If/Then Previews — Page 4

My question is if the show ends up touring or Idina ends up leaving can anyone play it like she can? Could the show survive without her?

It felt, to me, like a much more intimate show than NEXT TO NORMAL, as well. And I'm not sure if "intimate" will work on tour and across the world, but then again I was wary that a musical about mental illness would sell on Broadway alone...and it certainly did. NEXT TO NORMAL runs the gamut of emotions and has some sustained high-wire sequences of intense high-stakes drama. IF/THEN is a much more character-driven, grounded, chill piece (with some emotional moments as well, though not the same kind of emotional moments as N2N). IF/THEN sounds, looks, feels, and unfolds so differently than N2N...it really impressed me how versatile this creative team is.

Updated On: 3/6/14 at 12:19 AM

Hope someone who also saw the show in DC reports back. I wasn't a fan in DC, and if they didn't make changes, i'll be skipping this in New York. I am disappointed that the SPOILERS***crash***SPOILERS is still out of place

Not to take anything away from Idina AT ALL, but the show could survive with replacements/on tour because of the strength of the material.

People said N2N couldn't play without Alice and how wrong they were. Both shows were tailored for their leading ladies, but the goods are in the book and score.

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Nearly three hours to tell us a truth we all know before the curtain even comes up seems a considerable waste of time and energy. Our time and their energy. If the two tales they used to prove their point were even slightly interesting, that might have compensted a bit. Unfortunately, attention flags early and often in the first act, and the second act is a complete downer. Idina Menzel is saddled with an uninteresting character; she is given one of those wailing power ballads at the end, a wholly undistinguished one. The score is less dreary than some recent offerings, but in no way memorable. Anthony Rapp is quite charming. The physical production is fairly attractive.

My biggest problem with the show is the ending. IT just does not go anywhere. I spent almost 3 hours watching What/If (which should have been the title) and nothing gelled. Had no problem following the story lines I just thought there are too many and all of them go no where. Frankly by the end of the first act, I just didn't care anymore.

Ok but she's the draw, she is what gets people through the door, at least for now.
There's been one official performance so far though. Who knows what word of mouth on the show itself may be like. It's too soon to say whether or not the show could financially survive without her. I was talking about the future of the show on Broadway, etc without her specific talents.

And I think a lot of people who loved N2N are interested in the show as well, based on the merits of the creative team. I don't think she's the only draw.

And Michael Bennett, I hear what you're saying. I'm not sure if I'm articulating it quite the way I want to, but I did find IF/THEN to be a "smaller" (not in a negative way, in a more intimately-focused way) and, well yeah, more intimate experience. N2N moved me tremendously and did feel intimate in many, many ways. IF/THEN hit home with me in a lot of the themes it touched on and could not have felt more tangible and accessible to me. Maybe it's just a personal, individual thing? That probably makes zero sense...not sure how to say what I'm trying to say about them comparatively (partly because, as I mentioned, they are so completely different in every way).

Updated On: 3/6/14 at 12:32 AM

The piece that oddly came to mind watching this show was not one about parallel realities but a show that covered a character's journey and her impact on the people and the world she lived in over a span of many years and that is David Hare play PLENTY.

I do feel like that in their ambition, the writers of IF THEN, perhaps feeling that they needed to chart every single thread that extends from the moment that is the catalyst for the two stories ultimately include too much information and get tangled up a bit.

I think that the audience would be able to easily fill in the gaps if some of the plot were more streamlined. For example, I thought it took way too long for Liz to end up with Josh. We know from the first scene that they are going to end up together and indeed that their getting together is going to be the basis for "Liz's" journey, so its superfluous to take so long getting to their "getting together" -- The brilliance of David Hare's play is in its economy. Often years pass between scenes and so we get a real sense of the ripple effect of one person's decisions from one scene to another. And indeed the second act of IF/ THEN works better largely because it isn't precious with covering the passage of time. I think that's what is slowing down Act 1 -- which is mostly concerned with covering a period of just months.

Updated On: 3/6/14 at 12:37 AM

I loved N2N, one of my favorite shows. N2N this isn't. No where close to as entertaining or emotional. I think they just wrote this to show off Adelle's voice. I believe they workshopped N2N for 2 years, this has been around for what, 8 or 9 months. Send it back to work shop and tighten it up or something.

Ok - can someone clarify if this thing is really 3 hours!? I feel like that has to be an exaggeration but I could always be wrong. I also appreciate the tip about the rear mezz being sold for $50 after the lottery, but for anyone who was there... how was the crowd/how many tickets were given out and where were they located? Hoping to try this sometime next week and any & all info is greatly appreciated!

Updated On: 3/6/14 at 12:58 AM

I agree that Act One is messy, but my takeaway is that it had emotional power. And I'm not a sucker! Haha.. It felt fresh and contemporary unlike most musicals I've seen lately. I hope they clean this one up.. Would love Act One to move faster and be less dense. There was a song I really liked in the middle of Act One with the 4 women - would love more of that type of energy in Act One. Looking forward to a song list.

The show's been in development/been workshopped for way longer than 9 months.