Comparing HMIV to GGLAM is not a valid comparison. Honeymoon came from a relatively high profile out of town production in Paper Mill. It has a "star" (Tony Danza) and a well known Broadway composer (who won 2 Tonys this past season.) It has a lot of hype around it in the theater community. Theoretically, it has tourist appeal. GGLAM had none of those things.
Not to mention that Vegas is a larger show than Gentleman's Guide, correct? So that would drive up the cost of this show as well.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
Gentleman's Guide also benefited from having the best overall reviews of all the new musicals that opened last season. I don't think Honeymoon in Vegas will have that same advantage.
Attended the show last night for the last 2014 performance.
I felt overall the show was enjoyable and funny, but not perfect.
I disagree that the projections made the show feel cheap; there were plenty of physical set pieces and the projections blended well. It was fun to see how many different things emerged from the elevator. I enjoyed the lighting and costume design as well.
The staging was well-done and the choreography was energetic, if not particularly original.
JRB's music was frequently toe-tapping and I walked out humming the finale song, but I did feel that there was one too many ballads that interrupted the energy of the show. The orchestra was excellent and it was nice to see them featured for the overture and entr'acte on stage.
For a musical comedy, the book should have been funnier. The actual lines most often fell flat with the audience, while the physical bits created by the actors and the "set suprises" landed much better.
Danza was good - certainly charming - if anything was holding him back it was his singing voice.
Rob McClure was excellent and Nancy Opel was hilarious. I also enjoyed Brynn O'Malley; I think creative is to blame for the lack of character development in Betsy. David Josefsburg was also very good. Leslie Donna Flesner's showgirl is hysterical and I watched her consistently during the show. Ensemble members Raymond J Lee, George Merrick, and Catherine Ricafort had fun moments throughout and it was nice to see them featured as well.
Definitely not a deep show, but if you want an entertaining performance you'll get it!
"If Honeymoon gets similar reviews to Papermill then it will certainly be the best reviewed new musical to open so far this season..."
I have a feeling it won't. Critics will say it lost something between Paper Mill and Broadway, which many have said. And also, they haven't made any efforts to improve the show via cutting or writing new material.
"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Another bad move on changing the logo as it does nothing to improve the image for this show as the original was far superior and stands out! Thoughts on why the change from the marketing team 2 weeks prior to opening after previewing 2 endless months.
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George
That's true, a lot of us liked the Hawaii part of the show. Saw it again last night. This show is good, good, good If critics like it it will be a monster come May and June
Very generic rom-com musical. I was barely awake throughout.
That said, I attended with friends who never attend theater....and they enjoyed it. I suppose that speaks well for future out of town sales...maybe? Though, they did find it mildly racist.
This show just seems unable to excite. It's rather surprising given the fun easily sellable subject matter and good reviews. I'm surprised it's not doing better. Could the producers be to blame? Not for it not being a hit…no one can make that happen… but shouldn't this be in the 400's and 500's. Not the 300's.
It seems as if the producers are relying on Brantley's rave review in the Times from the Papermill tryout as it does not seem to be helping the show out during the 2 endless months of previews so yes blame the producers and marketing!
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George