Rocky Previews- Page 20

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 1:55am

Is the theater in Germany that much different? Seems like the set difficulties should be ironed out by now, no?

[bertrande2]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 6:25am

In Germany we had the same problems during the previews….but they worked it out….….here and there that still happens, but very seldom

[lynnetoomey]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 10:21am

Ugh. The much discussed magical transformation into the boxing match is anything but. You sit for what feels like an eternity while ushers try in vain to get the audience members relocating to the stage to move quicker. Then you sit and watch a bunch of stagehands come down the aisle and basically construct a condominium before your eyes. All of this topped off by banal, blaring music, and blinding lights.


Updated On: 2/22/14 at 10:21 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 10:23am

Glad I'm not the only one who felt that way.

[ryantbo2]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 10:47am

and then there was the 3rd UGH Instead of free drinks I wish they'd have given us free tickets to see a show that ran smoothly

[ryantbo2]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 10:49am

No the large screens never appeared again

[ryantbo2]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 10:53am

So disappointed in last nights (2/22) production of Rocky. 3 times in Act 1 the curtain was brought down to correct technical problems. What I don't get is that friends saw Thursday evening and it was flawless

At intermission they gave away free drinks - which extended the normal 15 minute intermission an additional 10 minutes. I wish they had given the audience tickets to come back and see it - cause breaking it up like that really broke the show

The actors seemed frustrated but made jokes

The 1st time they brought the curtain down was when Rocky goes in to the gym to get his locker - the set wouldn't move. When it restarted Rock comes in and breaks the lock off his locker and says "nothing seems to work around here"

Then during the interviews one of the jumbo screens came off track and crashed into the set

Then when Rocky goes to meet Apallo's people the set wouldn't move. This was the LONGEST time curtain was closed. Even the AD came out to talk to people He said "we are so close to the intermission so we made a couple modifications" When the curtain opened it was a black box theater with NO set. The actor said Come in Rocky. Sorry we are doing some redecorating"

At the end of the 2nd act when the lights went out for Apallo's entrance we thought it was another F up and you could hear the ENTIRE audience go "NOOOOOOOO" and then actually applaud when the stage lights continued.

We didn't get out until 11:30

[Up In One]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 12:23pm

"The much discussed magical transformation into the boxing match is anything but. You sit for what feels like an eternity while ushers try in vain to get the audience members relocating to the stage to move quicker. Then you sit and watch a bunch of stagehands come down the aisle and basically construct a condominium before your eyes. All of this topped off by banal, blaring music, and blinding lights."

Hey Lynn maybe there was another glitch the night you saw it but Thursday there was plenty going on while the audience was re-seated. It was all a part of the piece, boxing patrons being shown to their seats while commentators provided color and the announcer in the ring introduced the fighters. Yes there were stage hands setting things up in the empty seats while all this was going on but it was not dead air and blinding lights, at least Thursday night when I saw it.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 12:47pm

I saw it Tuesday night and it ran flawlessly. I was totally taken by the spectacle of the transformation. First, the audience Tuesday got up and moved onstage within 3 or 4 minutes. Then the boxing ring and the bleachers moved downstage with the ring over the first few rows smoothly. With all the lighting and energy from the announcers and the "magic" of the moment, I was captivated. I found it spectacular and even more exciting than I imagined.

But, that is just my opinion.

Updated On: 2/22/14 at 12:47 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 1:36pm

I didn't think the transformation was too halting either, but I also didn't think the final 20 minutes were quite as "all that" as many others did, either.

I could imagine, however, with the other delays, that too might have seemed longer than it did for me.

[NoName3]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 6:09pm

For anyone in the New York City area who's interested, Channel 13 is running the original film tonight at 9 pm (2/22). Since 13 is PBS, there shouldn't be any commercials.

Updated On: 2/22/14 at 06:09 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 6:22pm

Check your listings, it's on at 8:30 up here in the Boston Area... WGBX

[NoName3]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 6:32pm

Out of curiosity, is the show based solely on the first film or does it draw any material from the sequels?

[jv92]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 6:40pm

There was a 10 minute tech problem about a half hour into Act 2 this afternoon. I have a feeling that because they reprogramed the sets and lighting to cut the loathed "Philly Pie" number and retool bits of the show, the computer may have malfunctioned. We, too, got an announcement from an assistant director telling us a "whole new version" of the show was going up today. The crowd around me, not a typical theatergoing crowd, didn't seem to give a sh*t or even realize what a preview was, but that was to be expected.

The show itself is fun. Very entertaining, REALLY well staged. It's a directorial and technical marvel. The score might not be RAGTIME or A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, but it works for the show. The dialogue and songs, for me, flowed seamlessly. I think a character with as idiosyncratic a vocabulary as Rocky is as natural for a musical as Sky Masterson. He might not be as suave or sophisticated, but the "Nose Ain't Broken" song was a fine establishing number, and it and "Something Like Happiness" were probably my favorite numbers in the show. Some of the concerted numbers felt a little bit more like recit. and underscoring, but the montage work was terrific.

The fight sequence is a real coup, and very exciting. Overall, it's an exciting, entertaining spectacle and a very smart, uniquely American one. I enjoyed it.



Updated On: 2/22/14 at 06:40 PM

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 11:09pm

Just watched the film on PBS. I had never seen it before. I liked the musical better. Honest.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 11:18pm

"Out of curiosity, is the show based solely on the first film or does it draw any material from the sequels?"

Aside from the use of "Eye of the Tiger," it's all drawn from the first film.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 11:26pm

It's amazing how the original film had a budget of only $1 million yet has grossed over $200 million and is now as iconic as apple pie. In today's era of $100 million epics with special effects galore, the original Rocky does come across as a low budget, independent film. It's got heart, though, just like our Rock.

I enjoyed watching it again tonight. In 1976 my parents took me with them to see it (I was 7) and while the theater cheered for Rocky I cried my eyes out watching him scream for Adrian. I cried again at the Winter Garden when I realized they forgot to include Butkus.

Updated On: 2/22/14 at 11:26 PM

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 12:34am

Comparing the book of the movie vs. the musical, they're very similar. But, having just watched the movie, I think the musical is stronger. Yes, it is written today and therefore adapted to this time, but overall, the structure of the musical is tighter and the songs do add an emotional context that is in the movie, but not as clear.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 1:06am

On another note... anyone who has seen the show after Friday's mishap. Are the large monitors being used, or are they currently being replaced because of the accident?

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 1:35am

I saw tonight's (2/23) 8 pm show from the Golden Circle lotto seats.

There were over a hundred people at the lotto. I'm still stunned that we won.

There were two minor tech issues that I noticed: at the beginning of Act I, the lockers didn't move from audience right to left automatically, and a stagehand pushed the piece over manually after the actors began the "why's my gear on Skid Row" scene. Andy Karl kind of pointed and glared at the lockers in a way that was appropriate to the scene as they rolled by. Also, while not a glitch per se, some of the equipment was distractingly loud as it moved during a couple book scenes. There is an extraordinary amount of tech involved in "Rocky," and I'm thoroughly impressed that it ran as smoothly as it did this early in previews (today was this production's first two-show day, according to the show's Facebook page).

In Act II, at the second appearance of the pet store, there was a malfunction with the fish tank lights: they projected huge images of the fish on the back wall of the stage, then didn't appear in the "tanks."

The were monitors used, and they looked spectacular.

The transition of the audience into the bleachers was fast and smooth, and the hydrolics worked just fine.

My personal overall impressions of the show are very positive. "Rocky" has been one of my favorite films since early adolescence, and I was both excited and trepidatious about the musical adaptation. Ultimately, I was very pleased and even thrilled at times. Andy Karl did a great job embodying the Stallone style without it feeling like a cheap immitation. The book changes I felt were great for the stage and still rang true to the source material. I enjoyed the score, which ranged from pleasant to brilliant. The technical aspects were astonishing, the staging was genius at times, the singing and acting excellent. All told, I think this is a great show for tourists who want to see a Big Flashy musical based on a familiar story as well as for those of us with a lot of theatergoing experience and refined taste. I'm happy to share any thoughts about specific moments or choices if anyone is interested.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 2:08am

LuminousBeing-the fact that you used 'trepidatious'in your short review,for some reason using that word made me think that I would like to read more of your thoughts on Rocky-or anything--I will look out for your name in future-you have a fan.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:42pm

Did anyone see it this weekend? How is the new song in place of "Philly Pie"?

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 10:34pm

I saw it last night, but I don't know what song replaced "Philly Pie." Which was it?

Also, a note about the bleacher seating: I was in the second-highest row, and felt the view of the ring was just fine. They did stage it in the round. I also enjoyed watching some of the audience reactions: it felt a little like watching a Michael Bennet production with mirrors forcing the audience to watch themselves as well as the show.

SweetLips, you made my day! Thank you!

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 9:17am

Wow, I hadn't seen the movie since 1975, but watching it on TV the other night I was blown away how much more I enjoyed it than the musical. The movie is low-key, charming, funny and quite touching at the end. I found the musical to have none of those qualities. And much as I love Ahrens and Flarety's work on Ragtime and Once On This Island, I found their work here quite uninspired. To quote Sondheim (or maybe it's Mary Rodgers?) this is a classic example of a "why" musical. In my opinion, it added nothing to the movie and actually had less of an impact.

[broadwayghost1]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 1:13pm

Saw the 8pm show on Saturday 2/22/14 and I loved it. I was in the golden circle seating and 2nd row in the bleachers. I thought the sets were amazing. The sets did sound a little noisy and clunky, but it didn't really bother me. The boxing ring swaying back n forth in the air was a little distracting.