"It's Only a Play" Preview Thread
"It's Only a Play" Preview Thread
#1"It's Only a Play" Preview Thread
Posted: 8/27/14 at 5:22pmTomorrow is the first preview! Anybody on here going? I can't wait to hear what people think!
#2"It's Only a Play" Preview Thread
Posted: 8/27/14 at 6:06pmI was just about to make this thread, gleek4114. I'm really excited to hear early reports! I have tickets for late September.
"The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world." - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#3It's Only A Play
Posted: 8/27/14 at 7:44pmI think anyone would be doing themselves a disservice by attending this play so early in the run. Fun play. But give them a few performances to get their rhythm and get into it.
HUSSY POWER!
------ HUSSY POWER!
#4It's Only A Play
Posted: 8/27/14 at 8:09pm
On the twitter account about a week and I half ago I asked about rush. At that point in time they said they were discussing possible rush options and would announce it when they had it nailed down. I'd check there. I'm looking into tickets for mid September but it's hard for me to bring myself to pay $150 a ticket. I suppose it would be worth it though.
Updated On: 8/27/14 at 08:09 PM
#5It's Only A Play
Posted: 8/27/14 at 8:23pmThey're doing $30 standing room only.
"The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world." - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
#6It's Only A Play
Posted: 8/27/14 at 9:21pmI read that the standing room offer does not start until October 10th.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#7It's Only A Play
Posted: 8/28/14 at 12:34pm
I just asked the box office:
$37 student rush when the box office opens. 1 ticket per ID. Subject to availability.
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#9Delete
Posted: 8/28/14 at 1:57pmI disagree DAME: I saw final run thru in rehearsal room, final dress in Chicago, first preview in Chicago, and first preview on Broadway of THE PRODUCERS and it was hysterical from the get go. Probably the funniest was the rehearsal room before they knew exactly how funny they were. Nathan Lane is an old pro. I'll be there tonight and I can't wait. Great stuff tends to be great right away. The Book of Mormon was getting raves from its first preview on.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
gottadance2
Swing Joined: 2/9/10
rjm516
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/09
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#18Delete
Posted: 8/28/14 at 11:41pmWell????
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
hugh2012
Swing Joined: 5/23/14
dave1606
Broadway Star Joined: 12/8/07
#20It's Only A Play People!
Posted: 8/28/14 at 11:54pm
I saw the show tonight. This was one of my most anticipated plays of the fall and with that cast how could it not be?
First off, the set design is gorgeous. As a New Yorker, one can't help but ooh and ah as the curtain lifts. Yes, for those who care there is a lovely classic curtain.
The first 45 minutes or so were very strong. Most of it is just Nathan Lane and the newcomer Michah Stock. I loved the concept of Nathan being on stage and then us waiting to see who was coming through the door next. It is a great set up for the revolving door of celebrities in a play like this.
Then things start to take a turn. SPOILERS here I guess. The play has been updated to include all of these modern references, with very lame jokes like, Oh, look at what coats the cast of the lion king brought. It started to get very annoying as they even reference their new neighbors the Elephant Man and A Delicate Balance.
But the real shift of the drama is when all of the cast members are onstage. Where You Can't Take It With You achieves this manic brilliance in Act 2 as all characters fire on all cylinders, here it just doesn't work. No one is doing anything that interesting, and at nearly 90 minutes, act 1 drags. Megan Mullally was nearly unintelligible in a part she is quite miscast in. She would have done well to switch places with Stockard Channing who fares much better with a few biting one liners. Matthew Broderick was stumbling over lines, but just doesn't have a very interesting character to play. Rupert Grint isn't faring as well as Daniel Radcliffe for a stage debut, but his character doesn't make much of an impression. Nathan lane gets to be Nathan Lane which works to great effect here and certainly garners the most laughs.
Overall there is nothing wrong with the play. It is occasionally funny and there are a few killer one liners. Act 2 has a few great moments, but then fizzles out an overstays its welcome.
But my issue is that play is a strange mix of insider type jokes(there is a Moose Murders reference that was met with crickets tonight though my partner and I laughed) and then lots of common denominator ones that made me grown. What I didn't like about the play is that it seemed like they were afraid to let it stand on its own. The whole thing had to be chock full of modern day references rather than let me material sell it self. And that is the problem, this play just didn't work for me like someone like Mothers and Sons.
The bottom line: worth the price of admission for the cast, but don't expect life changing theater.
I had a $72 rear mezz ticket which was fine. The show runs about two and a half hours.
#21It's Only A Play People!
Posted: 8/29/14 at 12:09amI'm kind of disappointed after reading your report, dave1606. Especially about Mullally - I adore her and she was my main reason for buying a ticket. Do you think the cast will improve over previews?
"The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world." - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
dave1606
Broadway Star Joined: 12/8/07
#22It's Only A Play People!
Posted: 8/29/14 at 12:19am
I do think the play will get better. The timing will improve. I just kept thinking how much Mullally could do with Stockard Channing's part. I mean, that character literaly has a bag of pills and drugs, throw in her zany character and you are two or three steps away from Karen Walker!
I understand she probably wants to play against type, but her character is not the most interesting.
frazer
Understudy Joined: 5/6/11
#23It's Only A Play People!
Posted: 8/29/14 at 5:52amThis isn't actually Rupert Grint's stage debut. He was very good in Jez Butterworth's 'Mojo' in the West End late last year.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#24It's Only A Play People!
Posted: 8/29/14 at 6:10am
Maybe they shouldn't have started previews this early. Sounds like it needs more rehearsal.
FWIW: perhaps it made you GROAN. :)
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These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
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