On The Twentieth Century Previews — Page 3

For those who are going while it's in previews or who saw the previous incarnation do you think someone who hasn't seen the show should listen to the original cast album before going to see it?

Well, it's been 37 years since the original and it's one show (album) I never had so I hoped that maybe I didn't remember it all that well, and I didn't say I hated the score I just think it's very overated (far from "one of the best ever written") There's no 11{00 type number, only 1 ballad (forgettable) and Bruce has very little to sing. There 's no melodies to hum and nothing (except Cheno's soprano) to make it operetta-ish. And a smaller orchestra doesn't help. I was hoping they found something fresh or excitibg to bring to it and, for me, they did not. As far as Kahn, she was the one thing I remembered, I thought she was TONY worthy, her more subtle comic timing was hysterical, I like Kaye but I doubt she could have changed my mind about the show. Operetta has big lush songs and sweet melodies, this show has neither, it's Musical Comedy all the way, and, I think, second rate (especially for such talented composers).

It ended at 5 to 11. It doesn't seem too long, but it is a little longer than it should be.

Not to be contrary, but I know this is important to some people. The first preview ended at 10:30. I was waiting to board the subway at 10:40, and riding over the Manhattan Bridge back to Brooklyn at 11:00.

Or did I miss a third act?

This is a three-quarter scale On the Twentieth Century in just about every respect for those who know the original production, which is not at all a bad thing for a show whose sole purpose is to dazzle with delightful silliness (there's really not much else there — broadly one-dimensional characters, no real stakes — 42nd Street feels like Ibsen in comparison), and whose original (Hal Prince) production was running at 120%. A very entertaining and welcome revival.

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Updated On: 2/14/15 at 08:25 AM

We were in the crowd last night & we thought we were looking at the last preview. Everything worked fine. The score is serviceable but as one poster said nothing memorable in it. Chenowith really came back to Broadway with a vengeance. Gallagher was just right as Jaffe. I felt sorry for Karl . He goes from being the star in Rocky to basically playing the weakest character in the piece. In the limited time he had on stage, however, he got to show his comedic chops

For those like me who saw the original. the scene where Imogene Coca was on the front of the train is recreated. I do not remember if the scene where Mary Louise Wilson goes across the stage was in the original. She, by the way, could get a Tony nod as will Chenowith and maybe Gallagher. Carlyle had the whole thing running like a well oiled machine

The main set piece of the train car had to set them back a few bucks. With any kind of decent reviews & Chenowith, this could definitely extend to an open ended run & move to another theater

Finally, kudos to the tap dancing porters. They proved to be a big hit with the audience.

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"The Legacy" is now "Because of Her" — same melody, same "pencils! pencils!" intro, but instead of "to you I leave" there's now "because of her" and new lyrics (by Amanda Green) from there. Fun number, past and present.

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Hey, Curtain. How risqué is this show?

Not very risque at all unless you call Cheno playing with Rocky's (I mean) Andy's nipples and that boob moment (which may or may not have been planned)

Dressed in slinky gowns nearly throughout, and tossed around like a rag doll (and, at one point, used as a barbell) by Karl, Chenoweth's décolletage — from the mezzanine, at least — is a show in itself.

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Updated On: 2/14/15 at 11:31 AM

I was out of the theater and out of the parking garage and on the way home at 10:50...It ended at 10:30

Saw the first preview. A few missed lyrics flubbed lines and costume malfunctions. However, overall a nice evening out. In my opinion far from perfect but Kristin Chenoweth makes it worth the ticket price. I attended with a huge fan of the original production. We both liked it but did not love it. It is, like most Round About productions, a "scaled back for a limited run" show. Looks more like a grand College or fine bus and truck tour. Chenoweth is exceptional. Peter Gallagher is good but please slick the hair back. He looks disheveled and the messy hair got in the way for me. Andy Karl is miscast. too much Rocky loses the matinee idol Errol Flynn type he should be. His physical humor schtick needs to be refined. The small set does not service him well. Michael McGrath and Mark Lin Baker were spot on pros as they always are. Mary Louise Wilson is a favorite of mine but she is misguided by Director Ellis playing Mrs. Primrose too old and out of it. I was waiting for her to jump out of the drab character and show her crazy antics. For some reason I see Andrea Martin in this role, or maybe it would have been interesting to see Judy Kaye take on that role this time around. The Porters were great and got the loudest reception at curtain call. The set is nice and pretty but not grand enough . This theatre limits what they can do set wise. I thought the new orchestrations sounded scaled down like the set. The set for Bullets over Broadway was far more spectacular and had the fluidity and movement this set lacked. Costumes are pretty but the ensemble wears the most elaborate costumes and Miss Chenoweth's, do not stand out. We see all her luggage and she has few dramatic changes. the lighting is drab and could have been used to create the pulse and movement of a train. It was serviceable but needed to go farther. The show has things offer but not enough. To me it felt a bit small and more like an appetizer with no entree in a five star restaurant....They have time to fix things. I am sure theatre goers will like it. Fans of the show may be slightly disappointed in the lack of spectacle and some of the casting. This Lily Garland deserves a huge production worthy of her talents and performance.

Updated On: 2/14/15 at 12:41 PM

I'm already disappointed reading the comments on here. I loved the original and saw it several times. The set was one of my all-time favorites.

I'll go. I go to almost everything and I love Ms. C, but I wanted spectacle. Ugh!

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OH FOR Pete's sake - Amanda rewrote The Legacy??? What? Are people so dumb today that they don't know what a legacy is? Are the references so obscure that people won't figure out what he is talking about. Idiotic. Who thought about doing this - that director?

This is coming from a teenager who was not familiar with On the Twentieth Century at all prior to last night, but I was utterly charmed and delighted by the show. It was a lot of fun, and my cheeks hurt from smiling throughout the whole thing. Chenoweth is a perfect fit for Lily Garland, she was in great voice and she's just naturally funny in my opinion. She also dances well which was a surprise for me. The tap dancing porters were fantastic, and I thought Andy Karl was quite funny. I have some of the score stuck in my head.

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