Well that was something. I've never been to a performance with difficulties like this before. After about 20 minutes, someone came on a speaker and called the actors off stage then said they're taking a break, or something along those lines. Over the next 50 minutes they opened up the bar to everyone in the theater (awesome move on their part) and kept us all informed as to what was happening. Finally the director came onstage with Andy and said they'd do the rest of Act one as basically a reading and then do a shortened version of act two like that as well, since it was already getting late. And in addition no matter if you stayed or left, you can get comped to another performance (again, awesome move on their part). The show ended up letting out at around 11:30 and everyone got free GROUNDHOG DAY tote bags that they were passing out by all the exits. This, I'm sure, will turn out to be an extremely costly night for the production but since it was handled so perfectly, it can only serve to help them out.
As for the show, just judging from what we were able to see tonight, it was extraordinary. It was as similar to the film as it was different, so you get your "nostalgia" but also a completely different take on things. One song at the end of act two had me crying, like I haven't cried in a musical in a long time. I can't wait to go back and see the entire show. In a season where I seem to say I have a new favorite show every week, I guess I have a new favorite show this week.
