LYSISTRATA JONES -- 1st Preview TOMORROW!- Page 4

[TheatreDork3]

Posted: 12/5/11 at 3:59pm

I agree with some of the sentiments others have had on here. Is this show a miracle of modern theater - of course not. But if that's where you going to see this musical then you're setting yourself up for failure. I saw two shows on Saturday: Follies for the amazing artistic experience and Lysistrata Jones for the pure joy of it. The show is quirky and fun! Are all of the songs immediate hits that I'll be singing for decades to come, probably not. Some are definitely fun and get the audience going.

I would definitely say of all the Lysistrata themed musicals (and operas) I enjoyed this one the best! Yes, there have been previous attempts at Lysistrata musicals ("The Second Greatest Sex" movie musical in the 1950s and Michael Cacoyannis' "Lysistrata" from 1972).

Overall, would I take my mother to see this show - she's a Republican, Christian fundamentalists - so definitely not. Would I take my 9 year old niece - again wouldn't got there. Would I take my best friends (both theater and non-theater goers) - definitely.

It's a fun evening. It won't change your life, but you'll probably laugh a lot and enjoy yourself.

TD

[julesboogie]

Posted: 12/6/11 at 3:22pm

This was just a whole lot of fun. I occasionally checked out the audience to see what people were feeling, and I saw alot huge grins and bopping heads.

I also heard some comments during intermission. Some great, a few not so positive...couple of theatre queens having a great time being mean . I don't give them too much weight as I'm far too familiar with the type. Anything that doesn't have bernadette nailing her chords to the back wall is flawed to them. Haha

Anyway this registered to me like sister act. Lots of fun, tons of energy, and tough to hear at times. I forgot my worries and was entertained. While that's not always what I'm looking for, it never hurts to have it. They seemed about 70% full. I got a student rush at 6:25pm.

Diverse, talented, cast that's giving it their all. Plus there's tons of skin and skivies.

Go!

[NYCBound91]

Posted: 12/6/11 at 9:15pm

For those of you who have rushed this show recently, if I were to arrive tomorrow at 9:00, do you think I'd have a good shot at getting one ticket for the matinee and one for the evening? It doesn't sound like I'd have to get there much earlier.

[emilyfaye48]

Posted: 12/9/11 at 12:10am

I. Love. This. Show.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/9/11 at 8:44am

I saw it last night. A prime example of a show that just should have stayed off Broadway. It's going to flop, it won't win any Tonys, and I don't see what the producers thought they could possibly benefit from by transferring this show to Broadway. It's by far Douglas Carter Beane's weakest book to date, the score is very reminiscent of High School Musical (sometimes in a good way, mostly in a bad way), the lyrics are beyond pedestrian, and the actors are hamming it up to the point of annoyance. The only two actors I liked in the show were Patti Murin and Liz Mikel. Josh Segarra can't sing to save his life.

I'm glad I got in for free (like 99.9% of the theater, which was at the most 50% full). I forgot I saw it by time I woke up this morning. It's not like it's abysmally, deplorably bad; it's just pointless, not all that fun, and doesn't really work on a bigger stage.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/9/11 at 12:24pm

I was there last night as well, and I honestly had an absolute ball. I thought almost all the jokes were funny (as well as many of the lyrics), the choreography was great, and I enjoyed many of the performances (though surely they could've found a Mick who could sing the score...). That said, it's indeed a very strange fit for Broadway and probably won't run. I am very glad I saw it, though, and I hope the reviews are great and maybe prolong its life a bit. And, for the record, I didn't find the Kerr too big for it, and from where I was sitting in the orchestra, the audience was enjoying the hell out of it. I thought it was definitely worth paying TDF prices for.

[Rage and Love]

Posted: 12/9/11 at 12:51pm

I too saw the show last night, and luckily I got in for free thanks to a Facebook page. My friend compared it to an "adult" High School Musical. We both had found it very predictable. Lysistrata's main goal, saddened me. Who would ever have a main goal in life like this? However, I think the actors were extremely talented and are above the quality of this production.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/9/11 at 1:53pm

^I take it you haven't seen or read the original Lysistrata...

[kdogg36]

Posted: 12/9/11 at 2:39pm

Lysistrata's main goal, saddened me. Who would ever have a main goal in life like this?

I understand where you're coming from - on the surface, it looks like her main goal in life (as you say) is for her college basketball team to win a game. And it looks like her idea for achieving this - withholding sex - sort of peters out (no pun intended) and doesn't have much import in the end, even when they do win that game.

However, the thing she's really attacking is complacency. All the characters are pretty much stuck in their very predictable ways and satisfied with the status quo. Her actions lead everyone to rethink things and find reasons to reach for more, so that when the boys do win that game, it's not because they need to get laid.

I'm not trying to claim that this is a profound work, but it has a point to make and it's not a shallow or worthless point. And it's a lot of fun!

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/9/11 at 2:46pm

Though withholding sex until a basketball team wins a game is possibly a less substantial effort than withholding sex until a war is ended, it's still the same idea. So if you take issue with that, it's Aristophanes' fault, not Carter Beane's.

[Amneris]

Posted: 12/10/11 at 1:23pm

This show was sadly really bad I don't want any show to fail but, I don't see this making it either. The cast is really trying but, the material just isn't up to par for Broadway. It would have been better staying where it was. I think this will be another "Andrew Jackson" and be a hit off bway, fail on bway and be forgotten about by Tony time.
I do however wish all involved the best of luck. Updated On: 12/10/11 at 01:23 PM

[gravity87]

Posted: 12/10/11 at 1:49pm

I saw the show last night, and had so much fun! Check this show out, check you cynicism at the door and get ready to have a great great time. The cast is insanely talented, and easy on the eyes. The choreography is a blast, the songs are catchy, some great laughs. There was nothing not to love about this show. I really hope this one holds on for a while, because I think with the right word of mouth this could be a real sleeper hit. See the show, expect nothing but a good time, and you won't be disappointed. Loved, Loved, Loved it!

[gravity87]

Posted: 12/10/11 at 1:50pm

sorry, double post. Updated On: 12/10/11 at 01:50 PM

[massofmen]

Posted: 12/11/11 at 9:36am

the cast is "insanely" talented?

hyperbole on a sunday morning. Lets calm down

[Broadwayfan15]

Posted: 12/11/11 at 6:29pm

I agree with you Gravity 87. And, nothing wrong with using the word "insanely" talented. Loved the show, and it's alot more than just girl withholding sex to win a b ball game. Sex and power is part of it; but so is the theme of caring enough to try, to break out of the stereotypical molds that limit possibilities. High energy fun with deeper meaning if one wants to find it.