I think the costume change takes too long. It’s one of Mitchell’s go to tricks, he used it serval times in Legally Blonde. I think it would play better if she re-emerged much sooner or leaves a bit later so the change is more instantaneous.
CATSNYrevival said: "I think the costume change takes too long. It’s one of Mitchell’s go to tricks, he used it serval times in Legally Blonde. I think it would play better if she re-emerged much sooner or leaves a bit later so the change is more instantaneous."
Just watched the clip.....those saying the show is perfectly "average" seems to hit the nail on the head.
I just want Andy Karl to lead a big fat hit. Sigh.....
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
It's still a show about a woman who prostitutes herself, and a man who buys her and I think that is rather sad to commercialize in 2018. The cast is lily white. #BroadwaySoWhite
A lover of theater for decades. Teacher by day. Family man by night. See more theater than most, oftentimes a hesitant plus one.
NYCblurb said: "It's still a show about a woman who prostitutes herself, and a man who buys her and I think that is rather sad to commercialize in 2018. The cast is lily white. #BroadwaySoWhite"
This is pretty laughable . The characters of the grandfather and son (name escapes) are two African American men (white in the movie) . The (incredible) opera singer is also African American. There were other ensemble members that were black and Hispanic. This argument doesn’t hold water I’m afraid. Not in this instance -stop instigating .
Deadline.com reports that ''Pretty Woman'' ''set a new house record at the Nederlander Theatre, scoring $1,142,989, the highest total for any eight-performance week in the venue’s 97-year history. Attendance of 9,306 was at 99.6% of capacity – the week included some comped critics’ performances for the musical that opens Thursday night.'' (And the previous 2 weeks, it grossed over $1 million, even though it did just 7 performances on those weeks.)
Watching the TODAY performance, I'm...a little uncomfortable? It's still a show about a man buying a prostitute and making her over. Does this play well? I don't know, I'm left feeling a little weird by that performance.
I saw it on Sunday. I have never seen the movie, so I saw it with a fresh movie. I really liked it. I thought the show was extremely cute. Samantha was the best part by far, she was absoutely charming and so likeable. Andy was very fitting in his role too and it is always great to see him. The songs were much better than expected, but you can tell it was Bryant’s first ever musical because some of the songs were very genretic. The finale was extremely cheesy for example, and in a bad way.
disneybroadwayfan22 said: "I saw it on Sunday. I have never seen the movie, so I saw it with a fresh movie. I really liked it. I thought the show was extremely cute. Samantha was the best part by far, she was absoutely charming and so likeable. Andy was very fitting in his role too and it is always great to see him. The songs were much better than expected, but you can tell it was Bryant’s first ever musical because some of the songs were very genretic. The finale was extremely cheesy for example, and in a bad way."
I saw this on Saturday night, and I agree. I went in with pretty low expectations because of this thread, but I had a great time! It's not groundbreaking, but it's fun with some great comedic moments. The songs are not memorable, and I couldn't give you a lyric right now, but in the moment they were enjoyable, and I loved the dancing.
It's Pretty Woman. It's not deep. It's not trying to change the face of musical theatre. The word I kept coming back to when people asked what I thought is "fun." And sometimes that's all I need.
The cast was great. I loved how they used Eric Anderson, and Tommy Bracco was a standout. I loved Andy and Samantha, but at times I thought Samantha was focused more on trying to emulate Julia Roberts (including her voice), rather than make the role her own.
The crowd I saw it with seemed to love it as well. Lots of applause and cheers after musical numbers and big lines.
Edited to add: I sat far left and did not miss anything, not even the fire escape scene. The only thing I couldn't really see was during the opera scene, the sheer curtain on the left hid the dancers. But I was mostly focused on the opera singers anyway
I have to say I don't really understand the sentiment of "I liked it and it was okay." Like... so it was fine, but it wasn't great? There is no room for blandness. This show reeks of that.
RippedMan said: "I have to say I don't really understand the sentiment of "I liked it and it was okay." Like... so it was fine, but it wasn't great? There is no room for blandness. This show reeks of that."
Is this your opinion after attending a performance? I certainly hope that you're not one of those close-minded individuals who makes up their mind through osmosis.
Oh not at all - I still want to see the show, at at discount - but I just don't understand this idea of it "it's fine."That does nothing for anyone. This is why Trump is our president. People who are okay with mediocre.
RippedMan said: "Oh not at all - I still want to see the show, at at discount - but I just don't understand this idea of it "it's fine."That does nothing for anyone. This is why Trump is our president. People who are okay with mediocre."
So for you either a show is one of the best shows you've ever seen or a horrible abomination? Nothing in between? Life is really that black and white for you? Cool, but that's not true for most people. A lot of the shows I've seen are enjoyable and a pleasant evening in the theater. I'm glad I went and I felt entertained for a few hours which was my objective, even though it may not be the most memorable show I've ever seen. They are fine. Not completely and utterly life changing. Not mediocre, Not horrible. FINE. Is this not allowed anymore? And because people are not critical enough of Pretty Woman to suit your tastes, this is why we elected Trump? Bit of a reach, don't you think? Between the preview thread and the review thread there will be hundreds of comments. Take from those that help you decide and ignore the ones that don't.
I don't want to spend bway prices for something that is merely "nice". I certainly have, but I dont want to go into a show knowing that's the best I can expect. So you want to pay the same price for a t-shirt as you do a tuxedo?
As to the Trump comment? People voted for him knowing he's a racist, a mysoginist, a sexual predator and one that mocks people and behaves like a 3 year old. They accept the bad because....well, I don't actually know why. THAT is the reference, I suspect.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
"So for you either a show is one of the best shows you've ever seen or a horrible abomination?"
I think we can dial back the rhetoric a little and perhaps say that, for some people (many?) shows are either just "good" or "bad." Some audiences have a lot more patience with old tropes, clichés, and hackwork than others. For some, a charming performer or a good loud voice make up for uninspired writing. And it doesn't always have anything to do with how much one has seen - I know someone who has been going to the theatre for 40-some years, and still says he likes every Broadway show he ever sees (he's less enthusiastic about Off-Broadway, for some reason).
Personally, I'm rather impatient with seeing the same old schtick, the same old plot devices, the same old dance moves, the same old obtuse lyrics, the same old foursquare music.
But it seems that every season, there's at least one musical - and maybe more plays - that stand out as being a bit brighter, wittier, more thoughtful, more special than the rest of the herd. Shows that aim to be more than just another clone from the profit-seeking mold. I love those shows - Meteor Shower, The Band's Visit, A Doll's House Part II, Fun Home, A Gentleman's Guide, Matilda, Hand To God, etc.
Pretty Woman (to me) was just another dire attempt to wring more cash from a famous movie (and it just may succeed).
This show feels like a wasted opportunity. Like others have said, this is the movie on stage. Nothing is fleshed out, and the songs are so generic and don't do anything to advance the plot. The whole thing moves along like "this happened and then this happened and then this happened." The direction is nothing special, the choreography is surprisingly awful for a Jerry Mitchell show, and the score is bland and just doesn't build to anything. I wish they had hired a real book writer to help make this more theatrical. Also, the sets and costumes are ugly and boring.
Samantha Barks does a good job as Vivian, and is very charming. Andy Karl is saddled with a bland, undeveloped character but he does his best. Jason Danieley barely registered, and they could've had an ensemble member play the role. Orfeh, Tommy Bracco, and Eric Anderson are a ton of fun.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
Is it just me or does that not sound like Andy Karl on the you and I track?? Like I keep comparing it to Groundhog Day and it just does not sound the same....
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