My SAVED Review 5.24.2008 Evening

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 1:12am

This is my first attempt at writing a review on these boards, so go easy on me.

It seems like people are already going ape **** over SAVED, and I couldn't see what those people saw. They could have done amazing things with this, but it fell short..at least for me it did. It's NEXT TO NORMAL all over again.

There was a large young crowd tonight..high school or early college. Very Legally Blonde response (a lot of LOL + clapping and screaming, if you know what I mean. No offense to anyone that might offend). Most of the audience went nuts for it. I thought the girl sitting in front of me was having a seizure or something because she was so into it.

I didn't find the show particularly funny. There were funny moments and some funny lines, but generally I did not laugh. There wasn't really any wit. Mostly just obvious-funny.

Most of the songs were weak and not memorable, but I did like the Christian Jewel numbers. Mary Faber was great in those.

I was impressed with Van Hughes who played Patrick, and Aaron Tveit showcased in one song in particular what a good voice he has. There was this little sequence where Curtis Holbrook does this little dance number, and I only saw Xanadu once, but it kinda looked like it was pulled out of Xanadu. Despite that, that guy can move.

There was a sound problem at the beginning of the show. They stopped it less than 10 minutes in, fixed the problem, and started again. Which brings me to..

Damn was it long. The first act went on forever..and by the time the second act ended, it was 10:41..so with the delay due to technically difficulties, the show is 2 and a half hours long. I get that there's a lot to the story line, but if they cut a couple of songs, which I think they can, the show would flow better. After the second act started, I just wanted it to end. There was a short moment where I thought it was going to get better (The Prom), but it didn't. Standing ovation at the end.. as expected.

One last thing, the Playbill was photocopied..don't know what that's about.

Updated On: 5/25/08 at 01:12 AM

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 1:24am

Well, hopefully I don't get a photocopied Playbill later today.

That's what matters most.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 1:33am

LOL! Photocopied Playbills... that's ghetto fabalous!

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:20am

When I saw Forbidden Bway in previews the playbill was photocopied. It may have something to do with changes etc.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:28am

PHOTOCOPIED? Like how?

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:36am

I went to the matinee, and they had both regular Playbills, and photocopied ones. I got a regular Playbill, but my impression was that they were running out of those. Some people were given photocopies. Weird.

[jeffrey1dog]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 9:07am

I was at the matinee yesterday, 5/24 and pretty much agree with your review. Thank the lord there were not quite as many screaming fans of the movie (just a few) and no technical problems . I thought the first act was a little long, but the show picked up speed in the second act. I must add too that Julia Murney (as Mary's mom) had the best voice in the show, but I also loved Aaron and Curtis. Notable too was Morgan Weed (hysterical as Cassandra).
I kept thinking how Mary Faber was channeling LBB in "Legally Blonde" and would be great as Elle Woods. And I wish Julianna had more to do. Everyone else was just ok. The show was pretty good. I'd give it a 7 out of 10.

LMAO - Sorry to laugh but this may explain the Playbill situation...
On my way in some strange guy asked if he could take my picture... Ummmm why? "Because you are wearing a Xanadu shirt." And that was weird because he then told me he didn't remember who Curtis Holbrook was. So I asked the usher (who had at least a dozen Playbills in her hand) if there were cast pics to show him (I didn't see any at quick glance) and she was like... "Ummmmm, no." Then she directed me to step down. I went to sit down and a few minutes later SHE went to sit down too! To make a long story short, she wasn't an usher!!! She was just stealing all the Playbills - lol.
Again... sorry to laugh but I think it's especially hysterical now after hearing there were not enough 'real' Playbills to go around for the evening performance.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 9:25am

Thanks for your review! Sounds like you had a nice time!

[burnsy]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 9:56am

Did that woman really steal the playbills? I think Playwrights Horizon seats ushers in open seats right before the show, just like Second Stage Theatre does.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 9:59am

i sat behind people working on the show on Saturday evening's performance and he said they don't have enough time to order more so there will be a photocopied Playbill on opening night as well. apparently they didn't order enough and there will be some cast changes once the show extends so there won't be a point.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 4:51pm

Well...that was me.

First off, I said "Umm...I don't know." I didn't get a good look at the playbill, and I wasn't especially prepared for the question. I apologize for not handling/answering it better.

Second, they told me to take some playbills if people in the theater asked me for them. When I realized that wasn't happening, I returned them to the volunteer ushers outside the theater.

Third, as I was a volunteer usher, I volunteer, and then am given a seat to sit down and watch the show.

[jeffrey1dog]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 9:26pm

Sorry Wickedrentq, but you can understand why it looked suspicious. I didn't know they had 'volunteer' ushers.

[bestinshow2]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 10:27pm

Hey vnyc, did I meet you today? :)

[sweeneynut]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 1:31am

Wait, folkyboy, the people behind you said the show was going to extend? Did they say if they were staying at PH or not?

(random-Saved was on the TKTS board today, but not on the entertainment-link website...)

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 1:35am

I'm not sure, bestinshow2..were you the one who said you've seen The Homecoming like 9 times?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 8:00am

they did not say if it was staying at the same theatre but i think that was assumed. they also said the cast did not know that the show was extending and that they would be sitting down with them and talking to them about it. they mentioned a few names that they might could get for the show when people who have previous engagements pull out [i.e. Julia Murney, Curtis Holbrook]

[bestinshow2]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 11:36am

LOL, yes! 9 times is not enough, I say!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 12:20pm

Is there any nudity in this show?

[Liverpool]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 3:10pm

there are several topless men, but other than that no. (aaron tveit comes on stage wrapped in a blanket from the waist down and 2 of the male ensemble take off their shirts in a scene involving a basketball practice)

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 5/27/08 at 5:44am

Going tonight, and if it's another "Next to Normal," I'm psyched.

I loved that show.

Much better than "In the Life", IMO.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/27/08 at 6:28am

I'd personally put Next to Normal FAR FAR above Saved! in oh so many ways. Like...every way.

[NYCboy2]

Posted: 5/27/08 at 8:23am

Saved is a bad show! very disappointed.