Once on Broadway- Page 4

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 4:27pm

I haven't seen it yet, but it's pretty awful, actually.

God, you're stupid. The acceptable words are "bore", "chore", "dismal" and "sad-sack". That's it for Once until we receive an amendment to the approved vocabulary.

But then, there are also shows that ARE successful, but aren't quality.

You're jumping to conclusions. That is not true until After Eight says it's true. Don't go making things up. Subjective thought and analysis are not permitted.

And if I were allowed, I would add Parade to the list of quickly-closing, yet artistically admired shows. But I don't know if that has been approved, so I won't say it.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:01pm

Actually, I'm not jumping to conclusions at all. Book of Mormon is quite successful all around, yet After Eight does not think it's quality at all. However, I'm chalking that anomaly up to that fact that the rabble will like anything nowadays (as seen here, with Once), and our taste is not quite up to par with After Eight's.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:09pm

I saw the show this afternoon and LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED it. My friend who I went with hated it. He said he couldn't care less about anyone on the stage which I found very interesting. Afterwards we met up with a friend of his who'd seen it before and hated it as well. My final conclusion is that the two of them are stupid because the show is fantastic.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:25pm

****** SPOILER ALERT *******

****** PLOT GIVEAWAYS. **********











One of the (many) problems of the show are the lead characters. She's a pill, a nag, a buttinsky. Where does she get off taking over a perfect stranger's life and bossing him about? If the guy had any spine (he's a wimpy wuss), he would send her packing from the get-go.

Then she sends signals that lead the guy on, and when he quite understandably makes a move, she gets all huffy and high and mighty! Why doesn't he just wash his hands of her, then and there? But no, Mr. Lapdog just lets her control his every move, that is, when he's not drowning in self-pity and wailing his angst to the four winds. You know what, buddy? If you act like a doormat, you deserve to be stepped on.

Then the pill, having fallen in love with the wuss, refuses to express her feelings to him, when doing so could make each of them happy. But hey, why be happy or make someone else happy, when you can make both parties miserable? So, she chooses the martyrdom route, for no logical reason other than to be..... a martyr. Except, to be admired, a martyr needs to have a valid cause. And then she forces her secret love to get back together with his ex-girlfriend (where ever DOES she get off?), while suffering in silence. Un-be-lievable!

Makes you long for the good old days of Sweethearts and No, No, Nanette.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:35pm

You must be an absolute joy at any social gathering.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:39pm

Please regale us sometime, AfterEight, with stories of the original productions of Sweethearts and No No Nanette. Ah, they don't make shows like they used to anymore...

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:42pm

^

I haven't heard any complaints.

And I continue to receive invitations.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:45pm

How are you comparing this to NO NO NANETTE? Your comparisons are completely nonsensical.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:50pm

Eric,

Wish I could regale you, but alas, I saw neither in its original production. I have seen revivals of both, though, and, oh, boy, were they better than what we suffer through on our stages today.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:53pm

...well, what you suffer through, at any rate.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:56pm

*eyeroll*

And when you were a kid you walked to school naked in the snow both ways and only had dinosaur meat to eat that you had to store in your hut all winter long so you wouldn't starve and when Mary went blind you had to get two jobs to support the family and her and those were the days and quilts were better quality then and the kids knew respect and how to talk to their elders and we didn't need to lock our doors because of the honor code and oh, grandma made the best cookies.

Updated On: 2/29/12 at 10:56 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:01pm

And the most complicated question an audience member would have during a show would be, "Wait, how many people are going to be having tea?"

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:02pm

"oh, grandma made the best cookies."

She sure did. Icebox cookies.

Indescribably delicious.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:09pm

"And the most complicated question an audience member would have during a show would be, "Wait, how many people are going to be having tea?""

Yes, yes! Oh, wouldn't it be great if we had shows just like that today?

And pretty songs like "Tea for Two?"

So glad we're on the same wavelength here.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:14pm

How's the audience reaction been? At NYTW, the audience jumped to their feet at the end.

And has the theater been pretty full for these first couple of previews? I saw it was on TKTS yesterday at 20% off but didn't check today. I know they may be papering for previews, but curious nonetheless about the turnout for this.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:15pm

They've been comping the first few performances like crazy but this afternoon the audience jumped to their feet the second it ended.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:25pm

"this afternoon the audience jumped to their feet the second it ended."

To rush out of the theatre?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:26pm

So glad you loved it Jordan. I thought about it all day and can't wait to get back, hopefully this weekend.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:28pm

Your remarks are getting older than you are, Grandma. Go brew yourself some Sleepytime, put on Mrs. Marple and fade away into that good night.

We've all had enough of you for one day.

[sylvesterbird]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 12:22am

Also saw the afternoon performance today and was blown away. My friend and I were visiting this week for Spring Break, and I am SO glad I caught it! I didn't like the film, but after reading all the buzz here I had to check it out. There is so much joy in the show, and it feels incredibly intimate, like you just happened to drop in on the cast (by the way, everyone is amazing). To me, the show does not revolve so much around the story of a guy and girl, but about the joy, healing, and fellowship found in music and its creation.

Unfortunately my friend did not enjoy it (she dozed off, although that may be just as much a product of us trying to pack in as many shows and attractions as we can this week). Plot-wise, it moves very slowly, and there are a number of moments where you're basically just watching musicians onstage playing instruments. I can definitely see how this may have trouble drawing in a massive tourist crowd, but hopefully the extremely positive word of mouth and the connection with the film will be enough for people to give it a chance. It really is a beautiful show.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 6:01pm

Un-be-lievable!

It's not unbelievable if you've ever actually known...you know...people. Especially artistic creative types. The fact that these two characters actually represent something far more realistic and believable than most musicals is probably what turns you off. But if the characters in Once make you this livid, I can only imagine the amount of seething hatred you must have for Sunday in the Park With George. Un-be-lievable!

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 6:11pm

^

I stated my case, and stand 100% behind it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 6:12pm

Awesome. Now you can go find another thread to troll.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 6:17pm

^

I like this one.

[dreaming]

Posted: 3/1/12 at 10:26pm

Can someone give me a report on the lotto for this? Did it get very crowded tonight? I was thinking of going tomorrow.