FIRST DATE - Previews- Page 8

[little__lotte]

Posted: 7/25/13 at 9:19am

Simple score, simple set, costumes

[matty159]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 4:55pm

I guess there is something to be said about reading these boards before heading into a show and going in with really low expectations. Verdict: I saw it last night and I kinda liked it. Was it groundbreaking? Will it sweep awards? Will it have a long run? I think the answer there is obvious, but it was an honest to goodness fun night at the theater. Yes, I think the gay BFF thing is over the top (it worked the first time, and slightly the second, but after that, done with it). I thought "That's Why You Love Me" (the song with the Bad Boys) needs to be tossed. Sure, it gives a musical number to her "bad boy" thing, but it was just a terrible song and looked awkward. As for the rest: the ensemble was great, most of the dialogue was snappy and fun, and Zachary Levi is as precious (not based on the novel by Sapphire) as can be. I thought he was in great voice and ultimately took ownership of the show. Krysta was good, but had nothing on Zachary.

The show is by no means the train wreck I thought it was going to be. And surprisingly, as a concierge, I have had many requests for the show. I wish it well. It was a fun night and a fun third date for me!

[delongpre]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 4:54am

I also saw the show last night. After reading the boards I was prepared for most of what I experienced. Levi was amazing...great energy, timing, and so cute. The sold out (yes) audience was in love with him. I expect a lot of the crowd was summer vacation folks, and not New York theater people who expect a lot more from a show. This audience cracked up at every gay and Jewish joke. In places where I fully anticipated the outcome, they reeled with laughter. The sound was muddled in places and some lines were delivered so fast that I missed them entirely. The bit with their son was over before I realized it had started.
As many have said, this show might last a while on a smaller stage as it has enough to please a non-demanding audience that is just out for a night of fun. Clever use of supporting cast. Unmemorable music. Good, but not big enough for Broadway. Stage door was MOBBED like I haven't seen in ages for much bigger shows with (IMHO) much bigger stars. Summer crowds will keep It going for a bit I imagine.

[DeeKDee]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 12:50pm

"Stage door was MOBBED like I haven't seen in ages for much bigger shows with (IMHO) much bigger stars."

You clearly have never encountered Chuck fans before.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 10:45pm

I saw the show this afternoon and I'm pretty much in the "that was ridiculously stupid" camp. I mean...it's just dumb. The lyrics are ridiculously banal and predictable, the music is totally forgettable, and the book thinks its way, way hipper and cleverer than it really is. I mean...why and how do the two supposed leads get like...two solos each? Weird. When I see a show like this, which has many parallels to a show like NOBODY LOVES YOU, I really appreciate the biting wit and quirky charm of the latter show all the more.

But...it is mildly diverting, has some entertainingly campy and ridiculous moments, and a strong central performance from Zachary Levi, who brings virtually every ounce of charm he can to the show. The much-buzzed about "Fruma Sarah" number is just out of control...I literally could not believe what was happening onstage. And the borderline offensive, over the top gay BFF is beyond grating and unnecessary except for people to gawk and laugh at how fabulousssssssssss it must be to live in New York with a sassy GBF who ends every phone call with "later, skank!"

Easily the best thing FIRST DATE has going for it is Zachary Levi, who has a clear knack for stage performing and is just wonderful here. His 11:00 number is indeed the highlight of the show, by a mile. And he manages to spin incredibly predictable laugh-lines into something surprisingly funny. He is paired with Krysta Rodriguez, who couldn't be more boring! I just wanted to stand up and scream "YOU DON'T DESERVE HIM!" She's got a strong voice, but she's hardly taken any time to craft any sort of character here (not that the book helps her with that), and she comes off as stiff and uninteresting. The rest of the cast is pretty much playing 95 different roles throughout the show, and they do fine.

Set is pretty lame, orchestra sounds good, and the audience seemed to enjoy themselves. I will say it's always exciting to see an entirely original new musical on Broadway, even if it doesn't exactly...work in a cohesive way. I've definitely seen worse musicals than this, but I've also seen a lot better.

[DeeKDee]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 10:16am

This show opens on Thursday. Anyone who is more knowledgeable than me* know which performance is likely to be the one major critics are seeing?

(I'm going tonight)

* probably everyone here

[kdogg36]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 10:41am

I saw the show on Saturday and found it slight but very enjoyable. The leads are both very appealing, and the supporting cast does a good job playing a variety of different characters, with one exception. As others have noted, the gay best friend is terribly annoying. It's not that he's a stereotype; the other gay character is a stereotype as well, but not nearly as difficult to take. It's that the character and his music are just intensely off-putting and repetitive. They should cut him entirely, though I realize they'd lose a small but significant plot point at the end.

[jaxandmci]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 10:45am

I saw this a couple of weeks ago and wasn't expecting much due to the trashing it's received on this board. It's not any great acheivement in musical theater but I must admit, it's the fastest 95 minutes I think I've ever spent in a theater. I often judge a show by how many times I look at my watch and this one had me stunned when it ended and my Watch Glance Count was ZERO.

It's slight and certainly not thought-provoking. The music is generic and unmemorable, the staging simple, but the show is light and fun and sometimes quite witty. Levi is the standout with the ensemble right behind him. I couldn't figure out if it was Rodriguez or her character that I didn't much care for and found extremely flat. Perhaps it was because Levi was so much stronger and his character much more endearing.

It's certainly not something I'd revisit but I'm glad I saw it.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 3:23pm

Is there a window card yet? I'm going at the end of the month and would prefer to get one signed.

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 3:25pm

How can anyone who loves theater not love KR... and ZE has proven himself game on Chuck and a great singer in Tangled. true that doesnt mean it will be great, but it does mean you will probably have a great time!

[jnb9872]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 4:29pm

Anyone who loves theatre can see a show and find a performer ineffective in a given performance. No one has carte blanche, and no one should.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 4:36pm

I've seen Krysta in 3 shows on b'way. Wasn't impressed with her performance at all. Yes, she's got pipes and she can dance -- but so can LOTS of other actresses. No, her presence would never keep me from seeing a show, but it certainly won't get me to buy a ticket.

[DeeKDee]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 4:38pm

I was thinking the same thing. Possible to love and/or respective the performer's body of work, but not the particular role or performance.

[jawjuhh]

Posted: 8/6/13 at 7:38pm

"I saw the show on Saturday and found it slight but very enjoyable. The leads are both very appealing, and the supporting cast does a good job playing a variety of different characters, with one exception. As others have noted, the gay best friend is terribly annoying. It's not that he's a stereotype; the other gay character is a stereotype as well, but not nearly as difficult to take. It's that the character and his music are just intensely off-putting and repetitive. They should cut him entirely, though I realize they'd lose a small but significant plot point at the end."

I think they could easily get rid of that plot point at the end, it's such a cheap story imo.

[DeeKDee]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 9:53am

The professional critics will weigh in pretty soon.

I'm not much of a reviewer, but I will say that the audience I sat in last night really was enjoying themselves. I even overheard a woman saying on her way out of the theater how much she loved the Gay BFF character that many here have not liked. She even said it was her favorite part of the show.

Whatever happens with this show, I really hope that this is not the last we see Zachary Levi on Broadway.

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:11am

""I was thinking the same thing. Possible to love and/or respective the performer's body of work, but not the particular role or performance""

i totally get this, i like to support those i love, im a fangirl i guess

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 8/11/13 at 8:30pm

Finally saw this today, and even though it's already open and out of previews, I thought I would throw my two cents in. I found the production to be harmless. Zachary Levi is giving an excellent performance (which is saying something since the material is less than mediocre). Krysta Rodriguez's character is not exactly appealing but she did her best to make it work. I really enjoyed Sarah Chase as the many different characters - I look forward to seeing her in something else!

The music of this show was the real bomb. Save for one or two songs, it all sounded so generic and canned. I kinda wish it were just a straight play. The gay friend was offensive and just not needed. I think it would have played a million times better if it were written as a jaded man... and then he could still end up with the waiter, making that twist less predictable and possibly even more funny.

It's nice to see a completely original Broadway musical open for a change, even if it's slightly lackluster. For the record, I found this much better than Nobody Loves You.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/24/13 at 12:55am

Wickedrocks, I have to disagree with you. I thought Nobody Loves You was trying to be way wittier and clever than it really is. I mean, a twitter song all about hashtags? Yawn.

I saw First Date tonight and kind of liked it. I mean, I see its flaws for sure. The score is indeed forgettable - although I will say the "first impression" song was pretty catchy. The book is whatever. I thought most of it was pretty funny until the end when it got kind of sappy.

Zachary Levi is carrying this show for sure. He's great in the role. He milks every moment for laughs and the audience is eating it up. Rodriguez was kind of a let down. I thought her vocals were unsure and a little flat. And her character wasn't interesting at all. At least he had that awkward-nerdy guy thing going for him, but I didn't believe her as a this rebel bad-ass girl for a second. She seemed too sweet.

Then ensemble works hard, and they're great. I didn't find the gay character all that offensive. I mean, I get it. But I know so many people like him so it's hard to say it's just a stereotype.

I thought the direction worked really well. I thought he made some great choices and I liked how everything worked and moved. I loved the moment when the set split apart at the end and the lights came down. I thought that was really beautiful. And I liked that they left all the wings exposed and stuff. It was a very interesting design for a show that is pretty straight-forward.

Side note: The audience LOVED it. There was never a dull moment or a joke that didn't land. These people were eating it up. Levi pretty much got a mid-show standing ovation for his 11 o'clock number.

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 9:30am

I got to see FIRST DATE this weekend with my sisters and Mom and we ALL LOVED it!!

It was so funny, from beginning to end, in fact it was a bit annoying that people kept laughing that we missed alot of lines!

Zach Levy, i liked him in Chuck, was one of my favorite shows but i had NO idea that he had such great comic timing and could sing! This show has made him Broadway Star, i have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of him here in the future.

What can i say about Krysta. She is already Broadway Royalty! She plays straight for most of the show, but she amazing as well. Just her facial features even when shes not in the spotlight are so awesome. And damn, the girl has an amazing voice!

The Gay Best Friend was so the highlight of the rest of the cast. He was HILARIOUS! and got some of the best response. Anyone who says he was a sterotype or not real needs to chillpill. He totally reminds me of my GBF too (Love you Sashie! :)) especially with the phonecalls!!

We enjoyed it so much we will probably see it again around thanksgiving when we have family coming to town!

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 11:34am

I caught the show last night. In short the group I was with, and I loved it.

Longer thoughts;
The opening number is weak, however the show did get better as the evening progressed. Levi and Rodriguez have a phenomenal chemistry. Does the show employ some exaggerated stereotypes? Yes, however it works well in context, and the audience was eating up every bit of the "Bailout" calls. The show is a good time, and while fluffy, seems more of a soufflé than cotton candy. Theres substance in this confection, and judging by the full house, and the enormous stage door crowd, it will run at least as long as Mr. Levi wants to stay.

[dave1606]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 11:43am

I saw this again over the weekend with some friends who are big Chuck fans.

My thoughts on the show haven't changed much since I saw the first preview, and neither has the show. I still think the Bailout song is one of the worst songs written for musical theater in the last five years, and am shocked that it was really not cut down more.

The show will never be mistaken for good theater, but for a fluffy fun show it isn't the worst thing, ONLY because of Krysta and Zachary. Zachary continues to carry the show and makes it work in spite of itself. There are still moments of pain (the Jewish Grandmother and the rap are really awful), but it is a hard show to hate with such likeable leads.

For those who want to stage door you will need to get there quickly as the crowds are insane. That said Zachary Levi is about the nicest person you could ask for at the stage door. He came out with a jawbone speaker and had a playlist for the stage door! He made sure he signed everyone's playbills first and then formed a line so that everyone could take pictures with him, only asking that you actually saw the show (glad he turned down autographs to ebayers.). I really respected that. He will sign chuck dvds too.

EDIT: The merch guy also told me they were expecting Windowcards Thursday of this week. Updated On: 8/26/13 at 11:43 AM

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 11:46am

JONART, DAVE, OMG the Stage Door was 5 deep!!!!!

I was lucky enough to get an audience with Krysta. WHO SAID SHE LOVED MY EARRINGS!!!! THRILLINGMUCH?!?!?

seriously DAVE, i agree. if you dont have a PLAYBILL, get away from the STAGEDOOR!!!!

Updated On: 8/26/13 at 11:46 AM