Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread- Page 15
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#350
Posted: 11/16/21 at 12:55am
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.
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#351
Posted: 11/16/21 at 4:45pm
New discount code FSWL21 on Telecharge Offers. $62 Member pricing on all preview non-premium orchestra seats, $72 after opening.
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#352
Posted: 11/16/21 at 9:31pm
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?
Broadway Star Joined: 2/20/20
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#353
Posted: 11/16/21 at 11:04pm
Just got out. This is both a dumpster fire and a flat bore. The music is dreadful and the book is aimless and meaningless. I'll write in more detail in a bit, but Tom Kitt should never be allowed to write another musical again.
Genuinely one of the biggest hot messes I've seen on Broadway and I'm shocked Lincoln Center would put this up in it's current state. I'm sad as I was really hoping I would love this.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#354
Posted: 11/16/21 at 11:33pm
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#356
Posted: 11/17/21 at 12:11am
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.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/20/20
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#357
Posted: 11/17/21 at 12:22am
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.
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#358
Posted: 11/17/21 at 2:14am
I was at Joe Allen tonight and the Flying Over Sunset poster was up next to The Little Prince and the Aviator.
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#359
Posted: 11/17/21 at 2:23am
Wick3 said: "@christinelavin, I always thought the sound design folks of the team would address the acoustics issue of the theater. I've only seen King and I, Oslo, and My Fair Lady at the Vivian Beaumont and didn't have sound issues but then again I used LincTix and sat in front side orchestra."
Having seen South Pacific, The King and I, Junk, and My Fair Lady, I think the sound is "better" at least a few rows back where you get the benefit of amplification. If you're too close it sounds more "natural" and it can be affected by an actor speaking quietly or facing a different direction. That said, I sat close for South Pacific, and my only sound issues were with Laura Osnes.
I'm not seeing this until January. I don't think they'd close it early but these conflicting reports have me nervous. It is helping me adjust my expectations. I'll try to read up on the non-Grant characters before the show.
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#360
Posted: 11/17/21 at 9:50am
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.
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#361
Posted: 11/17/21 at 9:58am
jbird5 said: "I’m sure many female and male patrons will enjoy Tony in his swim trunks"
Who wore it better, Tony Yazbeck in this or Michael Xavier in the revival of Sunset Boulevard?
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#362
Posted: 11/17/21 at 10:40am
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’
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#363
Posted: 11/17/21 at 10:48am
bwayphreak234 said: "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’"
This article is WAAAY more interesting than anything on that stage.
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#364
Posted: 11/17/21 at 11:02am
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?
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#365
Posted: 11/17/21 at 11:08am
Lot666 said: "jbird5 said: "I’m sure many female and male patrons will enjoy Tony in his swim trunks"
Who wore it better, Tony Yazbeck in this or Michael Xavier in the revival of Sunset Boulevard?"
Why compare when we can enjoy the blessings of both?
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#366
Posted: 11/17/21 at 11:15am
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#367
Posted: 11/17/21 at 11:20am
For me, the leg bit worked. That whole sequence of Carmen’s trip was the strongest part of the show for me to be honest. The penis rocket ship… I felt embarrassed for Tony Yazbek that they made him do that. It was totally moronic. Almost all of the times he danced it felt like… why is this happening? Of course it’s impressive. But WHY?
The whole show is like when someone explains their dream to you but it doesn’t really matter because it’s not your dream so you don’t really get it. It’s literally rich people thinking that they are special because they did acid, and we have to sit and watch them for three hours as they have “revelations” but we get nothing out of it. And as someone who has experimented with drugs (albeit not acid), it’s not a moral problem I have. It’s a storytelling problem.
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#368
Posted: 11/17/21 at 11:25am
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 :)
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#369
Posted: 11/17/21 at 11:26am
bwayphreak234 said: "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’"
Very noteworthy: Sondheim turned down writing the music, and supposedly regrets it.
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#370
Posted: 11/17/21 at 11:29am
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!
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#371
Posted: 11/17/21 at 11:59am
Jimbo2 said: "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 :)"
You saw BABY? AND???
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#372
Posted: 11/17/21 at 12:03pm
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.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/20/20
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#373
Posted: 11/17/21 at 1:45pm
I think Sondheim could've made this work. Although Lapine's book is so insanely weak. This show needed fun, surreal pastiche tunes and big LSD dance numbers. I wanted crazy and insane and surreal and cerebral and instead I feel like we watch 4 very boring people sit around and sing completely unremarkable songs that mean absolutely nothing.
The echoing shoes were actually pretty cool. And I liked the penis rocket ship and the missing leg. Probably the only two memorable and mildly interesting things in the show.
What a massive flop.
Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread#374
Posted: 11/17/21 at 1:46pm
I'm seeing this tonight and now I'm giddy with anticipation to see how I'll feel about it.
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