HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports- Page 2

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 6/8/18 at 3:05pm

I'm so surprised at all the negativity.   When does this open to the critics? 

[TNick926]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 11:59am

I saw this show last Thursday and I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun it is!  Really big laughs, terrific performances by everyone (although McKechnie was out this night, too).  The physical production is fabulous, and there is surprising depth to the stories revealed by these characters.  The music is barely serviceable except for the one song that Marvin Hamlisch wrote before his tragic death.  Lively Jerry Mitchell choreography knocks it outta the park!  Definitely worth a trip to Millburn, NJ (and so easy on the train from Penn Station).  Papermill is nestled beside a rolling stream, a coy fish pond, the Carriage House restaurant (which is superb!) right on site.  This is the last show before they renovate the auditorium (new chairs at last!)...Come and enjoy the show! :)

[newintown]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:07pm

"Papermill is nestled beside a rolling stream, a coy fish pond..."

Unless the fish (or the pond) are faux-shy in a flirtatious way, you probably mean koi.

[Elegance101]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:57pm

TNick926’s review basically turned into an ad for Paper Mill, so I’m not sure how much I can trust that review.

[EthelMae]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:46pm

I adore Ms. McKechnie. Anyone know what’s up with her being out so much recently?

[TNick926]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 6:01pm

newintown said: ""Papermill is nestled beside a rolling stream, a coy fish pond..."

Unless the fish (or the pond) are faux-shy in a flirtatious way, you probably meankoi."

I'm going to pretend I met faux-shy in a flirtatious way...    

But yes, I meant koi!  And now, isn't it lovely to think of coy koi happily flipping and swimming in their lovely little pond at the papermill, adding a wonderful touch of life before and after the show, and intermission... :)

 

[TNick926]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 6:09pm

Elegance101 said: "TNick926’s review basically turned into an ad for Paper Mill, so I’m not sure how much I can trust that review."

HA!  As I was writing it and  I began to describe Papermill Playhouse beyond my thoughts on HALF TIME, I myself thought, "This is beginning to sound like I'm aa shill for Papermill"....  But I DO love the place, and I'm a season subscriber.  But as a former actor myself (now in fundraising for medical research) I still see many Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, and stand by my "review" of HALF TIME, such as it is.  I don't mean to say the show is GREAT by any means, but it is truly good fun, no more, no less...

A few last notes on the cast:  Georgia is Georgia, but her particular trademarked schtick is used skillfully and charmingly in this part; Andre de Shields is really the stand out!  His voice brought back memories of seeing him in The Wiz when I was a junior in high school in 1976!  Lillias White is brassy and hilarious, and has a nice character arc as do most of the other main characters...I really missed seeing Donna, since the last time I saw her was that same high school drama class trip to NYC in 1976, when we also saw A CHORUS LINE the weekend before it won all those Tony Awards!  

 

[Cfried]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 6:29pm

Curious to see reviews after tonight...specifically the NYT. That will probably be the determining factor as to if this production will transfer. 

[TNick926]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 7:31pm

Cfried said: "Curious to see reviews after tonight...specifically the NYT.That will probably be the determining factor as to if this production will transfer."

I agree. Fun as the show is, I don't think it has great Broadway prospects.  Mostly because the music really falls short.  This kind of show would have benefited from the score Marvin Hamlisch may have had in mind as indicated by the one song of his in the show, sung by Andre De Shields.  I loved his score for They're Playing Our Song, and it would have been great for this show to have that kind of flavor, leading into the big hip-hop finale, which is pretty good.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 7:55pm

Hoping Donna made it for opening night.

[BroadwayAndSports]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 10:38pm

Just got out of opening night, I actually really enjoyed it!! Very cute show. Not a groundbreaking score but neither was Kinky Boots or Matilda and those were hits. The score is catchy, the script has some hilarious lines, and the cast is adorable.

I totally enjoyed it!

[Cfried]

Posted: 6/13/18 at 12:38pm

First review is out... it’s positive and basically says the show is a big crowd pleaser, but notes the mediocre score.

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2018/06/half_time_at_paper_mill_playhouse.html

[supersam1026]

Posted: 6/14/18 at 12:37am

Does anyone have the run time on this?

[markypoo]

Posted: 6/14/18 at 9:42am

Hoping that the NYT chimes in at some point.

[Cfried]

Posted: 6/14/18 at 12:53pm

Brantley is mixed with a slightly negative edge.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/06/14/theater/half-time-review-georgia-engel.amp.html

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 6/14/18 at 1:23pm

I would hope that no producer is foolish enough with their money and with other people's money to bring this in but, then again, Pretty Woman and Getting the Band Back Together already have their marquees up so throw your money into the fire pit!

Updated On: 6/14/18 at 01:23 PM

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 6/14/18 at 6:42pm

Sounds like it would need a lot of work and maybe yet another out-of-town engagement...but at least he likes Georgia Engel?

I think this has the same Broadway producer as "The Prom," so maybe its future depends on the success of that show.

Also, there's been silence about "The Honeymooners" since the end of its Papermill run. Is that show officially dead?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/14/18 at 11:08pm

At one point Carol Lawrence was attached to this. Then she read the script.