Rocky Previews- Page 5

[Jonwo]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:13am

I guess the experience of going on stage would be a reason to buy the golden circle tickets, its probably the same reason why people bought the stage seats for shows like Equus and Richard/Twelfth Night,

[bstoll1]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:16am

Not I am totally regretting NOT buying the ticket on TDF for the first preview. AHHHH!!!!

[Kad]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:17am

Margo Seibert is incredible. She killed with her two solos. "I'm Done" stopped the show in the second act. Truly incredible.

I'm very much with Sauja on this. My tickets were also fairly last minute and I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. It was nice to go into a show and not know- and then be blown away.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:19am

I feel like everyone is talking about the "spectacle" as opposed to the actual show.

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:24am

What section/rows are the Golden Circle (front/rear/side orchestra, etc)? How is the view from these seats before & after you move ?

[Sauja]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:24am

You know, it was super fun to go on stage, but if I had it to do over again, I'd sit in the front mezzanine. Going on stage was exciting but distracting.

Really, though, the heart of this show is dazzling. I think it's the best work Timbers has done, and for once he really manages spectacle that advances the depth of emotion in the show rather than standing in for it.

I'll stop raving now. Goodnight!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:25am

Margo looked a bit like Aubrey Plaza to me, and her character in the first act was withdrawn and anti-social so I couldn't stop thinking about her as April Ludgate. Margo's act two number was the best song Ahrens and Flaherty contributed to the show. She completely sold it, but I think it was just so nice to hear a strong melody that the audience couldn't help but respond.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:26am

Can someone who saw tonight's performance explain the view of those people sitting on the sides of the front orchestra. When the ring comes out, do they stand and turn, or are they just out of luck. I am confused and would love some clarity.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:28am

On my side of the orch (orchestra left), the people on the side of the ring actually stood up.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:31am

Strong season for musicals!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:35am

Margo is magnificent and indeed stopped the show. I think her Act II moment must've taken the creative team by surprise. Who expected the meek Adrian to walk away with the show-stopper of the evening?

I look forward to seeing this again. And maybe even again and again.

[FutureDirector]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:43am

Well, the bar for what the best musical is this year has been set. If/Then and Bullets better be ready to bring it. If not, rocky just walked away with a tony. Alex Timbers can do no wrong as he proves with the visually stunning production (especially the icon "Eye of the Tigre" and the always looming presence of the ring - neither of which I want to spoil online). And I’m not going to lie, I am one of the ones who cringed when I heard Rocky was being made into a musical.

Design wise the production is flawless in every aspect, though it could be argued the set might be over built (I don't think 4 full interior sets we necessary, they could have just as easily been suggested). However Rocky has one of the most visually stunning scenic designs in years.

Steven Hoggetts movement is up to par with some of his best work. His ground-breaking "full contact" fighting is so real that alone would have kept me engaged. He also proves that the premise of having more than one actor represent the same character can have a dynamic impact when performed well (that's right I'm looking at you Spiderman).

While the score was slightly underwhelming, (though there were a few standout numbers, particularly the act one closer "One of Us") that is actually something I applaud the show for. It is nice to see a large scale musical where story and character take center stage.

Andy Karl gives a solid performance of the underdog boxer and carries the show nicely, but the most pleasant surprise of the evening was the breakthrough performance given by Margo Seibert as Adrian. Her performance of "I'm done" was not only vocally well performed, but the sheer bravery and strength behind her performance of the number were what stopped the show cold for what I counted was about 90 seconds to 2 minutes of strait applause and cheering by the audience.

Now, let’s talk about what has been the biggest hype behind this production, the "Golden Circle Seating" which is the section I happened to be seated in. while you truly do feel like you are a part of the show. And the concept did its goal of making the whole production feel like an event. However, I spent my entire time onstage wishing I was out in the house. I felt as if I was missing part of the visual experience that made up the rest of the show.

They had substantial microphone issues due to it being first preview. One in act on Andy Karl covered quite nicely, but the ones that made a majority of the dialogue in the final fight extremely difficult to hear but those will be fixed. (Director Alex Timbre’s could be seen cringing in what had then become the second row). Other than that it was just the typical first preview pesky doors and automation that didn’t want to line up just right.

On a side note, the star power in attendance was unbelievable. Paul Rudd was seated on stage along with myself and Tom Hanks was in the front row of the Mezz. And Sylvester Stallon gave a very nice curtain speech before taking a bow with Andy Karl.
Updated On: 2/14/14 at 12:43 AM

[h6p8gv]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:59am

ANybody have a song list for the show

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 1:04am

The boxing match that takes up the last 15 minutes is a very exciting and impressive piece of stagecraft. The first 2hrs 25 minutes are extremely forgettable and mediocre. Not a memorable or striking song to speak of, a lackluster book, and performances that seemed like they were coasting on memories/outlines of the characters in the film. All the stuff with Mickey (including his awful, awful number - a shoddy ripoff of "Grandma's Song") was especially painful.

I guess this might be a hit based on everyone's reactions on here (and the strength / wow-factor of the finale), but I'm a little baffled by them. It's fine, nothing terrible, nothing great (though if this actually becomes the frontrunner for Best Musical, I may grow to hate it).

Updated On: 2/14/14 at 01:04 AM

[AntV]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 1:26am

Did anyone try the lotto? How many people were there? Were there only 20 tickets or did they give out some more to fill up the house?

[getatme]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 1:31am

I ended up with a $45 ticket in row Q of the center orchestra which ended up being a fantastic view of everything, including the final fight. I find myself agreeing almost entirely with Whizzer on this one.

Overall, I thought it was fine, perhaps even good, but not great or incredible by any means. The book is fine, the characters are mostly well drawn, but they all could stand to have a little more meat to them. The score musically is decent, but lyrically almost every song fell flat for me save for both of Adrian's songs which I think were not only well written, but impeccably performed by Margo Seibert who is making one hell of a broadway debut.

I wasn't personally wowed by Andy Karl, I thought he was sufficient, his act two number "Keep on Standing" was well performed both vocally and acting-wise, but it sort of just fades off without giving him a real button, if I'm remembering correctly, which I might not be. I think he'll improve, for sure, he's got the makings of a really phenomenal performance, I just wasn't sold on him.

For my money, Margo Seibert is the best part of the show. She has a beautiful presence onstage and a unique and gorgeous voice. She performs both of her songs beautifully, but her act two number, as has been said, stopped the show entirely. I can't wait to revisit this show in a few weeks and see how her performance has grown.

Timbers' direction is very strong, he's got a beautiful set to work with and he makes the entire show click and work, even when the score pushes against it. Bits of it seemed over-directed to me, but that's just my personal take. As a whole, I was completely impressed visually by the whole production.

I think there's interesting moments and ideas, for me it all just didn't gel together as I'd hoped. I wish the score was stronger, that's my largest complaint. I hope they take full advantage of the preview period.

I was talking with a friend and we agreed the whole thing might work better as a play with music, the book is strong, beef it up, keep "Eye of the Tiger," and it'd be unstoppable. Even the moments I enjoyed would probably work better as strong dialogue scenes as opposed to songs.

Overall, though, I'm glad I was there and I can't wait to see the changes made in the coming weeks.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 1:58am

Is what I'm reading that this is a meh-show with a really strong ending?

[BrerBear]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 2:16am

Do they actually pull the "Eye of the Tiger" song from Rocky III into this, or am I just confused by the comments? Do they also take other musical cues and themes from all the movies, like "Gonna Fly Now"? If so, that sounds kind of weird.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 2:33am

Do they actually pull the "Eye of the Tiger" song from Rocky III into this, or am I just confused by the comments?

Yes, of course they do! Not putting it in would be like doing a Sister Act musical without "I Will Follow Him".

[Alessio2]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 4:49am

which is exactly what was wrong with the sister act musical! none of the fantastic music from the movie!

[Eurotrash]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 5:22am

What we have here is musical melodrama with universal appeal that is going to be smash hit. Well deserved, and what should have been an entirely predictable outcome, three years ago.

Now investors, would you please wake up, smell the money, and pony up the cash for that other German import!

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 5:37am

"Now investors, would you please wake up, smell the money, and pony up the cash for that other German import!"

Schiesse porn?!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 6:03am

Glad to hear all the great reviews from the BWWers who were fortunate enough to attend the first preview. ROCKY is one of my all time favorite films and naturally I want it to succeed on Broadway.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 6:06am

I'm going to stop reading the comments, but I'm so glad I purchased a ticket to this when I was in the city last month. Now I just have to wait until March 1st!!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 6:23am

BrerBear, Yes they actually perform Eye of the Tiger. It is a very big production number/training sequence sung by the male ensemble with some solo lines sung by Terence Archie, who plays Apollo. It is reprised by the whole company during the final fight sequence.

The performance of the song made me think of another of Alex Timber's directorial decisions: when he had the male leads sing Westlife's To Be With You during Love's Labour's Lost. Both songs are so catchy and well known that they overwhelm the rest of their respective scores and are the only tunes one could possibly be humming when leaving the theater.

In functionality I would compare Rocky's score with Billy Elliot's. The latter's score does not play very well on disc, with few standout tunes, yet in the theater it served the piece well, developed the plot and characters, etc. What is really missing from this score is that "Solidarity" moment where all facets of the production come together and the music helps bring to the character to an emotional realization.

Someone mentioned above that Rocky could have been a play with music, and for the first 40 minutes or so that's exactly what it feels like.