Lennon's Fate?

I saw it two nights ago and didn't enjoy it as much as the first time although I still think it is wonderful. It's a wonderful show that's just having a hard time getting across what it means to say. It will get it across eventually, though.

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I think it just needs to find its balance... They're pushing for so many changes, when I think the smart thing is to keep it pretty much as it was. Thickening up a few sections, making some of the dialogue more in depth and meatier is the way to go. Not buchering the opening and closing just for the hell of it, when they worked just fine before! Thankfully, they're most likely reverting back to the original format, because it's just not working with the changes they tried.

The show really is wonderful, and I think once it gets moving and it opens officially, with no more changes being implemented, the attendence will pick up. It already has a slew of fans (dubbed "Lennonites" back in SF, haha), which "Good Vibrations" didn't really have. I think it's funny, because Chad Kimball, who is in "Lennon", was ALSO in "GV" and said he thought it was ridiculously stupid and he couldn't believe it even got produced. :) Direct from a member of the cast... that's harsh. I don't think he'd doom himself with another crap-project. "Lennon" should definitely stay around for a while -- It has the staying power, so theatre-goers need to just take a chance. Most will be remarkably surprised.

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Hey, Tiny-Toon, way to stay positive and not bash shows that haven't even opened yet! God forbid you liked this show and someone said something negative about it.

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Sorry, I thought by your comment that you expected Lennon to be closing soon.

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"...making some of the dialogue more in depth and meatier is the way to go."

I have to agree with Starbuck there. I saw the show friday night and although the show isn't anything amazing, I definitely didn't think it was the train wreck some would lead you to believe. The music was great and performed wonderfully (even if most of the *amazing* cast is underused). The show definitely has fantastic potential and I REALLY hope whatever it needs to have fixed up, it gets so that it can have a decent run.

This is true...and I certainly hope so!

Well Chad Kimball is REALLY proving himself to be very professional.

He's going to get a reputation and end his career if he keeps it up.

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Saw it Saturday afternoon and hated it. I'm sorry...everyone playing Lennon was just way too confusing. The music was fantastic, but I found it hard to conentrate. It seemed as if the book was just thrown together. I thought they cancellend the Boston tryouts so they could *fix* the show, not ruin it. Now even though I didn't enjoy myself on Saturday, I think I will give it one last chance after it opens...if it opens! I can't see this show making it to 2006. Bwaysinger commented about the show when he saw it and I completely agree with everything he said.

No wonder Chad Kimball is trying to sell those lame tshirts. First Good Vibrations, now Lennon.

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I don't know anything about this musical, but I am assuming it came out post-Mamma Mia. I find it very amusing that so many have followed in ABBA's footsteps. Yeah, followed ABBA!!

You know, the group that you openly loved to hate but secretly loved... The group that you almost have to be GLBT to love... The group that it's almost a stigma to admit that you love...even in our modern, politically-correct, diverse, "open" society...

Looks like ABBA and ABBA fans are getting the last laugh. Let's see...I've lost track of just how many cities and countries in which Mamma Mia is playing... Broadway, Las Vegas, oh, and the American touring cast; Ottawa, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden; Germany; UK; Australia... (go to http://www.mamma-mia.com for a complete list) Oh, and psst...don't know if the rumours are true, but I've heard that it might overtake the beloved "Phantom of the Opera" in ticket sales...

Oh, and if you haven't guessed... I LOVE ABBA...(lol, everyone!! Keep smiling...oh, and listen to "Dancing Queen" at least once today...blast it so everyone knows that you, too, love and respect this great group...)

JWB

Chad was back in the show last night (but Julie was still out so Rona went on as Yoko). They now open with NEW YORK CITY (starting with Will singing it behind the screen and then everyone joining in). They end with the video of IMAGINE (the part that used to play after the spaceship). I feel like the emotional impact of the show was kinda lost when they got rid of the original beginning/ending with the space shuttle and Terry"s eulogy. It just seemed to encompass what the show was all about. I love NEW YORK CITY but wish they could put it in somewhere else rather than first thing. Also, I am still missing the piano in act 1. The bring it out for act 2 but I liked when it was o9nstage the whole time... I don't know....

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"Saw it Saturday afternoon and hated it. I'm sorry...everyone playing Lennon was just way too confusing. The music was fantastic, but I found it hard to conentrate. It seemed as if the book was just thrown together. I thought they cancellend the Boston tryouts so they could *fix* the show, not ruin it. Now even though I didn't enjoy myself on Saturday, I think I will give it one last chance after it opens...if it opens! I can't see this show making it to 2006. Bwaysinger commented about the show when he saw it and I completely agree with everything he said. "

Glad I'm not the only one. Still hope the show succeeds, though. I'm thinking about going back after it opens to see what the "final" version is like compared to the revised version I saw Friday night.

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