Roundabout and the ART will Bring 1776 Back to Broadway- Page 2

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 1:13pm

massofmen said: "Roundabout Theatre...customers paying broadway prices while actors get paid regional theatre salaries.
"

Snarky!!  You do remember that the Roundabout is non-profit, so no one is benefiting from the Broadway prices.  The ability to charge Broadway prices -- and remember that their subscribers receive sizable discounts -- are one of the reasons they remain viable.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 2:12pm

HogansHero said: "givesmevoice said: "1776 is a better show than Hamilton. I’m much more invested in the characters in 1776 than I am in Hamilton and it was ballsy to write a musical where at one point you go over thirty minutes without a song."

LOL

OK"

 

That is not one person's opinion. Maybe there are even three; but I agree with Givesmevoice.  The first time I saw Hamilton, I loved it like everyone else, although I occasionally felt it was too busy, i.e., the direction.  The second time, I enjoyed it, but I was also a little bored at times.  The third time, I was a little more bored at times.  There were certainly moments of greatness, but IMO there were moments that were not so great.  Virtually all of my criticism points to the direction, which I continue to feels just too damn busy.

Re 1776, I will admit that I never loved it as much in any viewing as I did the first time I saw Hamilton; but I loved it the subsequent times as well.  Clearly, it is not as revolutionary (no pun intended) as Hamilton, and its score isn't nearly as good, and it does not have as many standout roles as Hamilton, but it is not as busy as Hamilton either.  Again I like Hamilton, and parts of it a lot lot lot, I just don't share the majority opinion that it is the greatest thing since sliced bread (my wife does  think it is far and away the greatest musical she has ever seen).

One other thing I would say that I really believe, that probably contributed to my subsequent disappointment.  The second and third casts I saw were not nearly as good as the first one.  This is especially true of the Daveed Diggs roles; Diggs gave what I feel is the best male featured performance I have ever seen in 55 years or so of theatre going.  Probably a tie with Joel Gray (which was really a lead role).  The successors, who were not awful, felt awful compared to him.  Close to the same with Washington and Eliza.  Both subsequent Hamiltons were solid, but they did not have the charisma that Miranda has; plus, there was something special about seeing the author of an incredibly acclaimed work in the leading role.  While no  one will replace William Daniels and Howard DaSilva in the lead roles, I have never felt that subsequent casts were inferior the original.