IN MY LIFE REVIEWS- FIRST PREVIEW — Page 2

I visit NYC once a year to see shows.
Not knowing anything about this, I bought tickets. Now I am starting to panic. You people that live there can see most everything, but I have to be selective.

Anyone want my tickets?

Friday, October 28, 2005 at 8:00 PM
2 Tickets, Center Orchestra Row F, Seats 107-108

Seriously.

The basic set is a big brick wall. It opens up at some points to reveal an apartment. In heaven, it's covered with a bunch of filing cabinets. For all the rest of the scenes, smaller pieces (a bar, a lampost) are brought on to represent different places.

Penguin, you forgot "I had a cat named Yoda"!

I don't think that a show would close before opening.
Is that really possible? Or even likely? Don't most shows have out of town tryouts to work out the kinks? I wonder why that didn't happen in this case.

Friday, October 28, 2005 at 8:00 PM
2 Tickets, Center Orchestra Row F, Seats 107-108

wait, when is the *official* opening. I was under the impression it had no previews and tonight was indeed opening night. wrong?

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Many shows have closed during previews (Bobbi Boland, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and The Baker's Wife) and there are many that have closed out of town (Lolita, My Love; Prettybelle and many more). If ticket sales are in the dumpster than it is not completely unlikely that it will close during previews. However, lately producers like to give audiences "time to adjust to the show" in hopes that after a few weeks that the attendance will pick up (i.e. Brooklyn).

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I found both Christopher Hanke's J.T. and David Turner's Winston to be very offensive and I hated the vocal choices Jessica Boevers made with her "speaking voice."

The main storyline is nothing but constant exposition, they never show us ANYTHING it is all told and told badly. The "throughlines" were ridiculous, and can someone tell me why JT's mother was from the 50's when she died only four years before the time of the show? (the Italian singing, I assume, was to continue the Opera motif)

Alright I had to vent, now I will try to find some positives.

The entire cast was very professional, and while I think the direction was terrible most of them were able to give some life to their characters.

I enjoyed the silly parts with Turner and Farina, they were sometimes actually funny. Navarra had a great voice, she has talent.

The set served the show most of the time, when there were no projections, or file cabinets.

*concievably spoilerish, I guess (and negative again for a bit)



I laughed out loud at the "death of JT" and his "resurection" and the lemon set. I want to throw in that the depiction of God was so laughable I wanted to scream, what kind of crazy theology was that.



*end spoiler

The costumes, I'll agree the costumes were good. JT and Jenny had nice normal clothes. Winston's were garish and ridiculous, which was the right choice. (Now, if his character wasn't the worst gay stereoptype in 10 years things would be better.)

I can't bring myself to say more positive stuff, I'm sorry I really tried. Honestly.

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Updated On: 10/1/05 at 12:11 AM

Trace, did you really see Carrie? Just curious.

haven't seen it...i've heard it

"i love my new pair of jeans, i love my new tshirt with the monsters on the sleeves"

...but did you like it, SP78?

are you serious?? why?

Ok- this show has flaws. Some of the aspects of it are absolutely ridiculous.

HOWEVER- these actors are working their asses off. They are doing the best they can with someone's work which yes, needs a lot of fixing, but they are giving it their all. They have been through weeks of rehearsals to get ready for this, many for whom this is their broadway debut. I found it horrible that so many people in the theater laughed at what were supposed to be serious and sad parts in the show. I cannot imagine what it is like to be up on stage trying to do something serious and heartwrenching, and having people in the audience laughing at you. At the stagedoor after the show, the actors were all so nice and were asking everyone if they liked the show, just looking for some positive reinforcement and kind words. They know that the material they are working with isn't the best out there, but they are trying and I think did a damn good job tonight, especially as it was their first night in front of an audience. And a lot of the show will be changing in the next few weeks, and they have to work hard as hell to adapt to new things every day. I would hate to be one of the actors in this show (or any other show that people on the board talk about) and read this thread and see all the negative comments. The same goes for the writer, and the entire creative team for the show.
These people are amazing and incredibly talented, and I think they deserve much more credit than they have been receiving. As the show continues to change (and hopefully flourish), please remember to include some kind words in your reviews! Actors and creative teams need our support so we can continue to have new (and hopefully wonderful) broadway shows!