Jagged Little Pill preview thread- Page 2

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 11:42am

What's the design like?

[bethyd]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 11:49am

Can anyone specify about the changes made since ART? New song? New ensemble? New scenes? Thanks.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 11:56am

Damn, I'm very disappointed in these reports.  I enjoyed it at the ART, but as mentioned, they needed to improve their focus - and it sounds like they didn't do any of that.  

 

A shame, because with some re-working, I thought this really could have been something special.   Sigh.

[kreichelt]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 12:05pm

dramamama611, this is exactly what I was going to say after reading the thread.

I was sure they would clean up the book and give it some focus, but it sounds like they didn't. 

Now that I know that, I hope, at least, that the backwards song (Uninvited) survived any changes they did make.  I know everyone else was all about You Oughta Know, but for me, it was the mother's songs.  

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 12:08pm

kreichelt said: "dramamama611, this is exactly what I was going to say after reading the thread.

I was sure they would clean up the book and give it some focus, but it sounds like they didn't.

Now that I know that, I hope, at least, that the backwards song(Uninvited) survived any changes they did make. I know everyone else was all about You Oughta Know, but for me, it was the mother's songs."

it's intact, and the staging is definitely inventive.

[bethyd]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 12:15pm

At ART the "backwards" song was "Smiling", not "Uninvited". Uninvited was the "wrestling with addiction" song with MJ and her alter-ego. 

[Jmuep2]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 12:16pm

Also Derek Klena was completely wasted in this show and did next to nothing, I was disappointed in that. His character could be removed from the show completely and nothing would really change. I think ultimately what this show needs is focus. There is no main character or A plot. It’s a bunch of C plots mashed together and as a result it can feel very meandering at times and a lot of the characters feel thinly written at best and like plot devices as worst. I didn’t hate the show, it definitely has its moments of greatness and I am glad I saw it. But it is a deeply flawed show and I really wish they had taken the time to tighten it up for Broadway."

Agreed. I really didn’t understand why this character was there at all other than for one plot point that could’ve randomly been given to another character.

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 1:12pm

Yep. Klena’s character is a complete waste and should have been the very first thing written out of the show.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 1:58pm

I am not surprised by these reports at all. There's been quite a few discussions on these boards about Diane Paulus not having been as successful on new musicals as she’s been with her revivals of Hair, Porgy & Bess, and Pippin. Finding Neverland, I found to be a pretty lumbering bore. Waitress, I felt that Jessie Nelson’s book was a little longer than it needed to be and the onstage chorus during Jenna’s solo numbers felt overused as well as the onstage band.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 2:09pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "I am not surprised by these reports at all. There's been quite a few discussions on these boards about Diane Paulus nothavingbeen as successful on new musicals as she’s been with her revivals

 

And what a shame it is that she seems to have abandoned doing revivals. As far I can recall, she hasn't done one since Pippin. 

[kreichelt]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 2:18pm

bethyd, thanks!  I mixed up the names...  but it was those two songs I thought were so strong.  Glad they are still in the show!!

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 2:30pm

Diane Paulus is doing 1776 at ART this season which will transfer to Bway

[JBroadway]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 2:58pm

InTheBathroom1 said: "Diane Paulus is doing 1776 at ART this season which will transfer to Bway"

 

Oh yeah! I forgot that production was hers! I'm looking forward to that

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 3:18pm

Does Laurel Harris cover any roles?

[steven22]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 3:22pm

Laurel Harris covers MJ. As does Jane Bruce.

[Lifesmellsweird]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 3:29pm

I saw the first preview as well. I had mixed feelings about it. To put it simply, I felt the cast was very strong, the orchestrations are beautiful, and the choreography is fresh and extremely well done. Unfortunately I think the book is a bit of a mess. The plot is driven by Trying to fit in the songs. Every time there is dialogue I found myself just looking forward to the next song because the plot is just so flimsy. And there’s a lot of dialogue. There are some very funny moments and some very touching moments. I feel like they tackle way too many issues and it comes off as very corny because it is so unrealistic. It also takes a very long time to reach the climax of the show, after which they tie it all up in a bow within a few minutes.

The set is many large unnecessary clunky pieces that I found rather unimaginative, besides the swing set, which is a fun touch.

I did feel it was tightened up, since the ART, but I am unable to discern what they changed. The many many social justice issues are still in the forefront and it seems all the issues are forced to be connected, even though they aren’t connected at all. Second act is much stronger, due to Lauren Pattens standout performance, and Uninvited (I think that’s the song), which is just gorgeous choreo/staging.

I love Derek but this doesn’t feel like the right fit for him.I am normally not at all bothered when adults play teenagers in musicals. But vocally Derek  just does not come off as youthful.It is so far from believable. Additionally, his character ads absolutely nothing to the storyline of the show. I really like him as an actor and singer so I was hopeful that they would clean up his character and make him a little more vital to the story. But nope.

I think this may be a fan favorite, but I am very curious about how it will be received by critics. I really enjoyed it, and the energy in the room was electric. The music is so well done, it does make up for a lot of the book’s flaws, for me. But still... the flaws are glaring.

Updated On: 11/4/19 at 03:29 PM

[binau]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 4:06pm

"But it's more than an eerie similarity; from the get-go all the way to the very end when the cast joins hand in hand for "Light" (whoops, I mean "You Learn" we feel like we've watched the Goodman's in an alternate universe where Gabe never died and Natalie was actually adopted"

I don't know much about the show, but as soon as I listened to the OBC pre-release of "You Learn" on Apple Music the first thing that came to mind is 'Light'. Isn't the inspirational chorus of cast singing about overcoming or moving on from adversity with pleasing harmonies already been done? 

next to normal 'light'

spring awakening 'purple summer' (not that it really makes any sense)

Carrie 'epilogue'

Dear Evan Hansen 'finale'

Is it time we move on from this trope and break new ground? 

[Kitsune]

Posted: 11/4/19 at 4:20pm

Can someone confirm whether Jo is still non-binary and uses they pronouns in this version? (I'd heard rumors otherwise).

I saw JLP at ART. I know it has its flaws, but I really liked it regardless. Chalk it up to growing up in the 90s

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/5/19 at 12:38pm

FYI, for those wondering how this is selling, tonight's performance and tomorrow's matinee are up at TKTS. Also got an email from Today Tix offering $69 tickets for weekday performances through mid-December.

Updated On: 11/5/19 at 12:38 PM

[Pashacar]

Posted: 11/5/19 at 1:27pm

ACL2006 said: "FYI, for those wondering how this is selling, tonight's performance and tomorrow's matinee are up at TKTS. Also got an email from Today Tix offering $69 tickets for weekday performances through mid-December."

I mean, at this point in previews, Hadestown had plentiful discounts and was at TKTS for the full 50% off....

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 11/5/19 at 1:42pm

Pashacar said: "
I mean, at this point in previews, Hadestown had plentiful discounts and was at TKTS for the full 50% off...."

Yeah I went to the 2nd preview for like $90 orchestra center  

 

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 11/5/19 at 2:03pm

YvanEhtNioj said: "Pashacar said: "
I mean, at this point in previews, Hadestown had plentiful discounts and was at TKTS for the full 50% off...."

Yeah I went to the 2nd preview for like $90 orchestra center

"

Ugh when $90 is a cheap night out on Broadway lol 

[broadwaynerdnewbie]

Posted: 11/5/19 at 2:44pm

Kitsune said: "Can someone confirm whether Jo is still non-binary and uses they pronouns in this version? (I'd heard rumors otherwise).

I saw JLP at ART. I know it has its flaws, but I really liked it regardless. Chalk it up to growing up in the 90s "

As far as I can tell they scrapped Jo being nonbinary. They make veiled hints at it but they don't come out and explicitly say she's non binary which may have to do with the backlash they got from fans with the Patten casting in ghat type of role.

 

[Kitsune]

Posted: 11/5/19 at 2:54pm

broadwaynerdnewbie said: "Kitsune said: "Can someone confirm whether Jo is still non-binary and uses they pronouns in this version? (I'd heard rumors otherwise).

I saw JLP at ART. I know it has its flaws, but I really liked it regardless. Chalk it up to growing up in the 90s "

As far as I can tell they scrapped Jo being nonbinary. They make veiled hints at it but they don't come out and explicitly say she's non binary which may have to do with the backlash they got from fans with the Patten casting in ghat type of role.

"

Thanks for the clarification. Unfortunately this seems like a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. 

In the ART version,

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Jo's breaking point before You Oughta Know happens when MJ refers to them as a girl. 

How is this handled now?

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 11/5/19 at 3:08pm

Apparently, the show already has a pretty big cult following. They're upset about Jo being "Ciswashed" and are trying to get Jo's gender switched back before opening by being annoying on all of JLP's social media.