Now that 'If/Then' is over in DC Any Suggestions How to Make it Better?

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 11:58am

Now that If/Then has finished its run in DC (and we were thrilled they chose DC to work on it), and many of you have seen it (some of you several times) and several of you saw the final week performances where there were some changes made, I would be interested in hearing any constructive suggestions of how to make the show better as they work on it on its way to NYC. I saw it on opening night November 24th and I heard that some changes were made to make the 2 simultaneous plots clearer. Please keep this discussion to only constructive suggestions and not an attack on the show please. Here's your chance to be a show doctor. I liked a lot of the show and I wish them much luck in NYC.

Here are all the reviews of the show from the DC run. Scroll down to the end of 'Other Reviews' to find them along with some interviews and articles.
http://www.dcmetrotheaterarts.com/other-reviews/

If/Then reviews on DCMTA in Other Reviews

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 3:01pm

I saw it the very first night, and the third to last night.

They changes they made to it were FANTASTIC. At the end, my friend and I agreed that the only part that was still a bit confusing was the wedding scene part (we couldn't figure out whose wedding it was the first go around).

The only thing that I heard someone complain about when I saw it in its last week was the fact that he couldn't see a portion of the stage from where he was sitting before he moved next to us (he was sitting center mezzanine, we were sitting in right mezzanine).

The mirror (when it was down) got in the way of the people who were on the stage (the people in the background as silhouettes, basically their heads were cut off from where we were sitting in the mezzanine). I really don't think this will be a problem in the Rodgers theatre, though. I feel like the mezzanine in The National Theatre might have been a little higher/closer than the Rodgers is? The mirror also deflected some lights that were a little distracting… but it's a mirror so there really is no way around that I feel like!

Other than that, they made the plane crash WAY more relevant to the story; and they also made the Kindergarden song a lot more applicable (although I could see that song staying or leaving).

I'm interested to see what other people have to say!

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 5:20pm

-Cut the plane scene since it has pretty much no point, but filler. A cab accident would be more fitting
-Have the love between Liz and Josh be much more convincing. I didn't feel real love between them. I felt like she only married him *SPOILERS* since she got pregnant with his son *END*

[veronicamae]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 7:38pm

There are dozens of critiques in the main thread. Why do you keep starting new threads about it driving people to your website? That's my question.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 7:53pm

One imagines the show was frozen since opening night, no? So, no real need to wait until it closed to speculate.

Save for the traffic driving noted previously...

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 9:17pm

"One imagines the show was frozen since opening night, no?"

No. That's the point of an out of town tryout.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 1:53am

If you say so. I still think they tweaked the show massively from the first preview on 11/5 through opening night on 11/24, and then after that point and the show was reviewed, it was locked down.

I based that on Anthony Rapp saying on twitter that there would only be minor lyric/line changes after opening night in DC for the remainder in the run, but no other major changes.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 2:45pm

I adored the show, performances, and score. It's truly a production to get excited about.

SPOILER (just in case)

I would like to see the plane crash occur closer to (or intertwined with) the death of Josh, so both story lines experience a life-altering moment at around the same point in the show. Also, shifting focus to LaChanze/Colella & Rapp/Tamm immediately after we learn Josh's fate slows the momentum of Act 2 immensely.

I also think the song in the subway can be cut, and the kindergarten song can be edited down a bit. Act 1 runs a little longer than it needs to.

END SPOILER

With that said, I can't wait to see this on Broadway. I would pay again just to hear Idina sing "Always Starting Over."

[veronicamae]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 6:01pm

""If you say so. I still think they tweaked the show massively from the first preview on 11/5 through opening night on 11/24, and then after that point and the show was reviewed, it was locked down.

I based that on Anthony Rapp saying on twitter that there would only be minor lyric/line changes after opening night in DC for the remainder in the run, but no other major changes."

The show was frozen for the duration of its DC run. It will almost certainly be edited before Broadway.

[Sinfonian4life]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 6:25pm

As many of the criticisms/complaints/suggestions, ect have been the fact that it is about what life would be in two different life choices needs to be emphasized a lot more right at the beginning. I did not dawn on me until the wedding scene. Up to that point, i though "WTF. Did that not just happen?". Once I realized what was happening I loved the show.

I liked the idea of the place scene. Needs to be more developed, more emotional. It was almost there, then the scene ended.

Excited for Broadway.