Grease First Preview Tonight — Page 5

I don't want to sound ignorant, but isn't it possible that this shows future really only rests on whether or not it manages to sell a lot of tickets?

From the sounds of it, it seems most of the non-regular theatre goers ate it up with a spoon...

Hell if Mary Poppins can make money, this should have no problem sticking around for quite awhile.

The bottom line is, it doesn't matter a damn how this board or theater critics receive this show, this show is as close to critic proof as you can get. Tourists will easily keep this production open.

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ahh, so i win this round...

and I'm relieved to know that I don't have to rush out to see Grease any time soon.

I've heard more than one person complain about this. Blaming the producers for not making it clear that this was previews and not opening night.

One person actually told me, "well I'm not a big theater freak so I didn't know all the fancy theater terms."

Erm... sorry you're an ignorant fool?

I never ever saw this billed as opening night anywhere.

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I don't see why anyone would care. Just be happy you have enough money to see it in the first place. There are people who live their whole lives without actually getting to see a broadway show. Does it really matter wether it's the first preview or opening night?

Ok.. so I am much later than you to post. Here we go!

Overall, it is a preview, and I hope that there is more to come. I agree with WAT. Marshalls choreography had me so giddy in Pajama Game, but this production, thus far, did not. I did however go in with an open mind and enjoy it.

Laura.. good for you! You were so sweet and engaging on stage. I wish you the best. As far as Max goes, I thought he did a fine job as Danny. We knew months ago that he was not the best Danny for the job, but neither was Austin. (It is the pink ladies not the pink danny.. we gotta believe that Danny wants Dandy not Doody).

I agree Powers was directed to play Rizzo a little too dyke for me. I like the girl, but this was not a Rizzo I cared about. She did stand out in talent, though sadly misdirected. The ensemble was just...ok. I just was underwhelmed. I hope that there are many revisions before the opening.

I missed Sam Harris, actually, I missed any guy who can sing "Those Magic Changes" well. I really love that number and...it was not there tonight. The sets were there, but seemed too large for the space. I liked the idea, but it just did not seem to make sense.

I will see this show again once it opens, but thus far... needs work. It will play, if not on name and popularity alone. I look forward to the changes and hope to be impressed with them. As far as the TV side of it... Well, let's just hope that this show will be the stepping block to some young children, to inspire them to watch theatre the way that we all once did. We gotta start somewhere!

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Yup.

"So, the bands above the stage the whole time? Is there no orchestra pit?"

Yes, that is correct. The band is above the stage the whole show...and works quite well.

The musical director was great, Anyone who could make Grease sound new and exciting like she did deserves a Tony.

The woman whose ass was displayed to the audience the whole night (nice ass, by the way) did not arrange the orchestrations, nor was she even conducting. She was standing there as a part of the entertainment, banging her hands out to the beat. Her purpose was to get the audience excited every time the orchestra was shown (it worked). A Tony? In a season that is going to include an average of 8 musical revivals and 10 new musicals, the idea that this mess could receive any Tony nominations is laughable.

Regardless of how Max got the lead role the audience loved him and the show. The show was fun and left most people with a great feeling. I think that's why the actors got a standing ovation at the end.

The actors got a "standing ovation" because most audience members started to get up and leave when the curtain went down. They didn't realize there was a curtain call coming up, and the crew waited too long to bring the curtain back up. That's why people were standing up when the actors finally came out.

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Foster - Well that's Kim Grigsby for 'ya. She steals every show she's in!

Jaystarr - A week from today, you'll have my review.

Anyway, Marshall has said in many interviews that she's "prepared the cast for bad reviews." I guess even she know's it's a stinkeroo.

Updated On: 7/25/07 at 07:26 AM

""That's why people were standing up when the actors finally came out."

No it wasn't. Even ignorant non -theatre go-ers like me and my kids were aware that the cast was coming out.That why I was standing.

Didn't know the lady in the orchestra was acting. Doesn't matter. What I said/think was that anyone who could make Grease music sound new and exciting deserved deserved a Tony. That music was fantastic. Whoever the musical director is deserves a Tony.

Updated On: 7/25/07 at 08:07 AM

Thanks Guys !!

For posting the playbill ( cuz I have a fetish for Playbill ) and the list of songs...

wow ! they included GREASE too & removed the Alma Mater song, huh ?- i wonder how that go ? and added Hopelessly Devoted & You're the One that I Want (of course, that's the name of the Reality Show , duh ! )

Very interesting !!! I guess theyre really capitalizing with the Reality Show ! with pics of the two winners on the Playbill & the added songs..

BTW- Yankee- how did you get that playbill, if you have not seen the show yet and its certainly not up on the Playbill website- Are you sure youre not Riedel? (just kiddin')

J*

Updated On: 7/25/07 at 08:51 AM