Posted: 9/29/24 at 9:10pm
What if I think this has always been a bad musical with bad music, that coasts on the movie and is nowhere near as good as the movie
will I still find it to be a revelation?
Posted: 9/29/24 at 9:16pm
TotallyEffed said: "Play Esq. said: "Spoiler alerts warning,please. Trying to go into this as fresh as possible next week."
Abstaining from reading the thread about previews of the show sounds like a good approach."
What is the point of the spoiler tab if you don’t use it, I wonder.
Posted: 9/29/24 at 9:27pm
bwayphreak234 said: "FANtomFollies said: "henrike said: "When I saw it in London, it was raining and they still did the title song with the umbrella.
For those who saw it in NY, did they pump in a ridiculous amount of theatrical haze in the stage/auditorium? That left quite an impression on me as I entered the Savoy."
I also remember when walking into the Savoy, it was the most dimly lit auditorium I have ever entered. It was so dark I couldn't read the program I purchased. I wonder if that is just something about the Savoy or London in general, or if it was a choice by Jamie Lloyd for the production?"
LOTS of theatrical haze is used on Broadway. I also noticed the house seemed VERY dark in the theatre upon entering last night."
I thought it was really bright in the orchestra before the show. This was taken at 7:53p:
Posted: 9/29/24 at 9:58pm
rattleNwoolypenguin said: "What if I think this has always been a bad musical with bad music, that coasts on the movie and is nowhere near as good as the movie
will I still find it to be a revelation?
"
No, I wouldn't say so. If you hate the music, stay away - the concept in itself won't turn your dislike.
Posted: 9/29/24 at 10:27pm
Whatisthe point of the spoiler tab if you don’t use it, I wonder."
Most would think someone not wanting details/spoilers and hoping it stays “fresh” wouldn’t be reading posts about previews of a 30 yr old show based on a 75 yr old movie. 🤷🏻♂️
Posted: 9/29/24 at 10:46pm
What’s the merch like?
Posted: 9/30/24 at 12:07am
Are they setting Tom Francis up to be a heartthrob? Like is it that sexually charged? Or is it just about him walking around in his boxers and blood?
Posted: 9/30/24 at 2:26am
FANtomFollies said: "henrike said: "When I saw it in London, it was raining and they still did the title song with the umbrella.
For those who saw it in NY, did they pump in a ridiculous amount of theatrical haze in the stage/auditorium? That left quite an impression on me as I entered the Savoy."
I also remember when walking into the Savoy, it was the most dimly lit auditorium I have ever entered. It was so dark I couldn't read the program I purchased. I wonder if that is just something about the Savoy or London in general, or if it was a choice by Jamie Lloyd for the production?"
It was a choice for this production. 😂
Its not the theatre.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 8:48am
I don't even understand why you're here.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 8:58am
If you don’t at least enjoy ‘with one look’ and ‘as if we never said goodbye’ I don’t know how the production will fix everything, but if you do like these songs and are a bit iffy about the rest the score the production does a good job at making it all work.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 9:22am
I’m definitely in the camp of “this is a bad show, but the two big songs can be performed to thrilling effect” and I’m still very excited to see this production. Grabbed a front row balcony seat for this coming Saturday.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 9:37am
Nicole's solos are worth it alone as well as the choreography near the end. The ensemble songs are cringe fest (lyrically especially) but I don't really mind.
binau said: "If you don’t at least enjoy ‘with one look’ and ‘as if we never said goodbye’ I don’t know how the production will fix everything, but if you do like these songs and are a bit iffy about the rest the score the productiondoes a good job at making it all work."
Posted: 9/30/24 at 9:57am
I'm with you in spirit, but I think the spoiler tab is useful for hiding an information that if visible could significantly change how someone experiences a production, regardless of the source material's age: i.e., the final moment for Nora in the recent A Doll's House revival. That was one of the moments worth not knowing about in advance even if you wanted to read about people's reactions to the production overall.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 10:09am
JasonC3 said: "jpbran said: "Whatisthe point of the spoiler tab if you don’t use it, I wonder."
Most would thinksomeone not wanting details/spoilersand hoping it stays “fresh” wouldn’t be reading posts about previews of a 30 yr old show based on a 75yr old movie. 🤷🏻♂️"
I'm with you in spirit, but I think the spoiler tab is useful for hiding an information that if visible could significantly change how someone experiences a production, regardless of the source material's age: i.e., the final moment for Nora in the recent A Doll's House revival. That was one of the moments worth not knowing about in advance even if you wanted to read about people's reactions to the production overall."
Fair point. I generally read about productions before I see them to decide whether I want to see them. There was no question about Sunset. I stand by my position that certain moments should be hidden (as you point out, the final scene in the Doll’s House is a great example), but I can just as easily avoid this thread until I see it next week. ✌️
Posted: 9/30/24 at 10:54am
rattleNwoolypenguin said: "What if I think this has always been a bad musical with bad music, that coasts on the movie and is nowhere near as good as the movie
will I still find it to be a revelation?"
I'm somebody who thinks this musical is a really crappy adaption of a sensational movie. I've thought so since I first saw it in London with Betty Buckley in 1995. I believe there's only one exceptional musical theater song (As If We Never Said Goodbye) in the score and a few others that can feel thrilling in the moment if they are thrillingly sung.
I did not want to see this show last year on on of my work trips but a friend I trust (former poster on this board) insisted I see it, so I bit the bullet. I was absolutely dazzled by this production. By going so far afield from the original conception of the musical, this production winds up getting so much closer to the spirit of the original film. I'm very excited to revisit it next week.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 11:04am
FWIW, my comment was directed to jpbran and not yours. People do often want to browse preview threads so I think we should be considerate about putting big reveals behind spoiler tags.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 11:26am
I really found this to be exceptional and I loved almost all of it. The humor during the offstage entr'acte leading into Sunset Boulevard was so much fun! All tongue in cheek references. The only cringe I felt was during the final scene with the nonsensical running around. It just looked silly. I loved the rest of it and look forward to seeing it again.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 11:38am
Watched the movie yesterday, and I found myself wondering how, in a staging with no props or costumes, we convey that norma starts the show caring for a dead chimp? Do we see this onstage? The concept is so heavy that despite the raves I'm only hesitantly fascinated. I want to see this but there is a high chance it will just fill my partner, who has never forgiven Broadway for making John Doyle a thing, with rage.
How are the sightlines on the sides and up in the mezz? I'm probably looking at "affordable" ticket options for this one, for the afformentioned rage risk.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 11:46am
Play Esq. said: "TotallyEffed said: "Play Esq. said: "Spoiler alerts warning,please. Trying to go into this as fresh as possible next week."
Abstaining from reading the thread about previews of the show sounds like a good approach."
Whatisthe point of the spoiler tab if you don’t use it, I wonder."
Too bad they don’t have a bitch tab to hide general bitchiness. Oh, wait. If they had that, the entire board would be blank.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 12:47pm
Lot666 said: "rattleNwoolypenguin said: "What if I think this has always been a bad musical with bad music, that coasts on the movie and is nowhere near as good as the movie
will I still find it to be a revelation?
"
I don't even understand why you're here."
because sometimes direction can fix a show.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 3:57pm
If you feel that the music is "bad", I don't see how a director could "fix" that for you.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 4:18pm
For anyone who has actually seen the Broadway previews, does this version take place in more "current" times? The visual/camera work and "all black" costuming looks modern, contemporary and sharp. I am just curious if this takes place in the age of "social media", as it has that visual look to it. I mean if the cast is going outside to a "modern" Times Square, it sort of would seem out of place in the original 1950's? Tickets bought for it and "Redwood". Yay!
Posted: 9/30/24 at 4:19pm
Why does the stage look so tiny? I keep looking at this over and over, and know it's not small, but...
Posted: 9/30/24 at 4:30pm
shomeika said: "For anyone who has actually seen the Broadway previews, does this version take place in more "current" times? The visual/camera work and "all black" costuming looks modern, contemporary andsharp. I am just curious if this takes place in the age of "social media", as it has that visual look to it. I mean if the cast is going outside to a "modern" Times Square, it sort of would seem out of place in the original 1950's? Tickets bought for it and "Redwood". Yay!"
It's ambiguous. Yes, in present day without changing the text, like when conceptualizing a classic to a different time.
Posted: 9/30/24 at 4:32pm
It opens by stating that it's 1949. But your observation about the look of everything is correct. The plot of the show really has to take place in that era to make sense, but the 'look' of the show is... whatever Jamie Lloyd decided he wanted. Which is just a statement, not a critique.
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