Lennon...or you must be crazy!- Page 2

[Pinguin]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:13pm

Good call, Tuttle.

[justme2]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:20pm

Is that all it takes to be a shill? Tack on a line in your positive review to "buy tickets now, they are selling fast!"

Then I guess the rest of us who enjoyed the show in SF are "shills" as well.

What would the opposite be called? You know, the posters who haven't even seen a show, yet are determined to undermine it with negative rumors, mock it's creative team, the performers, et al?

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:22pm

Is this what the average theater-goer writes about a show?

"By the way get your tickets now is my suggestion. Tonights show was almost completely sold out. I think there might have been maybe 15 seats in the theatre. Get it before you can't word will travel very quickly with this show."

Wow..how sweet of you to tell us that the show was almost sold outlast night (umm..not really..and how would you know?) and that we better get tixs now cause it's going to be sold out.

Congrads! We have the first BWW Shill of The Year.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:24pm

Justme....

Please show me in your review of SF's "Lennon" where you urged people to run out and buy tickets cause it was almost sold out and they're going to be hard to get.


Umm..yeah. Just what I thought.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:28pm

justme, you have to know that there's a difference between expressing that you like a show, and crazily trying to destroy every poster who doesn't like the show and then slip in some "oh...um...yeah...it's definetely, um...gonna sell out...so you should buy tickets" blah blah blah. The latter is far more suspicious.

The opposite would be called "mean and stupid" of course. Nickname not necessary. Doesn't mean that I have to just let feng's comments slip by without questioning them.

[justme2]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:28pm

Well, I didn't and couldn't, because I saw one of the last performances...but I was telling everyone I know to see it the next night if they could! There was no point for me to put it into my review.

But I agree with it being odd to count out seats that were empty in the theater.


Pingin: Hell yes.....no way should those comments have been allowed to slip by unnoticed..I even commented on them myself.


And to both Tuttle and Pinguin: I think I am beginning to see what the whole "shill" thing is about now....thanks! :)

Updated On: 7/8/05 at 09:28 PM

[Shawk]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:30pm

I just knew that it wouldn't be long before this board's obsession with shills jumped all over that statement. Carry on.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:50pm

"Only a shill would worry about ticket sales and tell everyone to go to the box office now."

Not really.. I was never a shill and REALLY worried about Brooklyn's income. Why? Because I didn't want my favorite show to close.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:29pm

I find it odd that the posters here who insist on allowing people to express their opinions free from criticism don't extend that rule to people like Fengshuihellnyc who, without any proof whatsoever, they feel free to attack as a "shill".

As for me, I may be a "newbie" to Broadwayworld but I'm no newbie to Broadway.

I've never been able to comprehend the theater world's obsession with trashing their own industry. You people are doing more harm than you realize. Or do you realize?

You should hold yourselves to the same standard you demand of others here. Realize that a few malcontents can ruin a run because of their foolish, spiteful "opinions," whether those opinions are valid or not, whether or not they've even seen the show they're trashing.

I express my opinion and, just as you, that includes my opinion of your opinion. Just as you express your opinions of people whose opinions you disagree with as "shills", as you did with Fengshuihellnyc," or "newbies" because they happened to register with this site later than you.

If fans of a show who express their opinions are shills what are those people who trash a show without even seeing it? What possibly could be their motive? Are they disgruntled "actors" who can't understand why the spotlight isn't on them? Why isn't that ME up there? Is that a fair statement? Well, it's as fair as your "shill" statement against Fengshuihellnyc, IMO.

I have enough friends and acquaintances in theater to discuss Broadway without playing kids' games here. If you're one of those people who are into this self-destructive behavior, I wish you great success. Just please, for the rest of us who truly love theater, stop trying to bring Broadway down with you.

Thxbye
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 10:29 PM

[soulman83]

Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:59pm

amen slacker!!. thats that. let move on now.

[joeybiltmore1]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 12:18am

A black man wearing a KKK hood was pretty damn funny in "Blazing Saddles".

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 5:47am

slacker, the initial attack from both of you was to Julie, who clearly SAW the show. And for the record, I don't know her or have any idea who she is. You called her juvenile for not liking it. Is that respect ? I have a LOT of shows that I love, that some people here think are crap. Should I attack them ? There are shows that others adore, that I hate. It is a matter of personal taste. And really, do you believe that a negative opinion here can ruin the show's run ????? If the majority thinks it is a good show, it will be a hit, no matter what. All I said was, let's be POLITE to each other even if we disagree. And since I was the one that called you a newbie, it was by no means demeaning. Everyone has been a newbie here and has taken advice on how the board works, so they can have a more enjoyable stay !
And as for the shill part, which was clearly not directed at you, when someone's posts are only about one show, harassing and insulting those who didn't like it and urging people to go buy tickets, well, there is suspicion. Updated On: 7/9/05 at 05:47 AM

[andyf]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:49am

I just saw Lennon tonight and ummmmm......what the hell was that show about? I enjoyed seeing all those insanely amazing performers on the same stage, but the songs didn't really do anything for me, with one HUGE exception.

As much as I didn't love the show, I will be seeing it a few more times to see Marcy Harriell's "Woman Is the n* of the World." Insanity.

So yeah, a lot of the music, really not so amazing. I know it's John Lennon's songs, but the arrangements were less than spectacular. Some of the stuff was really good, but a lot of it was pretty bland.

Anyway, go see The Marcy Harriell Show at the Broadhurst Theatre. Between "Woman Is the n* of the World" and watching her play Elton John...it's well worth the $25.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:51am

Is it true that "the set" is just a piano?

[andyf]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:55am

It's barer than the stage at the Nederlander.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 10:27am

OK. I'm NOT 15, I'm not closed-minded, and I lived through all of the history portrayed in the show and remember each event when it happened in real time.

I hated most of what I saw on stage. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Fengshuihell...

I was going to hold off until Lennon opened, but can't keep my mouth shut in this thread. I *will* say that there were moments that I thought were good. And yes, once...okay, twice...I was choked up and teary-eyed. The portrayal of Yoko didn't bother me nearly as much as I thought it might; the color-blind and gender-blind factors didn't bother me at all; and although I found the use of multiple actors a bit gimmicky and unnecessary, I could appreciate the concept.

What I really hated was the presentation. Lets begin with the total lack of choreography. Lordy, it resembled nothing so much as my daughter's middle school show choir stand-in-place and use pseudo-sign language hand movement approach. And that there were so many pitch problems going on that I wanted to scream. These are professionals on Broadway? God help us all. This show perpetuates the unfortunate trend toward the deification of belting...and it doesn't seem to matter if it's shrill, screechy, or not quite the right note, as long as it's top volume. Many of the performers on that stage are on the fast train to polypville.


Lennon has the same "feel" as Brooklyn, but it offended me more because it was based on the real life of a real man. A man who deserved better.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 10:56am

It is hard for me to believe that Yoko Ono was part of the creation of the show.

I echo everything Iflit wrote. It was dreadful!

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 10:57am

Bad, bad Yoko...

[leefowler]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:15am

I saw Lennon last night. It's Broadway swill of the most irriating kind. I couldn't wait to get out of the theatre. EVERYONE plays Lennon at various times. Never has any show been saddled with such an unworkable concept as this one.

Regarding the black man in a KKK hood: One of the problems of this show is the fact that this is the sort of thing that passes for humor and wit. Similarily, at various times a woman is required to play Geraldo, a maharishi, and Elton John. Apparently, someone thought this might be amusing. It all resembles a Saturday Night Live sketch during one of those "off" seasons when no one on the show is funny. Whoever referred to this sort of thing as "Brechtian" needs to take another theatre course at junior college.

In the words of Spamalot, "Run Away."

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:15am

Imagine...

[Pinguin]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:59am

"Whoever referred to this sort of thing as "Brechtian" needs to take another theatre course at junior college."

-HAHAHAHAHAHA...Amen.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:19pm

I have heard this show is a mess from two sources. One a very reputable poster on this board. The other a actor I represent whos husband happens to be in the show.

Anyway.. It is always interesting to see the Shills pop up when shows are in previews. Remember all the hoopla when "Good Vibrations" was in previews? Lennon is a big flop.

[leefowler]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:02pm

Actually, "Lennon" sort of reminded me of "Good Vibrations." As a huge Beach Boys fan, and a huge Beatles and John Lennon fan, it was really depressing to see what Broadway did to these two amazing song catalogues. At least in "All Shook Up,: these old Elvis songs weren't really all that great to begin with. But Lennon and Brian Wilson wrote brilliant songs...they both deserved better.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:22pm

Ok - I went into the theater wanting to like this musical (but) I can't help echoing the comments from other posters. Some of the scenes did remind me of bad Saturday Night Live skits.

I thought the Indian accent was just downright offensive. I almost think you're better off letting an actor speak with their own voice. The audience knows you’re the Maharishi , you don’t have to pretend to be Apu from the Simpson’s. Whenever they stage Elephant Man or Glass Menagerie the character’s handicaps are implied - not directly stated. And for all you getting ready to shout, I’m not saying an Indian accent is a handicap! It’s just, unless your Meryil Streep, or you have a great dialog coach, doing an accent badly can come across as very cheesy.

But with that said, I thought Will Chase was great and with the exception of occasional pitch problems everyone else sounded ok.


Updated On: 7/10/05 at 02:22 PM

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:38pm

After reading your reviews, and hearing horrible things about it from all the people I know.. I think i'm gonna pass this one.