised as Thomas Meehan has done some great work in the past.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:22pm

My friend saw it last night and said the 1st act was ok but the second act was awful and that some of the jokes (one involving an oxygen chamber?) fell flat.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:25pm

"As for the book, I'm somewhat surprised as Thomas Meehan has done some great work in the past."

Even his book for Annie 2: Miss Hannigan's Revenge was better than this!!

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 7:28pm

I am actually pretty upset by what has happened to the show. They took out the best parts, replaced them with bad gags, and tacked on another 15 minutes...

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 11:25am

Saw it again last night and it's still awful...but I want to report some changes.

Harriet Harris' song in Act 2 has been orchestrated! The song is still awful, but at least it's not just a piano playing with her.

The nun's outfit (Lacy Kohl I think) at the end is no longer hot pink, but instead, it is orange to coincide with the other two girls' outfits.

There is a curtain call! The ensemble bows first, and then each major and minor lead has an individual bow (even Richard Poe)...kind of strange, but it's better than no curtain call at all.

Elizabeth Stanley is still bland and the songs are too high for her vocal range. James Snyder has gotten worse (if that's possible)...he should be replaced. Harriet Harris is stuck in this mess...and god love her, she still delivers those awful lines with conviction. Chester Gregory looks bored. Chris Hanke is not very good. Alli Mauzey steals the show. Spencer Liff is so f***ing hot. I still love the tap dance liscense plate number. The score is abysmal and the book is painful. The audience reaction was teped at best, and from where I was sitting, there was no standing ovation...not even close.

James Snyder said there will be many changes implemented this Friday...I may go back April 5th...and then to the closing (whenever that will be).

The gas mask waltz is still in...and apparently is not going to be cut! LOLOL.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 11:37am

My review from last night, from one of the million other threads.


Just saw it...
Well...not the trainwreck I expected...but not very good at all either.
These are things it needs:
A star performance from its leads. Neither do anything with their roles. This show would be so much better without these two!
Better Music to match up the good book and great lyrics

The Dancing was great. Chris Hanke was really funny, so was Alli Mauzy. Harriet Harris was a little off vocally this evening, but nailed every punch line. Chester Gregory looked like he was moderately interested in doing the show this evening, but his vocals were flawless.
From what I read here, I was expecting In My Life level badness, so I was somewhaqt pleasantly surprised.
The house (especially the Mezz) was heavily papered.I saw at least 10 people and none of us paid. Lots of b'way folk there too, but that's to be expected on a monday.
Bottom line-not good at all, but not terrible

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:05pm

...oh and Carly Jibson was still out...

spotted in the audience last night: Michael Beresse, Jeff Bowen, Hunter Bell, James T. Lane (Richie in ACL), Lea Michelle, Daniel Reichard and Scott Nevins.
Updated On: 3/25/08 at 12:05 PM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:06pm

Norn, that was so funny. Next time say something to stupid people like the women behind you or get an usher. I would have been on them like white on rice.

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:08pm

WAT, I think I said this in another thread, but from what I overheard, the gas mask waltz is not going to be cut -- but the song after it is.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:17pm

Yes, Calvin, you are correct. James Snyder confirmed that at the stage door last night.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:31pm

"the gas mask waltz is not going to be cut -- but the song after it is."

What's the title of that song that will be cut?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:32pm

I think it's called "Let's Get Some Air." I'm glad I got to hear it twice...and I told James Snyder that he should record it on the CD as a bonus track.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:41pm

Thanks, WAT... this has been a dry season for Broadway flop love, now hasn't it. Glad to see your enthusiasm again.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:50pm

WAT, I was there last night as well and we must have been in very different parts of the house. Every line of the book got a laugh, not just from one person - which would have been me, since I thought the show was friggin' funny - but from many. This surprised me. It's a very particular kind of humor. As soon as the show ended there was an immediate standing ovation from everyone around me. I didn't look up in the mezz, but the orchestra level was exuberant. Chester Gregory did not look bored to me. He just doesn't have any arc involving another character. The character just likes to sing and Gregory does that beautifully and energetically.
I am not a shill. I too think a melody might not have hurt once in a while and different leads might make the show work better in the first act. But I think the show is being misrepresented here as a Carrie in the making. It's not. Carrie took itself seriously and people laughed at it. (Except in the Betty Buckley scenes, which worked like gangbusters.) This show has John Waters' style through and through. The problem is it doesn't have what Hairspray had - Divine (or Fierstein) and other characters that make you care.
Updated On: 3/25/08 at 12:50 PM

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:56pm

Yeah, I went again last night as well. Since it is one of few shows that play on Monday nights, And its always fun to see all the theatre people that show up on a Monday preview. although next monday I am greatly looking forward to seeing A Catered Affair.

ANYWAY Not sure what theatre you were in but the audience laughed at almost every joke, the audience as a whole was having a great time and their was standing ovation at the end. So I do not know what you were talking about.