Catch me if you Can Preview Thread- Page 2

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 2:02am

I am still on a high from the performance tonight so sorry if I seem to ramble. This is my 15th Broadway show and has easily made its way into the top 5. For a first preview I didn't really know what to expect but the show was in wonderful shape. The set doesn't have alot to it but I really was ok with that and thought it worked well. Before I talk about the leads, let it be known I think the ensemble was so superb. There was one notable mistake with a hat dance move but I imagine that will tightened.

Aaron Tveit is giving an amazing star turn and i think will easily be nominated for a Tony and while it's still early, I'd say he is a contender. Norbert gave another great character performance. A couple times I saw some freddy from DRS in there as well. His number with the ensemble "Don't Break the Rules" was a big highlight for me. Tom Wopat has some really great material and he has a great father/son chemistry with Aaron. I personally liked the song "The Pinstripes are all that they see" which was very jazzy. Kerry Butler singing Fly Fly Away was such a powerful number and she was just stunning. I was beaming as I watched her and really think she has the potential for a tony. The role is a little small but that number just brings down the house. I also want to point out how funny Linda Hart was as Carol Strong.

Overall the show was just so fantastic. I really think they have a hit on their hands. I am so happy I was able to make it from Chicago to see it because it now ranks as one of the best theatre going experiences of my life.

[kyle4]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 2:45am

i was there... i WANTED to like it...

here's how i felt...

http://thetheaterbuff.typepad.com/the-theater-buff/2011/03/catch-me-if-you-can-first-preview-thoughts.html

good night... oh wait, first, i want to read what you guys thought!!!

[binau]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 2:50am

does he take anything off

(I can't remember the meme, exactly)

[kyle4]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 2:50am

well, we certainly have DIFFERENT opinions...

too funny!!!

night!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 3:15am

Well, Kyle, you seem to be in the minority -- maybe you really don't like musicals.

(Also, I find it REALLY difficult to read your reviews because of your typing style -- if that makes any sense.)

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 3:20am

Does anybody know how the whole Understudy/Standby works? Like is this similar to Spiderman where the Understudy performs during the matinees?

I am seeing this on Thursday Night May 12 and I am DYING to see AARON TVEIT play the lead. To be honest, he is the reason why I am so excited to see this show!

But loved reading all of your reviews on here! This just got me even more pumped to see this!!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 3:29am

kyl3 -- You should have little to worry over. It's only when there is an ALTERNATE that there is a permanent schedule of another actor performning. Catch Me has no alternates.

Aaron has a damn good track record with attendance.

I'm seeing this next month -- can't wait either!

[peachesr]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 4:54am

I'm so pleased this is doing well from the outset. It's so nice to come into a thread and read (mostly) positive things about a show. It makes such a change. I'm not going to get to see it until April but I'm pleased Aaron is good as everyone expected. I assume from everything there were no major mistakes or stops, proof that you can open a new musical on Broadway and not****it up!

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 6:10am

Theatreboy- It's not "early" in the Leading Actor competition. Unless Darren Ritchie is eligible for Wonderland, every musical with a leading actor has already opened or started previews.

[steveshack]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 6:37am

Kyle's blog entry was really interesting because he brought up the issue of having the orchestra onstage, and how large the bandstand is.

Since we were siting in the orchestra, I never saw the drummer milling about during scenes.

CATCH ME, structurally, is like CHICAGO. But the convention is that they're telling his story as he sees it in his head, as a big, splashy TV special with dancing and costumes and sets pieces that pop up out of the floor and drop down from the ceiling.

In essence, this is an Aaron Tveit concert with guest stars.

What I hear in your review is that you didn't care for this convention.

I probably would have agreed with you when I was first discovering musical theater. I didn't like presentational shows, either. I just wanted the drama to unfold like a movie.

I thought the score was particularly good because the music felt "period" but not derivative. And McNally did a great job of interspersing plot-propelling scenes between the verses to keep the action rolling along while the music played on.

Norbert's genius is that he played this totally real. And, consequently, he got every laugh. We recently saw another comedy where everyone was doing double takes and "trying to be funny." Results were disastrous.

I think the reason the main love story plays not as strongly as it might is because this is really a show about the relationship of the two men. We hear Frank tell us how much he loves the girl, but it's more like a side plot.

Everything else works so well, perhaps they'll address this during the previews, but I think it is what it is. The show isn't about the girl.

Aaron Tveit is electrifying. His VOICE is so CLEAR and strong on the high notes. And he moves beautifully -- and is, of course, beautiful to look at. I have to figure out how to get him to sing some of my songs.

Steve Schalchlin
Living in the Bonus Round

[h6p8gv]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 6:54am

Can somebody post the song list?

[esparza 333]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 8:15am

I am so excited to see that the show has come together so well. I was wondering if any had knowledge of the changes since I saw it in Seattle. I said then that this would sweep the Tony awards and it looks like it will. The score is gorgeous and Tweit deserves the Tony hands down. Norbert and Tok will both be nominated. What I find odd is the so far reaction to Kerry Butler. When I saw it down in Seattle, I left thinking Kerry Butler will win Best Featured Actress hands down. Her Fly Fly Away was so effortless and gorgeous and she had a hilarous scene when she first met him. I wonder f she was vocally tired cause like people said she is almost always vocally on top. I stll have a feeling she wo get better through previews. Also was the Act I finale Christmas is my Favorite time of Year or has that been cut? In Seattle act I ended in a very low key way with Frank And Hanratty singing in two telephone booth I believe. Also can someone post the song list? I am very interested to see what other songs were taken out. This has gotta to be one of my favorite new scores of the year. It is so versatile and so beautiful. Goodbye (despite cliche lyrics) and Live in Living Color are among my other favorites.

[Skywalker3]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 8:19am

I really want to know about the changes they made and the differences between the Seattle and Broadway production.
Updated On: 3/12/11 at 08:19 AM

[steveshack]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 8:20am

I believe act one ends, after the Christmas number, with the Norbert waving to Frank, as he sees him in the street. And he says, "He's just a kid!"

But I've only seen it once, so I can't say.

Don't know why Kerry's song gets lost in this except for reasons stated above. I think, ultimately, it's hard to care about her character. We don't meet her, really, until late. And she figures into the plot only in the sense that she's the reason he gets caught.

[rentfan2]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 9:47am

Kyle4
I notice that you "want" to like things, but always tear them apart

Do you actually like anything??

[Patti4President]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 10:08am

Esparza - It's not that Kerry is vocally tired. She sounded great. It's just odd to hear an 11 o'clock power ballad from a character that we haven't invested in. Additionally, someone commented about Norbert playing everything real. Kerry should be doing the same thing. Her character is resistant to the "performance" concept of Frank Jr.'s confession. But Kerry is playing Brenda as a huge caricature (which works in shows she has previously done, but not in Catch Me). Hanratty (Norbert) and Brenda (Kerry) should be our constant links to the fact that this really happened.

Also as great of a song as Fly Fly Away is...what does it tell us? Nothing. She says, "I'll be your alibi." We are lead to believe she is ready to make the change to be a strong woman...and then 5 minutes later...she has turned him in. So what was the point of Fly Fly Away, other than the composers giving Kerry Butler a number that will undoubtedly be the next overdone audition song.

The Act I finale is still the Christmas song. Although, I think the parents could be cut from it. Keep it about Hanratty and Frank Jr.

Pinstripes is the only new song (I think). Felicia Finley's "You Gotta Pay for Love" is cut as well as Hanratty's first song "Here I Am". Everything else is there.

I know I'm going against the popular opinion here, but for me personally, I would hand the Tony to Norbert before Aaron (though I thought Aaron was fantastic.)

[steven22]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 10:13am

I CANNOT wait to see this over my spring break in April! If anyone has anything from last night, pm me!

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 11:07am

For anyone who is familiar with the Seattle incarnation of this show and saw the first preview, is that dreadful New Orleans/"Bury Me Beside the One I Love" sequence cut completely or trimmed down? It stopped the show cold during the Seattle tryout.

Also, is the real Abagnale still married to the Brenda Strong analogue from his real life today? That would be kinda cool.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 11:10am

Also, is the real Abagnale still married to the Brenda Strong analogue from his real life today? That would be cool.

SPOILER...

No. During the epilogue, they mention that Frank Jr. never saw Brenda again after his arrest.

[steveshack]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 12:04pm

I don't recall a New Orleans number, so I guess it's been cut.

[kyle4]

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

rentfan --

YES, i LIKE things... I REALLY like things....

since i started my VERY sexy blog,

http://thetheaterbuff.typepad.com/the-theater-buff/

i have liked (LOVED!) ARCADIA...

i am shocked that people are SO "head over heels" about this show... it is DEFINITELY a solid show... but nothing about it would make me want to see it again...

regardless, i am glad you guys LOVE it... i REALLY wanted to!!

chest and tris today!!!!

[theaterfan862]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 12:43pm

I am seeing the show on Tuesday and I am soo excited! Reading all your post is making me even more giddy!LOL

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 2:14pm

dramamama— thanks for the tip! i am SO STOKED to see this show and Aaron in it! I have been listening to the demo tracks I downloaded non-stop and am IN LOVE with it!



also, does anybody have a picture of the show curtain??

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 2:16pm

Can someone please post the list of musical numbers?

[MCfan2]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 5:55pm

Thanks for the reviews! I'm seeing it at the end of April, and already I can hardly wait.