General rant on POTO

[winston89]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 8:57am

I saw phantom of the opera yesterday afternoon. O my god I wish I didn't. the score was so so. And the acting was next to none it was like every single person on that stage was phoning in their preformanes. The 'special effects' were aweful. And the whole chandalear sp? is so goddamn over rated. By the time it took that thing to fall I could have gotten through the entier sunday New York Times it was THAT slow. I don't know why people flock to this show. True that nowadays most of the people that go are tourists that know NOTHING about theatre. This proves my point that the average tourist is stupid. I don't mean the people that post here that aren't from NYC i mean people that no nothing of the theatre world and no nothing of NYC. Tourists are so damn stupid. I went to the box offic knowing that they would not give me a refund but I bitched and moaned just for the hell of it. It was that bad. I left at intermission and wanted to kill myself during the first act.

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 9:47am

true!

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 11:00am

It is funny, POTO was never one of my favorites but I decided to tag along with some friends recently and I must say that in light of what has been happening on Broadway lately, I thought that the show held up very well. I thought that it was leagues above such generic recent offerings of WICKED, MAMMA MIA, WEDDING SINGER, ALL SHOOK UP, etc. I also thought that the current cast (McGillin, Wills, Lewis) was particularly strong. I do agree however that the effects need some updating....I actually laughed out loud at the chandelier "falling" and the weird little fire balls coming from the Phantom in Act II. Besides a couple of chuckles at strange effects and some odd blocking/movement choices, I really enjoyed myself and I must say that I actually shed a tear for that dear old Phantom.

[Ryguy7]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 11:52am

When did the chandlier become so slow? I remember seeing a touring production in my city 12-13 years ago and found the effect amazing. Now, after recently seeing it in NY, it seems that they have really slowed it down..
Is there a reason for this? Did lawyers for the production deem it too harzardous or something?
Surely it hasn't fallen at the pace since it opened. I really think they've tamed that part down..
RY

[BobbyErikValjean]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 11:58am

You have to understand, the show is 18 years old. You're not going to get the "OMGZ AWESOME!!1" special effects that you see in shows like Wicked.

If the tourists are the ones keeping Phantom open with grosses above 90%, I say bring them in!

And not everyone who goes to see Phantom is a stupid tourist, some of us have a great knowledge of theatre. Updated On: 3/15/07 at 11:58 AM

[D2]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:01pm

The chandelier has always just sort of drifted down to the stage in the New York production. Something to do with insurance and fire laws, I've been told. It drops down much faster in London. I've never seen it anywhere else so I can't speak to other productions.

EDIT: Double take. Winston, why weren't you in school yesterday afternoon?

Updated On: 3/15/07 at 12:01 PM

[suzycat]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:03pm

I agree with BobbyErikValjean. POTO has provided a lot of people with steady jobs and has consistently brought a great deal of money into Broadway. The tourists enjoy it, so what's wrong with that? Many of them have never seen a Broadway show before, and don't have the perspective that a lot of us who have seen many shows do.

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:05pm

Didn't you post this last night, same freaky spelling and everything? Why did the first one get deleted?

Updated On: 3/15/07 at 12:05 PM

[C is for Company]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:12pm

In the documentary, didn't they say Australia had the fastest chandalier going pretty breakneck, followed by London, with the U.S. being the slowest.

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:18pm

I really wouldn't be accusing others of being stupid when typing such things entier, aweful, preformances and chandalear.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:21pm

"True that nowadays most of the people that go are tourists that know NOTHING about theatre. This proves my point that the average tourist is stupid. I don't mean the people that post here that aren't from NYC i mean people that no nothing of the theatre world and no nothing of NYC. Tourists are so damn stupid."

Just because someone may not have the same knowledge about theater as you doesn't make them stupid. No need to be so harsh. It's a matter of opinion, some people actually like it. *Gasp*

People who don't know how to use proper spelling/grammar, in my opinion, are stupid.

Updated On: 3/15/07 at 12:21 PM

[D2]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:24pm

No, Millie, they aren't stupid, they are ignorant.

However, people who CONSTANTLY misspell words, CONSTANTLY use bad grammar, and who are CONSTANTLY reminded of the problem by almost everyone on the board and yet do nothing to improve themselves?

Yes, that could be considered stupid.

Updated On: 3/15/07 at 12:24 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:34pm

D2,

On wednesdays my school gets out at 12:40. Enough time to rush uptown via subway and snag a ticket for a 2 PM show.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:35pm

Updated On: 3/15/07 at 12:35 PM

[musical_devotee]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:35pm

It's all a matter of taste, I suppose. I loved POTO ever since I heard the original cast recording. Saw it in London last year and loved it even more.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 12:39pm

Looks like someone fell out of the thread faster than the aweful chandalear falls to the stage.

LOL

IMO (and I'm not a Phan of the show) any show that generates interest in theatre is valid. Maybe that tourist that had never seen a Broadway show and went to Phantom could choose to go see something else -- and bring a friend -- and talk to their co-workers back in middle-America -- and tell them how EXCITING it is to go to a Broadway show. That's the great thing about the popular, long-running shows -- they can help generate interest in theatre.

[jewelchk]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 2:54pm

I always thought that POTO is a very enjoyable show if you like the score. Usually if people ask me if I recommend it, I'll ask if they know any of the music and if they like it. If they reply eh, I tell them they may not like the show then. If you can't get drawn into the atmosphere through the music, it can be incredibly boring. And, yes, the 18 year old effects are interesting if you've never seen them before but not exactly thrilling or interesting enough to make up for the slow parts of the show.

[D2]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 2:57pm

Winston:

Oh, good. I'd hate to think you were skipping school and missing an important class.

[yellibean2]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 3:02pm

Actually, I've heard London has a pretty slow chandelier. Australia and Mexico are known for the fastest and on tour, it really depends on which venue you see it in. But yeah, New York is really slow.

[Weez]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 3:40pm

I saw Phantom on Tuesday afternoon in the West End. Quite probably one of the most tired productions I have ever seen. Although - and I feel a little dirty for saying this - god BLESS Andrew Lloyd Webber for giving us an Overture and an Entr'acte! I'm quite into them at the moment. I only wish the chatty old biddies around me were as well. ¬_¬

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 3:51pm

Oh, good. I'd hate to think you were skipping school and missing an important class.

Like English!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 4:00pm

Winston, does your class REALLY get out at 12:40? That's awfully random. I could imagine a class ending at 12:30 and then you have 10 minutes to get to your next class, such as English. Unless...are you a college student?

[Jellylorum]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 5:13pm

I wouldn't consider tourists to be "stupid," just uninformed. Many of them are not regular theatre-goers, and they most likely went for Phantom because it's a familiar name. Or maybe people watch it because they like it. *gasp* Shocking, huh?

[KQuill]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 5:40pm

Winston - did you go to the show for the special effects and to see acting? Phantom's strength lies in the story. I imagine you spent the whole time to trying to analyze and critisize everything. There's no way in the world you will ever enjoy this show, and many others I might add, until you just sit back and let them tell you a story. Stop being so cynical.

You know why all those "stupid tourists" enjoy the show so much? Because they allow themselves to.

This show is not designed for a bitchy theater know-it-all like you. I'd rather be a stupid tourist than be like that.
Updated On: 3/15/07 at 05:40 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 8:12pm

"I went to the box offic knowing that they would not give me a refund but I bitched and moaned just for the hell of it."

Wow.

Make sure you watch what you are saying and doing before you decide to call other people stupid.