HADESTOWN Previews- Page 6

[A0326T]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 8:01am

themysteriousgrowl said: "

I sat front mezz at first preview and had no trouble understanding De Shields. He was fed a line at one point by an orchestra member, but if you're unfamiliar with the show, as I was, it was hardly noticeable. His was my favorite performance of the show."

How was it at mezzanine? I have C 2 n 4. I so looking forward to this. 

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 8:09am

 

A0326T said: "How was it at mezzanine? I have C 2 n 4. I so looking forward to this."

 

Pretty much perfect. I was B-9. You're golden.

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 8:22am

Still no word from Whizzer?   Did I miss it?  (I scanned for it, albeit quickly)

 

So unusual not to have heard from him on a show!

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 10:52am

magictodo123 said: "After the raves from first preview to now, and seeing the ticket prices sky-rocket, I have a feeling this is going to be the hot ticket on Broadway. Any one else?"

I honestly do think this show could get to a Hamilton-level of hype TBH. 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 10:54am

Although it has a devoted fanbase already, the critical reaction to the piece has been fairly muted, hasn't it? Even at NYTW. 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:02am

Kad said: "Although it has a devoted fanbase already, the critical reaction to the piece has been fairly muted, hasn't it? Even at NYTW."

True. I don't want to jump the gun too early, but I honestly can't remember the last musical that I've seen with a (semi) original concept this good. If it continues making the money it is, and sweeps the Tony's as people predict.. I could see it running a good 5 years. 

[j.garcia]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 2:48pm

Hopefully this link works, it’s a pic of the merch card. I’m gonna need a window card, so I guess I’ll have to plan a return trip. 

 

I was sitting far orchestra right, row P one in from the end. I could hear everything perfectly and see almost everything except for the left of the balcony where Hades was sitting during the opening song. On the plus, my far left seat gave me a great view of Patrick Page during Epic II, and his emoting was sublime. I’m a little surprised about the Hermes hate, I thought he did a great job. He was a little lower energy than the other leads, but it read to me more cool and collected. The changes I noticed lyrically added to the richness of the story and lyrics. 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I did find the scene where Orpheus turns around to be underwhelming. Maybe more dramatic lighting would have helped? I also really liked the toast at the end to Orpheus, it was a really interesting end to the evening and leaves you thinkIng quietly about the piece as you leave the theater. 

 

Updated On: 3/26/19 at 02:48 PM

[GVS2]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 3:26pm

I was most fortunate to have witnessed the continued transformation of Hadestown last night at the NYTW Workshop Night. To be fair, I went in already loving everything about this work of art. With that said, the performance last night was simply otherworldly. The changes made from each of the previous productions to what was presented last night likely only hint at the attention to detail that has been made on every level. Having seen Hadestown Off-Broadway, in Edmonton, in London, and now on Broadway, there is no doubt that this production is the most special. As with anything in life, I suggest that you form your own opinions about Hadestown. I have probably seen 75 different shows in my life. Hadestown is hands down my favorite show that I have ever seen. The reactions last night from those in the audience confirm that I am not alone. The standing ovation at the end of each act was genuine and heartfelt. One of the women I was chatting with during the intermission attends shows more regularly than me. In her words, "There are no words." The entirety of Hadestown must be experienced in person. May others be as moved as I was last night. Enjoy your journey to the underworld!

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 3:46pm

j.garcia said: "
 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I did find the scene where Orpheus turns around to be underwhelming. Maybe more dramatic lighting would have helped? I also really liked the toast at the end to Orpheus, it was a really interesting end to the evening and leaves you thinkIng quietly about the piece as you leave the theater.

"

I agree. That part should be tweaked a little to make it more dramatic. 

[Impossible2]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 4:35pm

j.garcia said: "



 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I did find the scene where Orpheus turns around to be underwhelming. Maybe more dramatic lighting would have helped? I also really liked the toast at the end to Orpheus, it was a really interesting end to the evening and leaves you thinkIng quietly about the piece as you leave the theater.

"

I don't understand why they changed this. The first time I saw it in London the way they did it was amazing. The entire audience gasped in shock and there was a huge reaction.

When I saw it the 2nd and 3rd time they had changed it and got no reaction what so ever.

I don't know why the hell they changed it!

[Rogerdellibovi]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 6:44pm

Has anyone stagedoored here? Who all came out?

[orlikethecolorpurple]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 8:22pm

Just curious, before I read it, does the spoiler have to do with the actual story of orpheus and eurydice? Or specific to the production?

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 8:45pm

orlikethecolorpurple said: "Just curious, before I read it, does the spoiler have to do with the actual story of orpheus and eurydice? Or specific to the production?"

It's a bit of both, but mostly to do with how the production handles the ending 

[treblemakerz]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 10:06pm

Rogerdellibovi said: "Has anyone stagedoored here? Who all came out?"

After the first preview on Friday, Patrick, Reeve, Eva, Kay (one of the fates), and Amber came out to stage door. Andre may have, as well, but I needed to leave and catch a train after meeting Amber so I don't know.

[spikethebunny]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 10:35pm

Rogerdellibovi said: "Has anyone stagedoored here? Who all came out?"

At the second preview, everyone but Amber came out. Andre was last and it took about an hour for him to come out, but he was very kind and signed and took pics with everyone. 

That was a busy stage door! At one spot the guard was saying it was 7 people deep. 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 10:50pm

On Saturday, the show ended around 10:30 and it was unbelievably packed. I could barely movr around the crowd. I went to my friend's apartment next to the Kerr and when I came out around 11:30, it was still JUST as crowded. A woman told me "2 people haven't came out yet" and everyone was waiting. Not sure which 2 

[treblemakerz]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 10:56pm

Have they changed the setup to accommodate the crowd, or do they still have the barriers forming a tiny square space around the door that people are mobbing? That's how it was on Friday and I can't fathom why they thought that was a good idea instead of using the barriers to form a sort of line like they do at many other shows. The NYPD officer who came by agreed. It was a hazard.

Updated On: 3/26/19 at 10:56 PM

[spikethebunny]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:00pm

treblemakerz said: "Have they changed the setup to accommodatethe crowd, or do they still have the barriers forming a tiny square space around the door that people are mobbing? That's how it was on Friday and I can't fathom why they thought that was a good idea instead of using the barriers to form a sort of line like they do at many other shows. The NYPD officer who came by agreed. It was a hazard."

They had it in a line for the Saturday like they do at most other shows, but it was still packed. The NYPD officer said something to the guard about how it was only the second night and this was going to be a crazy one in months to come. 

 

[spikethebunny]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:01pm

YvanEhtNioj said: "On Saturday, the show ended around 10:30 and it was unbelievably packed. I could barely movr around the crowd. I went to my friend's apartment next to the Kerr and when I came out around 11:30, itwas still JUST as crowded. A woman told me "2 people haven't came out yet" and everyone was waiting. Not sure which 2"

We were waiting for Amber and André. Andre came out close to midnight (the marquee light actually went out while he was signing) but Amber didn’t come out. 

 

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 3/26/19 at 11:02pm

Impossible2 said: "j.garcia said: "


 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I did find the scene where Orpheus turns around to be underwhelming. Maybe more dramatic lighting would have helped? I also really liked the toast at the end to Orpheus, it was a really interesting end to the evening and leaves you thinkIng quietly about the piece as you leave the theater.

"

I don't understand why they changed this. The first time I saw it in London the way they did it was amazing. The entire audience gasped in shock and there was a huge reaction.

When I saw it the 2nd and 3rd time they had changed it and got no reaction what so ever.

I don't know why the hell they changed it!"

How'd they originally have it staged, just out of curiosity?

[Impossible2]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 1:05am

leighmiserables said: "Impossible2 said: "j.garcia said: "

 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I did find the scene where Orpheus turns around to be underwhelming. Maybe more dramatic lighting would have helped? I also really liked the toast at the end to Orpheus, it was a really interesting end to the evening and leaves you thinkIng quietly about the piece as you leave the theater.

"

I don't understand why they changed this. The first time I saw it in London the way they did it was amazing. The entire audience gasped in shock and there was a huge reaction.

When I saw it the 2nd and 3rd time they had changed it and got no reaction what so ever.

I don't know why the hell they changed it!"

How'd they originally have it staged, just out of curiosity?"

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The first time I saw it (in early previews) the stage remained really dark and a floodlight came from behind the staircase lighting just him as he climbed out of Hades. It was very pronounced and you knew he was just about to make it out. When he turns around a floodlight came on above her and she dropped really quickly and her arms flew up in the air reaching for him. It was very sudden, dramatic and quite shocking.

The other 2 times I saw it, the stage was more well lit so you couldn't really tell what he was doing or even that there was a staircase that he was climbing up because it wasn't emphasised with the floodlighting. He turns and looks and she starts to descend quickly about 3 feet and then stopped and then descended really slowly and after a while did this really weird knee bending thing to make it look like she was dropping quicker. It just looked very odd and took you out of the drama of the moment.

At first I thought it might've been a malfunction with the platform as it just looked so odd, but then it happened again the third time I saw it, so it was obviously changed to that. Maybe the fast drop made her ill or something or they are trying to 'milk the drama' out of the moment by slowing it down.

When she dropped really quickly it kinda took your breath away, whereas slowly it is just kinda meh and didn't hit you as hard as the fast descent did.

 

[magictodo123]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 7:21am

Kad said: "I actually think this is a production better seen from the mezz."

Really? I'm looking into tickets the weekend of April 12th. So you think I'd be okay in any part of the mezzanine? 

[SJAfan]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 8:44am

Piggybacking on the seating question - I know front row balcony is probably OK but what do you think about row B? I need to pick up 3 tickets for a date in May and haven't had a chance to run to the box office yet (going tonight) - most of the row A seats are gone now. Is it worth it?

[Kad]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 9:56am

The mezz at the Kerr is excellent. I was in the third-to-last row house left, just off the aisle. 

My reason for preferring the mezz for this show is that you're able to take a more expansive view of the stage, particularly the concentric turntables and the lift. Chavkin creates beautiful stage images, and being up and slightly further back lets you take them all in. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 10:05am

I cant speak to the balcony but no question you want to be either mid-back of orchestra or mezzanine for this-- and if i was going again, mezzanine would be my choice. The only action not dead center stage really is people coming up/down the floor. First few rows of orchestra miss that drama (and i could see them craning to try and figure out what was going on...)

 

Show is good, not great. Some of the music is repetitive, and with such stock characters, I found my mind wandering during many of the slower numbers. But when it hits, it really hits, and Wait for Me and Way Down in Hadestown were fantastic- particularly the two versions of Wait for Me were staged so perfectly, it made the night. 

Reeve Carney is ridiculously talented and I think he is doing a good job with what he has been given, but it seems hes being directed to overplay the "touched" element, so its hard to understand why Eurydice falls for him. He also sings many songs in a very high pitched voice, some of which borders on comical (as physically impressive as it is), which doesnt make the character particularly likable. When he gets to really emote/sing he kills it, like Wait for Me or the song where he rallies the workers. But the way he is being directed to play the character leaves a hole in the story. And his applause at the end seemed more muted as a result. An odd decision by the production- he certainly seems able to do much more with the role.

I thought the standouts were really the Fates, actually. Eva Noblezada sings the hell out of this, but her character felt underwritten. Amber Gray is doing great work, and had the audience in palm of her hand, but I hope she tones down some of the antics at the top of Act 2. Hard to imagine anyone other than Patrick Page being able to sing that role? Opposite of Carney: at times, sung so low it was hard to understand. But he and Gray are guaranteed Tony noms at the least. 

Not sure what the complaints re Andre de Shields are. He seemed frail to me (like any minute he would collapse) but I think that might be part of the shtick. He was clear as a bell and kept things moving nicely. 

Had a good time. Think it could be cut down and tightened. Saw production taking furious notes in the back of a packed house.