Flying Over Sunset - Previews Thread — Page 22

My wife and I saw the matinee yesterday. I really, really wanted to like it, but as another poster mentioned I left with a glass half full mentality. Most of the other reviewers have touched on many of the thoughts I had at the end of the show.

The good - For me some of the performances were noteworthy. I enjoyed Carmen Cusack's portrayal of Clare Boothe Luce, but was beyond impressed with Hadden-Paton's Huxley and Sella's Gerald Heard. Unfortunately, there was an understudy for Mr. Yasbek. His dancing was phenomenal, acting was good, but his vocals did not rise to match the others. Many times throughout the show I thought to myself this might have been a more interesting play. The scenic design was first rate and definitely lifted the show out of mediocrity. I thought the original premise was interesting. For me, when scenes clicked they clicked and gave glimpses as to what might have been. The Rexall scene, the tap number, and the beginning of Act 2 were highlights. I thought some of the supporting cast were extremely strong with standouts being young Cary and Clare's mother.

The not so good - The score was there, but nothing really caught my interest. Even the big 11 o'clock number in Act 2 was a bit of a letdown. Even the day after, I can not recall anything from the score. When scenes didn't click for me they seemed awkward and clunky. I realize that portraying an LSD trip is open to interpretation but the entire ocean scene was a loss for me as well as the scene where Clare goes to visit "heaven".

It was nice to see an original production and I will say that unlike others I was never bored, my wife not so much. I wish the show well and appreciate the creative minds behind it. I am glad I went, but I use a very simple system to determine my final thoughts on a show. Would I see it again? Probably not.

I wanted to weigh in on the walking. To me it felt like a visual representation of chanting. To me, I saw it as lulling into the LSD trip experience IMHO.

Updated On: 12/6/21 at 03:20 PM

this show looks and feels nothing like tripping on acid, and the actors just came across as stoned.

JaglinSays said: "Are there any actors of color in the production?

The absence of Bipoc characters seems out of step with the times."

Yes, there are.

NJguy wrote in part, "My wife and I saw the matinee yesterday. I really, really wanted to like it, but as another poster mentioned, I left with a glass half full mentality."

Agree NJguy2. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. Story and characters out-of-touch with today's theater goers perhaps? Watched several of his movies this week including Houseboat with Sophia Loren that they referenced in Flying. The chemistry jumped off the screen.

I primarily went to see Yasbeck who takes every chance to get a tap number in. Yasbeck was not very good at imitating his voice. (Tony Curtis always aced it.).

As for the walking, I wondered if they were walking Sunset Blvd.

Looking forward for reviews and what they thought.

I really, really wanted to enjoy this. Tony Yazbeck and Carmen Cusack are among my favorite performers ever, but I found myself absolutely bored out of my mind.

The entire cast is stellar. The aforementioned in particular are in fabulous form. The kid who plays young Cary Grant? My mind was blown. But even they couldn't make me interested in the material itself.

Any reports on Yazbeck's return tonight? I found his contribution critical. He's a genuine triple threat, and his charisma is the centerpiece of act 2's somewhat dubious start, not a small thing in a show about strangers to one another who suddenly find themselves tripping with a movie star. I never heard if he was ill or had an injury, only that he didn't have Covid. He's very effective in this show, whatever my misgivings about its second half.

Updated On: 12/7/21 at 11:24 AM

Lazarus Alas said: "broadwaybabywannabe2 said: "OY VEY!!!...i'm seeing this new musical in 3 weeks, right before Christmas...i thought that seeing a new fresh musical rather than the many juke-box musicals on Broadway would be the way to go...and after reading these pages of comments i now question my decision about seeing this Lapine/Finn musical...I love the Lincoln Center theatre so that thrill is enough i hope to make for an enjoyable evening...maybe in the days and weeks before officially opening things will tighten...here's hoping!!
Side note: William Finn is not involved in this production to the best of my knowledge.
...yikes,,,maybe that is the musical i want to see...lol...thanks for the correction...


"

Some of the furniture placement could have been slightly more upstage. There is some restricted viewing if you are sitting on the sides. I did not care for the staging ( in terms of the book work) in the therapists office….Tony was looking upstage too much. I would avoid seats in the 100’s and 500’s.

Was Tony Yazbeck back in tonight?

binau said: "I also think it’s a rare example of a musical that might work better as a film than on stage. The concept of people singing only when high immediately takes away the awkward ‘why are they singing’ feel on film, the small characters lend themselves to close ups and since it’s LSD they could make the movie completely stylised/bonkers in a way that’s hard to do on stage."

The idea of a movie version crossed my mind as well. I agree it would make a good film.

I assume it's frozen now?

Saw the show last evening. Full cast. This was quite possibly the most boring show I have ever seen. I think I checked my watch 200 times. The entire first act (75 minutes mind you) was plot exposition. The second wasn't *as* bad, but I could not wait to get out of there.

To be fair, many Broadway theaters are not selling that well due to covid, protocols and low tourism.