MRS. DOUBTFIRE Previews- Page 5

[ArtMan]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 9:50am

Anybody know what the view is like from the cheap seats in the back mezz?   Just curious.  Not planning on upgrading.  Thanks.

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 9:51am

suzycat said: "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."

I'm really surprised that Daniel only has one understudy listed - I can only assume it's because of the heavy prosthetic requirements? Most of the other principals have two or three ensemble members that understudy them. The understudies for the kids also appear a few times throughout the show (as Christopher's friends at his birthday party and then in the finale), so I assume those tracks are just cut if they're on.

I also noticed that about September playbills - it happened when I saw SIX a few weeks ago but I assumed it was because it was so early in the month they were still getting rid of the September ones. Seems like that's not the case though.

Regarding the Playbill - I assume it was an individual choice but Rob and a few other principals had their pronouns listed in their bios as well.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 9:58am

ArtMan said: "Anybody know what the view is like from the cheap seats in the back mezz? Just curious. Not planning on upgrading. Thanks."

I sat back there for Beautiful, and the view was great. The Sondheim was one of the best mezzanines on Broadway.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 10:11am

bwayphreak234 said: "ArtMan said: "Anybody know what the view is like from the cheap seats in the back mezz? Just curious. Not planning on upgrading. Thanks."

I sat back there for Beautiful, and the view was great. The Sondheim was one of the best mezzanines on Broadway."

Thanks for the info.  I sat there for Beautiful also.  But this time it is the last row.  Not sure where in the back I sat before.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 11:12am

bwayphreak234 said: "ArtMan said: "Anybody know what the view is like from the cheap seats in the back mezz? Just curious. Not planning on upgrading. Thanks."

I sat back there for Beautiful, and the view was great. The Sondheim was one of the best mezzanines on Broadway."

This is so great to hear! I’ll be sitting in the mezzanine next week, and it’ll be my first time sitting in that area of the Sondheim (third time overall in the space). 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 2:42pm

Could be that Rob McClure has a standby who opted not to be billed (i.e. Elena Shaddow in Bridges)? Or they're hiring a standby after the show is frozen?

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 4:06pm

ArtMan said: "bwayphreak234 said: "ArtMan said: "Anybody know what the view is like from the cheap seats in the back mezz? Just curious. Not planning on upgrading. Thanks."

I sat back there for Beautiful, and the view was great. The Sondheim was one of the best mezzanines on Broadway."

Thanks for the info. I sat there for Beautiful also. But this time it is the last row. Not sure where in the back I sat before."

I just sat in the last row mezz for Mrs D. It was totally fine. Seats were high enough not to have any heads in front of you blocking your way. And easy to get to as the mezz is in the ground floor and the orchestra is a flight down. We totally avoided any crowds. You walk in and there is your seat. 

Updated On: 10/23/21 at 04:06 PM

[ArtMan]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 4:28pm

Thank you, Kathy.

[wish i were here2]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 4:47pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Could be that Rob McClure has a standby who opted not to be billed (i.e. Elena Shaddow in Bridges)? Or they're hiring a standby after the show is frozen?"

This probably is off topic so I apologize, but are there any benefits for opting not to be billed? I sorta wondered why some actors/actresses opt out.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 5:32pm

I heard pre-Covid, they were looking for a Daniel standby, but I haven't heard any mention of it since reopening was announced/rehearsals began/etc. 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 10/23/21 at 2:04am

It was my first musical back and it was so good to be there! Lots to enjoy about this show. Rob McClure he’s working his behind us off and making the role his own while still giving audiences what they want. I’d give him a Tony. I can’t say the same about Jen Gambatese. I just find her to be so bland in things I’ve seen previously and again in this one. Yes, the character is supposed to be the straight man to Daniel’s kookiness, but there was no real personality or character. In terms of the kids, Lydia was fantastic. The other two felt too old for the part. I understand that they didn’t want to take these roles away from the kids after the shutdown, but it didn’t work for me.

The show itself needs some trimming. It ran two hours and 45 minutes, but there are easily places where things could be tightened. The nightmare song (I think it was a nightmare although Ms. Steiner did seem to know about Daniel/Doubtfire, so maybe we’re supposed to think she really confronted him?) needs to be cut in half. Both the instruments and the soloist were so loud that I had no idea what was happening. I also thought the cooking song was too long. Throw a couple of chickens around, tap your hearts around, and call it a day. The last song also fell a little flat for me. I didn’t actually dislike it, and I get that they want everyone to have a heartwarming moment, but I would’ve loved to have a simple, meaningful song from Doubtfire to summarize.

I have missed being able to do this. I really enjoyed the show and look forward to the progress that it makes and it’s rehearsal period. Lots of laughs already, a couple of super performances, and great moments of potential.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/23/21 at 8:05am

The posts above list so much that was cut and it STILL clicked in at 2:45???

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 10/23/21 at 8:50am

I think that while they’ve taken stuff out in the pandemic, they’ve added things too, so they’re working it out.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 10/23/21 at 9:28am

I saw the first preview back and was very underwhelmed. There's no doubt that Rob McClure is a major talent and he is carrying the entire show on his shoulders. Peter Bartlett also stole every second he was on stage. But unfortunately the show is undermined by a forgettable score and a book that just isn't very funny IMHO. 

Updated On: 10/23/21 at 09:28 AM

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/23/21 at 9:53am

DramaTeach said: "I think that while they’ve taken stuff out in the pandemic, they’ve added things too, so they’re working it out."

I'm trying to think of what might have been added - I've seen the show twice now but it's been so long since the first time that I can't really remember. I assumed the show just ran long the night I saw it because it was re-opening, and it seems like that was part of it but it's still around the same length it was before the shutdown. On the 21st, the show started a few minutes late (not unusual), intermission was around 20 minutes if not a little longer, and I was walking out of the theater by 10:55. I know that the new opening scene (before the first song) is completely new. I also think all the quick changes are making cutting this show down more difficult - e.g. Make Me a Woman could probably be shorter but I have a feeling it's as long as it is so that Rob can change and have a short break since he's onstage almost the entire show. They did manage to cut down the restaurant sequence and finale by cutting some of the changes but there's only so much of that that can be done

They sent me a survey this morning to ask my opinion about the show, so I'm glad that they seem to be collecting audience feedback. I'm having trouble filling it out as the survey must have been created during the initial preview period - it won't allow me to select the correct date that I saw the show because it's limited to 2020 dates.

Updated On: 10/23/21 at 09:53 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/23/21 at 12:58pm

wish i were here2 said: "This probably is off topic so I apologize, but are there any benefits for opting not to be billed? I sorta wondered why some actors/actresses opt out."

There can be a stigma surrounding it. But as someone else said, this is more likely just that they haven't hired the standby yet.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 2:27am

What’s the stigma? I literally don’t know anyone that would take that as a negative. I mean Donna Murphy basically was the “B” Dolly.

I don’t get why Elena Shadow would not want people to know. She’s not some famous person slumming it.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/24/21 at 10:27pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Could be that Rob McClure has a standby who opted not to be billed (i.e. Elena Shaddow in Bridges)? Or they're hiring a standby after the show is frozen?"

 

This is more common than you might believe. In the most recent revival of NOISES OFF, there was no understudy listed for David Furr. You may recall that he had that complicated (but hilarious) fall down a flight of stairs in the show. His understudy was the man who choreographed that fall. He chose not to be listed as that in the Playbill. 

He was never called to go on.

 

Updated On: 10/24/21 at 10:27 PM

[gibsons2]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 12:54pm

Did anyone get their tickets through mobile rush? If yes, where were your tickets?

Thank you.

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 1:22pm

gibsons2 said: "Did anyone get their tickets through mobile rush? If yes, where were your tickets?

Thank you."

I did before the pandemic - Orchestra Row B, far right side of the theater. Not a terrible seat but you do lose some of what's happening in the kitchen set. There was also a moment where I could tell that there was a double onstage for Daniel for a quick change (from a more central seat or further back, only the back of his head is visible but from where I was I could tell it wasn't Rob). Considering the price though, not a bad seat at all.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 1:26pm

Is anyone going tomorrow night? I'd like to try and look for some of you. 

[Gstar3]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 2:28pm

I rushed and got row C far left, great view of the stage apart from the staircase (I could pretty much see everything). My friend was a few row backs in F and she had a great view and legroom. We purchased our tickets separately.

Really enjoyed the show, was surprised it was running at 2h45m.

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 11:32pm

Just got out of tonight’s show. Overall I really really liked it. McClure shows himself as a king of musical comedy and carries the show on his shoulders.

I thought it was in great shape for a fifth preview. Some of the choreography needs tightening up, especially in the multi-Doubtfire number, which comes about 1/3 of the way through Act 2. Was it at one point the Act 2 opener? I’m sure a lot of the choreo is in flux.

The sets were awesome, and Zaks’s direction is excellent. I thought the score was the weakest part. While it has several standouts, I thought many of the songs were forgettable. Overall, though, a great musical comedy that could be a big fat hit. For my money one of the best film adaptations of the past half decade at least. Much better than Tootsie, and more family friendly in terms of language, funny moments, etc. For all the comedy, it makes some really poignant observations about divorce and its aftermath that I sometimes wished it stuck the landing on a bit more. But maybe that’s the point.

I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to nearly anyone. McClure’s performance is worth the ticket, and the show itself is definitely in the upper tier of recent musical comedy.

Updated On: 10/27/21 at 11:32 PM

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 11:37pm

kade.ivy said: "I thought it was in great shape for a fifth preview. Some of the choreography needs tightening up, especially in the multi-Doubtfire number, which comes about 1/3 of the way through Act 2. Was it at one point the Act 2 opener? I’m sure a lot of the choreo is in flux."

"The Shape of Things to Come" has always been the Act 2 opener but the "You've Been Playing With Fire" number was totally rewritten and re-choreographed during the pandemic. It used to be called "You've Created a Monster," which had pretty different lyrics and was more about Mrs. Doubtfire becoming her own entity and it getting out of control rather than Doubtfire preventing him from really being with his kids.

It was also also staged completely differently; the kids were dressed as Doubtfires too rather than being themselves and not being able to get to Daniel. It used to be more explicit that it was Daniel's nightmare - someone in either this thread or the Seattle tryout thread called it "Spooky Doubtfire Hell Dream". The scene with Wanda Sellner leading into the song is also completely new, as is her tearaway costume. I wouldn't be surprised if they're still getting comfortable with the new staging. For what it's worth, I saw the show right before the shutdown and again last week and I think the new song and choreography is much better and doesn't feel as jarring/out-of-place as it used to.

Updated On: 10/27/21 at 11:37 PM

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 1:38am

^Thanks for the clarification. I loved the number: just noticed some missteps tonight. It is a showstopper!

Also, for those discussing running time, the show (8:00 curtain) started 10 minutes late, and I was on the street by 10:50, after walking from the rear orchestra up those long flights of stairs at the Sondheim. So I’d say tonight’s show was around 2:35. I didn’t pay attention to how long intermission was, but it didn’t feel like it ran long.

Also had the box office print my ticket with no problem.