Rocky Previews — Page 9

^^^^^ agreed. just got back. Show was 3 hours tonight.

found all the songs and story and lyrics and music very flat.

performances,, meh.

the last 20 minutes EXCELLENT- but not worth hard earned money.

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


If you want to sit in a crowd of people who clearly are going to the theatre for the first time in their lives after riding the ferry-- this is the one to see.


there was more language, bad habits, and accents coming from the audience than what was being inaudibly said on stage.


on the other hand- i commend the cast and crew for hanging in there and fighting through this monster of a show. The sets come out swinging. And they win the fight.

I wish there was something that left you humming once you left the theatre.

Unfortunately- the only song you remember is "Eye of the Tiger". yikes.

I am on the train heading home from the second preview and I agree with tonight's reviews from "holdyourbadboy" and "taboo123."

Last night after reading the amazing reviews from the first performance and the big celebrities who showed up to support the show I was kicking myself for not grabbing a ticket from TDF for the performance. So this morning when I saw they had tickets for the second preview I grabbed it in a minute!

Although I am a guy I was not a huge fan of the movie and hadn't seen it in years so I had little knowledge of the story line. The TDF seats were located in the rear left side of the orchestra so needless to say the view was not that great.

Similar to the first performance one of the creators came out to thank us for being their second audience but informed us of their electrical issues and how they were using generators. The show began around 8:10 PM and about 30 minutes into the show they had to suddenly stop the production because a set piece would not move. In that time I moved up to the box seats hoping for a better view but it was still obstructed. The show was in no way sold out since there were plenty of seats on the left side of the theater and some in the mezzanine. I also noticed that a lot of the production staff was scattered throughout the theater with their clipboards taking notes as to changes to be made in upcoming performances. When it was time for the 15 minute intermission I moved to what would be my best seat second row center mezzanine. The intermission probably was double the time and the second half didn't start till about 10:15pm. The second half of the show was much better than the "rocky" first and basically went by very fast. I enjoyed the second half much more than the first basically because of the use of technology and screens. The show ended with a big spectacle where they bought the whole first half of the center row orchestra people onstage to sit on bleachers while they put the boxing ring over all the center half of the orchestra seats. They created a big screen that hung above the ring making it look like a real match that could have taken place at a venue like Madison Square Garden. The 15 round boxing match happened in probably 10 minutes and then the show ended at 11 PM - 3hrs later. Stallone did not show up at the end, it just ended with a standing ovation, although the majority of the audience in the orchestra section was already standing as they watched the fake boxing match.

All in all I'd say if you were a big fan of the movie and wanted to go for the spectacle of it all then go if not save your money.

I do though have to give the show credit for how they created the boxing match at the very end. It was a brilliant idea. A lot of work to set up and get everyone in their places but a great job.

I hope this review was useful to those trying to decide about seeing the production and happy Valentine's Day to all those who celebrate.

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 01:11 AM

You go blaxx. I trust you to have the definitive opinion. Post the moment you can.

---

^ exactly...

Having typed that, there may be some imposed limits on how much can be changed based on the complexity of the production. Sets as expensive and complex as reported by those who have seen the show tend to hinder dramatically changing the structure of a production. Of course, within each scene there is far more flexibility.

Having typed this, I do think this thread is going to be fun to watch over the preview period.

Also, on another note... I was disturbed by the post that suggested Rocky would mostly appeal to audience not familiar with the etiquette of theater going. Those who know me here, know that I take great offense to rude audiences.

---

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 02:01 AM

blaxx, I'd like to think I'm not racist. I admit to being rude audiencist. Cell phones going off, people texting during a show, people bring in and eating their dinner, loud talking, hissing when there is a musical number (as reported here), etc. are my issues.

---

Oh and I had TDF seats, Row U left Orchestra. Great view.

"They are clearly doing well if the second preview is sold out."

Selling out a performance in the preview period is absolutely no indication of a show "doing well." You're not accounting for a period that's know to have an exceptionally high rate of discounts, papering, and comping.

ARTc3

The audience was full of people who clearly don't attend theater. During most of the show- people were quoting lines BEFORE they happened- making references to the movie- the chomping- the phones... and not vining off the energy of what the show was trying to create-- it was---not so great.

The dead giveaway??
The hemming and hawing when songs would start--- as if to say-- 'Yo, they gonna sing now?.. jeesus, Give me a f***ing break'

another example:

woman: who's in this show?
man: ehhh, a bunch of nobodies.

another example:
man 1: how long are these things?
another man: 15 minute intermissions, but its preview night so it may take time
man 1: oh i thought it was over and we get to fill out complaint cards with the ushers.


and that was pretty much the night.

Aside from that I can go further into how much I enjoy A&F's musical catalog and DID NOT enjoy this. Lyrics, borderline cheese- musically- flat and unmemorable. I was disappointed. It was missing wit and charm.

I almost felt the musical would have been done better if treated as a comedy- or lighter fare.
It played weird as a drama with music. Which in turn, did not sit well for the stage. Clearly this is a screenplay- which is why some of these 'movie to musicals' should stay as films for a reason. Rocky has a great monologue in the film that transferred over to stage nicely (conversation with the turtles) but at that point... it just doesn't sit well with an audience who an't sit with a monologue.

To spice it up- I would have added James Brown's 'Living In America' for Apollo Creed. I mean the America theme rang all over- what would it have taken to get the rights for the one song?? AT least the audience would have been bopping heads in the aisles and given them enough cheer with what 'Gonna Fly Now' and 'Eye of the Tiger' did for them. NO OTHER SONG came close to eliciting excitement. at all.

The portion with the 10 Rocky's jogging and 'boxerdancing' was a clear take from the Spiderman scene with 10 Spidermans. it wasn't used effectively... It's a juggernaut of a show/spectacle in the last 20 minutes.... but it's not worth the drab first act and most of the 2nd act.

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.

Exactly, ljay. Just look at the difference of opinions between the first two nights. Very telling. Although, to be fair, I was in the 'underwhelmed' camp at the first night. I'm just not seeing what's so intellectual or captivating about this musical.

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


If you want to sit in a crowd of people who clearly are going to the theatre for the first time in their lives after riding the ferry-- this is the one to see.


there was more language, bad habits, and accents coming from the audience than what was being inaudibly said on stage. "

What incredibly stupid and offensive statements.

And you're commenting on other people's bad manners?

The people of Staten Island and New Jersey display far more class than anything you've shown here, since you've shown none at all.

[quote]there was more language, bad habits, and accents coming from the audience than what was being inaudibly said on stage. "

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"!

You know what, I still wanna see it. If nothing else, I can at least say I saw it.

---

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

---