Is Dogfight worth it? And how are the boxes?- Page 2

[timote316]

Posted: 7/6/12 at 4:55pm

I've never seen the movie, but am seeing the show July 15th... should I track down the film before I see the production?

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 7/7/12 at 2:26pm

I was pretty underwhelmed by this show. The first act is dragged down by too many meandering vamp-based songs that sound too much like Sondheim (I kept hearing "Moments int the Woods".) When the score didn't sound like Sondheim, it just sounded like indistinguishable contemporary musical theater, reminiscent of JRB and Tom Kitt. It didn't help that the orchestrations, by Michael Starobin, felt like a rehash of his work on Next to Normal. I was really hoping to enjoy the work of a young team of composers, I just didn't feel like there were any leaps of creativity in the music.

More importantly, the show, in my opinion, lacked a point of view. Why were these young boys, who were about to be shipped to their possible deaths, playing such a cruel game? What does it say about war, death, innocence, etc. Why did the protagonist feel such guilt about the dogfight when his buddies didn't? What inside of this soldier is different than the others? I don't expect the show to answer these questions, but I do expect it to at least ask these questions and I don't feel like it did.

[ck12]

Posted: 7/7/12 at 2:36pm

No. you asking these questions means they did their job.

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 7/7/12 at 2:42pm

I can tell these are the questions I'm meant to be asking, based on the concept of the plot. I personally didn't feel like the themes were developed enough to spur serious reflection or the characters rendered deeply enough for me to not care. It didn't do it for me, I'm sure for others it did.

Updated On: 7/7/12 at 02:42 PM

[JMPlayer6]

Posted: 7/7/12 at 4:52pm

I saw this today, and enjoyed it a lot. I'd never seen the movie, by the way. I'd recommend it.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 7/7/12 at 5:01pm

I saw it today too and was just lukewarm to it. There were some nice moments, especially at the end.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 7/7/12 at 5:07pm

I was also at today's matinee. I enjoyed it, although it doesn't seem to know if it's a heartfelt chamber musical or a LaBute piece set to some affecting songs - none of which are listed in the playbill, unfortunately. Some of the characters don't ring true and the second act drags somewhat But there's enough to like, especially Mendez and Klena, to recommend it. I'm curious to see what changes are forthcoming.

[canmark]

Posted: 7/12/12 at 7:31am

Saw Dogfight last week and thought it was a pretty solid and enjoyable show. The scenes between Eddie and Rose were compelling and their relationship was sweet. I thought we needed either more or less of the other Marines: give them proper subplots to make them more interesting or cut some of their repetitive songs. Lindsay Mendez's Rose reminded me of Ugly Betty (in a good way)--an awkward young woman gaining confidence in herself. Her song Pretty Funny, which closes the first act, had me in tears. Derek Klena was believable as a sensitive jock who, at least for the night, is able to throw off the macho boys attitude and expose his own vulnerability to Rose.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/12/12 at 9:28am

This has gotten me thinking of Holly Near, the wonderful singer who played Rose's mother in the movie, and appeared on Broadway during the original run of Hair. I saw her in concert several times years and years ago and have always wondered why she didn't have a bigger career in musical theater; perhaps she didn't want one having, at least for a time, a successful one as a folk artist and activist. Can anyone shed some light on what she's been doing lately?

* * *

It also has me distressed thinking that there might be a whole generation who has no or little idea who or how wonderful River Phoenix was.

Updated On: 7/12/12 at 09:28 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 11:33am

i saw the show and thought it was fantastic. the two leads give touching performances, and the whole show is directed beautifully.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 10:03pm

What's the running time on this one?

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 7/14/12 at 12:45am

The movie on youtube

[phan24]

Posted: 7/29/12 at 3:55pm

Saw the show last night and got $18 student rush tickets for third-row center. I could not believe how cheap and how good the seats were.
The house was pretty much sold out except for the left box who didn't have anyone sitting there.

The show itself was really breathtaking. I found it to be so much more entertaining and engaging than some current Broadway shows. This show kind of reminded me of Once, but 100 times better than once, this show actually goes somewhere and has heart. Had me crying at the end. Lindsay Mendez completely blew me away, as so did Derek Klena. And of course, as others have said, Analeigh Ashford (and Dierdre Friel as Ruth Two Bears, IMO) steal the show!!

If you have a student ID, $18 is nothing compared to what you get. Act 2 has a gut-wrenching surprise coming at you. It's sad that it didn't get an extension or a transfer.

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 7/29/12 at 9:05pm

Was in attendance at today's matinee. Completely sold out. Even the box seats on the left were full and I saw someone standing up there also.

As for the show, I loved the score and the direction was wonderful. The book needs a touch of work, since some of the dialogue imho were not in character (what Rose said to the Marines when she found out). The show touched me at the end, it was pretty much gut wrenching and I walked out learning things I never knew (I had no idea what a dogfight was). I would recommend it.