Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread — Page 15

chrishuyen said: "Now that you mention it, I do wonder why Gerald was included on the LSD trip, as he never really had an introspective moment like the other three, and the story probably would've benefitted from having an outside observer as a guide. I kept waiting for him to give a monologue of his own or something at the end but he never had a big moment like that."

I think they were trying to make his monologue at the end of the show that moment - but him being on LSD didn’t really change anything in the plot outside of him being generally on the same plane of existence I guess. At least that’s how I read it.

I just picked up a LincTix for Saturday afternoon on a whim because I’m now morbidly curious which camp of opinion I’ll fall in - dumpster fire, flat bore, or pleasant new musical experience.

We shall see, won’t we?

This show has nothing to say, has absolutely zero stakes, and is THREE HOURS. I feel like the same things were being rehashed over and over and over. There is no conflict. I do not care about the characters. It’s thematically empty. What’s the point? It is the ultimate sin of musicial theater: just so goddamn boring.

Tony Yazbeck does take his shirt off in Act II. Unfortunately it’s during an absolute slog of a number if I’ve ever heard one.

My first show after the shutdown. I'm going back into hibernation.

Wow. Not since THOU SHALT NOT have I come away from a show so misguided and tasteless.

Who cares about ANY of this. And why did any investors/producers/creators think this would be remotely worthwhile.

A drug musical that feels like it was created by people on drugs.

"Oh wow...this would be a good moment. Let's have Tony Yazbec do a silly moronic dance while pretending to be a Penis Rocket." Really...they actually did that.

It all comes off like the most irritating, pointless therapy session with 3 narcissistic horrors.

Shoot me...over Sunset.

I was at Joe Allen tonight and the Flying Over Sunset poster was up next to The Little Prince and the Aviator.

Georgeanddot2 said: "I actually don't think this feels like it was written by someone on drugs. It's too boring and uninteresting. The penis rocket ship is one of the only memorable parts of the show. They could've gone further.

Spectacularly bad set design btw.

Absolutely losing my mind at the early "musical for adults" comments. Lmao."



You're right. If this is what an acid trip is like, I say...give me brandy anytime.

Super interesting article about the show, the show's development, etc. in the Times today...

Up, Up and Away: The Trippy Tales Behind ‘Flying Over Sunset’

Thank you for mentioning that. Do we really need to see a dancing penis rocket and a mother ask her daughter to re-attach her missing leg?

Georgeanddot2 said: "Absolutely losing my mind at the early "musical for adults" comments. Lmao."

Oh my god, thank you. As if a musical aimed at a more mature crowd has to be mind-numbingly boring and preachy and feature elevator music masquerading as a score.

I guess I need to start doing drugs. I was very much looking to see a new musical and not a revival. Perhaps I should have waited until after it opened.

The next day I saw Julia Murney in Baby and felt totally good again :)

I saw the show last night. Obviously art is very subjective, and hits us all differently.

My thoughts:

1. This is one of the most stunning productions I have ever seen - astonishingly beautiful visually, aurally, costumes, lights, orchestrations lush and mesmerizing.

2. The actors portrayals of real life figures Luce, Huxley and Grant are brilliant - not impersonations or caricatures, but to me seem to authentically summon who these people really were

3. The writing by Lapine is surprisingly stilted and pedantic, and ultimately gave me no reason to care what happened to these people.

4. The Flying Over Sunset "magazine" available in the lobby for $1 is beautifully put together, and makes the point that the show is a "meditation on love and human connection". Perhaps, but it seems tortuous to make the audience experience LSD trips in "real time" without the benefit of being on psychedelics ourselves!

5. There were moments that I felt the show summoned the beauty and freshness of Sunday In the Park or Light in the Piazza, but that beauty faded very quickly.

6. I could watch Tony Yazeck dance, sing and act all night and all week, and especially the less clothes on, the better!

Loved it. Story updated to include a same-sex couple. Strong cast in a very small space. As I mentioned it kind of made up for this show.

I'm seeing this tonight and now I'm giddy with anticipation to see how I'll feel about it.