Rocky Previews- Page 10

[Kad]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 10:22am

There's no reason for you NOT to see it. Perhaps wait it out till the show is frozen.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 10:29am

"If you go back and read the first preview comments here there were only a couple all out raves for the show. Everyone else (myself included) found things to enjoy, but also were critical of other aspects, especially the score. I don't see the huge disparity between the two nights worth of reactions except the second preview didn't have the few raves mixed in."

Agreed Whizzer, the reviews are pretty consistent. I'm a little surprised to hear about the technical issues during the second preview, considering how the first preview went off without a noticeable hitch.



Updated On: 2/15/14 at 10:29 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 10:31am

It is possible they were trying to implement some changes that either taxed their limited power, or were just under-rehearsed.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 10:34am

I'm thinking about seeing this in April when I see IF/THEN.
From the sounds of it now, ROCKY is gonna be the spectacle with an enjoyable score while IF/THEN will be the more "grounded" one (if that makes sense at all).
Either way, it sounds like this is shaping up to be a very strong year for new musicals. Tony season should be interesting.

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 10:34 AM

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 1:14pm

"Wow, how annoying. Almost as annoying as some seasoned theater queen traipsing all over the theater changing seats all night thinking they have the right to sit in any seat they want, and at a reduced rate no less, because well, they are entitled, they are "theater fans"!"

amoni, I was taken back by your post. I am one of those "seasoned theater queen[s]"...

On Thursday, my partner and I were able to get two snow day special tickets for, The Bridges of Madison County. We were initial sold two rear side orchestra seats. Thinking that the weather would probably affect attendance, I spoke with the House Manager who informed us that we could change our seats at intermission. He also offered us rear center orchestra for the first act. We exchanged our seats and moved from the initial location to the new one.

At intermission we found empty seats fifth row orchestra center and moved our coats there. We then went to the bathroom. When we returned to our new seats they were about to be inhabited by the actually owners of those seats (they arrived late and sat through the first act in the back). We graciously picked up our coats and moved a few rows back to another set of empty seats. (This time right next to Tony Danza.) All of this moving was done before the lights went down.

Were you referring to me? If so, I'm guilty, but I never realized that someone would find that behavior upsetting, or inappropriate. I repeat, we were comfortably in our seats well before the lights went down. I would never intentionally do anything that I believe would offend or affect another audience member's enjoyment of a show.

When I wrote my early post about being "rude audienciest," I did so thinking that my list of common rude behavior was understood. (Yes, I know some people have argued with me in other posts about the practice of texting during a performance.)

I don't wish to hijack this thread and make it about audience behavior, but I did want to respond to your post. Are you genuinely bothered by audience members who take open seats during intermission to get a better view?

If you don't wish to post here, please PM me. (I tried PM'ing you, but you don't accept them.)

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 01:14 PM

[bstoll1]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 2:02pm

Yes they did depict Rocky running up the steps in the second act.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 3:38pm

Something else from last night that I found really strange. I had tickets from the night before 2/13 and i was not able to get in because of the snow. I called to try and past date them for last night. Telecharge contacted the box office and the box office said NO they would not past date tickets last night. Luckily, I purchased new fix from TDF for last night.

What annoyed me was once i got into the theater the amount of OPEN seats there were for the performance last night. Where i was sitting in the orchestra 3 rows were OVER 1/2 empty. ALL of the far side seats in the orchestra house left were also empty. Soooooo WHY could the box office not past date my previous tickets when they had a lot of empty unsold seats?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 3:48pm

Because the producers are greedy.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 4:08pm

I too am confused. I didn't have past dated seats, but I did walk up to the box office with the mailer they sent me with a discount code about 30 minutes before curtain and they told me there were no seats. I find this weird.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 4:17pm

While I understand the frustration, they are not obligated to give you past dated tix. They might have the policy that they will do that only Mon-Thurs. As for the discount, they may have agreed that there are only so many they will sell as discounted.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 4:39pm

^ agreed. But, as theater seats are dated, it seems foolish that they'd turn down the money - even discounted - that I was offering. Those seats didn't generate any income, they could have, and now they can't.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 5:19pm

'"how is this show going to survive once everyone from Staten Island and New Jersey are done with it??"'

All i can say to that idiotic comment is 'wow'

Gotta say i am surprised at the negativity for the show on here, especially the book since its pretty close to the movie and that is superb. I think the score is great (with a couple of duff numbers but today what musical doesn't?) and the pace was great when i watched it in Germany i was not bored for a single second. I found it sweet and charming, an old fashioned love story. I guess if you never liked the film you would not like it and those looking for a big all singing all dancing extravaganza wont, but for me i liked the simplicity of the story (same with the movie) and thought it adapted wonderfully to the stage.

I am seeing a lot of positive comments elsewhere so hopefully the show will please enough people to find an audience, if not.....bring it to the UK.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 5:49pm

"I guess if you never liked the film you would not like it"

I guess your generalization has been blown, since I LOVED the movie when it came out in '76 and did not like the musical. I also think part of the problem is that I had such high expectations for the score. This is Ahrens & Flaherty. My favorite songwriting duo for the Broadway stage. With some exception to the LUCKY STIFF score (that's another story...), I have adored everything written by them. This just heavily paled in comparison to all of their other stellar writing.

[Goldenboy2]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 6:07pm

Whether people on here like it or not, the show is a big fat hit. We live in a technological age where the average mind needs to be stimulated for a certain amount of time in order to hold peoples attention. Timbers and the team have done that and I totally get it not living up to some peoples expectations with the score. But the score is not terrible nor cringeworthy. If you love Ahrens and Flahtery you will love Rocky. The book is solid. SOLID. It's the movie for crying out loud. Rocky is not for everyone but the masses will flock. It is what it is.

Congrats to the cast and crew and writers on an entertaining piece of theater.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 6:27pm

And yet, Liza JUST stated she loves BOTH the film and Ahrens and Flaherty and still didn't care for it. She's entitled to not fall in love with it. These boards aren't about being right or wrong, they are about an opinon.

Scads of people here HAVE liked it, but it seems like people only really notice the posts that are in opposition to their own opinion. I'm seeing this next week, looking forward to it, as is my 13 yo ds.

Two performances are a bit early to judge whether its a big fat hit, don't you think? I'm not saying it won't be....but the only show of the last few years that could be determined this quickly was really Book of Mormon which had incredible sales even before it started previews.

Posted: 2/15/14 at 6:28pm

If you found that offensive. I apologize. It's called sarcasm, get a sense of humor. Please. Lighten up people.

There are far more offensive posts in EVERY thread here.
You must not read these threads often or have never visited BWW.

For me, Watching Rocky was offensive itself. and that is just an opinion- shared by many on here.

There was no need to call someone's opinion 'idiotic', your viewpoint is no better than anyone else's.. just as much as mine isn't better than anyone else's.

The problem with some people on here is they believe what they say goes- and they have a right to claim territory on a subject. Which obviously is not only wrong- but INSANE and neurotic. Some people on here get personally attached to comments- which is hilarious- and I quite get a kick out of.

For me to generalize New Jersey/Staten Island was a joke- the same way anybody would generalize it.
the same way a comment was made about Evita being generalized for latinos. it's a joke.

it wasn't meant to offend. AT ALL. I grew UP in Staten Island! so go figure.

And about the audience-- YES- they were unruly.
Ushers were not doing their job, no one was being monitored and if I had to turn my head another time chasing down someone taking pictures of the show with flash- I was gonna have a throw down with someone and the fight in the audience would have been better than anything going on on stage.

In my HUMBLE OPINION- The MUSIC IS DULL. 24 hours later- i remember not ONE song. except Eye of The Tiger and the lyrical cheese of the song about a broken nose.

And the fact that nowadays musicals have nothing catchy to offer- is not an acceptable answer. it is lazy writing. there are a good number of musicals creating memorable music and people who spend time developing good songs for the stage.... with catchy hooks.

songs like 'My nose ain't broke".. seriously? and did it need a reprise?
It was pre cheese on some occasions and just tepid at best.

as a fan of Ahrens and Flaherty- it was a disappointment.

again- reporting on MY experience- on the night I attended... on the show that I saw ...
it's funny how others here are charging at other people when they themselves did not see it at all.








Updated On: 2/15/14 at 06:28 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 7:33pm

I have not said anything about if people should like it or not, i was just saying i was surprised,i thought it would go down well there. Of course everyone will make up their own mind, that's what theatre is all about. And Taboo, i will call something idiotic when its an idiotic post as it was, i did not call your opinion on the show idiotic, i think you put it across very well why you did not enjoy the show other than that stupid comment what i found borderline offensive (and i was not the only one), but if it was just sarcasm then that's fair enough, it just did not read that way.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 7:57pm

Ok, here's my question…if I was looking for an afternoon of decent entertainment, would you recommend this to me?

Sell me this pen!

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 8:29pm

20 minutes into it and the set is stuck.

Posted: 2/15/14 at 8:36pm

^ Looking forward to you putting an end to it. See ya in about 3 hours when it finishes.

[Up In One]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 9:22pm

From Taboo
"I see a lot of theatre, and have been for decades.
Rocky is no big fat hit. You can tell it will do its business and serve the target audience- it will have a great summer and holiday season.... but i feel that by next winter..... it's gonna fly now. "

That's exactly what many on this board were saying about Kinky Boots last year this time. Including making comments about the type of audience it was drawing during previews. Now KB is consistently a top seller as is it's Cast Recording. I sense a bit of sour grapes in reaction to the very positive response many here had at the first preview.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 9:33pm

""I guess if you never liked the film you would not like it"

I guess your generalization has been blown, since I LOVED the movie when it came out in '76 and did not like the musical. "

How is that proving the first statement untrue? That poster said if you disliked the movie Rocky, you probably wouldn't then like a musical version of a story you didn't like in its original form.

You didn't like a musical version of a movie you DID like.

They are completely different things, as nowhere did it assume people who liked (or LOVED) the movie would therefore like the musical.

I see your overblown generalization and raise you an invalid conclusion...

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 09:33 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 9:37pm

"You didn't like a musical version of a movie you DID like."

I liked Ghost…I don't like Ghost: The Musical.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 10:13pm

Set stuck again. People fed up and leaving.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 10:16pm

Ugh. I'm sorry to read that tonight isn't going so well.