KING KONG - Previews- Page 2

[John Adams]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 11:53am

Wick3 said: "I think this show will make it through next summer. I'll admit I was skeptical when I first heard of the new musical simply because I barely remember the movie (never saw it in its entirety) and just can't imagine why anyone would see it.

Then... I saw this music video "Queen of New York" that the show released a month ago and I certainly got more excited. I can see non-broadway fans watching this show too.

I didn't really care for this song. My immediate, knee-jerk impression is that it's a cut-and-paste amalgamation of Linn-Manuel Miranda's musical style (to my ear, it sounds like a Hamilton early draft) and Disney's pop-y, non-specific, family oriented lyric (Queen of New York? Even after hearing the whole song, I don't know what it is she wants, or how she's going to do it; I just know that she's "never gonna stop" until she's... that)."

Updated On: 10/4/18 at 11:53 AM

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 11:58am

I feel like having Lin manuel miranda, popish feel to the music is going to attract the teenagers.

Personally, I hope the score doesnt sound like that. When I think of King Kong I think of classical jazzy type music in early day New York. I hope they dont try to do a modern telling of the story.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 12:05pm

According to the King Kong page on TodayTix, the show closes on August 10th, 2019. Has this always been the case (a limited engagement) or is it just the date they are currently selling tickets through?

[John Adams]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 12:06pm

Bwayfan292 said: "I feel like having Lin manuel miranda, popish feel to the music is going to attract the teenagers."

I agree. My tastes just run differently.

In the words of Ariel (who was much more specific describing her needs), "I want more..." 

[Kad]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 12:09pm

I'm kind of the opinion that King Kong will never really be latched onto as a commercial property the way that Hollywood and these producers keep pushing it. I think there's just continual serious over-estimation of how much people really want more of it, how much can be squeezed from it, and even how strong of a property it is in general.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 12:24pm

John Adams said: "Pedantic comment: I think that technically, Kong is a marionette, rather than a puppet. #pedantic"

A marionette is a puppet.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

mar·i·on·ette

?mer???net/

noun

1. a puppet worked from above by strings attached to its limbs

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 12:58pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "According to the King Kong page on TodayTix, the show closes on August 10th, 2019. Has this always been the case (a limited engagement) or is it just the date they are currently selling tickets through?"

Open ended, tickets currently on sale till.

[Daddy Warbucks]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 2:50pm

I think Jesse Green from the NYT made a great point:  "If in its physical bigness this musical “King Kong” can really achieve big emotion, I’d forgive it almost anything. Operatic theatricality — one step over over-the-top — can short-circuit one’s critical facilities, and despite being a critic I value that."

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/14/theater/fall-season-cher-king-kong-bob-dylan.html

I think we're seeing the same thing with Moulin Rouge where the operatic theatricality (as Jesse calls it) is helping to hide a lot of the warts for critics and theatre goers.  I certainly can see King Kong going either way and I'm excited for the first of the preview feedback to start rolling in.

 

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 3:38pm

This piece really belongs to ALW--the beast, the girl--should be operatic in it's format. I have no idea of the story except the ending[yes, I could google] or who else is in it or who does what. The end of the first act should be a partial reveal of Kong then act 2 opens with the continuation till he is full stage. A great gimmick but the music had better be better than good or the whole thing will end up in a pile of gorilla poo.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 3:52pm

SweetLips22 said: "The end of the first act should be a partial reveal of Kong then act 2 opens with the continuation till he is full stage.."

Why? The people are in the theatre and their money is collected. Why tease them? If they're there just to see a giant ape puppet, as many have argued in other threads, give them the giant ape puppet.

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 4:00pm

im just looking foward to King kong fighting the big ass python. Assuming its still in the show

[BroadwayBear2]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 4:13pm

Bwayfan292 said: "im just looking foward to King kong fighting the big ass python. Assuming its still in the show"

I too love watching too puppets fight to the death.

[jpbran]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 4:54pm

Kad said: "I'm kind of the opinion that King Kong will never really be latched onto as a commercial property the way that Hollywood and these producers keep pushing it. I think there's just continual serious over-estimation of how much people really want more of it, how much can be squeezed from it, and even how strong of a property it is in general."

The last two Kong movies made $550m and $566m, and he's returning in another follow-up film (with Godzilla in 2020). There's still a bit of interest there...

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 5:32pm

How does one do a gif of a gorilla peeping around a theatre curtain?

Can't stop giggling at the thought----'No--Not yet'.

[BJR]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 8:49pm

Warbucks2 said: "I think Jesse Green from the NYT made a great point: "If in its physical bigness this musical “King Kong” can really achieve big emotion, I’d forgive it almost anything. Operatic theatricality — one step over over-the-top — can short-circuit one’s critical facilities, and despite being a critic I value that."

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/14/theater/fall-season-cher-king-kong-bob-dylan.html
 

I completely agree with Green here. I think it could work spectacularly, pardon the pun. But that level of melodrama is hard to pull off (which I believe is what made Moulin Rouge so successful and admired).

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 8:56pm

Just saw on Fbook that the Invited dress was tonight at 7:30.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 9:14pm

It could be "Beauty and the Beast," or it could be "Ghost" or "Doctor Zhivago." 

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 9:52pm

Not my picture, but here is the merch stand

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bohx_QnhUD8/

 

 

Also, not my picture, but here is the show curtain..

https://www.instagram.com/p/Boh41s1Bl48/

 

 

Updated On: 10/4/18 at 09:52 PM

[BroadwayBeebe]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 10:18pm

Invited Dress started at 7:30 at curtain came down at approximately 10:03 which included a speech from the director. No stops and no sign of technical difficulties which was honestly very impressive considering the complex beast they have on stage. As I was a guest, I don’t feel it’s right to share my thoughts, but can say the puppet is incredible.

Updated On: 10/4/18 at 10:18 PM

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 10:32pm

But you just shared them ....so spill it

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 10/5/18 at 12:34am

Bwayfan292 said: "Not my picture, but here is the merch stand

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bohx_QnhUD8/

It's a little odd they they are using so many different pieces of artwork for this one on the merch. It's as if they couldn't decide what art they liked the best so just used them all. It's not like there is one unified theme to them like the same text logo with different pictures. They are all totally different.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/5/18 at 3:06am

If they end up ditching the other designs, I'm not going to be mad if some of that merch ends up at the flea next year. I don't think it's a terrible idea to sell different designs as long as whatever logo they use to brand the show stays the same. It's better than having a bunch of shirts with different text. 

[textbarellis]

Posted: 10/5/18 at 3:59am

Invited Dress started at 7:30 at curtain came down at approximately 10:03 which included a speech from the director. No stops and no sign of technical difficulties which was honestly very impressive considering the complex beast they have on stage. As I was a guest, I don’t feel it’s right to share my thoughts, but can say the puppet is incredible.

 

SPILL. THE. TEA.

Updated On: 10/5/18 at 03:59 AM

[John Adams]

Posted: 10/5/18 at 10:26am

BroadwayBeebe said: " As I was a guest, I don’t feel it’s right to share my thoughts, [...]"

I wonder if the purpose of an invited dress is so that those invited WILL share their thoughts...?

[Wick3]

Posted: 10/5/18 at 10:53am

Just saw this youtube video more about Ann and it looks like this show will focus more on Ann's perspective.