On the Town Predictions- Page 3

[HorseTears]

Posted: 12/23/14 at 3:25pm

So, are there regularly performances at which there are a smattering of people in the balcony with vast swaths of empty seats between them, the mezz and the orchestra sections? Do ushers let them move down? Man, I hope this makes it thru the Spring. Seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/23/14 at 5:39pm

The Ed Sullivan Theater a/k/a Hammerstein is a theater that is big. It is not as huge as the Lyric but it is still big. When Letterman took over, about half of the balcony was permanently walled off reducing the seating upstairs considerably.

Something like this may be the answer. Reduce the seating capacity of the Lyric by walling off the top and reduce the rent a commensurate amount.

We can all agree now it never should have been this big.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 12/23/14 at 11:45pm

I saw it this sunday and the balcony was completely full.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/23/14 at 11:58pm

I predict the show is going to astonish every one of you.

[phan24]

Posted: 12/24/14 at 1:42am

I thought the show a huge dud, it did not astonish me. The cast is probably the most talented ensemble on Broadway right now, but the direction of the show and the material is just very weak, many of the leads are simply miscast. Some of the staging (having the ensemble sing from the house for no excusable reason) came off as amateurish. I really don't mean to hate on the show but maybe the way I see it is other people's opinions as well and hence it's doing poorly in sales (that theater was obviously a mistake).

[sctrojan65]

Posted: 12/24/14 at 11:28am

You liked it, Pal Joey?
I want to see this, and intend to in early January.
I've never been to the Lyric Theater and it seems this is a rather large theater.
If I'm looking at orchestra seats, how far can I go back without losing any effect? Is the theater that large?
Thanks for any insight.

[macnyc]

Posted: 12/24/14 at 12:00pm

I sat in Row Q seat 16 in the orchestra the other night, and the view was great. Oddly, I didn't feel far away from the stage at all. The orchestra is nicely raked, so you can see over the heads of the people in front of you.

I love the show and find it exhilarating!


Updated On: 12/24/14 at 12:00 PM

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 12/24/14 at 2:56pm

@phan24 -- Just out of curiosity, which of the leads did you feel were miscast?

[sctrojan65]

Posted: 12/24/14 at 4:14pm

Thanks for the information, mac. I'll probably go with the orchestra, as well.
Good to hear how much you enjoyed the show.

[little_sally]

Posted: 12/24/14 at 5:20pm

I sat in row Y and didn't feel too far away at all.

[sctrojan65]

Posted: 12/24/14 at 5:28pm

Good to know, Sally. Thanks. Looking at seats in Row V, so it sounds like those will work.

[phan24]

Posted: 12/24/14 at 11:20pm

@kyl3fong2: Again, sorry to continue with the negative energy about the show, but I personally thought Alysha Umphress, Jay Armstrong Johnson, and Elizabeth Stanley were miscast in this show, the roles they are playing are just not believable and it's very hard to enjoy their performances, I have seen Jay and Elizabeth in other stuff and I know they are incredible performers when used right, and Alysha's voice is out of this world, but it didn't work for me in this show. Alysha relied too much on her singing voice and couldn't add any depth to the actual (flawed) character that is Hildi. Jackie Hoffman also was trying way too much, I read that she was trying everything during previews which I understand, but it felt like she was still trying more and more things that just fell flat during the performance I saw (2 months after opening). Standouts for me where Tony Yazbeck and Allison Guinn (she was amazing in her tiny tiny role).

[lovebwy]

Posted: 12/24/14 at 11:52pm

So the spectacular dancing you weren't so impressed with.

[phan24]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 3:20am

I didn't say that, the dancing was indeed great, but this isn't a ballet, it's a book musical that needs more than just great dancing to succeed with the crowd it's targeting.

[Brian Song]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 11:21am

I agree fully with Phan24 and John Rando's direction is the worst I have ever seen on a Broadway stage.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 12:01pm

Then you must not see very much.

[Xxxbroadway]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 3:27pm

I really wish the best for this show it was absolutely beautiful with an extraordinarily talented cast. It'll be a shame to see it go.

[15minutecall]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 4:22pm

What's with the doom and gloom, even from posters who like the show? It's consistently above its nut. I doubt shutting down the balcony would lessen its rent significantly,if at all. Unless grosses plummet in the harsh winter months, it should be around for a while.

As for wishing the characters were played more believably, the show is a broad comedy. Gaby gets to be played straight because he's the romantic lead. But the others, even in a production that hadn't pushed into LoonyToon territory, have little depth. Doesn't mean the performances here are praiseworthy. But expectations of naturalism seem misplaced.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 4:24pm

That moment at the end of "Lonely Town" when the cast is scattered throughout the audience and they sing a capella is one of the most exquisite moments I have witnessed in a lifetime of theatergoing.

It is a breathtaking coup de theatre and a vocal arrangement that would have made Lenny weep.

The production is the best that Broadway has seen in my lifetime.

[Patash]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 4:35pm

Let's say I own a big 3 bedroom apartment that I rent out. I charge you $4000 a month. But you decide you don't really need all three bedrooms so you ask me to block off one bedroom. I nail the door shut so it can't be used. Do you honestly think then I'll lower your rent per month? Why on earth would I do that?

Same scenario.

[beaemma]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 5:25pm

I agree that the placement of singing cast members throughout the house during "Lonely Town" was incredibly beautiful and moving. All that gorgeous singing around me brought tears to my eyes. The song is a sort soliloquy and the voices all around are like the voice of the city echoing the character's thoughts and feelings. I found it devastatingly effective.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 8:20pm

Spoiler alert next time, please.

[Curious3]

Posted: 12/26/14 at 10:51pm

LONELY TOWN is one of the truly great songs written by Bernstein or anyone else for that matter. Deep and poignant. Harmonically complex (4 key changes in the first 20 bars) with a melody that melts the heart. The arrangement is exquisite with the cast spread through the audience. It does indeed parallel the character's sense of loneliness and alienation. That with this public scene and Gabie's private inner world one does sense that without love, every town is A LONEY TOWN.

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 12/29/14 at 1:41pm

This revival has already passed the other two On the Town revivals runs. I really want this show to have at least as long of a run as the 2009 revival of West Side Story.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/29/14 at 1:49pm

I really hope this is still running in March! I would really like to see it.