HEAD OVER HEELS Previews- Page 6

[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

[benwilsonn.xo]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 2:14pm

How is Peppermint’s performance??

[Fetus]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 5:05pm

I also saw this last night and I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed it despite its flaws. It's good to see a fun queer-positive musical, and it was a great way to end pride month.

Singing praise for Bonnie Mulligan, Peppermint, Rachel York and Samantha Pollino (a wonderful understudy). The entire cast is incredibly energetic and its clear they are having a lot of fun with this show.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 6:31pm

Has Alexandra Socha been out all week?   If so, wasn't she only there for the first couple of previews?    

[Solipsist234]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 7:10pm

I really hope that Socha is okay. Didn't she leave Fun Home after it opened Off-Broadway? Hoping it doesn't happen here!

[Sally Burns]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 8:33pm

I saw this show while it was in San Francisco and I mostly liked it. There is a lot going for it - the entire cast is amazing from the leads to the ensemble, which is a huge plus. They're clearly putting their all into the show. It's also a light-hearted fun show which I greatly welcome these days. The bright colors and lighting are enjoyable (not to be totally shallow, but it's a bummer to see a show that's dark in both tone and actual color/lighting). I really love that it's a queer positive show, so I wanted to LOVE the show. I had a good time while I was there but it reminded me of when I saw Aladdin - it's pretty to watch while you're there but it's pretty forgettable once you leave the theater. There's nothing wrong with a fun fluffy show, but I don't know if nostalgia for the Go-Go's is enough to sell tickets long term.

But I agree that the show could use some tweaks and editing. They definitely need to make it a bit shorter which could easily be achieved by cutting some of the more extraneous songs. They were still making changes while in SF so it seems like they are open to editing, which is good (I feel like some directors aren't as flexible about making changes and that stubbornness can hurt the show).

I went on opening night in SF and I heard Jane Wiedlin talking to one of the producers at intermission. They were discussing some of the changes that had been made since previews began, so fingers crossed that they will keep tightening things up over the next few weeks before their opening night on Broadway.

[singer234]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 8:36pm

My major disappointment was the use of Heaven Is A Place On Earth. The scene was sort of funny, but it’s one of the best songs they could possibly use and it feels wasted not to have some sort of large reprise of it at the end or, at least at curtain call. It was the song I was most excited for and it was a bummer. But fun night otherwise!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 8:45pm

Solipsist234 said: "I really hope that Socha is okay. Didn't she leave Fun Home after it opened Off-Broadway? Hoping it doesn't happen here!"

If I remember correctly, she left with about a month left of the run .  The official word was that she left for personal reasons. 

I'd like to see her tomorrow night.  

[Sally Burns]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 8:48pm

dramamama611 said: "If I remember correctly, she left with about a month left ofthe run . The official word was that she left for personal reasons."

If I recall correctly, someone who spoke with someone else in the cast said that it was some sort of family related thing (which always sounds to me like a close relative is sick). Whatever it is, I hope she's okay.

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 8:51pm

That's what's been said for her current absence, not for her absence from FH.

[singer234]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 9:04pm

She is dealing with a truly heartbreaking family situation and I so hope she can return to the show when she is ready. She’s fantastic.

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 8:14am

singer234 said: "My major disappointment was the use of Heaven Is A Place On Earth."

Is Belinda Carlisle the only one whose solo recordings made it into this "music of the Go-Go's" show?

 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 10:49am

Two thoughts:

1. To whoever said that they never realized "how few bonafide hits the Go-Go's had," that was my sentiment exactly when I first heard about this show. It just struck me as a very odd and random choice for a jukebox musical. I mean, the group was important and popular in their day, but to fill a whole 2-hour production with their music? They aren't quite the juggernauts of the Four Seasons, ABBA, or Carole King.

2. This speaks to my probable miseducation about the trans dynamic. If Peppermint was a drag queen on RuPaul's show, doesn't that- by definition- refer to a cis gay man who performs in drag? All the press is saying Peppermint is "the first trans performer in a lead Broadway role," but I recall RuPaul himself making (controversial) comments about transgender vs. drag queen. Of course, I could be mistaken about how Peppermint personally identifies. Does anyone want to clear this up for me? I hope nobody has been offended by my question.

[skimblcshanks]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 10:54am

Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "Two thoughts:

1. To whoever said that they never realized "how few bonafide hits the Go-Go's had," that was my sentiment exactly when I first heard about this show. It just struck me as a very odd and random choice for a jukebox musical. I mean, the group was important and popular in their day, but to fill a whole 2-hour production with their music? They aren't quite the juggernauts of the Four Seasons, ABBA, or Carole King.

2. This speaks to my probable miseducation about the trans dynamic. If Peppermint was a drag queen on RuPaul's show, doesn't that- by definition- refer to a cis gay man who performs in drag? All the press is saying Peppermint is "the first trans performer in a lead Broadway role," but I recall RuPaul himself making (controversial) comments about transgender vs. drag queen. Of course, I could be mistaken about how Peppermint personally identifies. Does anyone want to clear this up for me? I hope nobody has beenoffended by my question."

Peppermint is a very openly trans woman, and has been for a long time. She was on RuPaul, and it is a misconception that only cis men can be drag queens. And your questions isn't offensive (I say this as a trans nonbinary person), I'm glad I was able to clear it up!

As far as the show as a whole, when you see it, it works a lot better than it sounds on paper. I think that's why it's going to be very much a word of mouth kind of show. 

[TheSassySam]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 10:54am

Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "Two thoughts:

1. To whoever said that they never realized "how few bonafide hits the Go-Go's had," that was my sentiment exactly when I first heard about this show. It just struck me as a very odd and random choice for a jukebox musical. I mean, the group was important and popular in their day, but to fill a whole 2-hour production with their music? They aren't quite the juggernauts of the Four Seasons, ABBA, or Carole King.

2. This speaks to my probable miseducation about the trans dynamic. If Peppermint was a drag queen on RuPaul's show, doesn't that- by definition- refer to a cis gay man who performs in drag? All the press is saying Peppermint is "the first trans performer in a lead Broadway role," but I recall RuPaul himself making (controversial) comments about transgender vs. drag queen. Of course, I could be mistaken about how Peppermint personally identifies. Does anyone want to clear this up for me? I hope nobody has beenoffended by my question."

 

Many trans women are drag queens. Peppermint was indeed cast on Drag Race as a transwoman. 

[ZellMorrowsPledge]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 11:07am

TheSassySam said:

Many trans women are drag queens. Peppermint was indeed cast on Drag Race as a transwoman."

 

Actually, when Peppermint was casts on drag race she identified as a cis gay male, same for filming. It wasn’t until after the end of the season that she announced her transition.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 11:14am

...Peppermint discussed her trans identity ON her season of Drag Race.

A full interview from April 2017 here

Updated On: 7/2/18 at 11:14 AM

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 12:08pm

Personally, I don't understand how a trans woman can be a drag queen, any more than a cisgender woman can. Historically, the term "drag queen" has referred to males who, for part of their lives, present as (often very exaggerated) females. Because trans women identify as female 24/7, it's redundant ( 'I'm a woman who presents as a woman' ), however cartoon-ish that presentation may be.

It is perhaps more accurate to refer to such a trans woman as a "faux queen".

Updated On: 7/2/18 at 12:08 PM

[skimblcshanks]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 12:12pm

If you read the interview Kad linked, Peppermint explains how her trans identity intertwines with being a drag queen. But typically, it's not great to question someone's presentation and the terminology they use. They know their own identity better than you do.

[antonijan]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 12:12pm

Maybe Alexandra wants focus more on her non profit philantrophy and alzheimer awareness

But I wonder who is a stronger soprano...

Alexa or Sam

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 12:27pm

skimblcshanks said: "If you read the interview Kad linked, Peppermint explains how her trans identity intertwines with being a drag queen. But typically, it's not great to question someone's presentation and the terminology they use. They know their own identity better than you do."

I don't care what she calls herself and I would be happy to use whatever terminology makes her comfortable. I do, however, question the appropriateness of her being allowed to compete in a contest that requires actual men to dress as women because, being a woman, she had an unfair advantage. Hormones taken by transgender women result in breasts and other curves that the male competitors have to fake.

Updated On: 7/2/18 at 12:27 PM

[antonijan]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 12:35pm

I like Tranimals

[perfectliar]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 12:54pm

Lot666 said: "skimblcshanks said: "If you read the interview Kad linked, Peppermint explains how her trans identity intertwines with being a drag queen. But typically, it's not great to question someone's presentation and the terminology they use. They know their own identity better than you do."

I don't care what she calls herself and I would be happy to use whatever terminology makes her comfortable.I do, however, question the appropriateness of her being allowed to compete in a contest that requires actual men to dress as women because, being a woman, she hadan unfair advantage. Hormones taken by transgender women result in breasts and other curves that the male competitors have to fake."

It's not specifically a contest for "actual" men to dress as women. It is a contest for drag queens. Peppermint is a drag queen, regardless of her gender identity.

Also, how are hormones any different from plastic surgery? There have been plenty of Drag Race contestants in the past (probably most notably Venus DeLite and Detox) who have had facial reconstruction, silicone implants, injections, etc to look more feminine. But the bottom line of a show like Drag Race is that it's not a competition for who looks the most like a biological woman; for crying out loud, Peppermint was the runner up to a queen who literally took her wig off and exposed her bald, male head in the finale.

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 2:31pm

perfectliar said: "It's not specifically a contest for "actual" men to dress as women. It is a contest for drag queens. Peppermint is a drag queen, regardless of her gender identity."

That's your opinion. As stated in my original post, I disagree. 

perfectliar said: "Also, how are hormones any different from plastic surgery?

I never said they were.

perfectliar said: "There have been plenty of Drag Race contestants in the past (probably most notably Venus DeLite and Detox) who have had facial reconstruction, silicone implants, injections, etc to look more feminine."

And I thought they were cheating as well.

perfectliar said: "But the bottom line of a show like Drag Race is that it's not a competition for who looks the most like a biological woman; for crying out loud, Peppermint was the runner up to a queen who literally took her wig off and exposed her bald, male head in the finale."

I never said that the competition was based solely on "looking the most like a biological woman", but presenting as a woman is a big part of it, albeit with a healthy dose of humor. The bottom line is that the actual males are hiding their male genitalia, padding their hips, and wearing breast plates or stuffing bras because they're trying to look like women. When the final runway category is any type of "realness", RuPaul and the other judges are looking for that.

Updated On: 7/2/18 at 02:31 PM

[ilysespieces]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 2:32pm

perfectliar said: "Lot666 said: "skimblcshanks said: "If you read the interview Kad linked, Peppermint explains how her trans identity intertwines with being a drag queen. But typically, it's not great to question someone's presentation and the terminology they use. They know their own identity better than you do."

I don't care what she calls herself and I would be happy to use whatever terminology makes her comfortable.I do, however, question the appropriateness of her being allowed to compete in a contest that requires actual men to dress as women because, being a woman, she hadan unfair advantage. Hormones taken by transgender women result in breasts and other curves that the male competitors have to fake."

It's not specifically a contest for "actual" men to dress as women. It is a contest for drag queens. Peppermint is a drag queen, regardless of her gender identity.

Also, how are hormones any different from plastic surgery? There have been plenty of Drag Race contestants in the past (probably most notably Venus DeLite and Detox) who have had facial reconstruction, silicone implants, injections, etc to look more feminine. But the bottom line of a show like Drag Race is that it's not a competition for who looks the most like a biological woman; for crying out loud, Peppermint was the runner up to a queen who literally took her wig off and exposed her bald, male head in the finale."

Exactly. Drag Queens aren't always cis-men dressing as women. There have been plenty of non-binary drag queens, including Jinkx who won her season. Ru Paul definitely has some outdated views, Gia Gunn is also trans and was courted for All Stars 3 until she came out and the calls stopped, but that doesn't mean transwomen can't be drag queens.