djoko84 said: "So basically what I'm getting from the tweens on this board is that you can throw everything, but the kitchen sink at a show just for spectacle sake and the tweens will "love" it. How about substance in the book and songs or emotion in the performances? If I wanted to see a thrilling spectacle I'd go to Vegas or a Lady Gaga concert. This is why I don't take much of the "reviews" on here seriously. Once the mixed reviews come out I'm sure the demand will go down."
I’m 30. My mother is nearly 70. We both had a fantastic time; she is still raving about it and it brought her a ton of joy when she needed it.
There’s enough room on Broadway for spectacle shows alongside shows with more substance. There always has been. There always will be. As long as the production succeeds in what it wants to accomplish, who cares if it’s light? Broadway has never, ever been a place of high art or substance alone.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
djoko84 said: "So basically what I'm getting from the tweens on this board is that you can throw everything, but the kitchen sink at a show just for spectacle sake and the tweens will "love" it. How about substance in the book and songs or emotion in the performances? If I wanted to see a thrilling spectacle I'd go to Vegas or a Lady Gaga concert. This is why I don't take much of the "reviews" on here seriously. Once the mixed reviews come out I'm sure the demand will go down."
Do what you want to do. As from,I saw it twice in Boston and, faults and all,I found it to be one of the most exhilarating shows I have seen in 55 years of theatre going. Have I seen better shows? Many. Have I ENJOYED many as much as I enjoyed this? Not really. I don't get the impression that you have seen the show. I don't think it is appropriate to denigrate people who loved it when you haven't seen it. I thought only Trump voters did that.
Kad said: "It is a very different animal from the film, and for the most part I think the changes are smart"
It makes me so happy and relieved to read this. I hated the movie (the horribly strained "comedy" elements ruined it for me) but went ahead and bought tickets anyway, guessing this one just had to be seen. Originally I had tickets for one of the canceled previews in Boston, so I had a chance to reconsider, but took the plunge a second time. Now I just have to wait until December with fingers crossed.
Kad, your review was terrific, because it addressed one of my biggest concerns about the show (based on what I've read about the tail end of the show) while also being an overall rave. (It's harder to write thoughtful raves, easier to criticize.) You don't need to bother defending yourself. I have a lot of respect for the views of people like you and WhizzerMarvin (who I suppose would be amused at being characterized as a tween), regardless of whether I agree with your assessments once I see a show.
I have not seen the musical, so I'll keep quiet now. But it's a bit tiresome reading comments that attack other posters' thorough reviews of a show instead of just saying they disagree and giving actual reasons.
djoko84 said: "So basically what I'm getting from the tweens on this board..."
I'll bet you 2 Can-Can seats that you can count the number of tweens on this board with one hand. They're mostly raving about this show on this thing called Instagram. Instead, I'd say a decent-sized chunk of this board is made up of snobby NY theater purists who think their taste is more refined and important than the tourists and bridge-and-tunnel folks. But don't worry djoko84 I'm not talking about you.
I see a lot of posts about only tweens enjoying this show, so I thought I should clarify that I'm 35 and I LOVED it. The past few shows I can remember liking this much include Othello at NYTW, Yerma at The Armory, and Kings of War at BAM. So it's not as though I have an affinity for lowbrow theater. I'm actually a bit of a snob myself.
For me this show was pure fun from beginning to end. I went last night and this morning I bought tickets to see it again. I highly recommend it and I've been telling all of my friends to buy tickets now before it really sells out.
Saw the show last night and I agree with many posters here that it is elaborate and exciting fun. The cast was strong and the complaints about the final sequences didn't seem evident to me. It played out quite well. I found the second act to be stronger as they tried to motivate the story with pathos while most of the first act felt like a song list of musical numbers. The audience laughed quite a bit at the many song references but as presented here how could they not? It was overkill. Actually, I often find that the comic sensibility of Alex Timbers feels much like a Harvard Hasty Pudding Club review. When in doubt go for the cheap laugh!. As for the sightline issues, I was in the Front Mezz (Diamond Circle?) D 14/16. The passerelle in front of the stage is used throughout and the entire mezzanine has an obstructed view of that. Many performers are cut off below the waist. I think the choice of theatre is to blame. I found it annoying but didn't let it put a damper on my enjoyment of the evening. But seriously, at these prices I find it problematic.
I won the lottery today for tomorrow night’s show! Does anyone know if the show is frozen yet? Curious to know since it’s the last show until opening night how close it will be to the final product.
As a side note, I’ve asked so many friends to go with me as I had put in for 2 tix and idk why but everyone is busy so there’s a chance I’ll be offering a face value ($34) lottery ticket on here!
nicolep76 said: "I won the lottery today for tomorrow night’s show! Does anyone know if the show is frozen yet? Curious to know since it’s the last show until opening night how close it will be to the final product.
As a side note, I’ve asked so many friends to go with me as I had put in for 2 tix and idk why but everyone is busy so there’s a chance I’ll be offering a face value ($34) lottery ticket on here!"
If these two lovely people can’t make it I’d be happy to join you
"The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world." - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
nicolep76 said: "I finally have a friend that bit at the ticket! Excited to see tomorrow and will report back where our seats are!"
Just wanted to report back our seats will be Left Orchestra last seats on the end! They are labeled as Partial View. Not the best seats but hey they are $30 so can’t really complain too much!
I walked over to the Al Hirschfeld and Walter Kerr theatres when I was in town this past weekend and even just being there got me giddy for my trip at the end of next month to see Moulin Rouge and Hadestown...35 days and counting!
I love love love love the big Marquee letters that they added! With the string lights behind it, It looks like they’re actually trying to transform the theater into something new from the outside
[Note: Will try my best to not use the word 'spectacle'...but it's not easy!]
Was back again last night. First time I'm lucky enough to see a show at the beginning and end of previews. Had wanted to see it in Aug but I have to assume by now they're done making any tweaks.
What can I say, it's just an awesome, exciting phenomenal production. Period. I feel like I got to really take everything in this time. No dramatic changes (nor was I expecting any). Firework still gave me goosebumps, Danny was on fire and Bad Romance has to be one of the most thrilling numbers I've ever seen. Even better the second time.
The only change that stuck out at me was the Danny's 'poverty' joke in the opening number was changed. And I couldn't put my finger on it but something right after Rolling in the Deep (the climax at the end) looked different. Curious if anyone knows. Also caught a little David Bowie in the opening this time, not if that's new?
The show of the summer...wishing them a very happy opening.
Bowie as in "Heroes"? Or Bowie as in "Nature Boy"?
I saw the show in Boston and loved it. I just got some great seats for an October show, so I will be coming back to NY to see it again. I'm excited to see what they have changed.
Jordan Catalano said: "Just getting in from tonight’s performance. Having seen the show last year, there were definitely things I liked and quite a few that I didn’t like about it and I had been disheartened to read not much has changed in a year. But I really was pleasantly surprised tonight at how much I enjoyed it! The show obviously is a sumptuous treat to look at and never leaves you wanting for something to look at. I was most surprised by the chemistry between Olivo & Tveit, which I found non existent in Boston but was excellent here. I still wish some of the music was changed and that “Firework” was taken out and Satine given back “One Day I’ll Fly Away”, but strangely it didn’t bother me as much tonight as it did before.
I will say my one very big complaint is the ending. Satine is robbed of a proper death scene by the awful writing there. “Christian, by the way I’m dying. Sorry but write me well, K?” is basically what she’s given before she dies. I want to cry at hat moment and the writing as it is now completely robs me of that. Why couldn’t they sing a reprise of “Come What May” or “Your Song” together right there? That really just pissed me off, actually. But other than that the show is greatly tightened up and trimmed, which solved a lot of the problems it had originally. I’m looking forward to seeing it after opening and hoping for a few more tweaks between now and then, but as everyone else has said - this is going to run for years."
I love this review and couldn't agree more. We saw it last night (hub and me) and I had such mixed feelings. We LOVE the movie and were really looking forward to this with fingers crossed. I felt like the chemistry between C and S was almost non-existent. The ending was horribly disappointing. I can cry fairly easily at death scenes and didn't shed a tear.
The audience really seemed to be into it (actually, a little too much, the screaming during anything sexy got pretty annoying) so it I'm probably in the minority. I was glad to find this thread because it helped me feel I wasn't being hyper-critical.
Loved quite a bit about it but not what I feel were the most important things.
I saw the show again tonight and enjoyed it more than I had the other times. Went backstage afterwards and talking with someone in the cast. I asked what all had really been changed since Boston and the reply was “Not nearly enough”. And I think that’s a fair answer.
I put this on the buy/sell board, but I figured I'd put it here too. I'm not sure if it's allowed or not so I understand if it gets taken off of this thread.
Hello! I recently purchased tickets to the matinee of Moulin Rouge this coming Thursday, August 1st at 2:00PM. However, my dad can no longer go as he has to work :/ So I'm trying to sell his ticket for $85. Here are the conditions:
I purchased this ticket for $111.50 through TodayTix. I do not know the exact seat number yet, but I do know that it's side orchestra partial view. Since it was purchased through TodayTix, you will have to meet the TodayTix representative 30 minutes prior to showtime. So you know that it's not a scam, I am thinking if we make the agreement, I will go ahead and the change the name and email on the ticket, resend the confirmation email to your email address, and once that's all settled, we can figure out payment. And then of course if payment doesn't go through, I'll just talk the next person :)
I mostly don't want this ticket to go to waste. If anyone's interested, please let me know!!!