HEAD OVER HEELS Previews- Page 5

[ilysespieces]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 4:41pm

skimblcshanks said: "antonijan said: "So how is Samantha's take on the role different from Alexandra's?"

The biggest differences I noticed were that she was more in awe of the world as she saw new things (as Philoclea is very sheltered), but also much sassier, especially in act one towards Pamela (her facial expressions before "Beautiful" really stood out to me).

I believe that Alexandra has some family stuff going on, I asked Sam after if she was okay and she said Alex was fine and just "needed some time". So there's that.

As far as the show in general - I saw it twice in SF at the end of the run, and the first two previews in New York. I'll be there again tonight. I love it. As a queer and nonbinary person, it feels like exactly the kind of show Broadway needs right now. Yes, the book needs a little work and there's smaller issues, but personally I can overlook those things for a story that needs telling. At the first preview, I was sat between two older gay couples who knew nothing about it going in, but who were floored by it. It opened up a conversation between us about being trans, which I think is one of the most important things this show does. So I'm grateful for that. Also the cast is top notch! Just amazing.

I agree it's a little long. "Cool Jerk" definitely needs to go, I've been saying this since I saw it in SF. That would help a lot I think. The changes to Turn To You in act 2 make that one really unnecessary as well in my opinion, but that would only help cut down the total runtime, not the length of act 1 which is the real problem I think. Overall, I'm happy with most of the changes, but they do need to do more work before opening. I'm trying to go as frequently as I can throughout previews just to track the changes being made.

I've been checking in on rush these last few days even though I already had tickets, and I noticed that for the first two previews, ticketswent super fast but today at 10:45 they're still available. The show did play to a sold out house last night. Has anyone actually bought rush tickets yet? I have reason to believe that they're front row, since it seems those seats weren't being sold online, but I'm not sure. Anyone have any insight?"

I was there last night thanks to the Today Tix rush, decided I wanted to go at like 9:58am and refreshed back and forth until it hit 10 and bought them asap. I got first row, seat 111. Definitely had to turn my head side to side a bunch but the view was perfect. I don't think I missed anything, save a tiny portion of Peppermint's face when the stage was slightly obscured by the sheet/curtain. I went home after work because I left my glasses at home (and you don't know where rush/lottery seats are going to be unless they specifically tell you) but when I got there I sent my husband a picture to show just how little I needed them. 

 

I really enjoyed myself, a lot more than I expected from how negative people have been (both here and in another Broadway forum). It was a bit long, but the costumes were amazing and the show was pretty funny. Especially Pamela, she was my favorite part of the whole show. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 4:51pm

Apparently the show is sold out tonight.

https://twitter.com/hohmusical/status/1011416840554401792?s=21

[Kad]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 6:59pm

Well, my rush ticket is row G of the balcony, so I guess they give whatever is available.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 9:07pm

thank you whizzer marvin for yet another insightful review thats able to get to the core.
i just did not care or feel for any of the characters in this show, and to me thats the kiss of death for any musical....
and i truly love the go-go’s and saddened their music is associated with such a misguided implementation. this show will be remembered for the first transgender person in a principal broadway role (who did a good job and is another step on the path to greater tolerance and diversity) and little else...
this show is a very rough start for the 2018-19 broadway musical season and i hope for better offerings ahead.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 11:01pm

Well, I’m kind of shocked by the negative reaction on here. This is so similar in tone to the much-loved Xanadu, with a faux classical veneer and a proudly queer twist. It genuinely seems like people went into this expecting something it wasn’t ever interested in delivering.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 11:02pm

I was there tonight. It was like Something Rotten meets Margaritaville meets Trip of Love set to The Go-Go's music. Definitely a fun time at the theatre. Will I go back again...probably not.

[A Director]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 12:15am

Here's Jeff Whitty talking about the 2015 Oregon Shakespeare Festival production.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9hp4DKoAgc

[AlexandraCoombs]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 5:37am

I saw it on Monday. TodayTix rush got me front row centre (with two empty seats beside me) although some friends were in the balcony so it does vary.
I went into it because I had a free evening and your options are slim on a Monday night but I came out liking it a lot more than expected. I hadn’t read anything prior but jukebox musicals are always tricky. I think being so close and going in blind made me get invested. It’s not a new knockout but I enjoyed it. And Sam as Philoclea was amazing. Loved Rachel York and Taylor Iman Jones too although Vaction was such a random number.— wanted her to have a solo but that wasn’t the way to do it.

[SueBee06]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 11:12am

I went last night. Is it a good, well crafted musical? No. Did I have a total blast? Yep. Spencer Liff's choreography is fantastic, the dancers are amazing, the band is fierce, and there is just a ton of talent on that stage. I didn't love Peppermint, but maybe it was an off night. To me, it was a night of just flat out fun, giving me a much needed respite from the world.  

Updated On: 6/27/18 at 11:12 AM

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 12:59pm

Charityhopevalentine2 said:

"Cool Jerk" needs to be cut."

I agree that song seems particularly out of place in this.

But as the show iiself is such absolute drudgery, and since the song at least offers some zip and spunk, perhaps a better idea would be to keep the song and cut out the remainder of the show. 

It would certainly make the evening shorter and far easier to sit through.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 1:02pm

Oh girl you knew you were going to hate this before you saw it. Why do you constantly attend things that go against your narrow aesthetic?

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 1:14pm

^

Actually, Mildred, I knew absolutely nothing about the show before I saw it, and had never even heard of the Go-Go's

But I'm always open to new discoveries, and ever hopeful that I am going to like what I see when I attend the theatre.

The cast tried very hard, but the material was just bad.

 

 

[blm2323]

Posted: 6/28/18 at 11:22pm

I liked it! I really liked it!!! It was fun, entertaining and there were some knockout performances by the leads despite the admittedly weak material, Peppermint, to me, was the weakest, but gave a serviceable performance. Bonnie - wow, just wow. HILARIOUS and some killer vocals. Sam was wonderful and Taylor nailed it. I especially liked her in Vacation.

Rachel York - I love you!

I’m so glad my hubby convinced me to go for his birthday. We got tickets at TKTS, front. row. For this show it was great, though the stage at the Hudson is very high (lots of leg room though!)

It won’t win a Tony for Best Musical, but who cares? It’s a great show for the casual theatre goer.

Updated On: 6/28/18 at 11:22 PM

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:26am

Between this, ''Band'' and ''Pretty Woman''... this season for musicals will be a difficult one.

[deathofacatler]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 9:38am

This one’s definitely a bit weird one! Like with most jukebox musicals, it was pretty obvious where songs where just shoved in. The story is definitely weak, but the lights and dancing were both enough to distract me from it! Since it’s still early in previews, the audience is probably a lot of friends and family. If you’ve gone recently, was there a lot of whooping and hollering? I wouldn’t have minded it too much except the people next to me were singing along and taking photos.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 3:53pm

MadsonMelo said: "Between this, ''Band'' and ''Pretty Woman''... this season for musicals will be a difficult one."

 

All 3 will be gone by the end of the year.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 5:23pm

MadsonMelo said: "Between this, ''Band'' and ''Pretty Woman''... this season for musicals will be a difficult one."

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 6/29/18 at 5:55pm

Just got two TDF tickets for the 11th. Waiting a few weeks for things to settle down. Where have the TDF tickets been?

[lucillefrank]

Posted: 6/30/18 at 1:58am

Just saw it tonight. I got TodayTix rush and it was front row center. That was one of the most fun evenings I’ve had in a theater. I really, really enjoyed this show. Definitely wanna go back already. Totally worth it just for curtain call (Peppermint told me the added choreo for curtain call was new. I believe it was just added today). 

Updated On: 6/30/18 at 01:58 AM

[HBBrock]

Posted: 6/30/18 at 2:07pm

My TDF seat was Dress Circle Row H Seat 111.

[Evans2]

Posted: 6/30/18 at 7:32pm

Went last night through TDF.

Orchestra, row C, dead center.  It was the perfect seat.

 

[10086sunset]

Posted: 6/30/18 at 7:47pm

While I enjoyed the show more than I ever thought I would, there are some clear problems. While the show is fun, I completely agree with those who have previously mentioned the lack of caring for any of the characters.  It also plays way too long. 

The dancing was excellent, especially Amber Ardolino. Her energy was off the charts.

It's a fun night out at the theater. It's far from perfect but you could also do worse.

[DreamboatAnnie]

Posted: 6/30/18 at 8:14pm

My single TDF seat was B 105. Perfect. Friends at same show got R 107 & 108 from TDF.  We loved it! 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 6:36am

I also saw this through TDF yesterday. Row Q seats 14 and 16. It was a great view. As for the show itself, I absolutely LOVED it. I thought it was so much fun - pure joy and bliss, and I loved the message and themes of acceptance and love coming in different forms. 

The cast is so great. Rachel York is a bona fide diva, and it is such a treat to see her on Broadway no matter what the show is. Andrew Durand was hilarious as Musidorus. Samantha Pollino was on for Philoclea, and she was great. Taylor Iman Jones and Bonnie Milligan were hysterical together, and they nailed their solos and duets. Peppermint was fabulous, but she didn't have that much to do.

It was so refreshing to see a show with classic hand-painted backdrops and real set pieces instead of tons of projections. The costumes were stunning and quite detailed. The lighting and sound were top notch. I also want to call out the fact that the Hudson is just one of the nicest and comfortable theatres to see a show in on Broadway. 

While this show is silly and campy beyond belief, I think it knows exactly what it wants to be. It wants to be a fun show with catchy tunes and deliver a message of acceptance. I, for one, thought it succeeded in all of these areas. I had a smile on my face from the opening number until well after the show. I will definitely be revisiting this one.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 1:05pm

bwayphreak234 said: "I also saw this through TDF yesterday. Row Q seats 14 and 16. It was a great view. As for the show itself, I absolutely LOVED it. I thought it was so much fun - pure joy and bliss, and I loved the message and themes of acceptance and love coming in different forms.

The cast is so great. Rachel York is a bona fide diva, and it is such a treat to see her on Broadway no matter what the show is. Andrew Durand was hilarious as Musidorus. Samantha Pollino was on for Philoclea, and she was great. Taylor Iman Jones and Bonnie Milligan were hysterical together, and they nailed their solos and duets. Peppermint was fabulous, but she didn't have that much to do.

It was so refreshing to see a show with classic hand-painted backdrops and real set pieces instead of tons of projections. The costumes were stunning and quite detailed. The lighting and sound were top notch. I also want to call out the fact that the Hudson is just one of the nicest and comfortable theatres to see a show in on Broadway.

While this show is silly and campy beyond belief, I think it knows exactly what it wants to be. It wants to be a fun show with catchy tunes and deliver a message of acceptance. I, for one, thought it succeeded in all of these areas. I had a smile on my face from the opening number untilwell after the show. I will definitely be revisiting this one."

Saw this last night (Goldstar tickets, $39 for the balcony) and am going to echo nearly everything bwayphreak said. I had such a great time, even though I went in anticipating a trainwreck I'd get to talk about years from now. I felt very much the same way during and after Head Over Heels that I did when I saw Xanadu (which I also went to, second preview, expecting it not to even make it to opening night); it's similar in style and humor, and I had just as much fun last night as I did in the Hayes a decade ago.

I thought Peppermint was a surprise; her acting and singing are merely good, not as strong as the cast she's surrounded by, but she more than makes up for it in presence and energy. I thought the choreography was great, and combined with the music, costumes, lights, and sets, it's really like nothing else currently on Broadway. It's anachronistic and campy and ridiculous, and that's why I loved it. That, and the fact that it's probably the queerest show I've ever seen on stage, in all the best ways.

Running time was about 2:15 (including the customary late start, the show was over at 10:21), so they're clearly doing some work on the material. Act One does feel a little long, but I don't know what I would cut, aside from "Vacation,"which feels pointless but can't really be cut since it was such a huge hit.

Also in agreement about the Hudson: the seats are roomy and comfortable, there's actually leg room, and the view from the balcony is perfect.

Updated On: 7/1/18 at 01:05 PM