It Shoulda Been You Previews- Page 4

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 10:31am

Thank you, newintown!

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:00am

well you don't really know what you have til you're in previews!!

[newintown]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:00am

One relevant fact I didn't know until now - director David Hyde Pierce is married to librettist Brian Hargrove, a former actor turned sitcom writer.

Updated On: 3/18/15 at 11:00 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:05am

Well that explains a lot.

I was actually wondering why he would choose to direct this.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:25am

newintown, Yes, I knew that going in and always assumed this was a vanity production on some level. I don't know if they also invested money in the show, but Pierce clearly is lending his name to help sell tickets for his husband's show.

You also bring up good points about the size of the orchestra and the off-Broadway sound of the orchestrations.

Also, all of the fat jokes about Lisa Howard's character (and after awhile I don't know how you don't take them personally as an actor cast in the part) were so vicious and nasty that the audience gasped and nearly booed everytime one was dished out. You would have thought LaBute wrote some of those cracks, or at least they lifted them from Fat Pig.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:28am

I stood in line in the freezing cold 2 hours for this so we will love it.

My wife and I can relate to this as she is Jewish and I am Catholic. At least we will have a nice dinner before for her birthday.She is familiar with the Jewish mother shtick. Hey if we survived Mormon we can survive anything.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:32am

I don't think of Lisa Howard as being fat.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:41am

I think "plump" would be a better adjective...

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:42am

Kad, her whole plotline is about how she is too fat in Daly's eyes and that Boggess is the perfect child because she's beautiful and skinny.

Some sample fat jokes-

Howard to the audience: Oh, you thought this [wedding] dress was mine? I wouldn't fit into this if I were cremated!

Boggess to Daly: Don't say that to Jenny! She worked her ass off for this wedding.
Daly: If only that had literally been true.

Daly: My Jenny is not a lesbian! She's just big boned.

Howard sings a song called "Beautiful" in which she hopes she will one day find someone to love her because of, or at least in spite of, her weight.

Updated On: 3/18/15 at 11:42 AM

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:44am

The cremation joke sounds funny, at least.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:45am

If that horrendous joke is your definition of "funny," I don't want to know what your favorite comedy movies are.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:49am

The cremation joke is at least self-deprecating rather than a pointed insult. Sure it's a groaner, but I suppose a little more harmless than the others.

It's really with the venom that Daly hurls these insults at Howard that creates such an uncomfortable feeling in the audience.

[dave1606]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:51am

I saw this last night.

It reminded me a lot of First Date. The first half is so bland it really could be any show. Then, as if the writers thought, let's make sure we make this super memorable, they picked the most outlandish twist they could think.

What I think really kills the show is the waiters/wedding planner. They reminded me of the all knowing waiter in First Date. It is a stupid convention that wastes too much time, which is an issue as the show is at least 15 minutes too long.

I didn't mind a lot of the shtick with Tyne Daly and Harriet Harris because they are such pros. They sell the material and if anyone wants to write a buddy comedy for both of them, SIGN ME UP.

Also, I thought Lisa Howard was a delight. She's totally charming and anchors the show well. David Burkta, unfortunately, was bland, and rather uninspired. He also has one of the worst songs in the show (a duet with his Dad that goes ON AND ON AND ON).

It is unfair for a talent like Montego Glover to be relegated to such a nothing part, but I was happy to see her onstage again at least.

Overall, I have to say, I was never bored. I actually thought a good chunk of the score was pleasant enough (if instantly forgettable), but there were some deadly ballads, and I thought the Whatever song with Josh Grisetti and Lisa Howard was awful.


I think the bottom line is that this is a rather mediocre entry as a new musical, but for me it was at least worth it for the cast.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 11:52am

aww the idea of that song sounds so nice. Im happy theres some heart to this show

[Kad]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:00pm

It's comforting to know that Philly will have the same opinion on Friday as he does today regardless of what happens tomorrow.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:04pm

"sweetlips, im 19 and i HARDLY comment on everything on this board."

You joined less than a year ago and have already posted enough to have "legend" under your sobriquet. Clearly, you comment A LOT on this board. I agree with others here asking that you show a little restraint.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:51pm

I wasn't going to see this anyway, but the fact that there are fat jokes of that nature turns me off completely.

Philly, "well you don't really know what you have til you're in previews!!"

That isn't true in this case. They did an out of town at George Street. They knew what they had. Updated On: 3/18/15 at 12:51 PM

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:55pm

My favorite film comedy is August: Osage County.









SARCASM, Headbandz. As was my last comment. Have a little hump-day-humor!

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 12:55pm

The "twist" sounds awful. Is there any foreshadowing that at least makes it fun?

[OKBroadwayFan]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 1:14pm

Earlier in the thread it was discussed how many nominations for a musical or play. From the Tony Awards Website--2014-15 rules:

Summary: If there are more than 9 eligible shows, there will be 4 nominees and a possible 5th, if the votes are within 3 votes between #4 and #5. It then talks about 5 or fewer eligible shows, but what if there is 6-8 eligible shows?

Show Categories. The number of nominees in each of the four “Best
Show” categories shall be determined in the following manner:
The Tony Awards® :
Rules and Regulations 2014–2015
9
(A) Where there are nine or more eligible shows in a Best Show
category, at the Tony Nominating Meeting, the Nominating
Committee will be instructed to cast one vote each for four eligible
shows as nominees on his/her secret ballot. Such ballot shall be
collected and tabulated by a representative of the Accounting
Firm. The four eligible shows with the highest number of votes will
automatically be designated as the nominees in such category. A
fifth nominee shall be added to the category in the event that the
Accounting Firm determines that the difference in votes between
the fourth highest ranked show and the fifth highest ranked show
is three votes or less.
(B) Where there are five or fewer eligible shows in a Best Show
category, at the Tony Nominating Meeting, the Nominating
Committee will be instructed to cast one vote each for three
eligible shows as nominees on his/her secret ballot. Such ballot
shall be collected and tabulated by a representative of the
Accounting Firm. The three eligible shows with the highest
number of votes will automatically be designated as the nominees
in such category. A fourth nominee shall be added to the category
in the event that the Accounting Firm determines that the
difference in votes between the third highest-ranked show and the
fourth highest-ranked show is three votes or less.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 1:17pm

I imagine if there are 6-8 it just means the field is set at four and there is no flexibility to expand.

[bekk99]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 1:23pm

As for the $14 seats question, it was a nice view from the right side toward the rear. Just missed a bit of physical comedy with John's entrance.

LOL @ Kad.

As for any foreshadowing, (SPOILER) since I had been spoiled, I picked up on a few very subtle glances, double meanings, etc., but nothing I think I would have noticed if I hadn't known. The only one I remember is Montego's character starting to say "She's my... [girlfriend]" about Sierra's character in the bathroom and then cutting herself off.

[pugsandcoffee]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 1:35pm

Lisa Howard deserves a show, and a showstopper. For her, I hope at least she gets some serious notice here. I sang with her back in the day and was always floored. Always. Just a hell of a voice I'd put above a lot of Broadway "stars."

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 1:38pm

This sounds horrible. How quickly will it close?

[tazber]

Posted: 3/18/15 at 1:39pm

^^^^^

Her William Finn album is outstanding.

I'm always on the lookout for anything she's in.