Godspell - First Preview Tonight- Page 8

[labwyfan]

Posted: 10/17/11 at 6:34pm

Musto weighs in on the haters:

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2011/10/godspell_has_be.php

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 10/17/11 at 7:11pm

(Don't you just love how if you post anything good on these boards, you're automatically marked a "shill"? Forgive me for going to the show and finding something positive to say about it.)


I think (hope?) that chewy was just being sarcastic in his post.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 10/17/11 at 7:23pm

Saw the show on Friday night. Loathed it. Lindsay Mendez, enough with the riffing. It's getting so ridiculous now a days, that one can't go to show and hear the score the way it was written. Geez, Laurie Beechman or Andrea McArdle never had to resort to such hideous vocal stylings for their voices to be effective.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/17/11 at 7:28pm

I'm going Wednesday night (Hey, I can't pass up $41 tickets on TDF)

[BwayKitty]

Posted: 10/17/11 at 9:34pm

I wonder, are the Davenport Theatrical interns that troll the TKTS line steering people to Davenport related shows, the same Davenport Theatrical interns writing glowing reviews of GODSPELL?

[barcelona20]

Posted: 10/17/11 at 9:52pm

Of course they are BwayKitty. It's a disgrace, and everyone in the Bway community knows about their marketing tactics.

[BwayKitty]

Posted: 10/17/11 at 10:29pm

When do you think they'll realize it's not working, and everyone see's what they are doing?

[MusicalComedyMan]

Posted: 10/17/11 at 10:49pm

The tourists don't know any better. A lot of tourists think the people there work for TKTS. They don't realize they're all hired by the shows.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 10/17/11 at 11:31pm

On these message boards, it's obvious who is shilling. Out in the streets, tourists don't stand a chance.

[krispy kreme]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 1:13am

So Michael Musto must be a shill too!

Eye Roll.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 1:19am

"I'm going Wednesday night (Hey, I can't pass up $41 tickets on TDF)"

Quizking, is it honestly necessary to tell us how much you pay for your tickets in every single thread you post in?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 3:49am

How do I know the information I presented here? I simply asked a cast member. Wow, I even got an answer when I asked. It's not like they're hiding the fact that understudies have gone on... There are pictures of the performing understudies that are visible from the outside of the theatre. I saw pictures of both female understudies on Saturday and they mentioned which tracks they were covering.

For the record, I am not affiliated with Davenport Theatrical.

How about this... See the show for yourself. I'm still surprised by the exaggeration on this thread. In my opinion, people are blowing things way out of proportion. Then again, I'm sure things have been changing in each preview. The scathing reviews were from the first couple of previews; I saw the sixth. A lot could have changed since then. I'm sure they're seeing which jokes work and which don't. Let them all breathe. Don't we all collectively know that Godspell is a nontraditional musical that should be staged organically and based on the strengths of the performers? This isn't Shakespeare nor should it be treated as such. It's a big improv, it was written as structured improv. This preview period is crucial for them to find the flow of the show and feel what it's like to do their improv in front of an audience instead of just Ken Davenport.

I realize Godspell itself isn't everyone's cup of tea. But the night I attended, the audience had a blast: huge ovations after every number and holding for laughter everywhere. I guess it must have been a theatre full of shills.

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 6:44am

I haven't seen it yet, but a group of my friends went to see it and they're all raving. One of those friends in particular tends to be very hard on shows (Sondheim lover, hates anything and everything by Stephen Schwartz) and he loved it. I haven't gotten enough time off uni to go see it yet, but I'm excited :)

And I really think people should judge it for themselves. The first few pages here were a few positive reviews, a few negative reviews, and people going batsh*t about how no one liked it and how awful it was. If someone didn't like the show, of COURSE they're going to give everything a negative spin when they describe it later. From what I've heard, (and read) audiences are eating it up.

[junkyard]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 7:41am

Would this page have so many comments if it wasn't for the significant number of theatre experts (really?), who clog the board with their repeated BS comments? Who are the real shills? Michael Musto had it right. It is sad to see this board turning into a toy for some immature people, who fantisize themselves are some type of artistic wizzard. There are many crtical comments posted on this board that are well thought out and are helpful but there are far to many others written by hangers on , wannabes and other varied individuals.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 7:46am

"Judge not lest YE be judged." Amen!
The show is about JESUS, for Christ's sake. It is ALL good.

For those who have seen it, do they invite the audience to take communion? They did that at my church. It was so awesome.

Also, are there any puppets?

[barcelona20]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 8:09am

I'm sure that not everyone who likes it is a shill, but they specifically will make up profiles years in advance and then when it's time to promote something, post comments.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 9:15am

Exactly. When screennames that haven't posted in years suddenly came back to post in every Godspell thread, attacking anyone who criticizes, it reeks of personal investment. There have been 2 obvious ones on this thread so far, I'm sure it will only get worse as time goes on.

[newintown]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 9:22am

The production is clearly aimed at the tourist audience who like their comedy cheap; in that regard, it'll succeed. Whether it turns a profit or not, though, we'll keep getting this kind of production because the tourists rule Broadway. That's why Spider-man happened.

[krispy kreme]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 10:04am

I have lurked on this board for years and I rarely comment. I have nothing to say about Godspell since I haven't seen the production yet, but this thread became so ridiculous so quickly that it prompted me to respond. I doubt I have posted here since 2006.....yep, that's how childish some of the comments have been. That's why I made my sarcastic comment that Musto must be a shill too. Complete with an eye roll. Congrats, you guys inspired me to come out of lurking!

I will be attending the production in November. I will weigh in with my fair assessment then.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 10:22am

I'm just tossing this out there as I haven't seen the show yet.

Is it possible that the first preview actually was pretty bad because of the improv element? If the cast has been instructed to improve a lot of lines, for example, could they have just delivered quite a few clunkers? Combined with experimenting with audience participation and dealing with a mostly full audience for the first time, it could have just been very rough. I'm not doubting that certain gags didn't land. Is it too much to believe that, in a few performances, the cast and creative team have already started to decide what's working and what's not?

I was expecting an especially rocky preview period for this show because of the improv and experimentation. Even after it's more or less frozen, the freedom of the piece is going to make it a show that can vary widely from night to night.

[broadfan327]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 1:21pm

The audience is invited to drink some wine during the intermission.

For the record I am not a shill. I was thinking during the first preview that either people will love it or hate it. Godspell isn't South Pacific or Gypsy. If you are expecting that level of writing then this is not the show for you.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 1:33pm

I like that some (clueless) people are attacking Davenport's marketing. All he is trying to do is sell his shows, he is not doing anything bad, wrong, illegal. Hell i think he's very good when it comes to his marketing. And NO i don't work for him before somebody says but i do work in the industry and spend half my life coming up with marketing ideas.

Updated On: 10/18/11 at 01:33 PM

[newintown]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 1:47pm

I'm sure your marketing ideas are better than your spelling and grammar.

And although you may be correct about legality, morality is a different thing entirely, and success (contrary to popular opinion) does not always equal moral.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 2:51pm

I'm sure your marketing ideas are better than your spelling and grammar.

Burn!

And it's not that "these boards" are the only trashing Godspell. All That Chat has a fair share of nasty reviews too. I've been ambushed by Davenportians before - they're scary pushy, like theatre zombies.

[BigBopperJohn]

Posted: 10/18/11 at 4:53pm

This entry is meant as an open plea to the Producer & Director of the new Godspell Revival!
The original National Tour of Godspell was my first professional live show experience. It so excited me at 16 years old that I signed up for drama classes my last 2 years of high school and spent 2 years of college in the theater department.
I always wanted to be in a production of Godspell and tried out for several local productions but was never cast. Not because of a lack of talent but mainly because of my large 6’ ft 3” 290 lb size. Finally in 1977, I decided to produce and direct my own production of Godspell and rented a local hall for the show. We also gave several condensed performances at a summer camp for hundreds of special needs children which was a very rewarding experience for all of us. Godspell was a unique theater piece and anyone who was ever in a production seems to have extremely fond memories and great affection for this show.
I am now retired due to disabilities after a 35 year stint of first managing and then owning movie theaters. I used to travel to New York at least once every couple of years to take in two or three shows. I have not been able to get back to New York in several years now, but after following the official website’s blog for the revival of Godspell, I’ve been wanting to plan a trip after Thanksgiving with my family. I guess I am a purist but I have had fears all along that this new production would try to be so updated and modernized that I would not recognize the show that I have such fond memories for and it would seem alien. I always felt that the basic setting and use of the fence or playground equipment was essential to this show, but I understand that in theater in the round it is not possible. I do feel that other basic themes such as Jesus in a superman shirt and suspenders as head clown is so iconically connected to the show that a plain white shirted Jesus as in the photos is almost disrespectful. Yes I understand that some updating to attract a younger generation is necessary. However the producer and director should also think about the fact that there are two older generations out there that have these similar fond memories and like to be reminded of the past. They are also the ones who can better afford the ticket prices and probably would make up two thirds of the potential audience for this show. The show is still in previews so it’s not too late to put back in some of the basics of the original that gave this show it’s charm and appeal. It ran off Broadway for many years so there must have been something right with it! To me a revival means to bring back (re-live to be exact) not to re-create, but that’s just me. As one of many who yearn for yesteryear, We Beseech Thee to Hear Us!
Sincerely,
Big John