Colin852 said: "Linus, with all due respect, you pretty much captured every negative stereotype about NY theater-goers: arrogant andstuck-up(and why the industry hates these boards)...people who think their palette is more refined than everyone else's and that tourists spend money on garbage: Actually they're on vacation, and are looking for a FUN night out. They want the razzle dazzle, and I'm glad there's more on the menu than Hadestown or the 8000th revival of a Neil Simon play.
I hate to break it to you: But all these shows you loathe (and the people who buy tickets to them) are what help keep this industry afloat...something to think about as you try to banish all the eye-popping spectacles to Vegas.
Signed,
A proud New Yorker (who will choose Sia over Sondheim any day of the week)."
I'm not saying others can't enjoy this show...I'm certain many people will absolutely adore it and it will possibly be their favorite show EVER. I saw it...I did not like it. I won't go see it again. There are plenty of shows I loved that others despise and vice versa. Yes, theater is subjective and I understand that. I am however not the only person on this board who also had the same feeling about this show.
Regardless of my thoughts on the show the audience behavior issue should not be up for debate. If you had someone (or multiple people) completely distracting from the experience you paid to see would you not be upset? I have seen plenty of shows and have NEVER experienced the type of behavior from an audience that I did at Moulin Rouge. I'm sure that this also made my experience at this show a lot more negative than it would have been if I had seen a show with a respectful audience. Call me stuck up all you want, but I know I don't need some deep intellectual musical to have a good time and yes while I love Hadestown, I also loved Head Over Heels and Beetlejuice...especially since I could actually enjoy the show and not the concert version of my seatmate. Yes, I thought Moulin Rouge was not enjoyable as a show and even less enjoyable because of audience behavior. I am quite positive that the majority of people on this board would also have a problem if they experienced the behavior I did in a show.
Signed,
A Proud Pennsylvanian (who would choose Britney Spears over Lin Manuel Miranda any day of the week)
I don't think anyone has an issue with you not liking the show, its saying that the people who like this show "Probably don't know what good theatre is". Which is implying you only know what good theatre is and thats elitist and stuck up. No one cares you hated the show and no one cares that I like this show, but no need to demean others opinions on shows.
Mike Barrett said: "I don't think anyone has an issue with you not liking the show, its saying that the people who like this show "Probably don't know what good theatre is". Which is implying you only know what good theatre is and thats elitist and stuck up. No one cares you hated the show and no one cares that I like thisshow, but no need to demean others opinions on shows."
Yeah, I noticed he conveniently by-passed the whole part of his 'review' that was the actual offensive part.
Mike- there is very little you wont see from the house left far ends. Nothing to worry about.
I enjoyed the show just as much as in Boston. While its exhilarating and stunning, I cant quite love it. I liked it. Quite a bit.
BTW, while the audience seemed to eat it up they exhibited no terrible behaviors.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Saw it this week and found it incredibly weak and hollow. The script is an embarrassment of clichés and superficialities. The worst mashup of karaoke, Vegas and cover bands. Tacky, soulless and zero emotional content. The performers do what they can, but it’s an uphill struggle. Set is stunning. But that ain’t enuf.
Mike Barrett said: "I don't think anyone has an issue with you not liking the show, its saying that the people who like this show "Probably don't know what good theatre is". Which is implying you only know what good theatre is and thats elitist and stuck up. No one cares you hated the show and no one cares that I like thisshow, but no need to demean others opinions on shows."
The sad thing, Mike, is that you're speaking to half the posters on here. Though I do get some enjoyment out of being proven right. Bottom line (if I can paraphrase Kad): This show delivers big time on what it sets out to do...something very few shows accomplish. If you're looking for Shakespeare, keep walking.
IHeartNY2 said: "The sad thing, Mike, is that you're speaking to half the posters on here."
I’d guess that I’m one of them. I might be able to recognize, somewhat, what good theatre may be, mainly because of what people on here say it is, but I have zero desire to see it. Yes, I picked Beetlejuice over To Kill a Mockingbird, and would pick Tootsie over Constitution, King Kong over Oklahoma, Harry Potter over any other play on Broadway, and Moulin Rouge over any of the so-called hot shows coming to Broadway late this season or next season (none of which interest me at all): Slave Play, The Inheritance, The Great Society, The Sound Inside, etc.
Theatre has existed for a very, very long time, long before the theatre snobs on this board existed, and theatre has existed in many, many different forms, not just what some of you think it should look like. Or be. Theatre can take many shapes and forms. It’s not all about your ideal version of theatre.
IHeartNY2 said: "This show delivers big time on what it sets out to do...something very few shows accomplish. If you're looking for Shakespeare, keep walking."
I’m trying to decide if I want to spend the money and see the show. If I love the movie and also I really would like to see the current leads since I’ve never actually seen them live, do you think it would be worth it from anyone who likes the movie and has seen the show. I’ll probably try to see it via the cancellation line if I try to see it. Thanks in advance for any advice. PS I am a teacher and don’t have a whole lot of money
I enjoyed Sahr Ngaujah‘s acting, but I found his singing painful to listen to. I thought he mangled “Nature Boy” (my favorite song in the show) with his off-pitch vocalizing and his inability to hit the high notes. I actually winced when he sang.
StageStruckLad said: "I enjoyed Sahr Ngaujah‘s acting, but I found his singing painful to listen to. I thought he mangled “Nature Boy” (my favorite song in the show) with his off-pitch vocalizing and his inability to hit the high notes. I actually winced when he sang."
My wife and I completely agree. We saw the show on Thursday and found ourselves mostly bored with the whole thing. But to the point, is that the way Sahr normally sounds? I’m not familiar with him and was assuming that he was making vocal “choices” for character reasons, rather than just being an awful singer. I hope it’s the former and not the later.
Just asking because I really don’t know, but is January peak season for tourism and Broadway attendance? Or is it normally the slowest time? How would sales for other shows with availability in January look right now - sold out, 50/50, or wide open? Compared to what you saw for Moulin Rouge!.
January is the beginning of the slower tourist season. Hamilton also has a lot of availability in January so I think Hadestown and Moulin Rouge! will be just fine!
So, having time to kill while waiting to get my haircut, I used the Ticketmaster link embedded above and counted gray, blue, and red dots. Not sure how accurate it is, that sales map, but by my count the theatre is easily more than half sold out already for a show in the slow tourist season, in middle of winter, 5-1/2 months out. That doesn’t sound too dismal. :)
Folks, the show is not in previews anymore. Can we post in the Reviews thread please. I know that thread says professional reviews, but that's the thread.