ROCK OF AGES First Preview Thoughts- Page 2

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 3:18am

"I prefer more sophisitcated theater"


That's a pretty unfortunate typo, given the context, eh?

[Jersey Girl2]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 8:48am

>>"I prefer more sophisitcated theater"

At least you gave it a chance.
Thanks for your opinion.

I was there also.
I LOVE IT.
It just makes you feel good.
Sophistication is overrated in my book.
You can laugh, sing, dream and escape for a few hours.
All that for $50.
It will be BIG!!!

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 9:27am

Sophisticated means not naive, more worldly. Has nothing to do with people who like or do not like this show.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 9:28am

I hope this runs for a long, long time.

It's one of the stupidest, worst-constructed musicals ever created.

And I loved almost every minute of it.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 9:32am

Hey...I also loved THE LITTLE MERMAID, and that is certainly not as sophisticated (did I get the spelling right now, MiracleElixir - you jerk) as other shows I've loved such as RAGTIME, PARADE, and CAROLINE OR CHANGE.

and YankeeFan, thank you for posting that. I'm shocked you loved it, but at least you admitted what Jane2 and others won't admit - it's a stupid, poorly constructed musical!! Even GOOD VIBRATIONS, LENNON, GLORY DAYS, and IN MY LIFE had more redeeming qualities than ROCK OF AGES.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 9:41am

Well, I certainly wouldn't go that far. Didn't see GLORY DAYS, but I had a much better time at this than GOOD VIBES and LENNON and IN MY LIFE, all of which took themselves to be serious musicals. And failed massively, because they were friggen awful.

That's what I loved about ROCK OF AGES (at least, Off-Broadway; I haven't scheduled the Broadway version yet). It doesn't even try to take itself seriously.
Updated On: 3/18/09 at 09:41 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 9:42am

I'm not admitting it because I don't think it is a stupid poorly constructed musical.

Remember there's such thing as an opinion, and just as you're entitled to yours, that doesn't mean it's so.

[TheresaG]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 9:46am

"The Brooks Atkinson is going to have to be defumigated after this closes... "

The Brooks Atkinson should have been fixed up before this show opened. It is without a doubt one of the weirdest set up theaters I've ever been in. It's a letdown after being at the New World Stages. Bathroom situation is terrible, they have walls in the tiny narrow lobby that must have had posters on them and they were ripped off and never repainted. There was a huge garbage dumpster that stunk to high heaven right outside the stage door. I give high marks to the ROA designers and crew though for how they built the set. You feel like you are in the Sunset Strip area as soon as you sit down.

The place was packed last night and the energy of the cast and band was tremendous. For a first preview, I thought it was fantastic; I can't wait to see it again.

Constantine's voice and stage presence was amazing. Amy was good but I wasn't sold on her in the first half. She did win me over in the second half. And she sure is a beautiful lady - what a figure on her. I liked James as Stacee immediately, he has a good singing voice.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 9:53am

This show never claims to be "high art." If you're going to measure it with a strict, unyielding yardstick, with a pseudo, wannabe a theater snob attitude, you're being totally unfair.

I know many, many theater aficionados, and the ones who are flexible and can appreciate a piece for what it is, not what it isn't, are the ones I listen to. They are the ones who are more worldly and like to have a good time without judging others.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 9:55am

God, your typing like he personally insulted you.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 9:57am

I guess you didn't read his initial post calling me and thousands of others "dregs of the earth."

p.s. And he carries on as if ROA was created just to annoy him. What's with all the hatred of a show?

Updated On: 3/18/09 at 09:57 AM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:02am

"God, you're typing like he personally insulted you."

It hasn't come to that...yet. I never actually stated that Jane2 is included in the dregs of the earth, but the way she is going to all lengths to defend this show...it makes me wonder.

I just find it truly shocking how any intelligent person could find this entertaining. The only audience I could see having a good time at ROCK OF AGES are drunken frat boys and girls gone wild. I felt like I was in a vegas strip show last night, and I really needed a shower afterwards.

[BlueforBroadway]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:03am

Yankeefan007 I have read your posts since I have been on this board and have always thought you give your honest opinions.

I was glad you liked the show.

Two more days for me. Thanks for everyone's thoughts and opinions. To the person smoking, what part of earth do you live on that you don't know smoking inside a theater is not allowed?

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:15am

"The dregs of the earth will love it and probably see it over and over again (no offense to vocallizzy - i still love you)."

The above is what you wrote. Interesting, because the one person he singled out as not a dreg of the earth is the biggest fan of ROA, and by his definition, would qualify as the biggest dreg of the earth.

So, Without a Trace, you did indeed insult me, as well as everyone else who likes the show.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:18am

I'm not insulted.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:19am

Very good, yankeefan.

BTW, Lizzy is a friend of mine, and I'm sure she knows I wasn't insulting her in my last post.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:21am

"It's one of the stupidest, worst-constructed musicals ever created.

And I loved almost every minute of it. "

Well at least you can admit that it's a horribly put together show. I wish I could have felt about Rock of Ages what I felt for Cry-Baby. It was stupid fun and I loved every minute of it. Rock of Ages unfortunately has no redeeming value. I've never seen a show actually try so hard to be bad. This makes Cry-Baby look like Gypsy.

WAT- I agree that this was worse than Good Vibrations, but it's in pretty much a dead heat with Lennon.

[massofmen]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:37am

wait wait wait.
you think this show is worse than good vibrations?
how?
Oh wait, i just looked at your profile. You love musicals that all came out before cable tv did. now i get it.
I think Piazza, In my life (you actually liked in My life) and the wild party are the only shows you liked that came out after 2000.
now I understand your demographic. So please, hate away at new musicals. Because knowing what are your "favorite shows" puts your comments in wonderful perspective.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:39am

So Wheezer, is there no room on Broadway for low brow?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:46am

I prefer more sophisticated theater with audiences that don't talk, eat, drink, or sing during the performance.

Audiences do that regardless the type of show or theatre all over the world. Audience behavior is not really indicative of the level of sophistication of the show.

And I'm with Jane on this one. That "dregs" comment was incredibly insulting. Just because someone can enjoy a different type of show doesn't mean they are an inferior person. Some people enjoy sophisticated theatre as well as light entertainment. That sort of opinion is lower than dregs in my book.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:49am

"(did I get the spelling right now, MiracleElixir - you jerk)"

Dude, you misspelled 'sophisticated' in the middle of talking about how stupid this show -- and its fans -- are and how you like theatre that is more intelligent and highbrow. I struggle to see how, even subjectively, you would fail to see the humor in such a thing. Don't take things so personally, jerk.

Updated On: 3/18/09 at 10:49 AM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:50am

"This makes Cry-Baby look like Gypsy."

I agree 100%

"So Whizzer, is there no room on Broadway for low brow?"

low-brow is paying ROA a compliment...it really is the worst of the worst, and it has no business being on Broadway at all. Thank you, YankeeFan, for not being offended by my comments and for at least realizing that this show is not well-constructed. I respect your opinion greatly. It is wonderful to be able to have an intelligent discussion about a show that we disagree on.

[1183]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:52am

The show is pure fun. Just what New York and Broadway needs today. And it is priced right! I think this is the right show for this moment, in many many ways. ROCK ON!

[massofmen]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:57am

people,
without a trace has STORY OF MY LIfe as her avatar. the show that closed in 4 DAYS! if she likes that and the rest of society PANNED it then why even care about her opinion. Basic Logic. I am glad that Without a trace hated ROA because that means the inverse is true. All else will love it.
HOORAY! i am so happy you hate ROA without. That means that it will run forever.
Things that you like close in a weekend!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 10:58am

MisterMatt, the difference between the man a few seats away from me at SWEENEY TODD eating Haggen Daas ice cream out of the carton during Act 2, and people drinking, singing and talking at ROCK OF AGES last night, is that it was actually *encouraged* last night. Yes, there will always be those few scattered "dregs of the earth" who will defy any and all proper theater etiquette, but instead of discouraging people from doing so, ROCK OF AGES will encourage people to do this in other shows...which will not be a good thing for Broadway in the long run.