My Thoughts on ROOMS- Page 2

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 10:46pm

BroadwayEnthusiast- See HAIR and also I would actually just reccomend seeing ROOMS because you can 8 dollar tickets and it's 90 minutes so you could see two shows in one day.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 10:51pm

If you're only going to see 6-7 shows in March then avoid this one, especially with all the plays opening.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 3:52am

I hate when people ask what shows to see. Theater is art. All art is subjective. You might like, and you might not, but you'll never know until you go? So if it interests you, then go see it. If it doesn't, the pass it up.

What's so cliched about the story? I mean, I get the big "reveal" at the end, but other than that, I don't think there were that many cliched elements? Oh, and I guess I understand the "breaking" up part.

And I didn't find the lyrics trite at all. There were a few lame lines, but for the most part none of them were jarring. Same goes for the accents. They surprised me at first, but then i warmed up to them. I really like how Kritzer was very mellow in the beginning and then we when we go back in time to their first encounter she's a lot more bubbly and full of personality. It was a nice subtle touch.

I left singing the last song, or the "Rooms" song, but then again I obviously liked it more then everyone else. So whateves.

[TheresaG]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 10:58am

I saw Rooms this weekend and loved it. It did start a little slow but once it got moving it was good. The music is very good. There are a few songs that could be picked up by well known singers and make it big.

Loved both players and loved the way the stage was used. Good creativity.

I got the $10 tix and was dead center - would pay more though as the show is worth it.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 1:28pm

First of all we have already seen this musical when it was called They're Playing Our Song. A female lyricist and male composer try to work together, fight and ultimately make up. Sound familiar?

The cliches were abundant. Of course they were from opposite sides of the social spectrum. I bet the don't get along at first! I mean she's well to do and has a pink door. He's poor and has a black door. I'll take a guess that they'll be both exposed to each other's world and maybe rethink their initial judgements about each other.

Of course they won't do so well as a team at first, but then things will start to click and they'll find some success. This success will only be shattered because they stop getting along for some reason or another. Don't worry, there will probably be a happy ending and they might even find commercial success as well.

****spoiler****
Plus the whole baby thing. Come on. Deciding to have the baby and then revealing to him after two years that he's a father. Then presto they are a happy family and all loose ends are tied up. If only real life always worked out this way.
****end spoiler****

I found it to be very predictable, and almost needs to be billed as an adaptation of They're Playing Our Song (which I'm sure was considered a little cliched at the time too).

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 1:39pm

RentBoy, I don't have the opportunity to see shows very often, so other people's opinions on shows often help me decide which shows to see. Is that such a crime? I don't have a cast recording of this show so therefore I can't listen to the music from the show. All I have to judge it on is a one-paragraph plot synopsis and Broadwayworld reviews.

[Anakela]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 2:17pm

I left singing the last song, or the "Rooms" song, but then again I obviously liked it more then everyone else. So whateves.

For me it's the Happiness cabaret number that's still going thru my head- yes Scottish Jewish Princess and All I Want Is Everything are the 'bigger' numbers- funnier, flashier, what have you- but Happiness is the one that's been sticking with me.

I really enjoyed ROOMS- is it flawless? no. And, some of the faults that others are finding with it I don't see as flaws- no, the "big reveal" is not a surprise, but for a production with the subtitle A Rock Romance I could both acknowledge that I see it coming, and yet be ok with it playing out because I felt invested enough in the characters by then. Did I have an enjoyable night at the theatre, where I loved the performances onstage, enjoyed the music, the lighting, the staging, etc.? yes. Do I plan on seeing ROOMS again? absolutely.

BroadwayEnthusiast2- I went in to see ROOMS pretty much just based on the D.C. hype. And the addition of Leslie Kritzer. There's a lack of media up on the official site yet (roomsarockromance.com), which I think is a total shame, no clips of sample music to listen to, etc., but there are links to a bunch of the D.C. reviews on there. Of course it's not the same show, but that could give you a better idea of the show than a one paragraph BWW synopsis will.

And I have to acknowledge whoever it is who is doing the marketing here- I have been seeing ROOMS ads *everywhere,* from the discount code ad on the back cover of AMNY today, to banner ads on non-theatre related websites. Pretty impressive.

[coolkid11776]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 3:09pm

When/WHY are the prices going up? I read somewhere that the $10 will be $25 starting soon. Is this true? WHY IS TIHS HAPPENING

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 3:11pm

When/WHY are the prices going up? I read somewhere that the $10 will be $25 starting soon. Is this true? WHY IS TIHS HAPPENING

Slow down there, cowboy. Nobody has any idea what the f*ck you're talking about.

[coolkid11776]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 3:15pm

I read that the prices will be going up for Rooms starting March 20th.
Does anyone know WHY?

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 3:50pm

Probably because it's doing well and they want to make more money. 25 isn't too bad...it's just like student rush.

Updated On: 3/2/09 at 03:50 PM

[KingKong]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 3:54pm

according to telecharge its march 30th and $20.


other shows have done this. Next to Normal raised it's prices a couple weeks into the run.

[Anakela]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 9:09pm

So on my way home tonight I passed the TKTS booth, and noticed this (second line down)...



I'm thinking TKTS might want to stop identifying ROOMS as a *play*? (And, that it might get more interest under the full Rooms: A Rock Romance title? But the misidentifying it as a non-musical thing's just sad.)


Updated On: 3/2/09 at 09:09 PM

[coolkid11776]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 9:27pm

How much are TKTS tix for rooms?

[pattilupuppy]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 1:35am

OK so I saw Rooms tonight... I echo what Without A Trace and Rytoast said on the previous page... it didnt WOW me... it was ok...

I sat behind Stephen Schwartz the whole time and he was taking notes which was very interesting.

Anyway... Leslie was great, i like her... what is holding back this whole production is the writing... its stiffling some great things... i thought the lighting design and direction were great, i really enjoyed them a lot. The use of the door and making the stage transform into so many different spaces was quite extraordinary but as a whole the piece is kinda blah.

There were some moments that were great and some moments that i was completely bored with. It became kind of mundane by minute 71.

I would recommend you go see it... you wont hate it... but it wont be the best thing you could see... so if you are someone who sees everything see it... if you see a show a month dont go!
Updated On: 3/3/09 at 01:35 AM

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 1:58am

TKTS never has everything correct on those digital boards. I remember reading "XANANDU" for weeks on end.

I like Paul Scott Goodman's work. That said, I was struck by the juxtaposition of songs where Monica sings of her dad cheating on and leaving and her mom, and Ian sings of his mother's death. In Bright Lights Big City, this exact situation happens as well.

I was also reminded of They're Playing Our Song.

I agree that Kritzer's marked character change between the "current time" prologue and the beginning of the chronological story is powerful.

Kreeger was good too. Man, can he sweat. I literally got sweated on! That has only happened to me once before, and it was Patrick Wilson at Full Monty...

Overall, I liked Rooms. I REALLY dug the minimalist staging.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 4:45am

I think it has the same syndrome as Tale of Two Cities which is one too many ballads in the later half of the show.

And I can understand what you're all saying, but at the time, sitting in the audience, none of that bothered me. I was just enjoying it. I wasn't trying to guess where it was headed. Like Sondheim says in Sunday "Anything you do, let it come from you, then it will be new." I mean, all ideas are recycled, its just a matter of showing them in a new light. (not saying this is, just saying). I mean, WSS is Romeo and Juliet, and I don't think anyone is saying that's predictable (and I know it bills itself as a retelling).

[Taryn]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 12:02pm

I think it has the same syndrome as Tale of Two Cities which is one too many ballads in the later half of the show.

This is why I felt that substituting "Ham" with "Happiness" was a mistake. "Ham" wasn't a particularly great number, but it provided some necessary comic relief in the second act that broke up the string of ballads.

[boxboynyc]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 4:17pm

TKTS only posts what is actually printed on the tickets themselves (therefore tag lines and the like are not posted on their signage). I suspect the producers have heard about this and the play issue will be resolved. (I know if I were the producer of a musical I would make sure it was listed as such!)

[Spider Woman]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 6:10pm

I could watch/ listen to Doug's transformation in Clean, sing the lines about 15 quid and the Friday Night dress over and over. And I agree... just sit back and let the story happen.

[Sleeper2]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 7:09pm

Rooms made me a little sleepy in places.

But I love me a 90 minute, no-intermission musical like this, because no matter no boring it can be, I know I'm outta there soon!

Drifting in and out of those bad Scottish accents was a wee bit too much for me to handle. Kritzer is always good though, and if you're a fan, you won't be disappointed. The sweaty boy was meh, IMHO.

[musicalman2]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 5:23am

I just saw it a few days ago. I thought it tells a simple story brilliantly. The pacing is great. The actors, direction, lighting all are so sharp. Looking forward to seeing it again.

[dave1606]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 9:56am

I saw it on monday night and thought it was decent entertainment, especially for 8 dollars. The two leads are good, even if sometimes I questioned the accents. I loved Bring the Future faster, and thought the first half of the show was very funny.

I got lost in the second half, where it got rather cliched, and dull, but at 90 minutes it is some of the best entertainment out there in the off-broadway musical category.

side note. Leslie Kritzer kinda ripped the notebook towards the end on monday, and there was some nice ad-ibbing.
"I ripped it."
Audience laughs.
pause.
"Can you still read it?"
"Yea."

I thought that was very cute. Overall it was a fun night out, and I really appreciated the energy the two leads brought to the show and some of the music was great. Definitely an off-broadway show though.

[Anakela]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 8:45pm

ok, better.



:)

[KingKong]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:34pm

Just got back. Had a lot of fun. took a little while to get into it. But after about 20 minutes I reall started to love it. Both the performances were great. I'm convinced Leslie Kritzer can do anything. One small goof tonight, during the punk rock song (forgot the name and my playbill is on the other side of the room) the base of the mic stand dropped off.


My boyfriend and I had a long of fun and the fact that it was only 8 bucks only added to the enjoyment cause I got more than my money's worth.