Shakespeare in Central Park 2010 Line Reports?- Page 3

[Mrfreeze]

Posted: 6/18/10 at 2:18pm

I got there around 4 am today and was about n 20/25 in line. People didn't really start to come til around 5:30. I don't know how far back the line stretched but there were quite a few people by 8pm.
The ones who started the line right at the theater were told to move to the back of the line.

It didn't seem that terribly insane today.Maybe cuz it's Friday. I'm sure once it actually opens it will be somewhat of a deja vu from last year.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 7:39pm

A friend and I are going to try for tickets at the park this Saturday for MERCHANT. What would you suggest is a good time to get there?

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 8:44pm

I got in line at 4:30 yesterday morning and was about twentieth in line, so had no trouble getting tickets. I heard that the last people to get vouchers got in line around 7:30. That said, I don't know what it's like on the weekends. That said, it was SO not worth it. The production is dull and ugly, Pacino is just Pacino, and Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater give two of the worst Shakespearean performances I've ever seen.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 9:50pm

Pacino is just Pacino

That alone makes the free ticket worth it for many people.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 10:24pm

Oh, I know. And if that's what you're going for, then you'll get everything you want and more. But if you expect an actual performance, you'll be sorely disappointed.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 3:11pm

Just an update:
I got in line at 4:30 this morning and was 100something in line and the line picked up quickly after that. By 6, there was close to 400 people in line. Lord only knows how many people there were by the time tickets were being distributed.

My tickets are in Section O, Row N all the way on the end.

Updated On: 6/26/10 at 03:11 PM

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 5:35pm

I got in line around 4:45am today, and I counted that I was in the 90's, but I guess I was wrong. Anyway, I'm in section F, row P, also all the way on the end.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 4:26pm

Funny story - 4 women had received tickets from a colleague or friend and were in the row behind me (row P) which was the same row Michael Greif was in and the row in front of Tom Kitt's. During the show, Michael Greif (rather loudly) whispered notes to his assistant, who was taking them down old-fashioned pencil-and-paper style. As we neared intermission, the one woman leaned over and "Shushed" Mr. Greif (finger-to-lips and all). He looked a little taken aback and I really couldn't help but laugh. At intermission, some staff member explained to her that he needed to take notes and they were very sorry she was distracted and annoyed. She was a little uppity and complained about how he was just too distracting and she couldn't enjoy the performance at all. In the end, the staff moved her and one of her friends to new seats. (In her defense, he was talking/whispering very loudly; in his defense, it was their first preview).

broadway_show_fan, I sat directly in front of Mr. Grief at a Next to Normal preview and his Romeo and Juliet in the park a few years ago. He was indeed very loud. But he's a VERY nice guy. I talked to him at R&J about my directing degree and then he remembered me at N2N. Very sweet guy, albeit a bit loud...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 6:17pm

Any new comments about MERCHANT, anyone?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 6:34pm

Anyone try for Winter's Tale today? I'm planning on going tomorrow; I figure (as its June and there's no Pacino) I should be safe getting there 7:30-8:00, but I'd like to know how the lines have been for it so far.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 8:20pm

My comments, based on Wednesday's performance:

I was shocked by how bad it was. Daniel Sullivan has directed two of the most satisfying Shakespeare in the Park productions I've attended--last year's TWELFTH NIGHT and 2007's MIDSUMMER--so I usually expect good things from him. This staging is a wash. The characters dress in Victorian era costumes, which are never explained. The attempts to play up the Jewishness of Shylock and his business associates are heavy-handed. And the second act was just interminable.

As I mentioned, Pacino is Pacino. If that's what you're going for, then you're going to have a hell of a time. If you expect a performance, however, you'll be extremely disappointed. He basically stands center-stage and beats his breast for three hours, declaiming the famous speeches. There isn't an ounce of character development in his Shylock.

However, he's worlds better than Lily Rabe, who is helplessly at sea as Portia. She delivers all of her lines in a flat, emotionless monotone, and conveys none of the passion that makes Portia one of Shakespeare's most captivating women. Similarly, Hamish Linklater--who has proven so good at comedy in THE WINTER'S TALE and TWELFTH NIGHT--is lost in the role of romantic lead. He comes off as rather nebbishy, when he should be suave and assured.

The supporting cast is solid. Byron Jennings is his usual brilliant self as Antonio. Marianne Jean-Baptiste has little to do compared to her prime assignment in THE WINTER'S TALE, but she captivates every moment that she's on stage. And while she still needs work, Heather Lind shows inate talent in the role of Jessica.

I waited nine hours for tickets, and I can't really say that it was worth it. See this only if you're a Pacino devotee, really. Otherwise, you're in for a long evening.

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 7/8/10 at 6:31pm

I'm going to try for tickets on Saturday. What time would you suggest lining up for regular or standby?

[musicals2]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 9:55am

I have tried many times for tickets on the virtual line with no luck. They may have limited the amount of virtual tickets to encourage people to buy the $350.00 supporters of the Public Theater tickets.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 6:28pm

How has the line been for The Winter's Tale lately? I got in line at 4:30am for Merchant, but I'm hoping I don't have to go quite as early for this one.

[LansburyLuPone]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 1:40pm

Kindly don't tear me a new one for asking but is there no other way to obtain these tickets except by going on that line? No website or anything?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 1:45pm

http://www.shakespeareinthepark.org/?nav=tickets

[willep]

Posted: 7/19/10 at 3:59am

Saw the show tonight (Sunday night). This was my first experience with Shakespeare in the Park. We figured, from this thread, we should get in line pretty darn early (we took a bus in from Philly Saturday morning and saw two shows) so we got on line around midnight. The line was about a block and a half long with the earliest people getting there around 9 or so. Didn't have too many problems, lots of people turned away, met some friendly people in line behind us, had a couple of people behind us get arrested during the wait inside the park in the morning. The show was really great, Meryl Streep was there along with Tracy Ullman, Kate Burton, possibly Tony Shalhoub. Al Pacino is a doll afterwards and spends a bunch of time being incredibly gracious with his fans after doing a 3 hour show.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 7/19/10 at 8:29am

Just to add some FAQs: arrive no later than 3:00 AM to secure a ticket to Merchant. The last person to receive a voucher yesterday arrived at 4:50 AM and the last person to receive a ticket arrived at 3:40 AM. Everyone else was turned away.

Very good production overall, though it did not reach the exceptional heights of last year's Twelfth Night. Pacino was just fine, however, it was Lily Rabe's show...what a stunning performance!

[Tom1071]

Posted: 7/19/10 at 9:13am

Are people really camping out overnight for this?

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 7/19/10 at 9:19am

I spoke to many people at the front of the line and many said they arrived at 10 or 11 PM.

People are indeed camping overnight for this.
Updated On: 7/19/10 at 09:19 AM

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 7/19/10 at 9:43am

To echo everyone else's comments, my friend tried to get tickets yesterday and arrived "before dawn" (she did not mention a specific time) and the Public line monitors told her group they had no chance. Bring an air mattress and make a night of it! :)

That being said, I'm glad to have seen it two weeks ago when getting to the line at a mere 5am put us well in front of the wood chips and the rock of no hope.

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 7/19/10 at 3:26pm

hey guys - it's been a while since i've done a line, is it still TWO tickets per person? thanks!

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/19/10 at 3:27pm

Yes

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 7/19/10 at 5:46pm

I'll be there tonight (well, technically tomorrow morning).

Any suggestions for entertainment? So far, I'm planning to bring a novel, some plays, and my iPod.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 7/19/10 at 6:04pm

The people next to you in line are usually the best entertainment! I've met the most interesting people there... That being said, this year I tried to work on LSAT prep, but ended up just talking the morning away!