Lennon...or you must be crazy!

[JulieJordan]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 2:45pm

I have been reading this board for a while and I have never felt the desire to post... until now. There have been some really positive reviews of Lennon, the musical. I couldn't belive it. This show is not good. It is at times quite offensive. Having a black man wear a KKK hood and make it a joke is embarassing. How about the "saturday night live-esque" indian accent?

Maybe they will re-name the show. YOKO and john. Since most of the show, especially ACT II treats her as if she is an infallible saint.

I wonder if they even know what they are trying to do here. Is it supposed to be funny? It's not. Is it supposed to be touching (it's not) Are we supposed to walk away feeling like we finally understand this deeply misunderstood man? (we don't)
What a terrible waste of talent!

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 2:46pm

Were you there last night?

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 2:49pm

If you only saw it in previews - most of what you saw has been changed reworked for Broadway.

[ken8631]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 2:53pm

Julie - what was the running time? Or did you leave before the end?

[JulieJordan]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 2:59pm

I did see it yesterday. It ran about 2 hours and 20 minutes. I wanted to leave during intermision but I don't do that kind of thing. The performers deserve respect.

[justme2]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:00pm

Hmmm, I don't remember a KKK hood in previews in SF...Lizzie or Hrh_annette?

There are always parts of shows that you won't like...in this show alone, I didn't like the "loud bombing" as the opening number (making the audience wet their pants is never good) and I didn't enjoy the hug fest during the 10-15 minutes the actors were on stage before the show began.

I'm sorry you had such a poor experience at this show; it sounds to me like you are not a fan a Yoko Ono...is this true? My friend who saw the show with me in previews was commenting throughout the second act that Yoko was getting off easy...You are NOT alone in that assessment, apparently. :)

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:01pm

Thanks for the running time, Julie.

[ken8631]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:35pm

Thanks also for the running time Julie..... I hope I enjoy it tonight more than you did - wife is a big Terrence fan.....

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:39pm

"Having a black man wear a KKK hood and make it a joke is embarassing."

What is the joke? What kind of statement are they trying to make? I feel having a blackman wear a hood is a powerful and strong statement. The humor behind it is very Brechtian and thought provoking.

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 4:43pm

Obviously you are 15 and have absolutely no clue as to what was on that stage last night.
Or you are Just a Closed minded person with no heart.

The whole point of the show last night is to be color blind, to be open to the world, to find ones self. Obviously the only thing you did see last night was a persons skin.
How sad!!!!!!!!!!

As Far as Yoko.... She may not be a saint and I'm sure you probably aren't either. However her views of the world have a good point that perhaps you should listen to and maybe you will be more open to something that has not only artistic merrit but a point that you obviously didn't get.

As I said in the other Tread for Lennons 1st preview....
I'll state it again

Anyone who can walk into the theatre and say I Hated this show obviously has no clue what just happened on the stage and what its meaning is and must be the most close minded selfish person in the world. PERIOD.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 4:51pm

Feng...anyone can form their own opinion of the show. They're just as valid eventhough it doesn't jive with your all mighty opinion.

No one's opinion is the final word. And you're calling someone else immature?

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 4:59pm

I guess I'm insulted that a person who can't even understand the story in the first place is making a comment about something that is nothing.

Yes a Black man does wear a kkk hood in the show. Yes there is a woman playing a man. Yes there is a a song in the show called, "Women is the n* of the world". These are all true, but you know what someone is obviously too immature to understand that these songs are making a point. Its to show that people aren't just the color of their skin, their sex. That everyone in the world is one.

Try listening to the message before you judge something. Obviously this person didn't because they were soooo immature to maybe think about whats going on in the story.

And Yes everyone has a right to their opinion and I have made mine quite clear.

[justme2]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 4:59pm

that's rather harsh, fengshui!

An opinion of a show is just that, an opinion. Everyone is entitled to like/dislike what they see on stage. Calling someone a closeminded, selfish person because they didn't "get" the same feeling from the show that you did is a harsh assessment of someone you don't even know, don't you think?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 4:59pm

Stop it Mr. Tuttle!! Feng Shui has already stated it TWICE! "Anyone who can walk into the theatre and say I Hated this show obviously has no clue what just happened on the stage and what its meaning is and must be the most close minded selfish person in the world. PERIOD."

I've notified the NY Times-- they won't even bother to send a reviewer. They are just going to run FengShui's edict.

Feng, are you going to allow free will with any other shows or will you be telling us what to think about any other shows? I'm hoping you will tell us what to think about Spamalot soon! I'm getting confused!

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 5:02pm

How very funny! NYTimes. Not exactly funny

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 6:25pm

I'm curious, Julie. Are you offended by white men in KKK hoods too?

You must have popped your top during "Woman is the n* of the World". :o

I was at the opening preview of "Lennon" last night. This show and this cast are absolutely awesome and it was quite obvious that the theater goers in the Broadhurst last night agreed. There is NO "waste of talent" in "Lennon." The only waste is apparently that "Lennon" was obviously wasted on you.

If you can't bring yourself to face the truths that John's music forced us to face that's your problem. Personally, I find your juvenile reaction to topics that still to this day haven't been resolved in American society much more offensive than having them addressed on a Broadway stage. Were you as offended by the racially inspired attack last week in Howard Beach?

Speak for yourself, Julie. I found Lennon funny and touching. I left the theater feeling as though I did understand John Lennon better than when I went in. And this Yoko bashing needs to stop too. As Yoko exited the theater last night and headed for her Bentley the audience, waiting for autographs at the stage door, broke into a round of spontaneous cheers and applause.

By "we" I suppose you are referring to yourself and whomever you saw "Lennon" with. Just because you and your friends can't handle it don't ruin it for everyone else.

PS If you're offended by "Lennon" you'd best stay as far away from "The Pillowman" as you possibly can. Perhaps you should consider the movies instead of live theater. I hear that "War of the Worlds" is a real favorite with juveniles.

[justme2]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 6:32pm

Can we please stop attacking JulieJordan and calling this poster juvenile and immature?

As much as I disagree with the poster's opinions of the show "Lennon", it is the poster's OPINION and we are indeed all entitled to have one.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 6:40pm

Didn't see it yet.. I really want to do the rush for it next week. I did hear some horrible things about it from friends that went last night But GV it's not, so that's good. They do have Student Rush, right?

Updated On: 7/8/05 at 06:40 PM

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 7:35pm

Thank you Feng for helping us understand the "story".

Now..perhaps YOU could understand a few other things like yours isn't the the only view in this world.

And you have made it quite clear...you are an idiot.

[teth]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:31pm

I saw this in SF and I do remember having a part with the KKK hood...but I don't remember when.

I also do agree that Yoko seems to be all-mighty in this musical...since it IS greatly influenced by her. However, who are we to say who was the most influential person in John Lennon's own life?

[Pinguin]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:40pm

Yeesh.

Just because a show has a good message doesn't mean that that message is clear or well treated in the production; if someone isn't "getting it," entertain for a second the possibility that the message isn't well framed in the show. Give this girl a break. I'm glad that there are people who both like and dislike the show, so that those of us who haven't seen it yet can hear different angles of it.

But the personal attacks from feng, slacker, etc. prove to me that THEY don't understand John's music or the music of the Beatles.

There are flaws in every show; it's just a matter of whether or not those particular flaws are important to you in your experience of the show.

All you need is love.

[Shawk]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:40pm

Micheal Potts wears the hood at one point, when they are talking about the Beatle burnings and the backlash from the "bigger than Jesus" remarks. Or at least, that's where I remember it being in SF.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:43pm

Mr. feng and Mr. slacker. Since you are both newbies here, this is how the board works. We RESPECT everyone's opinion and talk about our differences in a civilized manner ! All Julie did was express her opinion of a show. You have every right to disagree and express your views. But, attacking her and calling her names because she spoke her mind is fascistic, repulsive, rude and uanacceptable !!! If you can understand that you are very welcome to stay and talk about theater. If you think that anyone who disagrees with you is wrong and should be insulted, than please find another board ! Thank you
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 08:43 PM

[Pinguin]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:45pm

Amen, Greek.

Those were RIDICULOUS responses to her post.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:12pm

Everyone...

We know now why Feng has just popped up and started fighting with those who disagree with his view of "Lennon".

He's a shill for the production.

Check out Mat G's Lennon thread where Mr. Obvious raves about the show and tells us to buy tickets now cause they'll be sold out soon. Only a shill would worry about ticket sales and tell everyone to go to the box office now.