POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE Previews- Page 6

[willep]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 8:49am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Content dictates form. I'm fine if a play has a good two-act setup that needs an intermission. I'm fine if the content necessitates 4 hours and 2 intermissions! But I personally didn't feel the cliffhanger was great here. Act 2 picks up immediately where Act 1 left off. Might have benefited from the audience sputtering with laughter at the start of what's currently act 2 as they try to figure out the mess in the midst of a time-crunch. (I also never bought that POTUS wasactuallydead, so maybe that's part of it.)

The bigger problem than the two-act structure is that the play doesn't know how to end and feels like it has multiple false endings. When it finally doesend, it's with a shrug. And then there's the awful megamix.

imho this is a badly-written/structured play with some very good jokes & performances."

A spoiler alert would have been nice.

[BJR]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 8:50am

I thought this was a blast. A lot of the criticisms here are true, it's sloppier than it should be. But also, it can be pretty joyful, especially when Rachel Dratch is onstage. Williams is in fine form and it's so wonderful to have Lea Delaria back onstage. Agree a million tiny fixes (and some lulls in jokes) could really elevate it, but what's there is a blast.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 9:52am

Answered my own question and took a chance on a row AA seat last night. It wasn't too close or too low at all--it was perfect. There was several feet between the row and the stage, and the stage was about at eye level for me. Great seat, great view.

It's really not a good play, maybe slightly above a series of SNL-style sketches strung together, but it was fun enough. Most of the enjoyment comes from the energy of the cast, some elements of the directing, and a few good lines than the writing of the play itself. The first act was dumb but fun (dumb fun?), the first half of the second act--when everyone started acting like idiots--was really getting on my nerves and was more dumb than fun, but they pulled it out in the end and got the balance back where it needed to be. I started comparing this to Grand Horizons from a few years back, which I also thought was a sitcom-level play but which I hated. This was probably on the same level, but mostly entertaining and I didn't hate it, so there's that. (It also didn't aim for unearned emotional depth, which was appreciated.)

I can't see any Tony nominations for this other than the set (which would be deserved--that was impressive). The actors I enjoyed the most were White and Williams, but they might just be the ones I know the best and am inclined to like. I didn't think there were any real standouts--it was truly an ensemble with everyone at the same level.

I also disagree that there shouldn't have been an act break or the cliffhanger wasn't big enough. It definitely was big enough IMO (and fortunately I'd forgotten ErmengardeStopSniveling's spoiler) and giving the audience time to sit with it made a lot of sense. I did think the play could have used a stronger, more conclusive ending though. This one wasn't entirely satisfying.

Yeah, I think dumb fun summarizes it nicely. Not a well-written play (I kind of expect the critics to shred it), but I can't say I wasn't entertained for most of it.

Updated On: 4/27/22 at 09:52 AM

[atticus242]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 10:17am

Damiensta said: "atticus242 said: "Does anyone know if Julianne Hough is still out? I'd prefer to see it when the entire cast is in, but there seems to be no information online apart from her original Instagram story."

Understudy was on at matinee. She was great."

Thanks for the report!

[atticus242]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 10:20am

HeyMrMusic said: "She went on tonight. I believe today was her last scheduled performance, according to social media. Who knows if Julianne Hough is back tomorrow."

Thanks for the info.

[veronicamae]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 12:11pm

Saw this last night (Dusty standby still on - Lisa Helmi-Johanson, who was great) and haven't had such a good time in a theatre in a VERY long time. This isn't - and clearly isn't meant to be - "high art." It is pure comedy farce through and through. I personally didn't care that was SNL-like; at least this is funny, unlike present-day SNL.

Rachel Dratch was the highlight for me (clearly in her element doing physical comedy in front of a live audience), followed closely by Lilli Cooper and Suzy Nakamura.

I'm torn on whether or not intermission was necessary, and I'd agree with a note here that the ending was maybe the weakest part - I was surprised that it ended when it did. But that said, anyone who wants to have a good time should see it.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 7:45pm

any clue of Julianne will be back tomorrow?

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 4/24/22 at 7:46pm

any clue of Julianne will be back tomorrow?

[Dan6]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 6:47pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "any clue of Julianne will be back tomorrow?"

Just passed by the Shubert and looks like she’s back in tonight. 

[atticus242]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 11:02pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "any clue of Julianne will be back tomorrow?"

I won the lottery yesterday for tonight's performance and decided to roll the dice. The whole cast was in tonight.

[Huss417]

Posted: 4/29/22 at 3:49pm

What does everyone think. Rush, TDF or Lottery. Trip is getting a little pricy so looking for a discount of some sort.

Thanks. :)

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 4/29/22 at 8:10pm

Got fantastic seats through TDF. Third row mezzanine full view.

[Huss417]

Posted: 4/29/22 at 11:16pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Got fantastic seats through TDF. Third row mezzanine full view."

Thanks. Just ordered using TDF.

 

[Sauja]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 12:14pm

Opinions on the last couple rows of the mezzanine versus anywhere in the balcony? There are $39 mezz seats which seems like a steal, but I figure maybe there’s a reason they’re so cheap? Any thoughts appreciated!

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 12:23pm

Sauja said: "Opinions on the last couple rows of the mezzanine versus anywhere in the balcony? There are $39 mezz seats which seems like a steal, but I figure maybe there’s a reason they’re so cheap? Any thoughts appreciated!"

The overhang does cut off the top of the stage, so if it’s a multi-level set I would stay away. However, I sat there for Mockingbird and it was a great seat and close enough to still see facial expressions. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/3/22 at 9:01pm

Tonight at the show, the audience erupted in a standing ovation when Julianne Hough said her like “Oh, I used to work in a clinic. Access to women’s health is a basic human right.”

You could see the cast was moved and it stopped the show for a good two minutes 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 1:20am

I was also there, it was a great night, hilarious throughout, I can absolutely see the set and Dratch getting TONY nominations next week 

see this show if you want to have a great two hours of nonsense performed by a fantastic company 

[OceansJenny]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 9:06am

Easy lotto entry and win yesterday for tonight’s performance. ORCH R row P.

Looking forward to some laughs - thank you all for turning me on to this! I initially assumed it was Trump-centric and would have easily not looked into it further.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 9:08am

Yes, its refreshing that it is non-partisan!

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/4/22 at 9:47am

quizking101 said: "Tonight at the show, the audience erupted in a standing ovation when Julianne Hough said her like “Oh, I used to work in a clinic. Access to women’s health is a basic human right.”

You could see the cast was moved and it stopped the show for a good two minutes"

Was there as well. SUCH a moving moment. Joining the chorus: what a damn good comedy! I haven’t laughed so much in the theater in ages!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/8/22 at 11:17am

Nice CBS Sunday morning piece with the cast, Fillinger, and Stroman.

I wish the press agents would stop this whole "omg she's only 28!" narrative. It makes whoever is talking about her sound over-the-hill. It's not even a milestone for this season: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss were 25 and 26 when SIX began Bway previews. Sondheim, Betty Comden, Lucy Prebble, JRB, Lorraine Hansberry, and others all have her beat or tied.

[inception]

Posted: 5/8/22 at 12:06pm

But those people lived in another era when people were educated.  Today most people in their 20's are barely literate.

Edit: 6 months ago I took a job at a large community college.  If a janitor puts an "Out of Order" sign up on a washroom door, you would be shocked at how many students will stop any staff l & ask  "What does that mean?" 

Updated On: 5/8/22 at 12:06 PM

[The Other One]

Posted: 5/8/22 at 1:35pm

quizking101 said: "Tonight at the show, the audience erupted in a standing ovation when Julianne Hough said her like “Oh, I used to work in a clinic. Access to women’s health is a basic human right.”

You could see the cast was moved and it stopped the show for a good two minutes"

This happened on Wednesday night as well.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/8/22 at 1:38pm

The Other One said: "quizking101 said: "Tonight at the show, the audience erupted in a standing ovation when Julianne Hough said her like “Oh, I used to work in a clinic. Access to women’s health is a basic human right.”

You could see the cast was moved and it stopped the show for a good two minutes"

This happened on Wednesday night as well."

I expect this to be a regular occurrence until the end of the run. 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 5/8/22 at 3:27pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "The Other One said: "quizking101 said: "Tonight at the show, the audience erupted in a standing ovation when Julianne Hough said her like “Oh, I used to work in a clinic. Access to women’s health is a basic human right.”

You could see the cast was moved and it stopped the show for a good two minutes"

This happened on Wednesday night as well."

I expect this to be a regular occurrence until the end of the run."

As it should be.