Plane Crazy is AMAZING

[pirotcar]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:03pm

This show is the standout of this year's NYMF season! I saw it Saturday night and it was smoking...and it ended with a standing ovation which I haven't seen yet at a NYMF show.

It does a brilliant job of mixing traditional "Lehman Engel" rhyming structure with more pop-inspired soft rhymes, and the story follows a really interesting arc as the two main female leads (Faith and Janet) cross paths; we see Ego and Id come together through song.

I'm still humming the tunes, and that doesn't happen on Broadway very often anymore.

I'm not sure this show will be a critic's darling (not dark and complex enough), but it really took me back to a time when Broadway was a populist art form.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:06pm

.and it ended with a standing ovation which I haven't seen yet at a NYMF show.

Then you haven't seen But I'm A Cheerleader. I'm guessing that's because your performance schedule in Plane Crazy clashed with theirs.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:08pm

Are you joking? Anyone that has seen this show will say that it has DRECK written all over it.

Actually, it has not been recieved well so far. The NY Times didn't like it.

It is the weakest entry in the festival that I have seen, so far - and it will not have a future past NYMF. It is literally the only show I had trouble sitting through. The plot is interesting enough, but the lyrics and the book are deplorable. You joined BWW today, clearly to stand up for PLANE CRAZY, which obviously means that you have somethign to do with the show.

And we all know that standing ovations don't mean anythign these days - every show I've seen on Broadway for the past 5 years have received standing ovations at the curtain call.

Why are you plugging this show? It's deplorable - and anyone with half a brain can discern good, fun theatre from garbage.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:09pm

And, if anyone wants any proof, go to the www.nymf.org, find PLANE CRAZY, and listen to the songs.

[pirotcar]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:28pm

I work for one of the major theater owners...not for Plane Crazy. I would think that if I worked on the show I would have joined a long time ago.

I looked up the Times review and it's not terrible, certainly no worse than others for NYMF.

What I enjoyed about the show is the innocence and energy of the songs...the show made me smile, the show made me laugh, and I had a really good time. So did everyone else in my group, and the theater was really rocking to.

I think "Dreck" is a particularly harsh label to apply to anything.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:30pm

I don't. I think it's certainly appropriate for this show. I'm glad that it made you laugh and smile - really, I am. But I couldn't sit through that show one more time if they paid me to do it. Some of the songs have catchy tunes - I'll give you that. But the lyrics are BANAL. How can you not see past that?

[pirotcar]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:35pm

I thought the lyrics were really clever, in a Pajama Game sort of way...what did you not like?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:39pm

Everything about every song. The lyrics clever? Absolutely not. THE PAJAMA GAME's lyrics are atleast semi-intelligent.

How about this fantastic rhyme?

"Achievable, feasible, cerebral..."

or the classic:

"I need you like a fish needs a bicycle!!!"

[pirotcar]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:50pm

Whoa...that's your beef?

Achievable, feasible, cerebral: That's a pretty standard pop soft rhyme...sometimes offensive to Broadway diehards, but perfectly acceptable given the piece.

Fish needs a bicycle: That's a classic Gloria Steinem quote...everyone knows that...

You seem way over the top on criticizing this show...

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 9:26pm

Where's this going? I've heard nothing about it in quite a long time, and although not every musical goes somewhere, I'm wondering if anyone knows any developments on this! :)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 9:30pm

Hopefully none.

This show should burn in hell.

Hahaa. It really should.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 9:32pm

Hahaha. After I revived this topic, I saw your posts and thought, "Oh gosh, Munk is gonna be on my ass in a minute."

Was it really that bad? I saw some video clips of the songs being performed, and some were pretty catchy, in my opinion.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 9:35pm

Very catchy songs.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 9:43pm

The creators did a production here with students from Sheridan College last spring. The cast tried hard but the show plays like one of the awful 1960s flops (think HOW NOW DOW JONES set in the airline industry.) The show s not funny enough to be satire, nor is it consistently entertaining enough to pass off as camp. The basic idea is worth exploring but the resulting show, if it is to be successful, needs to settle on tone and find something unique to say about the industry.

Posted: 8/8/06 at 7:52am

Hi -- I'm Suzy, and I'm the author of PLANE CRAZY. Just a little note on professional courtesy -- our Sheridan production was a workshop, and reviewers were not invited or welcome. You seem determined to review the show, but it doesn't seem very cricket.

On the other hand, I'd love your personal feedback on how the show can improve! I've never pretended that PC was perfect, but there's something fun in there. Since I was kinda going for a classic '60s HOW NOW DOW JONES feel, I'm glad you got that -- my challenge is how to take it to the next level.

Posted: 8/8/06 at 8:26am

Hi, I'm Suzy Conn, and I'm the author of PLANE CRAZY. A friend thought I should wade in a bit here, although after reading some of these posts I'm a little taken aback.

Um, gee -- like PC is just meant to be fun. "Burn in Hell" seems a bit strong for any musical. With the exception of LESTAT, perhaps.

Unless by "Burn in Hell" you mean that PC will be a "Hot Musical into Eternity", in which case I will accept Munk's apology for his bad manners.

I've never said anything negative about YANK, or any of the other NYMF shows, nor do I think that would be appropriate.

Since NYMF I've re-written the show significantly with major book changes, new songs, and the elimination of all the soft rhymes -- but not "a fish needs a bicycle" since that is Gloria Steinem's calling card.

We did a workshop at Sheridan College followed by a production at the OCU "Stripped" Festival, and a performance of "Turbulence" by Karen Ziemba at the NYMF Best of Fest Bash. The show keeps getting better, and it's going to keep improving. Musicals are hard, and they need time -- and space -- to develop.

I saw DROWSY at The Toronto Fringe in '99, and trust me -- that show's come a long way...

We filmed the Sheridan production -- if you want a DVD, let me know and I'll send one out.

Over the last couple of months I've been a bit distracted with a couple of other projects, including THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND which was a big hit at The Toronto Fringe in July, and NAKED IN AMERICA, my nudie musical which has a staged reading coming up in September.

However, we are talking to lots of producers and directors about the next step for PC, which is likely a regional production. A couple are already in the offing.

And, to Munk's horror I'm sure, I'm also working on a sequel to PLANE CRAZY called AD CRAZY, which follows the character "Holly" into the world of '70s advertising. This is a darker musical than PC, in keeping with the spirit of the times. I've also got a new bookwriter on that one, which will hopefully help me avoid some of the writing pain on PC.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 11:32am

Suzy - You go! I think people have a tendency to forget that many shows in festivals are in their earliest stages and 99.99% of them require MAJOR rewrites and work. It's a good way to workshop or preview a show without requiring the audience to take out a loan to get a ticket. I would love to learn more about Plane Crazy and see where it eventually lands (pun totally intended). Don't worry about Munk. He's overly harsh on everything he doesn't like. There's no middle ground. It's either good or it's the worst show ever in theatre history and doesn't deserve to exist. Forgeddaboudit! I've performed in many workshops of new musicals. Some have potential and some don't. None of them are ever perfect out of the gate.

I mean, ever heard the lyrics to Miss Saigon? Look how popular that show was! All you need is $10M for a flying/crashing/flashing/projecting something-or-other and you're GOLD!

I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 11:39am

yeah don't forget the famous OKLAHOMA verdict:

"no jokes, no legs, no chance."

Wish I could have seen Hollie Howard in PLANE CRAZY at NYMF. Saw her once in academic summer stock while travelling through Missouri, then enjoyed her in the chorus of HAIRSPRAY. Nice to see her get leads...

[StrippedOCU]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 11:42am

On behalf of the Oklahoma City University "Stripped" production, allow me to say that "Plane Crazy" is an excellent show...the book, music and lyrics are creative and funny. We were only able to do 40 minutes of the show, but our audience went wild.

Susy has crafted a piece that is witty, intelligent and sophisticated. It evokes the 1960's perfectly through it's words and sounds.

We look forward to the day that this excellent new piece gets the exposure it deserves!

[StrippedOCU]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 11:43am

On behalf of the Oklahoma City University "Stripped" production, allow me to say that "Plane Crazy" is an excellent show...the book, music and lyrics are creative and funny. We were only able to do 40 minutes of the show, but our audience went wild.

Susy has crafted a piece that is witty, intelligent and sophisticated. It evokes the 1960's perfectly through it's words and sounds.

We look forward to the day that this excellent new piece gets the exposure it deserves!

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:07pm

Thanks guys! OCU totally rocked, and it was the best version of the show to date. I really, really appreciate your support and the opportunity to showcase PC.

What was so fantastic at OCU was it was the first time the piece was in front of a big audience (+500 people). It's tough doing comedy in a small theatre -- people don't feel as comfortable laughing in a small room. It was really refreshing to hear people laughing so hard, with such abandon.

And the school at OCU is amazing! I want my daughter to go...

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:25pm

Hollie was extraordinary in PC, and she is a wonderful person as well. She was so great to work with, and brought so much to the role that it inspired me to want to write a sequel -- just featuring her character.

Working with Hollie was a real highlight of the Festival for me.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:29pm

Suzy, is there a way I can hear some demo's? I'm intrigued!

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:51pm

We are doing a new recording this fall -- an ANCIENT set of demos are up at http://planecrazythemusical.com, but they've changed so much -- lyrics, some songs gone, new songs added -- that I need to redo everything.

Once I've done that I'll post the new mp3s...