If/Then Previews — Page 6

Interesting perspective. As a New Yorker, that is the world I live in so I didn't really notice it. But yes, you're right, it may offend people who don't live here. It's a very New York centric and minded show.

"The world that I come from is one where people take joy in simple things. Phoenix or Oregon are perfectly acceptable places to live. Having a casual chat with a stranger is not a once in a lifetime altering or jarring event, it's a pleasant everyday occurrence. The assumption of IF/THEN is that the audience identifies with it's Northeast upperclass Ivy-league elitist characters."

Doesn't the Richard Rogers make patrons check their baggage?

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The jokes poke just as much fun at New Yorkers as they do at Phoenix and Portland.

For example, during the prologue Anthony Rapp is sitting at a table in Madison Square Park, minding his own business. LaChanze walks up and says hello, to which he responds, "Oh. You're one of those people who likes to talk to strangers." I definitely related to Rapp's plight, but we are also meant to laugh at him too.

I thought it was very refreshing to see a mostly realistic New York presented on stage. I don't know what you thought was so awful about the characters- I would gladly be friends with them, or perhaps saw myself in them a little too much to ever condemn their actions.

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It's all well and good to show characters who love their city. The thing that's kind of weird and off-putting, as I recall, is that people -- well, mostly Elizabeth, I guess -- would say words like "Phoenix" and "Nebraska" as if they were talking about something they'd stepped in and had to scrape off their shoe. I remember a one-liner that went something like "There's a river in Nebraska?" which was truly not the least bit funny in itself -- it was only Idina's tone and facial expression that sold it.

Will that have any effect on the tourist trade? Not much, I expect. People who want to see the show and/or Idina will go regardless of how her character talks about Phoenix. It's just a little jarring, I think.

^ Did you expect them to change the entire show?

"The assumption of IF/THEN is that the audience identifies with it's Northeast upperclass Ivy-league elitist characters."

Most people can relate to characters who have real life problems. All of these characters do. A lot of people identity with the Northeast upper class elitist thing, as theater slowly becomes a luxury item, they are the ones who can afford tickets to a Broadway show. There is nothing wrong with that.

"The biggest struggles that the principal character's have is their own transient happiness. Nothing to do with hard won battles for average American Audiences like paying the light bill and getting the aging parents into a suitable living arrangement in their later years. Or simply the struggle of staying in a marriage that doesn't fulfill all your dreams, but staying and working it out, because you vowed a vow."

I can't imagine people wanting to see mundane, daily, depressing sh!t on a night out at the theater. Also, I figured a few people would take issue with the abortion thing, I just wonder once word gets around, if that will actually affect sales. Doubtful.

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How was Adela tonight?

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Saw the second preview tonight, and also saw the show (and loved it) in its DC previews. For those interested in what changes have occurred: they've done a TON of work. From what I can tell from the old Wikipedia song list: "If I Told You," "The Story of Jane," and "The First Of Forever" have been cut. "No More Wasted Time" now appears in act one, smartly repurposed as an all-female quartet. "The Moment Explodes" comes much, much later in act two. And there are two entirely new songs where "The First Of Forever" and the original "No More Wasted Time" once were -- unsure of their names, but both are highlights. The opening number, as far as I can recall, has been entirely rewritten.

I was there tonight, and I'd just like to throw out some love for Jenn Colella. She doesn't have much to do at all, but there was such seasoned quality to her every time she was onstage, even amongst arguably bigger "stars." My eye went to her every time.

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To whoever said audiences laughed/took offense to places mentioned like Phoenix and Nebraska-In a Dame Edna show-whenever she asked an audience member where they were from,no matter where they said,the Dame would roll her eyes and audiences would ALWAYS laugh as if there must be something funny about that place and we were all in on the joke[and glad we didn't live there].We had no idea why we were actually laughing-we just did.

WiCkEDrOcKS: absolutely, the changes were for the best. I can't get over this team's ability to kill good songs and good scenes that simply aren't serving the story (remember "Costco"?), and I hate that that's a rarity among show creators these days. Though streamlined and simplified, If/Then still manages to make you think and keep you guessing -- but most important, you're now allowed to do so with an undistracted emotional investment. The final 30 minutes were a complete out-of-body experience for me, and I suspect that will be true for many others.

Please tell me the melody of "there's a moment when everything changes..." in the opening is still there. That tune was a highlight for me