Comments on Catch Me If You Can

[mmFan]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 12:09pm

Comments on Catch Me If You Can? Had tickets to see House of Blue Leaves, but since that performance got cancelled, i quickly searched and bought tickets for Catch Me If You Can. (I'm very particular about my seats and didn't want to wait as I'm coming to NY next weekend). So i don't know much about it. How's the music? Production?

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 12:19pm

I felt very ambivalent. The score has moments of brilliance ("Don't Break the Rules" and a couple others) and then the rest of the score is pretty bland. Norbert is very good, Aaron is fine. Nothing really made me excited about the show, the story, etc.

Overall, it's not a bad musical, it just left me with very little afterwards because it was so mediocre.

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 12:28pm

Personally - I adored it. As broadwaydevil mentioned, the score has moments of absolute brilliance (Goodbye, Fly, Fly Away, Don't Break the Rules, Live in Living Color) and then low points (Don't Be a Stranger, Our Family Tree) but overall the score was cheated out of a nomination. The story is very presentational - Frank is portrayed as a bit master of ceremonies, with total control over the stage and the orchestra. The fourth wall is broken so often it's almost like there isn't one - aside from that, Aaron Tveit has one of the absolute best young voices on Broadway and Norbert Leo is hilarious. I went to see it twice, and I'm going again with some friends this August.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 12:30pm

Absolutely loved it!
Go!

[mmFan]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 12:35pm

Excellent. Sounds like overall it's positive. Gonna check out the songs mentinoed on itunes

[newintown]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 12:40pm

"Sounds like overall it's positive."

You might want to explore the board a bit more before coming to that conclusion...

[phantomvegas2]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 12:41pm

Go to the theatre and just see the show! Just let it happen. I hadn't listened to or watched any of the promo performances, because I just wanted to see the show for what it was, in it's entirety. Truly an old-fashioned Broadway spectacular. Wish it hadn't been so underrated! Hope you get the opportunity to catch it.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 12:53pm

I loved it. I agree that the score was cheated out of a nomination -- and the choreography, too. Strong performances all around, good story. The showy numbers are fun, but my particular favorites were some of the quieter numbers ("Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year," "Little Boy, Be a Man") that made for some great character moments and a chance for the actors to really play off each other.

I'm really not sure why it's got a lot of negativity around here, as newintown mentioned, but FWIW, my friends and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[mmFan]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 1:05pm

Oh...I did already buy tickets (as I didn't want to let good seats go), but am curious in hindsight other people's comments.

[Patash]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 1:05pm

Put me in the group that just found the whole thing mediocre. The only preconceived notion I had was that the "staginess" wouldn't work, but surprisingly I found that format one of the best aspects of the show. I found Aaron Tveit to have a really great voice but totally lack the charisma and stage presence this great con artist should have had. And although I love Mr. Butz, I found his performance uneven in deciding if he was an old man with physical infirmities that disappeared when he danced or just what his age and physical condition were supposed to be.

As for moments of "brilliance" the only one I found making that mark was the above mentioned "Don't Break the Rules". Nothing in the show was horrible, but nothing but that one number really grabbed me either.

Posted: 6/17/11 at 1:24pm

I agree about it being mediochre... I bolted at intermission

[Kalimba]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 1:28pm

For some reason the show annoyed me. I went back to give it a 2nd chance, and I still had the same reaction. It was so "in your face" obnoxious.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 1:30pm

I adore Aaron, as most people know on here, but even I found myself quite bored while watching it.

[evic]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 3:27pm

Loathed it.....my friends bolted at intermission; I stayed for second act hoping something would save it- it was worse! Good luck- hope you like it

[mmFan]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 3:29pm

Hmmm..ok....now very mixed. I appreciate the input.

[PremierFan]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 4:32pm

Loved this show! The chemistry between Norbert and Aaron is wonderful. The score is jazzy and Aaron's voice is top notch. I have seen it a few times with different groups, and everyone has loved it! Go in with clear mind and don't listen to all the negativity on this board. You will find negative comments for all the shows here. Catch Me is a true old fashioned musical and people who love that, love this show.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 4:45pm

It's a great show with a wonderful cast and music.

I am wondering if the cast were tired early on in the run from all the day and night work of pre-opening from some of the comments on here.

I saw it twice recently and the cast was just as confident and alive as you could hope for. Timing and pacing were excellent.

The first time I saw it I preferred other songs to "Don't Be a Stranger" and "Our Family Tree," but by the second time I saw them and could study their lyrics and choreography with a little more ease I really, really liked them.

The dancers in the ensemble are super.

[Luner_onTheatre]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 4:56pm

You're definitely going to get a lot of mixed opinions on this one. Seems to be the love it or hate it show of the season.

Anyways, I saw the production and loved it. Its really just absolutely fantastic whether its the music or the story or the talent. So much talent! Don't let the haters get you down about the show. Go see it for sure. It really is a "true" broadway show.

Patash- Charisma lacking? The last thing Aaron Tveit is lacking is charisma. Maybe the stage pressence a little of a "great con artist" but even so not really.

[steven22]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 5:46pm

I loved it. Thought the whole show was done very well.

[Sophiia]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 5:57pm

I saw Catch Me's first preview and was pleasantly surprised (from what I had seen of rehearsals it had looked awful cheesy to me) at how well the format worked. I just saw it again last night and LOVED it even more- the cast has improved in the past few months. Norbert is absolutely hilarious and an amazing dancer; totally deserved the Tony. Aaron has my favorite voice on Broadway right now, and I'm surprised at the amount of people who didn't find his performance endearing. There are definitely some weak songs and unnecessary moments, but for an imperfect show it's pretty damn entertaining. You might be pickier when watching it after reading those negative comments, but both of my parents (neither of whom are huge Broadway fans) ended up loving it (to their surprise). Go with an open mind and I think you'll like it! Have fun :)

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:03pm

To me it seems a traditional Broadway show, with all the good things that entails, and one that you can recommend to everybody.

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:47pm

Just go see it - you may or may not love it, but I don't know anyone personally who didn't like the show.

[Performer]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 7:15pm

Go. Good music, fun show, and Aaron tveit in underwear. Love it. Go

[Barcelona]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 9:23pm

I enjoyed it! No, it wasn't the greatest show I've ever seen, but the score and choreography are fantastic. It has its slow moments, but I thought it was enjoyable overall, especially if you're a huge fan of the movie, as I am :)

[mc1227]

Posted: 6/17/11 at 9:57pm

Just see it and judge for yourself. Shows are a matter of taste and so are performances. What I enjoy, you may hate, so the only way to find out is to see it without any preconceived ideas of what is good or bad. I hope you enjoy it.