Posted: 8/15/16 at 4:15am
This will be its last week. Congratulations for running for over a year considering it received zero nominations. May it live a long life in neverland.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 7:54am
Its qualities --- attractive music, the spirit of innocence --- and its ideals --- kindness, tenderness, consideration for others --- are reviled by the powers that be who unfortunately rule the roost in our theatre nowadays. The show was thus fated to incur their wrath and scorn from the outset. It's amazing then that it ran as long as it did.
I hope it will meet with success in its future venues.
And I most definitely hope Gary Barlow returns to Broadway with more scores. Heaven knows we need melodic music in our musicals!
Updated On: 8/15/16 at 07:54 AM
Posted: 8/15/16 at 8:03am
Finally saw it on Saturday. The story was was it was. I had seen the movie, so I wasn't surprised, thrilled, or saddened by an of it. I quite liked the music - melodic and pretty. Tony Yazbeck's voice is so wonderful, but he lacked a sense of humor or lightheartedness that is necessary when bonding with little boys like J.M. Barrie is supposed to. Laura Michelle Kelly's voice is also beautiful, but it kind of felt like she was walking through the show. I could see her being great when it started, but I didn't get greatness. I had a hard time making out the lyrics when the chorus was singing. Perhaps I was sitting too close or on the side near the speakers, but when they all sang together, it sounded very jumbled.
The other part that killed me was the blatant direction. Why do I need to see a bear rollerskating on a stage when singing a song about imagination??? I get that there are lots of kids in the audience, but foster that imagination in those kids. Don't spoon feed them everything. **SPOILER** I did think the death scene was really beautiful. **END SPOILER**
Overall, I liked it but didn't love it. As many have said, it did have a successful run considering the feedback, so kudos to them.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 8:06am
I overall agree that I find this show to be a guilty pleasure. I find most of the problems in the show to lie in the book, to be honest. I know I am in the minority but I DID enjoy a lot of the score in this. Live By the Hook, Stronger, Something About This Night, Play were some of my favorites. I know it's not a "good" score but I found it very entertaining. I also really enjoyed Matthew Morrison and Kelsey Grammer. I felt that without them I may not have enjoyed this as much as I did, because I really enjoyed their stage presence together. I felt it really worked well.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 8:30am
"I had a hard time making out the lyrics when the chorus was singing. Perhaps I was sitting too close or on the side near the speakers, but when they all sang together, it sounded very jumbled."
That's just how they sound. The ensemble is also unintelligible on the cast recording.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 8:49am
The show was so sweet and charming in Cambridge before transitioning to Broadway. I could never get my head around why they would have changed the dog from a human playing a dog (it was Thayne Jasperson, who was adorable) to a, well, to a dog dog. And not even a cute dog. This was the most blatant example of the show losing its charm.
Jeremy Jordan was phenomenal as Barrie. He brought a sweetness, charm and a little darkness (that is, depth) to the character that was just lost when Morrison stepped in, all - to be frank - wooden and bland.
The show was fine on Broadway, but just fine. In Cambridge, it was pure delight. It would have had nominations and it would still be playing if they had just left it alone.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 9:57am
It DID receive nominations on Broadway for the drama desk and drama league awards including for Morrison and the shows grosses didn't decline to worrying levels until after he left so he was a positive factor financially.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 10:02am
AfterEight wrote: Its qualities --- attractive music, the spirit of innocence --- and its ideals --- kindness, tenderness, consideration for others --- are reviled by the powers that be who unfortunately rule the roost in our theatre nowadays.
That is absolute and utter nonsense.
Updated On: 8/15/16 at 10:02 AM
Posted: 8/15/16 at 10:05am
What happened to Marc Kudisch? It seems like he was in the show no more than a week.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 10:11am
Kudisch was in the show for less than two months. I saw him and thought he was very good. Figured he would close out the run...not sure why he left so soon. Maybe he got another gig?
Posted: 8/15/16 at 10:23am
"That is absolute and utter nonsense."
When you have to resort to bold letters, then you know what was stated was the truth.
And we all know it, too.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 10:28am
Apparently some major rewrites are being done for the national tour going out. Curious to see what changes...
Posted: 8/15/16 at 10:37am
Theater_Nerd said: "AfterEight wrote: Its qualities --- attractive music, the spirit of innocence --- and its ideals --- kindness, tenderness, consideration for others --- are reviled by the powers that be who unfortunately rule the roost in our theatre nowadays.
That is absolute and utter nonsense.
"
can't you just put that idiot on ignore and ignore his drivel?
also, bye to the show. no one will miss it. artistically it is only 0.1 percent better than ****ty jukebox crap like Motown.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 10:37am
"Apparently some major rewrites are being done for the national tour going out. Curious to see what changes..."
I would cut the dinner party scene, for starters.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 10:47am
They're doing a lab right now for the changes to the tour. I'm told it's mainly the first 20 minutes of the show, but big changes.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 10:51am
^
That's definitely where changes are needed. The show is too slow in getting started.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 11:04am
"Tony Yazbeck's voice is so wonderful, but he lacked a sense of humor or lightheartedness that is necessary when bonding with little boys like J.M. Barrie is supposed to."
The part's understudy, Kevin Kern, possessed both of those qualities, and a great deal of charm as well. He also sang beautifully. He added a great deal to the show when he performed the role.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 11:06am
Sylvia's death scene was stunning. Otherwise, I thought the show had so much potential but unfortunately ended up being a pile of saccharine garbage. Happy trails.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 11:53am
After Eight said: ""Tony Yazbeck's voice is so wonderful, but he lacked a sense of humor or lightheartedness that is necessary when bonding with little boys like J.M. Barrie is supposed to."
The part's understudy, Kevin Kern, possessed both of those qualities, and a great deal of charm as well. He also sang beautifully. He added a great deal to the show when he performed the role.
"
While I agree that Kevin is absolutely wonderful, I respectfully disagree about Tony who I think shows a great deal of humor and lightheartedness in his performance and a good rapport with the kids...and makes the most of the movements/dancing in the show as a bonus.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 11:54am
We saw the understudy and he was indeed quite good.The show was entertaining and deserved a better fate. Than again, so did many other critically reviled shows. Such is life. I no longer dwell on it.
Updated On: 8/15/16 at 11:54 AM
Posted: 8/15/16 at 12:30pm
KathyNYC2 said: "While I agree that Kevin is absolutely wonderful, I respectfully disagree about Tony who I think shows a great deal of humor and lightheartedness in his performance and a good rapport with the kids...and makes the most of the movements/dancing in the show as a bonus."
I agree that he made the most of the movement he was given. I was with my friend who'd never seen him dance before, and I kept wanting him to bust out some real choreography (not just movement), but I guess it didn't work here. Interesting because Matthew Morrison likens himself a dancer too, so I would think they'd try to show that off. Perhaps at the show opening or more in the bar scene.
About his humor, he did grow on me as the show went on. I think the opinion is based more on the blocking and direction of the show than Yazbeck himself, as I am definitely a fan of his. I certainly didn't want a cartoonish caricature, but it took a while for me to care about his relationship with the boys.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 12:48pm
Geez I started this thread with positive intentions hoping to send this show off with some love.
Whats the f**** point of the bashing !
Posted: 8/15/16 at 12:58pm
Sunny11 said: "Geez I started this thread with positive intentions hoping to send this show off with some love.
Whats the f**** point of the bashing !"
I certainly wasn't bashing the show. I said I liked it, in fact. People are allowed to have differences of opinion as long as they do so respectfully, and I think that's what you're seeing here - some positive feedback and some differences of opinion.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 1:21pm
There are several examples of the actors getting bashed.
