Runaways at Encores Off-Center- Page 2
Runaways at Encores Off-Center
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/06
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#25
Posted: 7/7/16 at 1:12pm
WhizzerMarvin said: "CarlosAlberto said: "Awww, my heart just sank. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at the show Whizzer.
Aww, thanks, but it does seem like I'm the outlier here, so if you were on the fence maybe you should still go see it. The bad audience members around me clearly affected my enjoyment, but my dislike of the show ran much deeper than the distractions nearby. Oh well- here's hoping I like the jamboree and Mr. Rosewater more!
Sorry to go off topic but has anyone heard any rumors about who might be at the Jamboree besides Foster, Groff and Tesori?
"
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#26
Posted: 7/7/16 at 4:31pm
I saw the original production. The cast, as with Encores, was fantastic. The show perhaps had more resonance when it opened as the City was in such a sorry, dangerous state. It was going bankrupt and the show followed the Summer of Sam. The thought of those kids out on the streets may have been more unsettling than it is today. The score has a couple nice, heartfelt numbers but after while, it has a sameness about it, as do the monologues. .It is nowhere near the achievement of ...I Can't Cope.
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#27
Posted: 7/7/16 at 9:59pm
I saw this tonight, and I genuinely thought it was among the best things I've ever seen onstage. I knew some of the history and concept of the show, but none of the material. I found it all to be incredibly moving, poignant, and relevant. I did not find it to be dated at all (well, maybe the costumes...)
As others have said, the cast is astounding. They have put together a unique ensemble filled with diversity, talent and passion.
I sat in the front row through their Peer2Peer ticket program, and I felt completely part of the action. I can totally understand how someone in the back of the mezz, or even the orchestra, would not be nearly as moved as I was. This is a show that requires you to be really swept up, and I agree that this house might be too big for this show.
I say if you're on the fence, just go. Even if you hate it, I think it's an important piece of theatre to witness.
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#28
Posted: 7/7/16 at 10:25pm
If anyone would like to be part of the action on Saturday 7/9 at 2 pm, let me know because 2 of my friends cancelled so I have 2 extra tickets in the third row of the orchestra.
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#29
Posted: 7/7/16 at 10:25pm
If anyone would like to be part of the action on Saturday 7/9 at 2 pm, let me know because 2 of my friends cancelled so I have 2 extra tickets in the third row of the orchestra.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/13/05
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#30
Posted: 7/7/16 at 11:26pm
Saw the show tonight and, sadly, was not a fan at all. I tried hard to at least be aware of how it may have been received in its time, but I ultimately found the show, as a piece of art, one that is ineffective. My biggest issue is that simply hearing the different situations was not enough to move me or make me think. I didn't feel like we got to see into any deeper emotions or meanings behind the stories, so I couldn't connect or invest. Parts of it felt a bit like the SNL high school theatre troupe skit: just simply stating something different or "subversive" or relaying facts about an awful family situation, but without expanding on them or commenting or reacting to this info. It felt meaningless to me, despite the fact that I could see it was supposed to be holding much meaning. Ultimately, because I wasn't able to connect, I was quite bored throughout the show and was anxiously awaiting the end about ten minutes into the show.
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#31
Posted: 7/7/16 at 11:54pm
neonlightsxo said: ""It is the kind of show that is meant for a small dilapidated East Village theatre. So in presenting it at City Center it becomes more of a concert version than an experience. "
That is basically the point of Encores Off-Center.
But the point is not to observe material from distance. Even though the Encores presentations are streamlined many past productions have ellicitated an emotional response and embraced the audience. The director in my eyes failed to make it work in the larger space. His performers were not connecting to the audience and the monologues were like interpretations of drama rather than experiences. Thus as an audience member I was an observer and walked away without any lasting impressions. The original production must have been really cool since the script was written through the actors own experiences. I imagine some of the monologues were chilling. I must say that I liked a lot of the music and the way the piece was structured all though in this particular interpretation the thread was somewhat weak.
Neonlightsxo: Your comments are always so droll.
"
Swing Joined: 5/25/05
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#32
Posted: 7/8/16 at 1:17pm
Saw it last night and was not a fan. Two or three of the songs were great, several of the children were outstanding, but for the most part it was a chaotic, uneven show. Couldn't understand a lot of the words, some sang off key, didn't move me at all.
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#33
Posted: 7/9/16 at 12:42am
Just found two photos from the original production, including Diane Lane?!
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#34
Posted: 7/9/16 at 8:57am
Yes, that is Diane Lane in the top photo. She was only in the original Off-Broadway production. She didn't transfer with the show to Broadway in order to make her film debut in George Roy Hill's 1979 film A LITTLE ROMANCE opposite Laurence Olivier.
Featured Actor Joined: 4/11/08
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#35
Posted: 7/9/16 at 7:27pm
Runaways was important to me in 1978, when I was young. It's become a somewhat buried memory over the years, and approached the Encores production warily - especially after mixed reports here. This afternoon's performance was wonderfully emotional, and more than did justice to the show. I was impressed by the young cast, and thought they were well-deployed. I understand that the show may not be everyone's cup of tea. It felt meaningful and moving to me today, at the end of this tough week. I'm so glad I didn't end up missing this.
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#36
Posted: 7/10/16 at 12:13am
I personally loved this production and loved the material. I found myself incredibly moved at multiple times especially considering that many of the monologues and songs were based on true stories. The performers were just electric and gave the songs a palpable energy.
I really have no complaints. The show was 90 minutes but it felt like a half hour to me, didn't check the time once.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#37
Posted: 7/10/16 at 12:33am
Perhaps the show suffers from so many child actors being primed for Disney? I don't feel like there were any true emotions or grit.
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#38
Posted: 7/10/16 at 12:53am
The wonderful thing about art is that it is so personal and we all have different responses to it. I think in some instances personal life experiences shape how we view art and how it often times moves us or holds us at a distance. I watched the production from afar in the upper mezzanine and as I have stated previously was not engaged. But sometimes I wonder if my experience would have been slightly different had I been sitting in the third row since the work the actors were doing seemed to not go beyond the first 10 rows in the orchestra. The piece was very presentational and I am not convinced it was the right directorial choice. But all that aside I love the idea of the Encores summer Off Broadway series. The preshow I attended (before Runaways) was an exeptional performance by a transgender singer with a strong emotional core and A New Brain will always live in my memory.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#39
Posted: 7/10/16 at 1:08am
I just wonder, now with Glee and all that, if we'll ever see a really, true "gritty" show on Broadway. It all seems so polished.
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#40
Posted: 7/10/16 at 1:16am
The boy in the picture under Diane Lane is Carlo Imperato, who went on to the series Fame.
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#41
Posted: 7/10/16 at 12:47pm
SmoothLover said: "A New Brain will always live in my memory."
It's funny you say that because A New Brain is one of my favorite cast albums and I felt very underwhelmed by the production last year, especially Groff's performance which I found incredibly dull and lifeless.
Having come at Runaways with almost no previous relationship to the album, I was blown away. While I agree it may not be as "gritty" as the original production I think the sense of real rebelliousness and the emotional was felt especially during Ripely Sobo's monologue, the spoon monologue, Ren's monologue/slideshow, the spoon monologue, the song of the child prostitute, and the final speech "make laws against regret" which was stunningly delivered.
Runaways at Encores Off-Center#42
Posted: 7/11/16 at 10:33am
RippedMan said: "I just wonder, now with Glee and all that, if we'll ever see a really, true "gritty" show on Broadway. It all seems so polished. "
I did have that same thought while looking at their costumes. Although being essentially a concert staging, I still thought, "Well, those are very curated-looking outfits for child runaways and homeless kids."
I felt the same about the very-polished looking casts of the Hair revival. Squeaky clean, in good shape, with wardrobe pieces that were carefully selected.
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