Hippity Hoppity, Wolverine's On His Way- Page 2

[jemjeb2]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 1:19pm

I had no idea it came from that Bobby Van movie, so I was just confused. I thought maybe Australian star? kangaroo? hop hop hop? It was exhausting to watch and didn't really represent Broadway till he joined/ interfered with the "Midnight" cast. I give it a "No."

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 1:46pm

I thought it was charming.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 1:53pm

The opening worked for me, because I'm familiar with the Bobby Van movie. For this show, maybe they could have opened with the Van clip, with captioned info about it, then have the clip morph into Hugh hopping through RCMH. If the reference was too obscure for BWWers, it must have been totally lost on the casual viewers.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 1:56pm

I wasn't aware of the film reference at all, but kept saying to myself that I hope he doesn't fall.

Updated On: 6/9/14 at 01:56 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 2:15pm

Portions of that opening were pre-recorded weren't they?

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 2:24pm

It worked for me. Somewhere along the way it's not a bad idea to rethink some traditions if it starts to feel impossible to try & top what went before? Last yrs opening was so terrific, breaking the expectation is kinda smart (even if it is silly.)

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 5:23pm

How about a homage to musicals that while never making it to Broadway had moments to remember?

You could also do a number highlighting various musicals thru the years.

Updated On: 6/9/14 at 05:23 PM

[Tink2]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 5:43pm

I knew what Hugh was recreating the moment he started hopping. I did post about it in the Tony thread, with a link, right after his performance, but the thread was moving very fast. The number is called Take Me to Broadway, so that may be why it was chosen. ?

As I posted in the other thread, not nearly as good as NPH's opening last year, but it certainly shows that Hugh is in great shape and has a lot of endurance.

madbrian, they actually did show part of the Bobby Van clip during the number. It was showing on a TV monitor that Hugh hopped by in the hallway. He stopped and hopped beside for a moment.

I wonder if Playbill is hiring? : )

[jo]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 6:20pm

I didn't think it was meant to be like past years's opening extravaganzas. Viewing the entire show, it seemed that the running theme of the host ( in between production numbers from shows) was to show a vein of theatre life, seen backstage or from the wings. The bounce was used as an entrance ( it would have been dull to see Hugh simply walk in) and at the end was used to express how winners might be feeling inside. Maybe it was too subtle a gimmick ( which could have been probably explained in a publicity blast by the TONYs people), but mass audiences are rarely aware of what happens beyond the stage and it was a new way to see life in show business.

Btw, the arts column from Wall Street Journal guessed the reasons before the actual TONYs show of why Hugh was showing some clips of him bouncing all over the city and resurrected clips of the Bobby Van numbers ( the hopping scene and the actual Take Me To Broadway scene). They published the blog on June 6 to refer to SMALL TOWN GIRL.

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/06/06/follow-the-bouncing-hugh-jackman-for-tony-awards-clues/

Updated On: 6/9/14 at 06:20 PM

[Tink2]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 7:22pm

I never saw any articles about what Hugh would be doing, but it was a clever idea. It certainly got people talking.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 8:39pm

Harris benefited greatly last year from one of the best written openings ever. I just wish Hugh J. had had the same writers. They tried for something different, which I can understand. The SMALL TOWN GIRL bounce was the idea of Tony-winner Warren Carlyle, to whom Hugh is a loyal friend. The concept probably seemed more promising on paper than the actuality. But I give them points for originality.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 9:30pm

I suspect it was designed to have the potential to go viral and inspire remakes and parodies. It has "put your version on YouTube" written all over it.

But you can't always say what will and won't go viral. The public decides.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 9:42pm

"I suspect it was designed to have the potential to go viral and inspire remakes and parodies. It has "put your version on YouTube" written all over it."

Here's an idea: how about not trying to influence culture and just put on an entertaining show?

Every time I see the Rockettes, I am always impressed. The precision of their dancing always amazes me because it's something I would never be able to do. It takes real talent to do that. That's what I want to see, real talent, not some fool hopping around which is something anyone can do. Bring back the magic!

[SweetLips]

Posted: 6/10/14 at 3:57am

The opening was absolutely joyous. I smiled from beginning to end. It was totally absurd but totally infecteous[?] and I was so delighted there was no thought of trying to out do the extravagances of previous times. It was simple and he went past all the nominees with a nod and a greeting-a Hop Skip and a Jump and the real show began. Marvellously silly. [Would LOVE to have been there at that first meeting when someone said 'Now Hugh,we have this great idea for the opening number. We want you to hop all over Radio City Music Hall for the first 10mins]. Love it.

Just read mameleh version of who created the Hop--congrats to him.

Updated On: 6/10/14 at 03:57 AM

[ajh]

Posted: 6/10/14 at 2:23pm

GRRRRRRRR! Only just got round to watching this today, and found it almost irrationally infuriating.

[jo]

Posted: 6/10/14 at 8:05pm

You gotta hand it to Jackman -- he gives most everything a go!

A day or so after the TONYs, he is ready for his new film role ( as Blackbeard in an origin story of Peter Pan).

>>
Hugh Jackman @RealHughJackman · 8h

Blackbeard is born. #PAN http://instagram.com/p/pEZDZCihAI/ <<<<

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/10/14 at 10:41pm

Oh, that explains the beard!

[Alessio2]

Posted: 6/11/14 at 4:05pm

This was the worst Tonys opening I have ever seen. I don't want to see Hugh Jackman hopping around like an idiot, I want a big proper song and dance introducing the night and the nominees. I found Hugh Jackman to be incredibly annoying throughout the entire evening, and normally I really enjoy him and find him likable.

[Pasdechat]

Posted: 6/11/14 at 4:09pm

The opening didn't do him justice. Way impressed by the hop onto the stage though!

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 6/11/14 at 4:13pm

'The concept probably seemed more promising on paper than the actuality.'

That's because it was just a concept. It didn't actually tell any kind of story, the way the movie's sequence did. It did seem absurd and silly, but Van's joyous dance seems anything but. It told a story through movement and music, which is what the best of musical theater does. This...didn't. And so, for me, it didn't work.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 6/11/14 at 6:03pm

While I ultimately found the opening underwhelming, at least they tried something original. It just needed more a little more excitement (or explanation).

Updated On: 6/11/14 at 06:03 PM

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 6/11/14 at 6:42pm

It was an obscure reference and having to make that connection was expecting a bit much. I was just plain bored and confused. And a number if Broadway celebs (including Laura Benanti and. Leslie Margharita) were on twitter with a " what was THAT"?