Great comet or Come From Away

[C.Jack]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 10:03pm

Im in NY  June 6-9, we're seeing DEH, Hamilton, and Dolly. Trying to choose last one. Leaning toward Comet because of Groban.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 10:19pm

I love Comet, but haven't seen CFA, sono comparison. (But folks that have seen it, seem to love it.) 

 

Cant go wrong, methinks.

Updated On: 3/29/17 at 10:19 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 10:25pm

Have yet to see Come From Away myself, but if Groban is a factor for you, he's quite good in Great Comet. It's also unlike anything you'll see- Come From Away is much more likely to tour. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 10:30pm

My vote is 100% for Great Comet. But if it helps, there's already another thread asking this same question: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1099391&page=1

 

[mamaleh]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 10:37pm

Hands down, ride that COMET.  It's exhilarating. 

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 11:58pm

None. I think the best show on Broadway is Sunset BLVD. (Glenn Close and a 40 piece orchestra and the show closes in June and it's your last chance to see a production of this magnitude), BUT if I had to pick between those two, I'd see Come From Away, with that said, it's a very tiny show and I don't think it's worth spending much on. Small cast, tiny orchestra, no sets basically. Great Comet is pure crap and it's not worth a penny. I wish I could get a refund, it was the worst show I have seen in a long time.

[froote]

Posted: 3/28/17 at 11:59pm

Great Comet.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:04am

this is the hardest choice for me on Broadway I think. They are incredibly different and I loved them both. Great Comet is weird and I spent the whole time wondering WTF I was seeing. And I loved every minute of it. But some people hate it for exactly those reasons. Come From Away is heartwarming and gave me ALL the feels. If they both are intriguing to you, I would lean toward Great Comet simply because it is unlikely to be staged this way ever again. I certainly hope Come From Away will have a long life, and I don't think you'd be harmed much by not seeing the original. The same is not true for Great Comet. 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:11am

ChiTheaterFan said: "this is the hardest choice for me on Broadway I think. They are incredibly different and I loved them both. Great Comet is weird and I spent the whole time wondering WTF I was seeing. And I loved every minute of it. But some people hate it for exactly those reasons. Come From Away is heartwarming and gave me ALL the feels. If they both are intriguing to you, I would lean toward Great Comet simply because it is unlikely to be staged this way ever again. I certainly hope Come From Away will have a long life, and I don't think you'd be harmed much by not seeing the original. The same is not true for Great Comet. 

In my opinion, this assessment is spot-on.

 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:41am

Just to clarify, when I said "the same is not true for Great Comet," that referred only to my statement that you wouldn't be harmed by not seeing Come From Away in its original iteration. It does NOT apply to my statement that I hope Come From Away will have a long life. I sincerely hope both these shows have long lives both on Broadway and regionally!!!  I just meant future iterations of Come From Away may be equally enjoyable as the Broadway version so you wouldn't mind missing this version, but that's not true for Great Comet given the insanely incentive staging and sets and the fact that they've totally redone a theater specifically for this show. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 1:36am

I have seen both shows. I saw COMET pre Broadway. COMET, for me, was an event. Enjoyed it while seeing it because of all of the action around you. I forgot most of it the next day. I would never pay to see it again though. (I went on an invite). When I left I really didn't feel much about the show. The only memorable part was the ballad at the beginning of the second act. It was stunning. (The friend or cousin sings it, I think)

With that said, I suggest Come From Away. Yes, It has minimal staging but that does not take away from the story or the emotional ride it takes you on. My eyes were welling with happy tears as I walked out.

JMO

[HSky]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 4:29am

I love both shows and will gladly recommend either (along with DEH - for me, DEH is my cathartic release, Great Comet leaves me in awe, and CFA is my feel good show) this season.

I usually bring up Great Comet with a disclaimer - I think there's a slight risk going into it because the myriad of styles both musically and in how things are staged (especially the club and opera) are definitely not going to be to everyone's liking and for those who don't like it, it tends to be a strong opinion. However, the reward pays off handsomely if you end up enjoying the spectacle. It really is quite unlike anything else currently on Broadway, and Josh Groban is fantastic as Pierre.

On the other hand, Come From Away unexpectedly stole my heart. Great Comet is a roller coaster ride because you never quite know what's coming next, while Come From Away is a roller coaster of a different sort due to the seamless pacing and you get swept up in the ride. It's smaller in scale and only one act, but that doesn't diminish the emotional impact.

Based on the other shows you're seeing plus mention of Josh Groban, I'd suggest Great Comet out of the two, but if a coworker were to ask me for a show to blindly recommend to a visiting family member, I'd tell them Come From Away, if that makes sense. 

 

[FAC22]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 4:34am

Great Comet is beautiful, there's a map of who's who in the playbill, and there's a study guide for people/students who need a refresher on War & Peace or find it hard to keep up with the show. 

Study Guide: greatcometbroadway.com/studyguide.php

 

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 4:40am

I didn't see CFA yet, but love Comet. Saw it once onstage, seeing it with Dave Malloy from a premium onstage seat, and taking my family to see it from front row mezzanine in June. 

[djoko84]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 6:31am

Come From Away is amazing. Go see it. I liked Comet for its set and immersive theatre (and Josh Groban of course), but couldn't really understand most of the show.

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 6:52am

djoko84 said: "Come From Away is amazing. Go see it. I liked Comet for its set and immersive theatre (and Josh Groban of course), but couldn't really understand most of the show."

This is all in your program.
You are at the opera.
Gonna have to study up a little bit if you wanna keep with the plot
Cuz it’s a complicated Russian novel
Everyone’s got nine different names
So look it up in your program
We’d appreciate it, thanks a lot..

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 6:54am

I liked Come From Away ... but definitely GREAT COMET. I've seen it five times already. 

[cam5y]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:20am

I really liked Comet as a spectacle, but it really doesn't capture the essence of War and Peace for me. (For a start, they took all the war bits out). It's flashy and entertaining, and Groban is fantastic, he really is. But Come From Away just stole my heart. You're not going to make a wrong choice, but I do believe Come From Away is the better show. 

[cb2addict2]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:33am

both wonderful, but if you only have one more slot, you must get thee to Great Comet. No question

[Big Apple2]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:38am

I now make yearly trips to NYC to watch shows. My rule has always been simple in deciding which shows to watch: Go to those that will not tour near me and cannot be replicated on the road. Both these shows have generated fairly good reviews. But Great Conet is just unique and one of a kind. That would be my choice. In fact, I already got tickets for it on my next visit. Enjoy whichever show you end up choosing. 

[NYJoe]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 11:37am

I do think COMET is unique, but I think COME FROM AWAY is breathtaking.  If you are a Groban fan, the choice may be easy, but for me, COME FROM AWAY has held me since I saw it two weeks ago.  Like another poster, COMET was cool, but sort of forgettable. 

If you want to feel, I would see COME FROM AWAY.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 11:39am

NYJoe said: "If you want to feel, I would see COME FROM AWAY."

And I personally found the final 20-ish minutes of Great Comet to be more moving than Come From Away. If you want to feel, you'll still get that at Comet, 100%.

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:02pm

cam5y said: "I really liked Comet as a spectacle, but it really doesn't capture the essence of War and Peace for me. (For a start, they took all the war bits out). "

Perhaps why it isn't called War and Peace: The Musical?! Since it is only based on a 70-page sliver of it?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:12pm

Seen both. COMET is an artistic masterpiece, but I find the book a little week. COME FROM AWAY is one of the most moving shows I've ever seen. My pick is Come From Away.

[deltatee]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:51pm

I don't see CFA until the end of April, but the Great Comet is really something else, and it is definitely worth seeing (especially if you're a Groban fan).  As others have said, the Great Comet is very unique and is quite the experience that won't ever tour in its current form.