She Loves Me previews- Page 3

[mamaleh]

Posted: 2/20/16 at 10:28pm

The original production was before my time, and I somehow missed the revival 20 years ago, so today's matinee was my first exposure to a professional production of a show whose score I have greatly admired since my teens.  What a charmer of a show.  The "mittle-European" flavor of the music is period faithful while offering contemporary delights.  Ok, so maybe the hairstyles seemed a little too modern for 1934, but that's a minor quibble.  The performances were all outstanding--does anyone have as pure a voice as Laura Benanti's?  Zachary Levi didn't quite connect with his tossed hat, but that only added to his endearing vulnerability.  Creel and Krakowski were a lot of fun. I just wish Jim Walton--the original Franklin Shepherd--had more to do.  All told, a yummy cupcake of a show to savor.

Updated On: 2/20/16 at 10:28 PM

[Kitzka]

Posted: 2/20/16 at 11:47pm

Just wanted to thank everyone for the great reviews and stage door info. 

 

I adore the music from this show and am so thrilled to introduce the show to my daughter tomorrow afternoon. The cast is full of some of her favorites so that helps greatly. 

 

Will ll lost my thoughts tomorrow. 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 2:45am

Someone at work said that the first act dragged but it picked up in the second act.

[Jayar2]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 3:20pm

I am seeing this next Sunday, and I have to fly out directly after. Does anybody know how long the show is running?

[Steve C.]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 4:48pm

With all the remarks and comments about SLM, especially Kad and phreak, I'm starting to get more excited about seeing She Loves Me, more than I was when I saw Hamilton. Thanks for your opinions.

I can't wait to see Laura Benanti again and I truly love Jane Krakowski. I saw the Boyd Gaines SLM  at Center Stage in Baltimore when I was much younger and don't remember anything about a sudden or uneventful ending (?) , I don't remember the set....is the Tango Tragique still in it?

seeing it on March 30 

Updated On: 2/21/16 at 04:48 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 7:32pm

The '94 revival received 9 Tony nominations but lost to Carousel.

Revival of a Musical Nominee

Actor in a Musical Boyd Gaines Winner

Actress in a Musical Judy Kuhn Nominee

Direction of a Musical Scott Ellis Nominee

Choreography Rob Marshall Nominee

Featured Actor in a Musical Jonathan Freeman Nominee

Featured Actress in a Musical Sally Mayes Nominee

Costume Design (Play or Musical)David Charles 
Jane Greenwood Nominee

Scenic Design (Play or Musical)Tony Walton Nominee

 

***What are your predictions on nominations for this new revival?

Updated On: 2/22/16 at 07:32 PM

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 8:28pm

She Loves Me was first performed in 1963, still in that "Golden Era," I think. I was very into Broadway musicals at the time, primarily because of my mother's influence and because my father was a sales director for a large railroad who often entertained clients with dinner and a Broadway musical. I still have a lot of left over Playbills from the famous shows of the time.

 

But I know really know almost nothing about that show. It ran for about a year (with a Hal Prince and Barbara Cook pedigree) and them more or less disappeared for 30 years until Roundabout offered its first revival. The only song with which I was familiar was the title song, which is a very good tune (recorded by O'Hara on her most recent album). The only production that I ever saw was a PBS production starring Robin Ellis, the original Poldark of the BBC hit melodrama. It didn't do much for me.

 

If it weren't for all the love shown to the musical here, I probably would have passed on it. But now i have my tickets for April. 

 

So, you see, this BWW message board does influence the success or failure of a new Broadway production. At least two seats worth.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 9:26pm

Saw the matinee and adored it! Really can't find one complaint about the  production. Benanti is perfection, and Levi is a charming leading man, while he doesn't possess a booming voice, he did very well with the material. It's also such a joy to see Krakowski back on the board, it's almost like this role was written for her, she is so perfectly matched for it. 

Only issue: some of the lyrics were lost in the rear mezz, and it sounded like the orchestra was louder than the singers. Krakowski's counterpart singing in "I Don't Known His Name" was almost completely lost. 

I would definitely love to catch up with this production after it opens.

[lite2shine]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 2:51pm

I saw yesterday as well and thought it was cute, especially the set is ADORABLE. It reminds me of touring version of Mary Poppin, very doll house like. However, although the cast was uniformary good (I love anything Laura does), I didn't get the " rave" feeling like others. And I'm wondering is it due to the ticket price? I suspect most of the people who commented paid a discount price like $10? I too got a discount but paid $67 for mezz. So would you mind telling us how much you paid, and say if you would have paid full price for this production or at least 50% and would have the same satisfaction? For comparison, I saw Something Rotten via lottery ($37) and enjoyed it but I'm not sure if I had the same satisfaction if I bought it at TKTS or paid full price.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 2:59pm

I had an access 10 ticket and will definitely return at a higher price. 

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 3:16pm

While I won't be going until next week and have paid a price closer to the cost of your ticket lite2shine, that's an interesting question. Do you feel like what you're experiencing is a type of buyer's remorse? I don't feel like my enjoyment of a show has ever been related to the price of admission.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 3:21pm

Only issue: some of the lyrics were lost in the rear mezz, and it sounded like the orchestra was louder than the singers. Krakowski's counterpart singing in "I Don't Known His Name" was almost completely lost. 

 

The sound balance at Studio 54 is awful and always has been. It's really not a great house for musicals, but they make do. I was sitting in the fourth row, center, and felt that I lost most of Krakowski's counterpoint in "I Don't Know His Name."

[Steve C.]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 4:12pm

I have a few comments about a couple of things mentioned.

First, the question of price paid vs enjoyment quota...I and my husband live in MD just north of Baltimore. Even though we get to NY usually at least once per month if not more, we almost always pay full orchestra or premium prices no matter what. Sometimes an online discount may come along but being in the profession our schedules are set and determined along with rehearsal or performance times, so we know if and when we can schedule ourselves. That being said, we have never based our enjoyment of a performance on how much we've paid for the tickets. It's just never even been a thought. (Now, say driving time spent coming and going on a day trip has come up when the show or performance is much less than perfect).

I don't even think if we lived in NYC and had the luxury of a $10 ticket, we would enjoy it more based on the price.

 

The other thing mentioned was sound at Studio 54. I have never had that kind of a problem with sound. We've seen many many shows there even multiple times. We saw Cabaret 3 times, Assassins twice, I can't think of the others right now, but never never has sound or mixing been a problem.

 

So I'm glad She Loves Me is getting good word of mouth and buzz and can't wait until March 30.  

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 4:14pm

That kind of overscoring on vocals - or venue sound problems creating the illusion thereof -  is infuriating.  Especially when one is paying top dollar to relish lyrics and performers like these.  This is really unfortunate news.   Krakowski and O'Hara sounded great together in the "I Don't Know His Name" counterpoint when they performed She Loves Me in concert at the Sondheim.

Updated On: 2/22/16 at 04:14 PM

[lite2shine]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 4:19pm

Cupid Boy2 said: "While I won't be going until next week and have paid a price closer to the cost of your ticket lite2shine, that's an interesting question. Do you feel like what you're experiencing is a type of buyer's remorse? I don't feel like my enjoyment of a show has ever been related to the price of admission.

 

"

Not at all, as I said I thought it was cute but was surprised to read the raving reports here. But in general wouldn't your expectation get higher when you pay more for a ticket? That's why I wrote my experience for SR as comparison. If the experience would be the same no matter how much you pay, I'm wondering if those people who paid $10 would have paid the full price or close to it?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 4:45pm

I am also disappointed to hear about the sound issues during "I Don't Know His Name," which is one of my all-time favorite showtunes, and I was very excited to hear Krakowski deliver those wonderful lyrics that Ilona gets later in the song. I hope they fix this ASAP! 

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 8:05pm

Anyone know if the stage door has been super crowded?

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 8:07pm

lite2shine said: "I'm wondering if those people who paid $10 would have paid the full price or close to it?"

 

Yes, I already said I will definitely return at a higher price. It's an infectious production. I am sure others will return as well. 

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 8:53pm

lite2shine said: "But in general wouldn't your expectation get higher when you pay more for a ticket? That's why I wrote my experience for SR as comparison. If the experience would be the same no matter how much you pay, I'm wondering if those people who paid $10 would have paid the full price or close to it?"

 

I could pay full-price for Disaster, but it doesn't mean that I'll go in with higher expectations. On the flip side, I could win the lottery for Hamilton and only pay $10 a ticket, but that won't stop me from ignoring everything I've heard. Point is, price is irrelevant for me while reviews and word-of-mouth have much more influence on my expectations.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 9:08pm

I used TodayTix and paid $97 for a front mezzanine seat. I plan going back a few times during its run and will pay whatever. Price does not influence my enjoyment of a show.

[Peter2]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 10:09pm

Kad said: "It is not."

 

Thanks. I suspected as much. 

[goldenboy]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 10:17pm

Saw this last Saturday and its a perfect confection and a stellar revival-- even better than the 1994 revival which as also wonderful!

I hope it wins best revival over Fiddler which I felt misguided in so many ways but I won't go there. This is about She Loves Me. Laura Benanti is perfection. The whole cast was a delight.

My only quibble and its true of many or all  musicals right now.  The way they are miked and the sound coming out of the side speakers-- its hard to tell who is singing. That's a recurring  noticeable problem in many musicals right now.   This slightly marred the song (don't know its name) where they sing  "I would like to see a face like yours" OTHER SINGER "Cracked".  I had the same problem in Fiddler when they sang "Sunrise Sunset" and I couldn't tell who was singing. I guess this a problem with mikes and amplification.

Check out this She Loves Me. Wonderful. And the sets were gorgeous. Peter Bartlett reinvents "Romantic Atmosphere" and makes it his own.

 

 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 10:29pm

The 1994 London cast recording with Ruthie Henshall has "Tango Tragique." Wasn't that production a mounting of the same Scott Ellis Broadway revival from 1993 or was it a different staging?

[DeeKDee]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 11:09am

n2nbaby said: "Anyone know if the stage door has been super crowded?

I passed on your question to someone who attended and she said this:

"Let’s see.  Compared to “First Date” it was WAY less crowded, but it was pretty even with the crowds I’ve seen at the Les Miserables stage door.  BUT I also thought we had a very subdued and older audience at the first preview, too.  I think it’ll get more crowded as the weather gets nicer (which was the case with “First Date”, too).  It was also a lot calmer and quieter than the “First Date” stage doors I’ve been to.

So, at least on the first night, it really wasn’t too bad at all!"

(FYI-she went many First Date performances. I also would say that a difference is that First Date was only 90 minutes long and this show ends a lot later.)

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 9:34pm

Intermission now. If there was an actual Musical Theatre Heaven, this would be the production they'd use to advertise for it.