LOBBY HERO Previews- Page 2

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 3/3/18 at 11:14pm

any merch?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/3/18 at 11:17pm

Well, I really enjoyed this, personally.

At the intermission I was enjoying the play, but found it fairly inconsequential. By the end of the play, however, I thought it really delved into some deep, relevant issues in a way that felt not nearly as forced as it could have - which I attribute to the fact that the play builds to the conflict fairly slowly, allowing us to become absorbed in the more trivial (and often very amusing) exchanges between the characters. I thought the writing strikes a very good balance between comedy and drama, and I think the cast and director did too. 

I thought all four of the actors delivered highly enjoyable, three-dimensional portrayals of these characters. Nothing Tony-worthy, but solid, well-executed and better than I expected. Evans in particular surpassed my expectations - he is not just a pretty face and a green-screen. 

It was a little overlong, particularly toward the end, but even when I felt the play dragging a bit, I was always roped back into the plot and characters after a few moments. 

I'm very happy I saw this, and I think it's a great start to Second Stage's new life on Broadway. 

[AprilWheeler]

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

Funny the mention of picking this because the guy doesn't like theater--because that's exactly why I picked it. Not a date night for me but I'm headed into the city in April with someone who primarily wants to go to the auto show. I cannot be in NYC and not see something so I picked this because he loved Arrested Development and Superbad. I figured that was my selling point. I however do love Lonergan and have never seen one of his plays performed so I'm looking forward to it.

Updated On: 3/3/18 at 11:18 PM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/4/18 at 12:05am

JBroadway said: "Evans in particular surpassed my expectations - he is not just a pretty face and a green-screen."

Forgot to mention this. Totally agreed. I feel like we're used to seeing him as the good, upstanding pretty boy—but he was a very convincing total dick in this show. I was impressed to see him playing against type so well. 

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/4/18 at 7:41am

When a big Hollywood star decides to come to Broadway, and people buy tickets to a show just to see that big Hollywood star, I think it would be better if the Hollywood star chose a part that is the central focus of the play with the most stage time, as opposed to the fourth-important part in a cast of four. If only to meet an audience's expectations, and not leave them feeling shortchanged.

As for the play, it was no great shakes the first time around; nor is it any now. Its playwright is very big on verbiage, especially of the dull kind. There's plenty of that here. The protaganist, in particular, babbles endless blather all evening long, trying our patience sorely. 

 

[kaykordeath]

Posted: 3/4/18 at 4:04pm

After Eight said: "When a big Hollywood star decides to cometo Broadway, and people buy tickets to ashow just to seethatbig Hollywood star, I think it would be betteriftheHollywoodstar choseapartthat is the central focus ofthe play with the most stage time,as opposed tothe fourth-important part in a cast of four. If onlyto meetan audience's expectations, andnot leave them feeling shortchanged.

As forthe play, it was no great shakes the first time around; nor is it any now.Itsplaywright isvery big on verbiage,especially of the dull kind. There's plenty of that here. The protaganist, in particular, babbles endless blather all eveninglong,tryingour patience sorely.

"

I disagree strongly with your first comment. I came to see Chris Evans act, not to see Captain America on stage. And that's what I got. A well performed acting performance. He holds your attention the way you would expect a big Hollywood start would, without resorting to scenery chewing. I was very pleased with his performance.

 

Which is why it's a bit if anshame to say how spot-on you are with your second point. The show itself is fairly middle-of-trilogy road. Nothing Earth shattering or relevatory. It was certainly well written entertainment, and fairly relevant to the times we're in...but the appeal is in the cast. I found all 4 performances spectacular. Individually and the chemistry amongst them. Michael Cera is a Michael Cera-y as ever...a role that could have been hand crafted for him, and he knocks it out of the park. 

[BwayBae]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 12:55am

For those who've seen the show, do front row seats seem okay in terms of a view (i.e. is the stage high?) or would you advise going further back? I'm short so sometimes front row is my best option, lest someone tall is in front of me.

[yesraccoons]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 8:15am

BwayBae said: "For those who've seen the show, do front row seats seem okay in terms of a view (i.e. is the stage high?) or would you advise going further back? I'm short so sometimes front row is my best option, lest someone tall is in front of me."

I wasn’t in the front row but both my friend and I remarked about how low the stage was. It was very low. I’m sure you’ll be fine

[BwayBae]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 10:21pm

yesraccoons said: "BwayBae said: "For those who've seen the show, do front row seats seem okay in terms of a view (i.e. is the stage high?) or would you advise going further back? I'm short so sometimes front row is my best option, lest someone tall is in front of me."

I wasn’t in the front row but both my friend and I remarked about how low the stage was. It was very low. I’m sure you’ll be fine"

Good to know - thank you!

[moira8]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 11:03pm

yesraccoons said: "BwayBae said: "For those who've seen the show, do front row seats seem okay in terms of a view (i.e. is the stage high?) or would you advise going further back? I'm short so sometimes front row is my best option, lest someone tall is in front of me."

I wasn’t in the front row but both my friend and I remarked about how low the stage was. It was very low. I’m sure you’ll be fine"

I wouldn’t want to seat in the first few rows. The set has a moving platform that adds maybe 4-5 inches to the height of the stage. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad view, but you’d still be craning your neck.

[dave1606]

Posted: 3/7/18 at 1:26pm

I saw this show last night. I was somewhat enjoying it going into intermission. While Michael Cera is always Michael Cera, I thought the part was a decent fit for him and his jokes seemed to land well.

I was pretty unimpressed with Chris Evans. His part is on the smaller side, and for the most part it felt to me like he was playing a caricature of what someone thought a cop was based on a a bunch of episodes of Law & Order down to that pornstache he was wearing. 

I was most impressed by Bryan Tyree Henry who I love on Atlanta. I thought he had a strong stage presence and was the most convincing of the bunch. 

There was a tech mishap in act 2 last night that was somewhat entertaining. During her big scene in Act 2, someone in the lighting booth decided the scene was over right in the middle of the speech and turned the lights off right in the middle of her speech. Bel Powely stopped mid-word. I thought it was part of the play until the lights turned back on and she resumed her speech!

Overall I think after seeing This Is Our Youth and this, Kenneth Longergan works much better on film for me. I loved Manchester by the Sea and You Can Count on me, but this just didn’t work well. The second half starts to feel really aimless and I found the ending frustrating.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/10/18 at 5:32pm

This was a giant “meh” for me on every level. As I was watching this play, I couldn’t help but asking myself why they didn’t just opt for a Lifetime movie adaptation over a Broadway revival. The cliched story and bland acting are certainly more apt for a Lifetime movie than a Broadway stage.

Michael Cera plays his usual awkward self. There is nothing we haven’t already seen him do time and time again in his performance in this. Chris Evans plays a stereotypical villainous mustache twirling cop. Bel Powley’s Dawn was one of the strangest performances I have ever seen a performer give. Brian Tyree Henry was really the only one out of bunch who gave a somewhat memorable performance.

The set is very skeletal. So much so that we have no idea what kind of building we are in... is this a luxury apartment building or just a typical apartment building? I couldn’t tell you from the design. I’m not even sure why they had it rotate as it added absolutely nothing to the production.

While this is far from the worst offering this season, it certainly isn’t the best. On the positive side, the newly renovated Hayes looks great. It no longer feels like an old dump.

[mc1227]

Posted: 3/10/18 at 11:32pm

Lonergans writing is not always easy to watch performed because it deals with people as they normally are, not enhanced by any dramatic or monumental moment.  Maybe the exceptions to this was Margaret (his best work by far) and Manchester.  For the most part, I do enjoy his plays and loved The Starry Messenger and the Waverly Gallery.  I’m not a great fan of this play and unless I get a really good discount, will probably skip it.   

[10086sunset]

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

Got to speak with a friend at 2ndstage while seeing this during the past week.

Was told there's a two week extension that was built into everyone's schedule. Demand will decide if the extension happens. 

[bandit964]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 8:59am

Was unable to get invested in any of these characters.  I enjoyed the 3 gentlemen's performances and even laughed out loud several times.  I really didn't care for Bel Powley.  I thought she came across very affected.  

 

LEGROOM:  Did the legroom get worse?  We were in Mezz E 2-4.  Thank god we were on an aisle.  I've seen multiple shows here and don't recall being so uncomfortable.  The backs of the seats in front of us actually came into our row so there was no way to sit in my seat without straddling the back of the seat in front of me.

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 10:55am

Yikes, I hate to hear that about the legroom. I'm in Mezz E1 when I see it next month. I sat in that same general area for The Humans and I don't remember it being particularly tight then.

[shari evelyn]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 5:06pm

Can anyone who has been in the mezzanine advise whether their are side aisle or just two central aisles?

 

Thanks :)

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 5:21pm

I sat in the mezzanine (B9) last weekend, and there were just the two central aisles.

[shari evelyn]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 6:03pm

Thanks for the headsup! Oh man. That's sad. From the pictures it looked like there was an aisle so I was hoping for the best. Looks like I'll be against a wall and in for some suffering. How were your sightlines?

[BroadwayNoob]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 8:38pm

Is the TodayTix rush easy to get? I'm able to get the 30 under 30 tickets, but my mom isn't so I was wondering if it might be better to go together through the rush option

[Danielle49]

Posted: 3/25/18 at 10:59pm

I really enjoyed this. Nothing groundbreaking, but certainly an entertaining visit to the theatre.

Michael Cera seemed so uncomfortable during the first scene - not just regular Cera-esque, comedic uncomfortable, but like he didn't know where to stand or put his hands. It was so distracting during that first scene and I thought "oh, no, another 2 hours of this?" But by the next scene he was fine. I thought the comedy suited him really well and his jokes landed (the part with the plant was genius). Brian Tyree Henry was the best of the bunch. He was the most natural onstage and believable as his character. Chris Evans' portrayal of a typical jerk cop really worked for me. He was funny, arrogant, and a bit of a caricature, but I didn't mind it. As for Bel Powley...I was a bit confused as to what she was doing most of the time. Anxious mannerisms, wonky accent, minimal connection to the others onstage with her. That said, she didn't ruin the experience at all, I was just really puzzled by her choices.

Trip Cullman really lets Kenneth Lonergan's words shine, which I appreciated. The script is very funny, subtle, and - for lack of a better word - neat. Of course, as others have mentioned, the themes pertain to the current social climate. And a side note: I wasn't bothered by the set like others were. 

[Brad4815]

Posted: 3/25/18 at 11:51pm

Saw the show Saturday afternoon, really enjoyed it. Like other posters said, nothing groundbreaking but still entertaining. Seemed like Cera flubbed a couple lines in scenes with Bel but it was fine. Stage door was absolutely insane. It, Anastasia and Hello Dolly all let out at the same time and the street was jam packed. My boyfriend stood with the stage door crowd while I stepped away and (understandably) nobody came out but security gave out four Playbills signed by the cast to people who presented tickets. So that was really nice.

[Danielle49]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 12:34am

Speaking of flubbing lines, I had a question about a scene between Dawn and Jeff. Forgive me if this is really silly, but I couldn't tell if one bit was Michael Cera and Bel Powley losing their lines or if they were just super believable. I haven't read or seen the play prior to this.

At one point, Powley said something like "oh, what was I saying?" and then Cera said something along the lines of "funny, because I forgot what I was saying too." Then there was a brief back and forth of like "you go - no, you go" and then Dawn changes the subject after the charmingly awkward moment. Is that scripted or was it just a really good cover up for forgetting lines?

[Brad4815]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 2:06am

Danielle49 said: "Speaking of flubbing lines, I had a question about a scene between Dawn and Jeff. Forgive me if this is really silly, but I couldn't tell if one bit was Michael Cera and Bel Powley losing their lines or if they were just super believable. I haven't read or seen the play prior to this.

At one point, Powleysaidsomething like "oh, what was I saying?" and then Cera said something along the lines of "funny, because I forgot what I was saying too." Then there was a brief back and forth of like "you go - no, you go" and then Dawn changes the subject after the charmingly awkward moment. Is that scripted or was it just a really good cover up for forgetting lines?"

I remember this from m show as well so it must be in the script. 

[little_sally]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 11:16am

I saw this over the weekend and at intermission I thought, "meh" but it came together for me by the end and I really liked it. Bryan Tyree Henry is giving the best performance of the four but I commend Michael Cera; he does a pretty good job (much better than he was in This is Our Youth) and never leaves the stage. Bel Powley's performance is a bit bizarre but she's leagues better than she was in Arcadia. Chris Evans is fine for his Broadway debut but it's a small-ish role so anyone going just for him will be disappointed.

It's not a must see but it's a nice evening at the theater. I don't quite know why Second Stage picked this of all things for their Broadway debut.