First Preview of The Performers - Page 2

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:44pm

"I have to take issue with a comment like that. You can't make a blanket statement like that. Humor is subjective. Unless it was something like a play like Relatively Speaking where the entire audience was deathly you really can't just make a statement that the play wasn't funny just because you didn't find it funny"

Uh, you just made a blanket statement. There were people around me at Relatively Speaking who were laughing heartily. Awful as that was, it was heads and shoulders above this.

"The audience was really responsive and laughed pretty heartily."

Not the people near me. They were groaning with disbelief at the awfulness.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:45pm

I look forward to seeing this but if the level of sophistication of writing is someone saying they fell asleep with a panini on their penis I'm not impressed.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:45pm

Calvin, I'm sure most of our moms don't need cum shot jokes explained. There was a time they didn't need 50 Shades of Gray...

My mom asked me what fisting was because of some list in the damn book.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:46pm

That's a shame. I was excited to see it and so happy that people enjoyed it. But then Afterbirth said it was no good so I guess I'll skip it. Shame. I was really looking forward to it.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:47pm

Jordan, how come there haven't been any more "happenings" reported?

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:47pm

"I don't even know why I'm bothering"

I don't either, but you seem to bother quite a bit.

Why don't you do us both a favor and not bother? That way you can rest your rolling eyes.

Updated On: 10/23/12 at 11:47 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:50pm

But, After Eight, it still stands that humor IS subjective, and there's no way around that. 100% of an audience will never agree on what is funny. There was a lot of laughter tonight, and I'd say the reception was more than warm. Many jokes received applause and prolonged laughter. These facts can't be denied. I guess you would say all these people were either "wrong" or faking their enthusiasm?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:51pm

No thanks! I'll just keep rolling my eyes at your posts with the majority of the other posters on here if that's alright with you.

And if that doesn't sit well with you, well, then.....

Good.


Anyway, how were Silverstone and Breaker? I'm guessing Graynor has the biggest part?
Updated On: 10/23/12 at 11:51 PM

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:52pm

In fairness, that monologue about the cheese that Whizzer quoted IS hilarious- but in the context of Winkler's hilarious delivery of it. The best of the humor isn't necessarily in the script. It's the brilliant comic actors wringing a huge laugh out of it.

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:54pm

The laughter of disbelief at the moronic dialogue one is hearing.

Is that so foreign a concept to you?

I just feel sorry for those who choose to see this based on your words. Are they going to be in for it.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/23/12 at 11:58pm

Silverstone and Breaker are the straight men- they are Brad and Janet entering the world of porn.

None of the characters are gay, and there aren't really any gay jokes, but there is a definite sense that a large part of the target audience is gay men. Part of this stems from the diva worship that will occur with Graynor's performance, but mostly it's just that gay men are so comfortable talking about sex, and things like fisting and anal jokes don't phase us. We probably jacked off to half the stuff before going to the theater anyway. I'm wondering what straight audience members may have thought about the "vulgar" humor.

Updated On: 10/24/12 at 11:58 PM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 12:01am

Did anyone go tonight with the free Facebook tickets? Just wondering what the seats were since Whizzer said it was pretty empty.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 12:02am

Laughter and groans of disbelief aren't foreign to me, but that's not what I heard. The laughter was much too loud and prolonged for that, and the applause after lines and exits was too sustained to contribute it to shocked audience behavior.

The applause Graynor received after her you're-like-a-woman-except-with-a-dick-and-balls speech was too enthusiastic for your explanation. People were simply enjoying themselves. (Enough people have stated thus in this thread.)

Updated On: 10/24/12 at 12:02 AM

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 12:02am

Hey,

You're the one who wondered why you bothered.

I'd say you're bothered and bewildered.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 12:03am

Whizzer, I'd agree that Breaker and Silverstone don't have a great deal of the comic lines. However ****SPOILER****** Silverstone's drunk scene merited a great many laughs, in my opinion. I laughed especially hard at the "Make me some coffee, bitch!" line in her hands.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 12:07am

How was it from a tech stand point? interesting design? etc.

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 12:07am

Since you stated you were laughing so hard, I don't think you were paying attention too carefully to the nature of the laughter.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 12:08am

bwayfan- Well yes, Breaker and Silverstone do get some funny bits, because we all know what happens to Brad and Janet when they meet Dr. Frank-N-Furter. The scene you referred to is Silverstone's "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me" moment.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 12:13am

Ripped Man,

The design was nice. There was a rather large hotel room that changed lamps/colors and slid downstage when being used. A bar scene moved on when the hotel room was upstage. The sets were colorful and felt true to Vegas.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 12:15am

Again, I'm excited to see a play that isn't trying to tackle some hot button issue. This seems totally up my alley.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 1:32am

For what it's worth, a friend of mine saw it tonight and absolutely loathed it.

He interpreted the laughter as stemming from discomfort, coming from repressed sexual anxiety and the Oedipal complex, stemming from the moment the audience members' lives when they realized their mothers were a unique sexual being, locked in a submissive sexual relationship with the father.


Actually, he didn't offer a "hearing" of the laughter around him at all, because that's ****ing ridiculous.

[bk]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 3:52am

All I can tell you is that not one line quoted in this thread is funny, at least not to me. Lame jokes all.

And I do love that everyone is saying how much the audience LOVED it at this first preview. Gee, I wonder why. I think we all know first previews are papered heavily with friends and family and those pre-disposed to "love" it.

I suppose I'll see it if it's still around when I'm in next, just for Henry, who I've worked with and whose appearance in this is amusing on some level, considering at one time he turned down a role in what was then a REALLY raunchy film. :)

[sadephram]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 6:26am

I'm glad most people seem to find the show funny.
I have tickets in the first row for the end of November, is the stage high ? Do you think those will be good seats ?

THANKS !

Updated On: 10/24/12 at 06:26 AM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 8:35am

bk,

The only reason I think we were arguing that the audience response was strong was not because we didn't realize there were many comped friends and family in the house, but rather because After Eight didn't want to acknowledge that people genuinely enjoyed themselves. It's ok not to find something funny, but to say that there's no humor in it and therefore deny that anyone could find it funny was the issue. (Also for the record I did pay for my ticket and don't know anyone associated with the production.)

I made sure to quote enough lines because I think with a comedy, especially a raunchy comedy, you can either rave or bash the thing, but since it's all so subjective I wanted to throw out some lines and let people decide for themselves. I almost wanted to compare this to The Hangover, but I couldn't stand that movie so I refrained, but it could be in that vein. There is definitely more of a gay/camp/did that really just happen vibe than in The Hangover, but you're either going to find this stuff funny or hate it. Probably not too much middle ground here.

[GottaHaveAGimmick]

Posted: 10/24/12 at 8:36am

Any merchandise yet? If this is supposed to be campy I suppose they could sell hand towels and lube with the logo on it.....