LYSISTRATA JONES -- 1st Preview TOMORROW!- Page 2

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 9:33pm

I really hope to see this and Bonnie and Clyde. The two musicals I'm most excited about this season. I'm just praying I can get to NYC to catch both along with Carrie. Probably too much to hope for, but a man can dream.

I'm accepting donations.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 9:35pm

How is the set? I was wondering how it would work in a real theatre instead of a gym.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 11:45pm

I was there tonight. I heard some grumblings and noticed a few walkouts too, but I have to admit I liked it. You really, really need to check your brain at the door and it's possible to have a fun time.

If they do a little trimming that will help, and it probably should just be a one act. The story is thin and there aren't really any surprises in the plot so you can't let anything drag. As Mr. De Bris advised, "Keep it happy, Keep it snappy, keep it gay."

As others have mentioned I had issues with the sound. I get it's an early preview, but some serious attention needs to be paid to the balance between the singers and the band. My second issue may be related because the sound balance could have thrown off the actors, but there were quite a few sour notes from several cast members.

The show benefits from saving the best song for the end and it's pretty hard not to walk out of the theater humming "Give It Up." The score reminded me of Altar Boyz at times, with some Legally Blonde thrown in. The lyrics aren't especially witty and I think it would lift the show if you were able to keep laughing during the songs. The book has some funny stuff in it, but the songs stop the humor. Luckily the cast has boundless energy to mostly put them over.

I enjoyed Patti Murin and think she was a winning heroine. Jason Tam was excellent as well. Liz Mikel steals her scenes and looks like she's having a good time.

I guess this is the [tos] or Bloody, Bloody of this season, but doesn't have the heart of the former or lampooning qualities of the latter. Sadly this show will have an uphill battle attracting an audience, so if you're interested see it now. It does (mostly) succeed at being good, fluffy fun.

[misto625]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 1:08am

The set is very similar to how it was off-Broadway at the Gym at Judson Church. The band is still on top of the stage, the locker units are still there on the sides, and the hoops are in the same places as before. There is an extra entrance on stage right which wasn't there before, and there are additional set pieces which fly in to set the scene which were not present off-Broadway. Also, there is an electronic scoreboard. Most of the physical production is still the same.

I agree that the songs aren't as funny as the book scenes are. "Give It Up" is certainly catchy, although Jason Tam's performance of "Hold On" is quite memorable for me.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 1:14am

Whizzer, I have to respectfully disagree with you. I honestly found the entire show to be pointless. Besides that one good song the score is a mix of everything you've heard before mixed with what you'd expect a group of 13 year olds to write if you told them to write music for "Broadway". The lyrics are so ridiculously cliche they're laughable. The performances were all fine I suppose, serviceable to the material which isn't saying a whole lot but I suppose they were all fine.

This script is a paint by numbers story where you know everything that will happen before it's even set up so very shortly after it starts you start to wonder what the point is to stay for the rest of it (which a lot of people didn't do).

I will say that this is far from the worst thing I've ever seen. It's nowhere near as bad as BKLYN or THOU SHALT NOT. It's along the same lines as GLORY DAYS though which was another "What's the point" show, and I see this one following down their path. There really is no reason for this show to be on Broadway. Maybe at New World or even Theater Row but this certainly doesn't need to be taking up the Walter Kerr.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 9:46am

Jordan- I think your comparison to Glory Days is apt. I actually agree with most of your thoughts, except I seem to have found the performances a bit more enjoyable than you did. There have certainly been other shows where the same faults found in Lysistrata Jones would have me irked, but for some reason last night I managed to have fun. (Is it because so much else this Broadway season has been such a disappointment that this was better in comparison?)

[kyle4]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 10:12am

(Is it because so much else this Broadway season has been such a disappointment that this was better in comparison?)

WHIZ -- THERE YA GO... YOU NAILED IT !!!

my thoughts are here... if you did not already know...

http://thetheaterbuff.typepad.com/the-theater-buff/2011/11/lysistrata-jones-first-preview-thoughts.html

[trentsketch]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 12:36pm

I'm sad to see that the show is coming across as fluff that really shouldn't be on Broadway. I thought it was strange this went from a 100 seat theater and a limited run to Broadway instead of a larger Off-Broadway venue first. Maybe they can still make something out of this before it opens. Punch up the lyrics, balance the sound design, and trim the show down to one act? Can they do that at this point? Other than the sound design, I mean. If it sounds like you people are describing it during the last few previews, I will not be happy.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 12:39pm

Last night I didn't notice any problems with the sound design, actually.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 12:46pm

trentsketch, first of all, commercial Off-Broadway is a virtually non-existent and non-profitable enterprise without some sort of "brand," so it would have made no sense for them to move the show anywhere but where they did.

Second of all, why would they implement significant changes to "make something out of it"? The glowing reviews they got at the Transport Group from the major critics are what prompted the transfer to Broadway in the first place, and those same critics are the ones who will return to re-review the show now. While I'm sure they're tweaking things here and there to reflect the new scale and environment (as they already have in the new rehearsal process,) the fundamental aspects of the show are already in place.

Updated On: 11/15/11 at 12:46 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 12:48pm

I was also at the show last night and my thoughts pretty much echo Whizzers. I had a lot of fun, and while I agree that the show is slight, I don't think its really fair to begrudge it being on Broadway. I certainly wish it well.

I do have to comment specifically on that sound design which is a major major problem and needs to be fixed ASAP. For anyone sitting in the mezz on the sides, the lyrics (and much of the dialogue when underscored) are almost completely incomprehensible. This is a really tough thing for a show whose charms are in its fast paced humour and quick one liners.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 1:03pm

I find that do odd because I was in the rear mezz on the far side and had absolutely no problem understanding anything.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 1:12pm

Glad to see a non-movie ispired Broadway show opening.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 1:12pm

Maybe that far up and that far over you had better clearance of the speakers - where I was (closer to the center aisle) the balance was really off. Music drowning out the singing but also just bad muffled sound.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 1:12pm

I was in the back of the orchestra and thought the balance with the band was terrible at times. My ear adjusted, but the first 10 minutes or so I was straining to make out words.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 1:38pm

Fair enough, somethingwicked. I still think going from Transport to Broadway is an odd jump. That's putting a lot of faith in reviews of a show that had very few seats to sell each night. I have some issues with suggesting that jumping into a commercial Broadway theater requires only minor tweaks when the scale of the show changes so much, but I can see your point.

[singtopher]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 4:35pm

In regards to the sound design, it may be the theater because of the three times I've been in that space the sound has been hit and miss.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 11:43pm

Wow, I'm surprised at all the love for the show in this thread. I hated it. I thought it was awful, boring and not funny. I am not a fan of topical jokes thrown into a show willy nilly just so the audience can go "That's funny because I am familiar with that!" I mean, Herman Cain, Siri? Really?

I didn't care at all about either the basketball team winning or the boys having sex. I liked a couple of the songs in the second act, as well as Lindsay Nicole Chambers & Liz Mikel, but that's about it. There is no drama because you know exactly where every piece of the story is headed.

I just thought it was stupid. Just really pointless and cheesy.

I will say that the actors seemed completely into it and they really gave it their all. There's a lot of talent up on that stage, I just wish it could be in a better show.

[binau]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 11:45pm

Boys having sex?

Any elaboration about this :P?

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 11/17/11 at 11:21am

Hahaha, no I didn't mean it like that. :P The plot is that the cheerleaders won't have sex with their basketball player boyfriends until they finally win a game. (Though the boys do strip down to their skivvies at one point, and if you're in the front row of the Mezz as I was, you get quite the view.)

Updated On: 11/17/11 at 11:21 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/17/11 at 11:44am

A fun show for the whole family!!

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 11/17/11 at 7:27pm

It's apparently being billed as such, Jordan (seriously...), so I'm guessing they've SERIOUSLY toned it down from the play from which it is inspired...

[mina3]

Posted: 11/17/11 at 11:55pm

Really? Where is it being billed as a family show, bwayfan? Having just seen it, I'd call it PG-13 - I didn't find it any more or less adult than, say, the movie 'Easy A."

Further thoughts: yes, the sound is a problem - I had trouble hearing lyrics over the band, and the whole thing is quite loud. I also found the lighting oddly dark at times. I see the point of those who have mentioned wishing it were a 90-minute no-intermission show - there's definitely 15 minutes that could be cut over the course of the show.

HOWEVER, I walked out of the theater humming and with a smile on my face. The cast's energy is infectious and I found myself laughing more than I have at the theater in a while. Some of the jokes were over the top, but boy do those kids sell it. Lindsay Nicole Chambers in particular kept making me laugh just with her facial expressions. Jason Tam is adorable, Patti Murin sounded great, and Liz Mikel is perfect for her role. Some great dancing too.

I don't see what's wrong with a happy, fun, enthusiastic show being on Broadway. I didn't see it at the Transport Group, but I also would never have guessed that it had played in a much smaller space. I'm wishing this one well, for sure.

[TBone]

Posted: 11/18/11 at 12:23am

I saw it wednesday night and I didn't like it at all. I was very disappointed, especially because I was so looking forward to having a great time. Liz Mikel was the best part of the evening. I think her "two-for-one lesbian night" joke was the only time I laughed out loud.

Updated On: 11/18/11 at 12:23 AM

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 11/23/11 at 6:11pm

Saw it this afternoon, the theater was about 70% full, good amount of walk outs at intermission.

except for Patti Murin, Liz Mikel & Lindsay Nicole Chambers. Lysistrata Jones is TERRIBLE, the book is a mess and has some of the worst jokes I have ever heard on broadway and it is a major issue when your male lead can not sing. Also dear Douglas Carter Beane when your last two shows were movie musicals you do not have the right to take shots at them no matter how bad movie musicals actually are. (line) "All the best theater is a movie first, that way the audience isn't surprised" .... two words Xanadu & Sister Act, Mr Beane.

The obvious reason why this was rushed to broadway is that with only 6 new musicals set to open this season, even if they close super fast they still have like a 70% chance of a best musical nomination, which will help with their licensing of the show in the future to colleges and high schools.