Lennon's Fate?- Page 2

[teth]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 5:38pm

Darin said on his blog that Chad will be out again because he blew his voice out again.

From what I'm hearing, it seems as though they're struggling to find the right structure of the story. If it's really not working out that well, I'd rather see them go back to the early versions.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 6:21pm

I really wonder how long this can last? I hope it's dosen't pull another GOOD VIBRATIONS.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 6:24pm

Does anyone else think Darin shouldn't be spilling "all the dirt" on his blog. It’s cool to hear the behind the scenes story, but some of his entries could be construed as quite negative, like his July 30th Post, "Matters were further complicated when Yoko denied the producers permission to use a Lennon recording they had planned to open the show with, and so Don and company had to improvise."

I think this just adds to the negativity surrounding the show, and we need more positive energy focused on Lennon.

[StarbuckQAF]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 6:26pm

Let's just all hope that "Lennon" pulls through. It is NO "Good Vibrations"... In my opinion, that show was ridiculous and lame with no substance.

"Lennon" just isn't like that - It HAS a message and it uses the songs of this man to tell HIS story, not some lame-ass creation that a bunch of bookwriters thought up. So once it finds its footing, I think it'll be back up again and going strong. It's lost a lot of heart the past few weeks because of the changes and Chad's illness, but the producers will come to their senses before opening and get this thing set in stone for good. Once it is, the heart and soul of the show will be back.

Damn, I sound so preachy. Let's just try to refrain from dooming the show before it opens.

[leefowler]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 6:34pm

When people say Lennon has a "message," what do they mean, exactly? Is the message "being nice is good, being mean is bad"? Or is it, "war is really crummy"?

[teth]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 6:56pm

Tomas - I seem to get that feeling too. His newest entry didn't seem to be too positive either. Nonetheless, I suppose it's good that he's honest with all the things that are happening.

Ugh...I would hate to see this show ruined because of all these changes.

[massofmen]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 7:14pm

cast is good. show blows..hope it stays open so people have jobs..thats about it.
I still have no idea why there is a musical based on John Lennon..did anyone read that article about some reporter who sat in the seats with John's Mistress for two years in the 70's?
she said there were countless errors in the story.
Like the one where Yoko LET"S him go to C.A to find himself or something..his mistress said that he went to get it on with her..I mean, I dunno how much stock you can take from a lady who is someones mistress.but I would IMAGINE (get it) that there are many discrepencies in this show.
AND! my favorite part is when Lennon leaves his wife and child to go visit Yoko and be with the "true love" of his life..wow..great..he is a winner...cheats on his first wife, and then has a mistress for two years while he is married to Yoko. Give peace a chance, but let me sleep around while we are giving it....maybe we should do a musical on Jude Law as well.

[massofmen]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 7:14pm

cast is good. show blows..hope it stays open so people have jobs..thats about it.
I still have no idea why there is a musical based on John Lennon..did anyone read that article about some reporter who sat in the seats with John's Mistress for two years in the 70's?
she said there were countless errors in the story.
Like the one where Yoko LET"S him go to C.A to find himself or something..his mistress said that he went to get it on with her..I mean, I dunno how much stock you can take from a lady who is someones mistress.but I would IMAGINE (get it) that there are many discrepencies in this show.
AND! my favorite part is when Lennon leaves his wife and child to go visit Yoko and be with the "true love" of his life..wow..great..he is a winner...cheats on his first wife, and then has a mistress for two years while he is married to Yoko. Give peace a chance, but let me sleep around while we are giving it....maybe we should do a musical on Jude Law as well.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 7:21pm

Darin writes that Chad blew his voice out "again" and that Julie, Marcy and others have already missed performances due to vocal exhaustion.

I realize the show is still rehearsing during the day, but that statistic is kind of frightening.

[teth]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 7:22pm

Just because you don't approve of his choices in life does not make this a bad musical.

[justme2]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 7:24pm

There are discrepencies in every biographical show; Lennon is no different from a show like, say, Will Rogers Follies. Every time someone tries to "musicalize" someone's life (for lack of a better term), these same arguements are brought up.

AND...the show I saw in SF showed plenty of balanced info on John; his cheating, his drug use, his "selling out", his non parenting of Julian, his wishy washy politics, etc.

I don't recall a halo over John in the SF version of Lennon; is there one now in New York?

[rock00]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 12:25am

Sounds like the SF show had a much better handle on what they wanted to say with the show. On the plus side, I've returned to my teenage days when I was obsessed with Lennon's music. It's all that's been going on my iPod since Saturday.

Oh, I also wouldn't put too much stock in what May Pang has to say (I'm assuming she was the "mistress" mentioned earlier). Generally, she seems to be on the wrong side of the story whenever you're comparing facts.

-b

[teth]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 1:36am

I thought the show was executed fairly well when I saw it here in SF. The only bad thing I could think of was that I thought the story could've been developed a bit better (I didn't feel like I understood Lennon still...minus the fact that he was this person that did such and such things).

[StarbuckQAF]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 3:21am

One of the major issues with the SF version was that the first act was NOT done chronilogically... He met Yoko a lot earlier in the first act and flashed back to his time with Cynthia and the Beatles...

In my opinion, it wasn't confusing. But a lot of people found it to be such, so there was MAJOR reconstruction done to the first act, with songs moved around and such
(if you want a list of the song changes, as of now, from SF to Broadway, you can click here: http://lennonmusical.tripod.com/music.html -- It's a little "fan site" I'm putting together. Not much there, but, whatever.)

I think Don did an AMAZING job turning the first act together and making it chronilogical and still keeping most of the information and songs intact. I saw it on July 8th before most of these current changes were implimented, and from what I hear, they're ridiculously unnecessary. I think Don will realize that and change most of it back. At least I hope so.

massofmen: the fact that this musical paints John as a MAN, with flaws and all, and NOT as a Saint is exactly what I like so much about this show! It's honest, and it's more raw (though some may argue not raw enough) than it would have been if it was a "praise John! He's God!" kind of thing. While it's also a biography, things have to be left out because, as someone stated in another post, it's a MUSICAL, NOT an A&E biography.

and as for what the "message" of the show is... I think it's all interpretation, but what I imagine they were going for was "Mankind is all connected, and we better work together as one or we'll never survive in this world." -- Most of the book is MADE of direct quotes that John said or wrote, so his words and philosophies, however changed or imperfect, are what drives the show.

[rock00]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 5:50am

Thanks for the link, Starbuck!

I feel a lot better about the show after reading Darin's blog. I wasn't thrilled with the version I saw last Friday and it sounds like neither was the cast (seems like it was a hodge-podge of the old, the new, and the different). Hopefully, Don & co will find the balance that they're looking for (sadly, I almost wrote "back to where they once belonged." Nothing like playing poker all night to dull your comedic senses...)

[kooky]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 9:10am

Thanks for the link Starbuck, I hope this show runs for awhile. It will have
it's audience. I'm listening to the music more now too !

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 9:24am

are there any clips on a website or something of songs from the show, or video clips of any kind?
i might get the cd when it comes out (whenever that is)...
poor lennon! it'll do better after the reviews come out (if they're good)

...yup

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 9:24am

are there any clips on a website or something of songs from the show, or video clips of any kind?
i might get the cd when it comes out (whenever that is)...
poor lennon! it'll do better after the reviews come out (if they're good)

...yup

[StarbuckQAF]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:25pm

bwayondabrain: On my fan site, I'm going to put snipets of the live audio from the show (not anything in full, but probably 30sec-1min snipets) -- I just haven't cut the audios yet. I'm also going to add snipets of the songs that were cut in SF, because I really liked them. People should know about them who didn't see it there.

Also, on the site I listed above, there are some videos to download or load that SHOW stuff from the live production. No bootlegs or anything, but promotional ads, interviews with clips, the Today Show, etc. :)

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:29pm

Question.

Am I the only person who could really care less about this show? I like Lennon's music but I just have no desire to see a show based on his life using his music with a handful of different actors playing him. Am I crazy?

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:32pm

Fear not... WONDERBOY you are not crazy! I was just in NY and saw 11 shows and when deciding what to see no one in my party of 4 ever mentioned any desire of seeing LENNON! The strangest thing is we all love the cast and the music... just no desire to see it!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:33pm

Well since the show is only at 51 percent capacity, clearly you aren't alone! I personally have no real interest unless they have free tickets at Equity or something like that.

[StarbuckQAF]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:34pm

No, you're not crazy, you're just not a fan. Every show has people who aren't interested in seeing it. Why should "Lennon" be any different?

Doesn't change the fact that the show has a growing fan base, since it's got such amazing people in it and the music is phenomenal. I'm just hoping that other people - maybe not you, but others - will be interested and venture to see it.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:37pm

Good I don't feel so bad. If I were given free tickets I would go. Hell, I sat through TITANIC three times in previews due to free tickets. The only other reason I would go is becasue like everyone else, I feel that it is an amazing cast.

[My Name in Lights]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 9:07pm

I so agree with your comments about the fact that LENNON shows John Lennon with flaws.

It does touch on his lack of care and acknowledgement of his first wife, when as a Beatle, it could be unpopular to even have a wife; his drug use; acting like an a...ole at times; cheating on Yoko; his being more of an idealist, rather than a realist, who admits at one point that he was naive about politics; but it also includes lots of good music, caring for his family in later years and being more mature; being a house husband, albeit a wealthy one; and just plain being a human being, warts and all. That's a lot to put in a show and keep it entertaining...but it does!

I saw the show for the third time on Saturday night. I did miss the opening and closing NASA/eulogy items; as well as the extended Queen Elizabeth routine; but I am still very able to follow who is playing John whenever. I believe that the audience will be able to as well, especially if they stop worrying about WHO (watch for the glasses if you must)is playing him in each scene; and instead concentrate on what is happening in the storyline.

The performers are working OT with all of the changes, and I applaud their being able to adapt as well as they are doing. It really bothers me that so many people sit in front of their computers and carry on so negatively about this show, rather than wait to comment after they see it for themselves. Are they hoping for a failed show? I hope not, because I don't think that the producers and directors are purposely setting out to make a bad show.

It does appear that the director is trying to make the show more upbeat and energetic; and while it's not perfect, I don't think it's possible to ever please everyone. I plan to go back, because I love this show, its story and its talent. I just hope they don't change it so much that it gets ruined not only for the audience, but for the performers who are so talented and putting their all into it.

Here's hoping for the best. I look forward to seeing it again this weekend, and I'm going in with a positive, open mind.

I'm through ranting .