I thought it was spectacular. A stunning achievement the likes of which Broadway has never seen. I think it will usher in a new age of technical and visual creativity for Broadway theater. I was expecting to hate much of it, but instead I got the opposite. I can no longer hate on this show. I was utterly blown away. I even cried a little, mainly because of Kong's eyes, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. (The eyes alone are worth the admission price.) I can only imagine what the top of the unseen stage looks like, as they operate this sublime creature. I highly recommend not missing this, mainly because of the technical achievement and also because the entire show is hugely entertaining from start to finish.
It was like watching the movie, only live, and King Kong was a living breathing giant beast in front of you. Granted, I sat front row center, but I will never forget the experience of seeing that giant realistic gorilla just inches from my face as he towered over me when it was totally downstage. I had to look straight up to see his face 20 feet above me. It was so surreal, and I doubt I'll ever have that experience ever again anywhere. I urge you to sit in the first three rows center. Front row preferably, because Kong will reach out and touch you with his hand. And you will be a bit frightened by that.
I was thrilled over how much time Kong was onstage. Once he enters, he pretty much is the star of the show for the next 90 minutes. And isn't that what the show is about? The creators and producers know exactly what they are doing. I was expecting a "mess" but instead got a singular vision and purpose, expertly done, in a way I never would have imagined. You will never for a moment wish you saw more of him. In fact, I was grateful for the times he went offstage, so I could catch my breath. The ROAR is stunning, and it did induce a few head aches through the evening. The sound designers are obviously committed to perfecting this and giving the audience a sound they would never forget. It's loud and ferocious. And scary. (I read one comment here about the puppet being like a slow-moving float in a parade. That is not true, at least not from my vantage point. He moves at a perfect speed, just as you would see in the original Kong movie, or any Kong movie. I never questioned the speed of his motions. And at times he moves very fast.)
The enormous "puppet," operated by both cables and puppeteers in black, is a MUST see. Sit close if possible, unless you like to be further away. No video I've seen can do it justice. The thing looks as real as I would ever want. The animatronics are beyond belief. The face and eyes constantly move and express deep emotion, more so than most of the human performers. I got a front row seat the day of, on Halloween, on Telecharge Offers, for $99. The entire front row was suddenly available. So I snagged one. Best decision I made in years. It was one of the greatest nights I've spent in a Broadway theater. Mainly, because of the Kong puppet and the visual effects, but the concept of the show works very well.
The whole show has supposedly gone through big changes since Melbourne. So, don't go by what you've read from years ago. Also, people have mentioned a "Hamilton" style rap number in this current production, but that has been taken out. There was no such number when I saw it, thank god. That's a sign the director is trying to make things better. They eventually got the writer from the Harry Potter play, and that must have helped a lot. The script gets a bit wonky at times, and there are some odd things here and there, but the creature makes up for it all. There is also no bizarre sudden ending people have mentioned. They must have improved that too.
They really milked all their chances for dramatic effect. When Kong comes to NY after being captured and is being shown at the theater, we the audience are part of the show. It really feels like we are watching the spectacle, and when he breaks loose, it's actually terrifying. The sound effects at this time made me feel there were actually people in the audience screaming and trying to get away. I was floored by this segment. Extremely well done.
The projections are beyond amazing. Everything from making the boat rock (and my feeling sea sick) to Kong running at full speed through the jungles and streets. I've never seen anything like it, not even in amusement parks. He actually flies at times. (Speaking of theme parks, I thought how we would never see this degree of technical greatness in the Kong construction in any theme park show. This Broadway Kong puts all that to shame.)
The show will elicit numerous gasps, guaranteed. Kong's entrance is one of the most shocking things I've ever witnessed on a stage, as were several brilliantly staged moments in the finale. The puppet masters and designers deserve a special Tony all themselves, and that just may happen. Their work makes the horses in War Horse look like little toys in comparison. I've not been able to forget a few glorious moments, such as Kong beating his chest, done solely by the puppeteers and rope. And effective "soundtrack" music always accompanies such moments. So it's not your standard "musical." Which I found refreshing.
I thought the opening was outstanding and attention-grabbing, and the opening ensemble song was very successful in setting the musical tone of the rest of the show. It's quite "kick ass." The set is fascinating and has elements of Cirque du Soleil tastefully woven in. I would say the show succeeds on all levels, except partially musically, song-wise. (But it's much better than the awful stuff I heard in SpongeBob, which I walked out of.) They simply hired the wrong song composers. It was a mistake they probably just couldn't invest in fixing. Everything else is first-rate, and the cast gives it their all. Some of the smaller roles are endearing, and the acting across the board was convincing. The audience, and I, were engaged throughout. There are a good number of very funny moments too.
The two leads are excellent. The female lead (Pitts) was in great shape vocally and has a lot of songs to sing. She never faltered, and she has a beautiful voice with great power. The Denham guy (Morris) was perfect in the role, and he had a lovely strong voice too. And perfect teeth, which I saw the whole time from my front row seat. The "Fake Carl" is a fun sight to behold. All the singing was excellent, not something I can say about a lot of shows. The dancing was inventive and virtuosic, with some gymnastics at times, but appropriately done. I found the choreography unique and fitting for the period. It seems they got a great choreographer for this. I don't know who though. Costumes were colorful and great to look at. The lead actor's green overcoat is gorgeous, and I want one. You'll know when you see it.
When I first heard about the show about a year ago, I was determined never to even think of seeing it. I rarely see any "new" show, as I tend to spend my money on classic musicals and new or older plays. I usually dislike most new musicals for various reasons. However, this show was different for me. As stated in many of the posts here, the Kong "puppet" is worth the price of admission alone. I didn't hate the music, as I expected to. The best aspect of the music is the lyrics, which all are intelligently crafted. When I was zoning out a bit from certain songs that simply had no melodic weight, I focused on the words. The lyrics are exceptional. The perpetual rhymes are quite brilliant. I actually thought of L.M. Miranda in some of them. They are carefully written, complex, and have a beautiful flow. Not once did I hear a contrived lyric. The lyricist (Craig Lucas, I believe) obviously spent a lot of time and energy on them.
More impressive is that there were at least three songs that moved the plot along, something very rare in today's musicals. I remember being attentive to the story in one section and suddenly realized the girl was singing a big ballad that was furthering the plot. This is a huge plus for me, as it is why I don't like most new musicals.
To sum up, word of mouth will sell this show. I had a smile on my face most of the time. I wasn't bored for a moment, because the whole thing is outrageously entertaining. I can't see how anyone won't be blown away whenever that creature is onstage. I couldn't take my eyes off him. SIT IN THE FRONT ROWS.
Everything in this production is more than fine, except maybe some of the music. They just got the wrong composer(s), who just don't have the talent for something like this. Still, the music is not offensive or inane, and there are some numbers that are very catchy and interesting, like the opening, and all the background music is very good, as if you're watching an action adventure film. I remember thinking in the first 20 minutes that I was surprised I was enjoying the show so much, and Kong had not even entered yet.
The bows are a blast. Kong and the puppeteers get a grand bow, and when that happened, the whole audience erupted into deafening applause. I'm talking "Hello Dolly" type of applause, or the kind I heard when I saw Angels in America this season. I had to plug my ears. That's how much people are loving what they saw, and rightfully so. I hope the show has a decent run, because the creative team is obviously working hard to give people their money's worth. I look forward to going again.
Go. You won't regret it.
