I saw it last night as well and am beyond grateful that this production was recorded.
I saw this production more times than I am willing to admit and still noticed many, many things I had missed that greatly enhanced character development. One of my favorites was Whizzer turning over Marvin's tie during the bar mitzvah scene to check the label.
There were people actually loudly sobbing at the end and I think it was because you could fully see Christian's and Andrew's faces during "What Would I Do". It was heartbreaking.
StylishCynic said: "Went to one of the Chicago screenings last night. The theater was about 70% full, which was a little surprising. Newsies at the same theater was at capacity, but, hey, I guess that's Disney for you haha.
My friend and I went into the show cold, and WOW WOW WOW. We were simply blown away!
"I'm Breaking Down" was the only song to receive applause in our movie theater, and it was RAPTUROUS applause."
I'm curious to hear about audience reaction ie; applause in different theaters playing around the country. Besides a deserving standing-o for "Breaking Down", are there audiences clapping after every number, like being in an actual B'Way theatre? Perhaps areas around the country that people don't ever get to see an original Broadway show/cast but get the next best experience to being there and more affordably to boot?
i saw it at the AMC in Livonia MI and people clapped after every number, which i enjoyed tbh.
broadwayboy222, the censorship was unfortunately due to the show being filmed by PBS, which still seems like a load of BS but hey i'm glad it was filmed and most of the changes didn't bother me too much (though "flat as a lake"??? i think Finn could have done better...and i also miss Cordelia's line about saving chicken fat). You can say "bitch" on regular network television but you cannot say "fuck" or "shit" so that explains why some mild vulgarities such as "ass" "bitch" and "damn" are still present.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
ELP...here in the theatre near PALM SPRINGS that i attended....."what was little off-putting to me was the audience here at this movie theatre...some clapped and most were very silent at the end of numbers...i was applauding after every song that got to me and i felt strange as i was almost the only one...there were exceptions to this but not many"...
LYLS3637 said: "LuminousBeing said: ""Bald spot" to "hairline" was done during the production as well. "
Interesting. Finn must have changed it back and forth. It's "bald spot" on the recording and both times I saw it. Don't know why it was being changed around on (what seems like) a semi regular basis."
It was definitely "hairline" both times I saw this production (at one of the previews and a few days after opening).
I recall there was some discussion in the Falsettos thread about it, with the consensus being that, as broadwaybabywannabe2 says, Rannells quite obviously has a full head of hair. For the cast recording, however, that isn't an issue, so "bald spot" was reinstated.
I'm glad to read the positive responses to the screening here. I won't be seeing it until Sunday, but I happened to be at a multiplex last night where it was showing and stuck my head in for about 5 minutes. Caught "Something Bad is Happening" and thought it looked and sounded terrific. Fairly full audience, too.
Glad everyone seemed to love it, I saw it live so there is no need for me to see it again until PBS airs it but I found Brandon to be the most brilliant of the entire cast. My God. Just thinking about him as Mendel. Incredible. I looked at the Fall schedule for PBS and......Falsettos is not on it. The making of Hamilton and In The Heights is though....but not Falsettos. I emailed them and they told me they have no schedule yet of "Live From Lincoln Center". Hm.
I've loved reading everyone's reactions to this amazing show. Seeing this in January finally convinced to stop lurking on this board - and I was totally one of those people sobbing at the end. I think I'll miss seeeing it on the big screen, but still have my fingers crossed for a showing on PBS very soon!
broadwaybabywannabe2 said: "ELP...here in the theatre near PALM SPRINGS that i attended....."what was little off-putting to me was the audience here at this movie theatre...some clapped and most were very silent at the end of numbers...i was applauding after every song that got to me and i felt strange as i was almost the only one...there were exceptions to this but not many"...
"
So that was you. I heard you from the other side of the theater and wondered what brave soul was determined to clap even when others didn't. Good for you!
***
"flat as a lake" is supposed to rhyme with
"Please, God, please, Don't let me make the same mistake."
But I agree a parental warning would have sufficed. Putting aside the changes for broadcast TV, I wish somebody would confiscate William Finn's pen. A lot of his little changes:
"I can't eat breakfast, I barely tie my shoe." =Instead of "I cannot tie my shoe."
Or
MARVIN "The pitcher's handsome." JASON "And our team lost." MARVIN "Is that my fault then? =Instead of "Is that my problem?" Should I be blamed for that?"
seem to be an attempt to make lyrics more easily comprehended, but all they do is extract the poetry of his language and replace it with sung prose. This didn't ruin the show for me, but somebody tell Finn his eccentric word choices are most often a gift not a fault.
GavestonPS said: "broadwaybabywannabe2 said: "ELP...here in the theatre near PALM SPRINGS that i attended....."what was little off-putting to me was the audience here at this movie theatre...some clapped and most were very silent at the end of numbers...i was applauding after every song that got to me and i felt strange as i was almost the only one...there were exceptions to this but not many"...
"
So that was you. I heard you from the other side of the theater and wondered what brave soul was determined to clap even when others didn't. Good for you!
Yes that was me...:)...i waited all these years to see this musical as it has so much meaning for me...my partner passed away from HIV-Aids in 1990 the year FALSETTOLAND was produced so i listened to the OBC cassette over and over again and it helped me get through a difficult period...seeing the filmed version was for me as good as seeing it live so i went in to the movie screening as if i was seeing this in person...and i have been told i am a good audience that really appreciates what the people on stage (on film) are doing!...
Saw it in Buffalo, NY on Wednesday. The theatre was just about at capacity. Audience went wild after some numbers-"Breaking Down" and at the end of Act One. Audience was quiet, attentive and you heard the sobbing from all over.
I saw the show on Broadway and really enjoyed it, but I definitely felt more deeply watching this broadcast. I sobbed all over the place and was far more emotional. I think it was filmed beautifully paying attention to close-ups and big picture staging. Whoever filmed this, keep hiring them.
Everyone's work is so exquisite. Christian Borle is a master actor. He's just that good. So emotionally accessible.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
gypsy101 said: "i saw it at the AMC in Livonia MI and people clapped after every number, which i enjoyed tbh.
broadwayboy222, the censorship was unfortunately due to the show being filmed by PBS, which still seems like a load of BS but hey i'm glad it was filmed and most of the changes didn't bother me too much (though "flat as a lake"??? i think Finn could have done better...and i also miss Cordelia's line about saving chicken fat). You can say "bitch" on regular network television but you cannot say "fuck" or "shit" so that explains why some mild vulgarities such as "ass" "bitch" and "damn" are still present."
Was surprised to hear "you have paintings of dicks" was left intact. Wouldn't consider that to be a mild vulgarity but what do I know??
Yes that was me...:)...i waited all these years to see this musical as it has so much meaning for me...my partner passed away from HIV-Aids in 1990 the year FALSETTOLAND was produced so i listened to the OBC cassette over and over again and it helped me get through a difficult period...seeing the filmed version was for me as good as seeing it live so i went in to the movie screening as if i was seeing this in person...and i have been told i am a good audience that really appreciates what the people on stage (on film) are doing!...
"
I am so pleased for you, broadwaybaby. An enthusiastic audience member makes every live show s/he attends a little better for everyone. I try to be very generous when there are live actors; but I get to feeling a little silly applauding a film. But as I said, you were no disruption and I admired your nerve.
As I also said above, I have seen many performances of the "Marvin musicals", but, I, too thoroughly enjoyed finally seeing a performance in close-ups. We're going back on Sunday afternoon.
The lyric changes being discussed here were made for the original Broadway run many years ago. They were not made for this new revival (except for the hairline lyric). That's what happens when you record a show off-broadway and then make many alterations to the score when it gets to Broadway. The final lyrics went unrecorded until this new cast album. Finn actually made no changes to the score for this revival.
For anyone who missed seeing Falsettos -- or would like to see it again -- additional screenings have been added for the coming week. Check https://screenvisionmedia.com/events/falsettos/ for info.
"The demand was so high that we've added even more locations and exhibition dates, especially focusing on states and markets that didn't previously have any available theater locations," said Darryl Schaffer, EVP, Operations & Exhibitor Relations, Screenvision Media.
I saw the production in the fall and it was great. I'm bummed this is playing no where near me. I was hoping with the added on performances it would get closer but nope.
The missing/changed lyrics are the ones that have stuck with me for years. My husband and I often describe rooms decorated with exquisite style as "homo baroque", and I use the chicken fat line to complain that although my work is highly regarded, it will never compare in some people's eyes to his achievements as a doctor. They will be missed!
I also don't buy the justification for changing the bald spot line. I've seen many Whizzers over the years, and although some of the actors weren't the best singers, they were universally gorgeous with perfect hair. (The one exception would be Stephen Bogardus in the original production. Gorgeous with an actual bald spot.) The bald spot line is funny because "the only physical imprerfection that he's got" is one that only Marvin could see, meaning that in fact, Whizzer has no physical imperfections. (Regardless, "bald spot" is funny, "hairline" is not.)
Just got back from a screening! I saw it at a local theatre in Orange County, CA. The audience was young and quite diverse, a refreshing change from the older crowd that usually watches musicals at our touring theatre.
Like many others have said, "I'm Breaking Down" received some applause, but none of the other songs did. I wouldn't describe it as "rapturous," but some people clapped at the finale as well.
I went into it nearly cold, having listened to the OBC once and seen the Tony's performance. I really enjoyed seeing the interactions that don't come across in the recording, and as someone who could never afford a good ticket at the theatre, I loved seeing the actors' expressions up close! I definitely recommend watching this if you can!