Lennon Wed mat

[itstheM]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 6:30pm

I really like Lennon. It is a very different kind of show and it's hard to explain why. It's not exactly a juke box musical. It's better than the others because the story is true. In parts the music doesn't explain the story it's just there. The beginning of Act 2 needs work because it's very Yoko Ono friendly. There is no set, the band is on the stage, and there is very little costume, and that works because it really makes you focus on the music, which I guess is the most important part (it is John Lennon after all). The cast is AMAZING. They are excellent singers who had tremendous energy and talent. Will Chase is by far the best Lennon. He has the best accent and look. The rush tickets were in the front row and the seats are great, but sooooo close to the stage. If you're going to get tickets, sit a little further back to get a full view. Stage dooring was hard because the cast had rehearsal right after the show and wouldn't be out until 5, which was 45 mintues after the show ended.
It's a good show to see, don't pay $100 because as good as it is, it's not worth that much money.

[gymman]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 7:40pm

2 shows and a rehearsal--ouch!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 8:34pm

"It's a good show to see, don't pay $100 because as good as it is, it's not worth that much money."

I bet this is going to end up in the Lennon ads.

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 9:21pm

But there are Beatles songs in the show, no?

[alli2]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 10:22pm

I was at the matinee too! Seat AA110. I had REALLY low expectations going it but I enjoyed myself! The only thing that I wasn't so down with was the fact that they had five people playing Lennon onstage at ONCE. Was that really necessary? My favorite Lennon's were Chad Kimball and Will Chase. Julie is a far-too-pretty Yoko. I thought of the show as a history lesson because I didn't know anything about Lennon or Yoko. I knew that Yoko was being made out to be too much of a saint though, or I assumed so because every one I speak to says, 'That's the bitch that broke up the Beatles.' (Including the teenage boy sitting next to me.)

Marcy is the ****, but I've known that for years.

The experience I had sitting in the front row was like the experiences I used to have sitting in the front row at Rent. It was exciting and you made lots of eye contact with the cast, it was just fun.

I'm having a hard time saying that anyone was under-used in the show though, I think, aside from Chad and Will (who IMO had the largest parts), I think everyone was equally used. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention.

I'm not sure if this could be considered a juke box musical, I feel like yes, and no. Only because usually a juke box musical is telling a made up story and this obviously wasn't.

I had a good time. I'm definitely going back to see Marcy, Chad, and Will again.

[demosupremo]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 10:35pm

I was there too in seat AA103. I was the kid that Terrence Mann came over to and gave a high five at curtain call and then shook my hand. It was one of the coolest things ever. I really enjoyed the show. The cast is absolutely amazing.

[suzycat]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 10:39pm

I too was at the matinee! I thought the show was wonderful. I brought my dad - who was very active in the music scene in the 60s, and we were both in tears by the end of the show. It was incredibly powerful and the actors are AMAZING. It took a little while for the audience to get into the format, but it really works. It's completely an ensemble piece - everyone is onstage for nearly the entire show.

alli2 - there were only 5 playing him at once ONE time. after that it was spread out with mostly Chad & Will playing him (they were excellent, by the way)

itstheM - I would disagree about it not being worth $100. just because a show does not have lots of flashy costumes and sets doesn't make it worth less $$. Seeing those performances was well worth the money.

[alli2]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 10:39pm

oh cool! just wondering, why did Terrance do that?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 10:45pm

I just have a question --

I haven't seen the show yet, but from some of the comments I wonder whether it might it make more sense to have just one actor play Lennon himself and then have all the others play other people in his life, etc......?

[suzycat]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 11:06pm

The others do play people in his life. Mainly Chris & Will play him. It's hard to explain, but when you see it, it is not confusing.

[Bwaydreams01]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 11:17pm

What about Julia Murney? It's her long-awaited Broadway debut as many know. How was she in the show?

[suzycat]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 11:19pm

She is great - her two main roles are as John's aunt and as his 1st wife. She's gone blonde for the show (don't know if that's new or not, but in her headshot she has dark hair).

[itstheM]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 11:26pm

Wow that is so weird that we were all at the show today. Alli, I was sitting next to you in seat AA111. :P

Margo-it was cool having a bunch of people play Lennon. It allowed the show to move at a fast pace and wasn't confusing at all. The other actors did play other characters, like: Ed Sullivan, John's Aunt, a Ku Klux Klan Member, Senator Thurman. Julie was the only on to play Yoko, and I liked that too.

[tmz814]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 11:28pm

I was at the matinee today as well (and in the front row rush seats too). I saw the show on Saturday from the boxes and i would have to say that I really like the front row rush seats. Will Chase and Chad Kimball are wonderful in this show. Everyone else is great, but I have to say that Will and Chad really are pretty much the show for me (that and Marcy's solo song... wow!!!!). They cut down some of the first act since I saw it last and I think it helped. I really think the show is so powerful and the ending had me crying again. I will definitely be going back again...

I don't know if I woudl call it a juke box musical. I don't know what I would call it... It is what it is I guess....

and yea i got flowers today!!! haha...

Updated On: 7/13/05 at 11:28 PM

[alli2]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 11:37pm

ITSTHEM! I heard you say to your.. mom, i guess it was? before the show started when she asked you if you knew who Yoko was, you said, "Yeah, she broke up the Beatles." I just found that really funny, cause that's the common response. Was that you?

I don't think Lennon will last very long, but it's a fun show, especially from the first row.

Also, there was a girl, Laura, I think her name was, who was with me at the stagedoor and we traded cameras and took pictures for each other. Is she on here? Hmm...

EDT: And does anyone know if Chad is straight or not? And I ran into Marcy on the street in the late-afternoon... very cool. Love her, love her, love her.

Let's plan a date to all go see the show again. Updated On: 7/13/05 at 11:37 PM

[tmz814]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 11:43pm

I'm not sure how long lennon will last either but I like it (that doesn't say much since a lot of the shows I like get panned by the critics). Especially sicne the theatre was prtty empty today.....

on a side note I spotted Ryan Duncan (of Altar Boyz) in the audience at Lennon today.

Last time I saw the show (Saturday) Yoko was in the audience... Does anybody know if she sees the show often or was that like a one time thing....

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 7/13/05 at 11:53pm

There are Beatles songs in the show, no?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 12:01am

Do they still do the bit where they bring on the "Guest John?" I think that is so funny. The night my sister went she was sitting next to the woman who got pulled up and was made to put on a Lennon wig and glasses and sing Whatever Gets You Through the Night. It sounds really funny.

I heard that at one performance it was Ivana Trump who was pulled up to do the bit. Hysterical!!!

[tmz814]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 12:06am

They haven;t done that the 2 times I have seen it.

[overthemoon419]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 12:07am

i think the idea of everybody playing John at one point or another, as well as multiple people playing John at a given moment, stem from the idea that we are all one, that John is no different from Mandy or Terry or you or me.

[tmz814]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 12:10am

As it says in the playbill and on the screen before the show starts:

"I am he, as you are he, as you are me, and we are all together" ~I Am The Walrus

I feel like that really usms up exactly what the director was thinking when they decided to have multiple people play John. I guess it's trying to say that we are all connected.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 12:13am

Which is also brilliantly executed with the audience member coming onstage and essentially becoming one more John.

[tmz814]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 12:14am

Did they really do that in SF???? bring an audience member onstage to be lennon????? I haven't seen them do that in NY. hmmmmmmm.....

[thisdude]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 6:32am

They didn't bring people on stage in SF. It must be a new thing in NY.

I'm very curious to how they changed the end. I'm sure they changed it from SF to NY judging by everyone saying people were in tears. If someone can email me what happens, I would appreciate it. Do they still have the two previously unreleased songs in the show? "India" and I can't remember the name of the other one. It was a duet between Jon and Yoko in the Second Act, I think. Is the 2nd act still 'the yoko ono story?" I'm very curious to know how it's changed.

[ken8631]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 7:52am

They didn't bring anyone onstage in NY when I saw it last Friday. And no, it's not confusing having multiple Johns - it works very well.