SWEPT AWAY Previews

Anchors aweigh.

The signature folk-rock sound of the Avett Brothers fills the walls of the Longacre Theatre starting tomorrow night (October 29), as previews begin for the new musical Swept Away before a November 19 opening. Following coast-to-coast pre-Broadway tryouts in Berkeley, California and Washington, D.C., John Gallagher, Jr., Stark Sands, Adrian Blake Enscoe, and Wayne Duvall lead the all-male cast as the four survivors of a late 19th-century shipwreck. Mostly based on the ideas and themes from the Brothers’ 2004 concept album “Mignonette,” Swept Away features a book by John Logan, choreography by David Neumann, and direction by Michael Mayer.

“When a violent storm sinks their whaling ship off the coast of New Bedford, Massachusetts, the four survivors face a reckoning: how far will they go to stay alive? And what are the consequences? With music and lyrics from The Avett Brothers, whose 2004 “Mignonette” was inspired by an 1884 shipwreck and the struggle of four men to survive, Swept Away is an electrifying, soul-stirring new musical exploring how facing tragedy can open the door to forgiveness… if only we’ll let it.”

Who’s climbing onboard?

Well then they’re making great timing to introduce themselves to a new generation while relying on their catalogue. 
 

Have heard nothing but good things about this show. I’m assuming they are keeping it 90 minutes without an intermission? 

Strange post on Reddit this morning from someone claiming to have attended the invited dress last night totally dragging everything about the show.   Strange because I thought attendees were usually associated with the show in some capacity??

I won't post the link, you can find it easily if you want to.

I did my research before buying a ticket, so I know there may be some material that upsets me.  But it's 90 minutes, & I'll be seeing two comedies later in the day - Jamboree & DBH.

inception said: "Strange post on Reddit this morning from someone claiming to have attended the invited dress last night totally dragging everything about the show. Strange because I thought attendees were usually associated with the show in some capacity??

I won't post the link, you can find it easily if you want to.

I did my research before buying a ticket, so I know there may be some material that upsets me. But it's 90 minutes, & I'll be seeing two comedies later in the day - Jamboree & DBH."

Invited Dress for these things have started opening up to influencers, office workers, friends of friends of the show, or randoms that the producers know. Gone are the days of invited dress being exclusive and hush hush. Maybe Happy Ending had a full section of influencers specifically to post about the show. Looking at socials, Swept Away did the same last night. These are now more so influencer events, sadly. 

I think this will be a very polarizing show.  I pretty much hated it in DC, my wife pretty much loved it.  And we usually have the same taste in musicals. 
 

 

Adeliciaboy said: "Please someone save me from total madness. I was at the first preview tonight and all I have to say is what a horrid sack of excrement this whole endeavor is. What nerve it took for the producers to haul this piece of pretentious nonsense into New York City, which has seen a steady stream, of disasters this past year. But I’ve seen most of them and this is by far the worst. The first45 minutes of the 90 minute show is filled with salty sailors prancing around on stage stomping their feet in whatis supposed to pass for choreography i guess. When they aren’t stompting they are spouting gibberish that sounds as if they all just got their doctoral degrees. No one talks in lengthy lines of dialogue like this in the real world and it is beyond laughable in this show. The second half is nothing more than four guys sitting around in a dinghy waiting for them to decide one of them has to die. It’s pure torture to listen to as the dinghy slowly revolving as we wait for the murder to come. Book writer John Logan and director Michael Mayerare by no means newcomers to theater but they have no right to inflict this on a Broadwaywhich nowadays is composed of clueless tourists and idiotic influencers who just want handouts and god knows what else. The theater is dying folks and exercises like this are only hastening its demise. And I can’t conclude these remarks without mentioning the outrageous treatment the audience was submitted to as they waited in a line that snaked around two blocks until the very last minute before curtain. It was unprofessionalism of the worst sort. Yeah I’m talking about you Mathew Masten. I can’t believe this man, with whom I’m unfamiliar, claims to have been involved with “Side Show” a true masterpiece (at least the original incarnation) which never got its due."

 

I was there tonight as well and am still processing the show   What I will talk about is the line   We were about 25-30 people from the front placing us in the tight space of the construction zone where people could not pass the line in both directions at the same time. The construction workers then arrived, opened the doors of the site and started working.  I, and the people around me, were covered in dust as they were sawing and working inside   People were coughing, putting their heads in their jackets, covering their mouths with tissues and doing whatever possible while their clothes were being covered with specks of construction dust  that they were also breathing in.  I attend a lot of shows and this was the worst experience ever whole being in line.  There was nowhere to move and the smell of the dust stayed on me until I got home and showered.  My frustration was made worse by the social media team gathering a crowd to scream in excitement on demand while no one could see those of us who were struggling 10 feet behind them.  I bought water when I finally got into the theater but my throat was still irritated from the dust.   I did speak to the theater manager and made her aware of the situation and suggested that the line go in the other direction.   If you are going, please bring a mask just in case.   

 

alli2 said: "I was there tonight. I have never been so offended by plot inaccuracies as I was by the gaping holes that are in this book. This book is a mess and I hope John overhauls the entire thing. He claims that these four people lasted 16 days on a boat with no food or water. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH would've informed him that a person can't go more than 3 days without water and 7 without food. He also says they drank their friend's blood - THIS IS ALSO UNSAFE. After 3 or 4 numbers, my friend and I still had no idea who anyone was or why we should care about them. The performances were solid though.

It has had two out of town tryouts, so I would think the book is going to remain the same. 


"

 

Saw Swept Away last night and thought it was beautifully sung, acted, and the direction was stunning. That being said, unfortunately, the story fell flat for me. Forty-five minutes into a one act show, the characters were still repeating the same things about themselves. Kudos to the creative team for really swinging for the fences with the show, but in the end, it didn’t quite hit the mark.

Lavieboheme3090 said: "Saw Swept Away last night and thought it was beautifully sung, acted, and the direction was stunning. That being said, unfortunately, the story fell flat for me. Forty-five minutes into a one actshow, the characters were still repeating the same things about themselves. Kudos to the creative team for really swinging for the fences with the show, but in the end, it didn’t quite hit the mark."

I saw the show Monday night and completely agree with this entire review.  Much to admire but ultimately for me it was just dull from the storytelling perspective.

Adeliciaboy said: "Please someone save me from total madness. I was at the first preview tonight and all I have to say is what a horrid sack of excrement this whole endeavor is. What nerve it took for the producers to haul this piece of pretentious nonsense into New York City, which has seen a steady stream, of disasters this past year. But I’ve seen most of them and this is by far the worst. The first45 minutes of the 90 minute show is filled with salty sailors prancing around on stage stomping their feet in whatis supposed to pass for choreography i guess. When they aren’t stompting they are spouting gibberish that sounds as if they all just got their doctoral degrees. No one talks in lengthy lines of dialogue like this in the real world and it is beyond laughable in this show. The second half is nothing more than four guys sitting around in a dinghy waiting for them to decide one of them has to die. It’s pure torture to listen to as the dinghy slowly revolving as we wait for the murder to come. Book writer John Logan and director Michael Mayerare by no means newcomers to theater but they have no right to inflict this on a Broadwaywhich nowadays is composed of clueless tourists and idiotic influencers who just want handouts and god knows what else. The theater is dying folks and exercises like this are only hastening its demise. And I can’t conclude these remarks without mentioning the outrageous treatment the audience was submitted to as they waited in a line that snaked around two blocks until the very last minute before curtain. It was unprofessionalism of the worst sort. Yeah I’m talking about you Mathew Masten. I can’t believe this man, with whom I’m unfamiliar, claims to have been involved with “Side Show” a true masterpiece (at least the original incarnation) which never got its due."

So… you loved it?