HEAD OVER HEELS Previews- Page 8

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 11:48am

Saw this last night. I grew up with my older sister playing Go-go records as I played with my Star Wars and He-man toys and then in college, my guy friends and I would dance around to Our Lips Are Sealed as one by one, we realized we were all gay.

So the show last night. It is campy with a capital C and it gleefully winks at the audience all night with a “we know that you know that we know that this is all just big fun!” Which is not a bad thing.
Yes, lots of the dialogue went on for too long. Characters would speak in a faux-Elizabethan speech pattern and then be ridiculed into “speaking English” but then they would continue with the fauz Shakespeare speech pattern. That got weird.
I enjoyed the hidden identities and the play on gender which is right out of Shakespeare’s comedies. I kept thinking gee, if somebody is confused about the gender and identity politics in Shakespeare, this show could serve as a severely dumbed down explanation lol.
The choreography was fun, but there were some scenes where it was awkwardly staged. There was a water scene where I could see what the creatives were going for but it still appeared amateurish.
Overall I enjoyed the show for the Go gos music. The plot and staging were no better than ok.
The ushers at the Hudson were terrible. As the lights went down, I saw ushers walk right past people taking pictures, texting, and recording videos. I complained at intermission and an usher just shrugged his shoulders in a wordless response.

[Between 7th and 8th]

Posted: 7/6/18 at 12:21pm

I was there last night and had a great time!

It's not a perfect show, but the music, choreography and the cast make up for it. I also thought most of the costumes were lovely (save for those snake costumes!) and the sets were fine. It was nice to see old-fashioned painted work onstage again. I'd rate this one with a B+.

The book is hit or miss, but it had good aim. Many of the jokes landed and the crowd seemed to eat it up last night! There is a scene in which Pamela (played by Milligan) recites her poems... and it's brilliant. 

Also, this has been my third time at the Hudson and I'm always impressed by the legroom. Goregeous theatre! Phantom4ever, I'm sad to hear that report. I was in the back of the orchestra through TDF and they were certainly active back there in regards to phone use. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/7/18 at 11:35am

Head Over Heels is surprisingly very good. But it's just obscenely long. Like, this is a show that should have been 100 minutes without an intermission and would've been an explosive, fun time. Right now, at two and a half hours, it's just way, way too long.

With my main complaint out of the way, I'll say that I really enjoyed what's at the Hudson right now. The highlight of the show is easily the production design, which is weirdly stunningly beautiful. Top-notch lighting, gorgeous scenic design, incredible costumes, and kickass choreography cohere perfectly. The design team clearly worked excellently together. They really, really nailed it.

The cast is excellent as well, with Bonnie Milligan running away with the best lines of the night. Pamela's poetry scene was the best of the night. Andrew Durand as Musidorus and Alexandra Socha as Philoclea were also fabulous. The ensemble is sensational.

I think my problem with the material itself is that I was just expecting it to be more bitingly funny. It's fun as it is, but sort of pedestrian in its comedy. I wish they could get a writer with laser-sharp wit to come in and just tighten the whole thing. They're working with a great foundation; I just think they need to screw it in more. Act II becomes an utter snoozer after "Heaven Is a Place on Earth," and that's only halfway through the act. 

I hope they make the best out of their next few weeks of previews. I'd love to go back and see a show that focuses its scope a bit more. 

[HunterK]

Posted: 7/7/18 at 4:21pm

Sharon Brown was on for Rachel York last night and this afternoon. I do hope Ms. York gets better quickly, I thought she commanded that stage whenever she was on it. But I would LOVE to hear Sharon Brown sing that role and if she does have the chance to go on for Peppermint. I remember people talking about her as Effie in the Dreamgirls revival, then I saw her in Rent on Tour and just remember she has some pipes!! 

Glad to see she is back on stage!

 

If anyone saw her, please let us know!

[oldfriends]

Posted: 7/7/18 at 4:26pm

Saw Sharon. She was an utter superstar. Felt like she had been playing the role since beginning of previews - according to some fans outside, she had a 45 minute put in right before half hour (leading them to open the doors late last night) and barely any notice that she was going on. Didn't notice that at all - what a talent.

[KitKatBoy24]

Posted: 7/7/18 at 7:46pm

Just arrived for tonight’s show and Rachel York is out. What’s with this cast and so many people missing during previews? I hope she’s okay!

[PatrickDC]

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

KitKatBoy24 said: "Just arrived for tonight’s show and Rachel York is out. What’s with this cast and so many people missing during previews? I hope she’s okay!"

Well, Alexandra was out for a while because her mother was dying. I follow Rachel on Twitter and she is very active, yet she has not posted anything about her absence. Seems odd she would not post. 

Are actors prohibited from posting their unexpected absences on social media? I thought I recall hearing about that in the past, since the only Equity-approved way to announce absences are the cast list in the lobby, program insert and/or announcement pre-curtain. 

[KitKatBoy24]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 11:25am

I knew about Alexandra. I was happy to see her back on stage last night and I hope her family is doing well.

I found out that Rachel is apparently sick. Hopefully she’ll feel better soon. I must say that her standby was great and had an amazing voice.

The show overall needs an act two makeover. The first act is really enjoyable and very funny. The second act is kind of a mess after Heaven is a Place on Earth.

Side note: Michelle Visage was there to see Peppermint!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/8/18 at 11:26am

I'm making a return visit to this tonight. I am hoping Rachel York is back on as she was my favorite part of the show the first time I saw it!

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 6:02pm

I saw this on Sunday (Rachel was in, Alexandra was out).

I have to say that I had such a fun time at this show. I had a silly grin on my face from start to finish. Great cast, great all-female band, great design, great choreography... I haven't had this much stupid fun since Xanadu. I'm rooting for this one and I'll definitely be making a return visit.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 6:04pm

At Happy Hour now and going tonight! Super excited!

[Sauja]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 10:44pm

Not to be a total downer, but I hated it. It’s trying so hard to be camp that it can’t even be bad enough to turn into good camp. Many a talented performer is totally at sea on that stage. The sets and costumes look cheap. It pulls every gag in the book, but nothing lands. The songs don’t really lend themselves to the material—they’re all sandwiched in so awkwardly. And they’re just not as fun in these interpretations (through no fault of the cast).

I wish I could have foundo the joy in it, but for me the jokes were all too easy, the plot too obvious, and the whole thing too toothless. I liked the cast. I’d just rather see them all in other things.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 11:23pm

I have mixed emotions. I went to happy before, and was in good spirits - they have frose - and enjoyed it for the most part. But it didn't have any oomph. I wanted an exhilarating moment, and that never came. I'd be curious to see the original show at Oregon Shakes. I mean, with a cast of Bonnie M. Rachel York, and Rachel Iman, and yet none of them screlt it to the roof?! Like, c'mon. It was campy, but not campy enough. The ending was too heavy handed. It should have ended with a very camp rendition of "We Got the Beat" instead of using that as the curtain call. Peppermint should have had a moment to slay. Girl can do a death drop, let's see that. Let her work. The actors were all fine and great and talented, can't deny that at all, and the story wasn't bad, but I think a bit misguided. That said, I enjoyed myself, but can't see this lastly too long. 

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 11:53pm

One of the common critiques/suggestions is that this should be a tighter intermission-less production. 

Previews are all about tweaking and fine-tuning, but how much can be done during this period? Move a song here, add a book scene there, drop a song, all relatively easy changes.

Changing a production from two acts to one with no intermission seems to me like a very significant change with substantial cuts and edits. Would that even be possible? Has anyone ever seen it happen where a show in previews was changed this much? 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/9/18 at 11:57pm

I was actually surprised at how little music there was. I wanted it to be, like in most musicals, every scene. There just wasn't enough and what there was wasn't all that interesting, and it didn't build to a finale like it should have. 

[CaseyBrent41]

Posted: 7/10/18 at 9:56am

This was the most fun I've had at a Broadway show in so long. I loved it! It was funny, silly, heartfelt, and frothy! I feel like its the kind of let go and have fun kind of night we could ALL use right now!

The first scene with the Oracle (what was their name?) was so perfectly executed that when Peppermint came on in the last scene it felt a little too heavy handed, too political, when it could have maybe been handled in the same fun elegance of the first scene. Andrew Durand was amazing and his "Mad About You" is maybe one of my favorite things of all time. 

I agree I wish there was MORE music and more tightening....Would ninety minutes have been more blast off fun? absolutely. Was I Mad About coming back after intermission NOPE! I just wish the producers had given more time and thought to how to market this show. Its sort of how I felt about Something Rotten....A little more emphasis on the kind of fun night you're going to have and less about the show....Just come in and have fun. 

I wish this could find an audience but I'm not sure it will and that's a damn shame! 

 

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 11:09pm

Just got back from tonight's show and had a freaking blast. It's pure camp. Yes it tries too hard at times, but I don't even care. I was smiling the entire time. The choreography is bangin' (I think Spencer Liff has actually outdone himself here), the costumes are super cool (especially the ensemble costumes), the cast is riotously funny, and the songs actually feel like they fit into the story while matching the humorous tone. I'd say it's one of the better jukebox musicals of the last few seasons honestly. Just go in with an open mind and don't look for it to be a serious night of theatre.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 12:55am

Count me as another one who loved this rainbow-cookie-of-a-musical. It felt a bit heavy handed at times (we get it, all should be accepted and loved), but it was funny, melodic, and creative. I agree with others who’ve commented about the choreography - definitely the highlight. Most of the ensemble was great, but I wasn’t impressed by the “plain” sister. Sorry to say, but her voice just wasn’t enough. Overall, it was a good time, and I’d recommend the show.

[curel1]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 10:43pm

The Go-Gos performed tonight!!

As for the show, I loved it! Not perfect, but what a fun night out.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 7/13/18 at 12:26am

I had two drinks before, a drink at intermission, and surprise! The Go-Gos performed! Didn’t expect that, but it was a great surprise.

The show? Not much new to add, but I really have echo the posters who commented about the length. Very early on, if you didn’t already know, you learn this isn’t a serious show. It’s silly and not meant to be take to seriously. It’s not high art. There’s no reason this isn’t a one act 100 minute show. At about that point, I saw people starting to try to look at their watches or discretely see the time on their phone in their bag.

The cast was quite good and the choreography is exceptional, but it just seems like the show can’t decide what it wants to be—does it want to be taken seriously? If that’s the case, they may need to ease up on some of the overall campiness. Or do they want to be THE campy show to end all campy shows? Because if it’s that, it’s not nearly enough! 

I honestly didn’t hate it, but I didn’t really like it either. To me, it felt like it needed more work. It still sort felt like it was some absolutely absurd idea a guy you knew in college created instead of going to class the second semester of junior year.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 7/13/18 at 3:04am

oh man this show hasnt even opened yet and already the producers are dragging The Go Go's out at curtain call for a surprise performance/press grab, this show is so beyond doomed folks. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/13/18 at 5:41am

RippedMan said: "I have mixed emotions. I went to happy before, and was in good spirits - they have frose - and enjoyed it for the most part. But it didn't have any oomph. I wanted an exhilarating moment, and that never came. I'd be curious to see the original show at Oregon Shakes. I mean, with a cast of Bonnie M. Rachel York, and Rachel Iman, and yet none of them screlt it to the roof?! Like, c'mon. It was campy, but not campy enough. The ending was too heavy handed. It should have ended with a very camp rendition of "We Got the Beat" instead of using that as the curtain call. Peppermint should have had a moment to slay. Girl can do a death drop, let's see that. Let her work. The actors were all fine and great and talented, can't deny that at all, and the story wasn't bad, but I think a bit misguided. That said, I enjoyed myself, but can't see this lastly too long."

Yes, yes, yes!  I think you put your finger on a number of things i had issue with. I didnt uate it, either, but certainly didnt love it.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 7/16/18 at 10:48am

FYI, quite a few $49 balcony seats are available for opening night, Thursday 7/26, at 6:30 p.m.

[brightbroadway]

Posted: 7/17/18 at 12:14pm

The grosses from the past two weeks are making me sick. The theater capacity is almost 90%. I think the are selling ridiculously lower priced tickets to fill the theater. How much longer does it have? I'm predicting an Ameile or Tuck Everlasting situation. 

[CaseyBrent41]

Posted: 7/17/18 at 12:31pm

 

RippedMan said: "I have mixed emotions. I went to happy before, and was in good spirits - they have frose - and enjoyed it for the most part. But it didn't have any oomph. I wanted an exhilarating moment, and that never came. I'd be curious to see the original show at Oregon Shakes. I mean, with a cast of Bonnie M. Rachel York, and Rachel Iman, and yet none of them screlt it to the roof?! Like, c'mon. It was campy, but not campy enough. The ending was too heavy handed. It should have ended with a very camp rendition of "We Got the Beat" instead of using that as the curtain call. Peppermint should have had a moment to slay. Girl can do a death drop, let's see that. Let her work. The actors were all fine and great and talented, can't deny that at all, and the story wasn't bad, but I think a bit misguided. That said, I enjoyed myself, but can't see this lastly too long."

 

I feel like this is EXACTLY the SAME issue as their advertising campaign. Its not nearly campy or frothy enough to really sell this show as an 80s musical mixed with a medieval tale for a 2018 audience. 

 

I keep PUSHING this show to anyone asking for recommendations because I think its the most FUN on Broadway and sadly most affordable.