MRS. DOUBTFIRE Previews- Page 4

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 10:34am

ACL2006 said: "Curious to hear what they changed."

Same. I believe there were 2 new musical numbers that went in (one of which was being prepared at the time of shutdown), but uncertain if there was more. In that VARIETY interview, Jerry Zaks made it sound like they didn't work on it for the first few months of the pandemic, and then started up again after they had dates.

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 12:06pm

I know the writers talked about how they were reworking the nightmare sequence (which is discussed further up in this thread) and the finale in an interview early in the shutdown. Curious to see if they put any new numbers in as well.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 12:48pm

I didn't hear about any new numbers being inserted into the show upon reopening. 

There was one new number added into the Broadway production for the first few previews, if anyone remembers. It was called "No," in which Stuart Dunmire asks Doubtfire in the gym if "she" thinks he is the right kind of man for Miranda, with assistance from the male ensemble. This song replaced the Bacharach-esque "She Deserves a Real Man" from the Seattle tryout. 

Otherwise, it was just altered / added lyrics and dance breaks to preexisting songs, as far as I remember. 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 7:08pm

Does it seem odd to go through the motion of dropping the “Mrs.” only to then negate the whole thing? The curtain still says “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Just seems very performative for no reason.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 7:15pm

I think they jumped on the bandwagon of “change” and realized there was no point (and no need) to changing the title.

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 7:22pm

SouthernCakes said: "Does it seem odd to go through the motion of dropping the “Mrs.” only to then negate the whole thing? The curtain still says “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Just seems very performative for no reason."

On that note, that's a new curtain (photo is on the Doubtfire Instagram story). It was just a plain red one last March.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 7:31pm

Have fun tomorrow night guys! 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 7:45pm

MattieIce2018 said: "SouthernCakes said: "Does it seem odd to go through the motion of dropping the “Mrs.” only to then negate the whole thing? The curtain still says “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Just seems very performative for no reason."

On that note, that's a new curtain (photo is on the Doubtfire Instagram story). It was just a plain red one last March."

Interesting... I think I preferred the plain red curtain. Logos rarely look good on show curtains IMO.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 8:11pm

[ArtMan]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 9:13pm

Just now, received my emailed ticket from Telecharge for November 3.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 9:40pm

The new curtain is smart. It’s free advertising you wouldn’t get sigh a plain red curtain, for everyone posting pics.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 9:42pm

Agreed. Good place for people to take selfies, etc. I think it fits in with the show. 

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 10:24pm

The blue and white branding they're using now is also much better than the pink/off-white design from last year.

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 7:58am

Anyone know when the TodayTix rush will start again?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 12:10pm

ellbellthomps said: "Anyone know when the TodayTix rush will start again?"

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/MRS-DOUBTFIRE-Announces-Digital-Rush-Policy-as-Previews-Begin-Tonight-20211021

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 12:11pm

Thank you! A little nervous, I've never tried an online rush. 

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 9:35pm

Some quick intermission thoughts - the show feels MUCH tighter than last year. The first 3 songs have been removed and replaced with one - the show now opens with Natalie listening to a recording of Robin Williams singing the Fígaro opera rather than Daniel performing his own version. Miranda makes a comment that Christopher “is six inches taller than last time I saw you” which is a nice little joke about the kids being older.

The Fígaro parody, That’s Daniel, and I’m Done have been replaced with a song called What’s Wrong With This Picture - it reminded me of That’s Daniel. The rap Daniel does with the puppets has been rewritten too to be about the station owner, who then walks in while he’s doing it.

They also added a short line from Andre (Daniel’s brother) about the difference between “becoming a woman” and “wearing a disguise to deceive your wife,” and Christopher now catches Daniel with his mask off instead of in the bathroom, which seems to address some of the things that people could find problematic.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 9:45pm

MattieIce2018 said: "Some quick intermission thoughts - the show feels MUCH tighter than last year. The first 3 songs have been removed and replaced with one - the show now opens with Natalie listening to a recording of Robin Williams singing the Fígaro opera rather than Daniel performing his own version. Miranda makes a comment that Christopher “is six inches taller than last time I saw you” which is a nice little joke about the kids being older.

The Fígaro parody, That’s Daniel, and I’m Done have been replaced with a song called What’s Wrong With This Picture - it reminded me of That’s Daniel. The rap Daniel does with the puppets has been rewritten too to be about the station owner, who then walks in while he’s doing it.

They also added a short line from Andre (Daniel’s brother) about the difference between “becoming a woman” and “wearing a disguise to deceive your wife,” and Christopher now catches Daniel with his mask off instead of in the bathroom, which seems to address some of the things that people could find problematic."

WOW - the show already feels much different than the previous version! Can’t wait to see this next week!

Edited: Brad Oscar plays Daniel's brother Frank; Andre is Frank's husband (J. Harrison Ghee).

How does Daniel's freestyle rap with "Mousey" and "Ratty" now relate to Janet Lundy instead of the previous version (reading an analog clock)?

 

 

 

Updated On: 10/21/21 at 09:45 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 11:01pm

Their Instagram went live for curtain call a few minutes ago. No speeches

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 11:21pm

Jordan Levinson said: "MattieIce2018 said: "Some quick intermission thoughts - the show feels MUCH tighter than last year. The first 3 songs have been removed and replaced with one - the show now opens with Natalie listening to a recording of Robin Williams singing the Fígaro opera rather than Daniel performing his own version. Miranda makes a comment that Christopher “is six inches taller than last time I saw you” which is a nice little joke about the kids being older.

The Fígaro parody, That’s Daniel, and I’m Done have been replaced with a song called What’s Wrong With This Picture - it reminded me of That’s Daniel. The rap Daniel does with the puppets has been rewritten too to be about the station owner, who then walks in while he’s doing it.

They also added a short line from Andre (Daniel’s brother) about the difference between “becoming a woman” and “wearing a disguise to deceive your wife,” and Christopher now catches Daniel with his mask off instead of in the bathroom, which seems to address some of the things that people could find problematic."

WOW - the show already feels much different than the previous version! Can’t wait to see this next week!

Edited: Brad Oscar plays Daniel's brother Frank; Andre is Frank's husband (J. Harrison Ghee).

How does Daniel's freestyle rap with "Mousey" and "Ratty" now relate to Janet Lundy instead of the previous version (reading an analog clock)?"

Yes, thank you for correcting that! I was actually trying to change it in the theater but I didn't have service. Act 2 is pretty similar to how it was but the nightmare sequence has been completely rewritten. It's now You've Been Playing with Fire instead of You've Created a Monster, and it's shorter and more about Daniel trying to be with his kids. Charity has a tearaway costume from her court liason outfit now. The choreography is much better too - there's still lots of Doubtfires but the kids are themselves and the Doubtfires are keeping him from them. Leading into this is a book scene where Lydia says that "you get to spend time with us but we don't get to spend time with our dad," which helps to contextualize it a bit more. The restaurant scene is also shorter - all the projections and VO from Daniel and his brothers are cut and there's just a bunch of quick changes while the Latin song happens. Miranda's solo Let Go has been restaged as well and is much more powerful.

To go into more detail about Act 1, What's Wrong With This Picture is very similar musically to the old opening, That's Daniel. After Natalie listens to Robin Williams, they're all posing for a family portrait when Rob comes in dressed in a ridiculous outfit. While he's goofing off with the kids, he breaks the photographer's camera and the opening starts. Him getting fired from a VO job happens during an interlude in the song. Then, the birthday party transitions right into the court scene instead of a song for Miranda (Daniel and Miranda step downstage for the scene change and the line "I want a divorce" lands right as the transition to the courtroom finishes). The rap with Mousey and Ratty is just... totally different. Similar concept with the loop machine but it's basically a new song. I can't remember exactly how it went but it eventually becomes a joke about how cold Lundy is and she walks in in the middle of it. Rob also got a standing ovation for his first entrance in the Doubtfire costume.

 

Bonus - I could see the conductor from my seat and the "overture" is called Largo Al Doubtfirium in the score, a reference to Largo al Factotum, the opera that Robin Williams sings at the beginning of the film and is played at the top of the show.

Updated On: 10/21/21 at 11:21 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 1:15am

 

[A Director]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 2:02am

MattieIce2018 said: 
Bonus - I could see the conductor from my seat and the "overture" is called Largo Al Doubtfirium in the score, a reference to Largo al Factotum, the opera that Robin Williams sings at the beginning of the film and is played at the top of the show."

"Largo al Factotum" is not an opera; it an aria from the opera, "The Barber of Seville,"

 

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 9:08am

Another small detail that I was surprised they didn't change - the "I do voices" scene still includes a Trump impression. It was still funny because Rob does it very well but I wasn't expecting it to still be there. The line is something like "I do the most fantastic voices you've ever heard... I win all the voice contests and if I lose, they were rigged." There's more in the middle I can't remember exactly but the "rigged" joke was new.

"As Long as There is Love" is also much shorter than last year. Rob stays in the Doubtfire makeup the entire time rather than changing back and forth and the entire song takes place on the set of the new TV show rather than going between there and the Hillard house.

Updated On: 10/22/21 at 09:08 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 9:16am

Man, it sounds like they really used their time off to make a lot of changes. The one thing I was really hoping they’d change/cut was that pointless and ridiculous nightmare sequence, so it sounds like that’s been fixed. It was the one single thing I just hated about the show last year. I’m very excited to see it again in a few weeks.

[suzycat]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 9:45am

I was also there last night- it’s in really good shape! I didn’t see it back in 2020 but I think this will have a longer life than Groundhog Day & Tootsie. More family-friendly than both and less offensive to modern audiences than the latter. Rob McClure is working his tail off - I’ll be impressed if he can sustain this role without an alternate.

Any idea why the playbills featured September content instead of October? Are they not printing October playbills?

This is also the first time I’ve noticed a land acknowledgment in a Broadway playbill. Great to see that.