GROUNDHOG DAY Previews- Page 4

[BOM]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:12pm

I assume you're a fan of the cookie cutter musical. I feel bad for people who can't appreciate shows that's challenge the status quo.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:28pm

A girlfriend and I got last-minute tickets to this tonight, and I am sad to report that we both thought it was terrible.

They director and choreographer have done a smashing job staging this up the wazoo, but the material is just a mess. The first and second act feel like two completely different musicals. The first is sophomoric and repetitive to the point that I thought I was gonna start pulling my hair out, and the second is reflective and sentimental. Kind of like Adam Sandler meets Nicholas Sparks. Who the target audience ultimately is I couldn't begin to tell you.

A big problem here is that the main character is not the kind of character who is going to break out into song expressing his feelings (until the last ten minutes of the show which admittedly I thought finally sort of worked) so most of the introspective work for the very long 3 hour running time is left to supporting characters who you mostly don't even care about.

I suppose this could be this year's American Psycho with a very divisive audience response, but it was a big disappointment for me.

Updated On: 3/17/17 at 11:28 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:33pm

BOM said: "I assume you're a fan of the cookie cutter musical. I feel bad for people who can't appreciate shows that's challenge the status quo.

 

"

Judging by the fact their icon is of N2N, I don't think they have a hard time getting into shows that challenge the status quo. I'm excited to read and see more from this show, but take a chill pill. Not everyone will like it.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:35pm

Where are the rush/lotto seats?

 

Also? Row A isn't being sold on TM. Any idea why? Asked GH on FB, but nobody replied...

[jbird5]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:45pm

Someone mentioned that the stage is really high (there's a turntable). I loved it. But then I loved AP too. I think most of the audience was with me. It also was a much younger demographic than I'm used to seeing for a Broadway show. Hopefully this bodes well for the future of the show. The leads were both fantastic. Barrett Doss could be a dark horse for best actress.

[BroadwayBeebe]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:48pm

God, I so wanted to love this with every fiber of my being, but in the end the pieces didn't quite fall into place for me as I had hoped they would. First off, Andy Karl is doing terrific work with the material he has been given and he makes Phil his own and it really works. This production is at it's funniest and best in the book scenes when they are taking lines directly from the film. That's not to say that it wasn't hilarious. I had a lot of good laughs, but I just wish there were some more. I am a huge fan of Minchin's work on Matilda, but tonight I thought his contributions were the weak point. Musicalizing the wrong moments and giving supporting roles too much focus. Phil almost felt like he had the least to do at times. The whole night I was either one hundred percent in it, or completely befuddled. Maybe it was just me though. Curious to hear the thoughts of others who could probably elaborate better than I. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:52pm

Barrett Doss is lovely. She reminds me of a young Audra McDonald. There is no way she is getting a Best Actress nomination for this. Sorry.

[supersam1026]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:53pm

Was there too. QueenAlice was right about the each act being completely different from one another. I was just very meh on this. I left with the feeling of "yeah, so?". However, have to give credit where it is due, and that certainly goes to Matthew Warchus and his team. Some incredibly inventive and fun staging in this!

The comparison to American Psycho is definitely an apt one. This will certainly have it's fans, but I think it will struggle to find an audience. I think it will also have a similar performance come Tony Awards time. Will probably pick up something like a lighting design nomination, but will mostly be shut out. Andy Karl is very good (as per usual), but Ben Platt can certainly start engraving that Tony statue, if he hasn't already. Could even see Karl going the same way as Benjamin Walker and being the surprise snub because the show is not well received... we shall see!

[Scott19]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:54pm

Interesting to read the reports.

I think this is one of my favorite theater evenings of the year. Whip smart, funny, and surprisingly touching at certain points. Loved It.

 

And Andy Karl is a force of nature. A terrific performance.

 

 

[BroadwayLuv2]

Posted: 3/17/17 at 11:56pm

Anyone try rush?  Where were the seats? How was the line?  

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 12:01am

I for the record loved American Psycho, so I didn't mean to infer "divisive" in the sense that if you loved that show you will also love Groundhog Day. Quite the opposite for me. I thought Andy Karl was good, but the character is rather obnoxious and I just didn't care until it was way too late.  There's absolutely no backstory as to why the character is such an arsehole- why are we supposed to root for him?

[JustAnotherNewYorker]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 12:07am

I'm reserving judgement until I see it again from better seats

 

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who was there tonight and also was it in London. What's changed?

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 12:16am

Has anything changed From the UK run? They absolutely need to cut 15 minutes out of this at least. 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 12:28am

I won lotto for tonight (Saturday) and you get a code to use for Ticketmaster and when I logged on there was rear orchestra and center and side mezz. I chose center mezz Row M. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 12:30am

Is Andy Karl doomed to star in technically difficult screen to stage musicals that are repetitive and can't deliver a good punch? 

[supersam1026]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 12:32am

To clarify, I too loved American Psycho! I think the comparison lies how each show is received by audiences. The content could not be more different! I think, like Psycho, there will be 2 groups to Groundhog Day: Those that absolutely adore it and cannot say enough good things about it, and those who don't. I, unfortunately, am in the latter, but for anyone in the former, I am glad that the show could deliver for you!

Updated On: 3/18/17 at 12:32 AM

[jbird5]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 12:41am

Agreed the score was a low point. The best songs were given to the minor characters like Ned and the two slackers. I don't think Nancy's song really works. There aren't any standards here (maybe Ned's). 

It will  be hard for Barrett to get nominated with Bette, Patti, Christine & Phillipa. I'd put her performance ahead of Denee Benton. It would be hard to do to Karl what they did to Benjamin Walker because I don't think there's as much competition.

[BroadwayBeebe]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 1:01am

My girlfriend just remarked that Nancy is to Groundhog Day as Doatsy Mae is to Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. 

Why she got to open Act 2, I'll never know...

[Neusimone]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 1:08am

Did any american newspaper review this in London?

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 1:15am

Brantley reviewed it.

[PaulWom]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 1:20am

jbird5 said: "Agreed the score was a low point. The best songs were given to the minor characters like Ned and the two slackers. I don't think Nancy's song really works. There aren't any standards here (maybe Ned's). 

It will  be hard for Barrett to get nominated with Bette, Patti, Christine & Phillipa. I'd put her performance ahead of Denee Benton. It would be hard to do to Karl what they did to Benjamin Walker because I don't think there's as much competition.

 

"

Saw this tonight.... Loved a lot of the songs-- no one writes like Mr. Minchin. Thought most of the performances, save for Andy Karl (who was fantastic) were uniformly ok- nothing really special. 

Jbird5, having seen Denee's performance very recently (and comparing it to what I saw in the fall last year), I think a lot of people would be surprised as to how fantastically she's grown into the part-- If Tony voters/nominees are still coming in, I doubt she'll lose a nomination to Barrett.

[Neusimone]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 1:30am

uncageg said: "Brantley reviewed it.

 

"

 

What did he think did a search cannot find it!

 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 1:36am

Robbie2 said: "Cfried said: "The producers couldn't have done a better job in handling last night's mishap! I'm very excited to see the show in full. 

I would credit Jordan Roth for that!"

Recalling a thread from a few days ago asking for opinions of the big 3 theatre owners, I replied that I had a lot of respect for Jordan Roth and Jujamcyn. This reinforces my answer.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 2:24am

I was there tonight. Didn't hate it, but didn't love it either. Some parts worked amazingly well and other parts were very much WTF moments... like the Act 2 opener song for Nancy, who after her big number falls into the background for the rest of the show!?  The score was very lackluster for me. It was all over the place and just didn't elevate the material. 

The staging is actually quite impressive and the director does his best with the material, but something was still missing, and I can't quite put my finger on it yet.  

Sit in the mezz for this one. You will miss some fun moments sitting in the Orchestra and not get to see the full turntable. 

 

Updated On: 3/18/17 at 02:24 AM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/18/17 at 8:46am

PaulWom said: "jbird5 said: "It will be hard for Barrett to get nominated with Bette, Patti, Christine & Phillipa. I'd put her performance ahead of Denee Benton."

"Having seen Denee's performance very recently (and comparing it to what I saw in the fall last year), I think a lot of people would be surprised as to how fantastically she's grown into the part-- If Tony voters/nominees are still coming in, I doubt she'll lose a nomination to Barrett."

I also think that if The Great Comet does as well in nominations as expected, Benton's likely going to get on the ticket.