I Loved HANDS ON A HARDBODY. I Mean, I REEEEALLY Loved This Show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 6:30pm

i had a free afternoon today, so I thought I'd see this show since it was closing this weekend and I was blown away with how much I loved it. I don't think there is anything at all I can say that bothered me or that I think didn't work. From the top notch cast to a really phenomenal score, this is one that I will, for a very long time, be upset about it's closing prematurely.

I really haven't read that much about it (including the long threads here) so I don't know what the general consensus is regarding it but I felt this was a beautiful character study of the working class, the same way A CHORUS LINE was to dancers. I know it's easy to sit back and laugh at a musical that flopped and make fun of it for being bad but this (I hope) will become one of the shows that people will look back on fondly and say that it should have had a better life. I do think this show will play very well regionally, especially in the south. And maybe that was a big problem with it - The audience up north maybe doesn't know these people like us from the south do. Personally, I grew up around these types of events, even going to a couple of them when my Dad would try to win us a new car. The people there didn't just want to win a new car, they NEEDED to win a new car. It was a necessity for their lives. And I really felt that desperation on stage today in a way that I haven't felt from characters in a very long time.

Sadly the house was extremely empty even though I know full well there was a ton of papering for the matinee. I'm sad it's closing and I won't get to see it again but I'm happy it was done and that I got the chance to see it and that other people around the country will get to, as well.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 6:33pm

Thanks for this post. I really love reading your thoughts.

And I agree for the most part.

[JP2]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 6:35pm

Saw this today as well. Keala Settle blew my mind!

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 6:36pm

Glad to know you REEEEALLY loved this show.

Glad, too, that you started a thread about it.

Because there have been no other threads on this show, to my knowledge.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 6:40pm

There's a couple other threads about the show actually, After Death. You should take your head out of your ass for a minute and you'd see them, you decrepit old troll.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 6:47pm

Then why didn't you add your opinion to one of them?

No question your thoughts deserve to be showcased above all, but still......

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 6:48pm

It's almost 7pm. Shouldn't you be in bed?

And if you don't like a thread, don't open it. Sounds easy enough to someone with half a brain, but I guess yours is deteriorating at a much faster pace than originally thought.

[eperkins]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 7:03pm

^ I wish I could "like" a post!

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 7:04pm

Jordan, remember the phrase that so many level at newcomers who act just as you have here:

The search feature is your friend.

Ours, too.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 7:09pm

Why would I need the search feature? I wanted to start a new thread and I did. If I'd have known a decaying corpse like yourself would try to take it over, I might have not done it.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 7:09pm

I really liked the show too, Jordan. Just grabbed a ticket to go back to the final. I'm glad to see this show had some fans!!

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 7:17pm

So now you know. Good. You've actually learned something.

Don't do it again, then, lest the decaying corpse return.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 7:22pm

I'd rather let him rot in the ground where sleeps.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 7:23pm

Saw this today as well. Keala Settle blew my mind!"

Right?! I hope she can manage to pull off a Tony nomination, but I doubt it'll happen.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 7:30pm

Glad you had such a good time, Jordan! :)

I wasn't as crazy about it, but I do hope Settle manages to get a nomination, at least.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 7:51pm

I have to say that although I just liked Hardbody and didn't love it, it is a crime against humanity that the dung heap called Jekyll and Hyde is allowed to live while this dies. And I know J&H hasn't opened yet, but there are enough morons in this world to keep it running for years.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 8:00pm

Wonderful performances...but couldn't get beyond those trite lyrics (invoked numerous eye rolls). Very impressed by the imaginative choreography, however.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 8:07pm

AfterEight must be when he goes to bed at night.


It's funny how he tried to call me out in the J&H thread as being mean, when he is one of the nastiest posters on this board.

Oh, and Ms. Settle is a goddess.

Updated On: 4/10/13 at 08:07 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 8:16pm

I have to say that although I just liked Hardbody and didn't love it, it is a crime against humanity that the dung heap called Jekyll and Hyde is allowed to live while this dies. And I know J&H hasn't opened yet, but there are enough morons in this world to keep it running for years.

Oh, for f*ck's sake. There's nothing moronic about someone seeing a show they want to see. Moronic is acting like you're above it all. There's no crime against humanity here. It's just Broadway business as usual.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 11:39pm

Cool, going to see it tomorrow night. Glad to hear this might be in the "didn't find an audience" side of things, rather than the "didn't merit an audience" side.

[April Saul]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 11:41pm

Jordan, I'm actually glad you started a new thread because the last couple of threads about Hardbody closing really didn't reflect the intelligence and passion for theater that makes me enjoy being a part of this site.

And I'm glad you liked it so much, because I did, too. It was a quieter pleasure than Pippin or Matilda, but it deserved so much better than this, and I do hope there's life for it in the future.

[DEClarke]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 11:48pm

I really wish I was in NYC and could see this show.

With this quick closing, my hopes for a tour are crushed. Hopefully one of the many regional theaters in Houston will do a production...

So jealous of you guys!!!

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 2:25am

This was a really fun show, and the audience really seemed into it. I liked the whole redneck chorus line vibe...

I think the fact that the source material was so thin made it a good adaptation, since there wasn't anything to pare down as much. Just have fun with it.

[BigGuy3]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 4:43am

I liked it too.

The premise of the story is so sad, tho. The cast sings and dances well, but they are portraying desperate people who really do need that car. I felt very fortunate to have my apartment here in NYC and use of the MTA after seeing the show.

Afterwards, I went to the Glass House, a bar right next door to the theater, where most of the cast came in for drinks and told them that I liked the show.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 12:17pm

Add me to the list of people who enjoyed this show as well. I seem to really fall in love with 'little' shows that never catch on (A CLASS ACT, AMOUR, SUMMER OF '42, etc). Last night's house was decent-sized and very enthusiastic. I noticed several industry people (Telly Leung, Grant Shaud, and Jerry Mitchell, who BTW, leapt to his feet at the final curtain call). Thanks to Jordan's rave, I'm glad I made time to see it.