First Preview/Performance of Undisputed Truth

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/31/12 at 11:08pm

"I wanted to call it 'Boxing, Bitches and Lawsuits,' but was advised not to." And thus began the extremely entertaining and extremely crazy "Undisputed Truth."

The show was divided in three parts. The first two were hysterically funny and the audience was completely along for the ride. The third section needs some trimming (or Tyson perhaps needs to stick closer to the script here). He doesn't shy away from the low points of his life; he actually avoids his successes more than his failures.

The two funniest sections are when he TRASHES Robin and then relates a 20 minute story about getting a fight with Mitch Green in Harlem. A projection of him and Robin appears and the audience started laughing and clapping. So did he and he responded, "You're looking at the dumbest n***a in the history of dumb n***as!" I won't spoil all the stuff he dishes about her, but it's fun and juicy.

I was impressed with how much he threw himself into acting out the other people in his life. He wasn't just standing up there giving a report on his career. His wife wrote the book, and it's pretty damn good. At least it captures his personality well.

You really have to pay close attention to him though. Now and then he gets excited and trips over his words, and sometimes the stories are so crazy you honestly have no idea where's he's going with them. There were definitely some shades of "The Blonde in the Thunderbird," and occasionally he reminded me of Liza going off on a tangent, but he always held my attention.

Two criticisms: They need to cut the few times they underscore a story with some music. It overpowers him and distracted me a lot. It only happened briefly a few times, but was worth noting.

The other thing that didn't go over well was the stuff about his rape conviction. I'm glad he didn't not talk about it, but I think it was the only time the audience was uncomfortable. I think it's fine that he maintains his innocence, but he doesn't need to lay out his whole defense.

It ended on a touching note, and he pulled that off nicely. I really wish I could go see it again. Maybe HBO will pick it up for a special. Spike Lee deserves credit too for his direction. Good stuff tonight.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 7/31/12 at 11:28pm

any clue about student tickets, there still a huge amount of seats available for the run.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 8/1/12 at 12:33pm

Thanks for the report. NOT what I was expecting when I opened this thread!

(Not enough for me to go see it, though.)

[newintown]

Posted: 8/1/12 at 12:47pm

I'm really just not sure I could pay to laugh at a spouse abuser and rapist joking about his life...

[tazber]

Posted: 8/1/12 at 12:48pm

Did he tell the story about going to see Robin at her house only to discover she was out with Brad Pitt?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 8/1/12 at 12:52pm

Yes he did, and that story was so funny. He said he watched her car going up the long and winding driveway (You how I knew it was her car? I paid for it!), and then he noticed that there was a pale member in the seat next to her. Turns out it was Brad the Sh!t Pitt, and he was stoned out of his mind.

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 8/1/12 at 7:34pm

Interesting preview review, WMTJM. I bet this is the first time anybody has ever compared Mike Tyson to Liza.

[nyel24]

Posted: 8/1/12 at 9:34pm

Does Tyson stage door. I would love to get a pic with him. I don't expect him to sign autos but Any help is greatly appreciated.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 8:20am

^I'm going tonight so I'll let u know.

Just so folks know there's going to be no discounts rush standing room or possibility that it's going to show up on TKTS or TDF .

Updated On: 8/2/12 at 08:20 AM

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 7:42pm

.

Updated On: 8/3/12 at 07:42 PM

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 12:26am

Ok so, A quick things before my review

1) The show curtain is mikes tattoo logo on a silver screen.
2) It runs 2 hours no intermission
3) Mike and Spike did not stage door tonight, and apparently Mike does not sign

Now let me say this, I am not a huge Tyson or Spike fan, I went because as a theater student I make a commitment to see as many Broadway productions as possible, shows like this are included (trust me Donnie & Maries Broadway Christmas felt like a bad acid trip).

The shows kind of a mess, its structured in 3 acts (I'll go ahead and title them Mother, Sister, Daughter) Each act ends with Mike reflecting on one of the women in his life that he has lossed. Apart from that theme is a chronologically trip through his life, The Marriage, The Rape and The Ear included. But the issue is we never stay on the things and revelations that we want to long enough, sure it's funny, and Tyson does go for it by playing other folks in his life, but its just a weird surreal thing to watch on stages. Also Spike has brought nothing to the table, the show is clunky and you can't pin point what if anything was Spikes touch (except for a Mitt Romney joke maybe). For a show thats top ticket is 199 dollars there could have been a little more to it but sadly no one will walk away from this calling Mike the "King of The Broadway stage".



Updated On: 8/3/12 at 12:26 AM

[willep]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 1:36am

No official review thread for Mike Tyson? The NY Times didn't seem to care for it much.
Mike Tyson NY Times Review

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 7:48am

It seems like maybe no one cares. Is it selling out?

I was just reading this interview --

http://globalgrind.com/music/mike-tyson-marriages-career-mother-show-robin-givens-interview

And it reminded me of how unpleasant and unfunny (not "not funny," but unfunny) he is.

And since I won't be seeing it, I appreciate all the first-hand accounts, guys!

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 10:32am

There were at least 25 empty seats in the Balcony last night...

[ZoeTheGoat]

Posted: 8/5/12 at 9:37pm

Just got back from this show and it's extremely entertaining. It's true there's a lot of dialog you can't understand. But after you get over that the show is very enjoyable. I was in the 2nd row sitting next to Mike's nephew which was cool. Spike Lee was sitting in the very back. I'd recommend it. Go see it if you have a chance.

[xoffender45]

Posted: 4/16/13 at 4:00pm

Just wondering if Mike Tyson ever stage doored throughout the run? Or if anyone knows if he's stage dooring during the tour?