So just how was "13"?

[markypoo]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 6:31pm

The reason I ask is because some professional children's theatre outside of Chicago where I live is doing the midwest premiere, and I'm thinking about catching it, but always appreciate opinions.
Comments?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 6:38pm

Most people over the age of 16 will tell you it was pretty horrific. Naturally , there are a few people that will have loved it. The reviews I
in general were better thanost here expected.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 6:42pm

I also am interested since I knew a kid, rather I was classmates with two of his older sisters, in the production (he was an understudy but he did a lot of performances due to the children performer restrictions) and found out he was in it only about a week before it closed. The kid was Corey Snide, btw.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 7:08pm

It is my opinion that 13 was written and produced with the purpose of becoming the next staple of high school musical productions. I am one of those people, over 16, who thought it horrific. I was actually a bit insulted, as I felt everything about the production mediocre at best.

[phantom39]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 7:52pm

It was a terrible production of a worthless show, to be honest.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 7:59pm

I saw it not on Broadway or at the Goodspeed but the Todd Graff-directed tryout in LA. Horrific was the best way to describe it then, too. One strong performer (the actress playing Patrice, can't recall her name but it wasn't Allie Trimm) and that was about it.

The material was appalling and a waste of JRB's considerable talent. I remember a rumor going around that the only reason it went to Broadway was to cash in on the royalties afforded by the many school/regional productions thereafter once it became available for licensing. Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 8:05pm

ABB2357... My point exactly. After seeing the show, all I could think about was how this had to have happened because of the substantial industry catering to high school productions.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 8:25pm

One of the worst shows I have ever sat through.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 8:27pm

MusicSnob1: I am so pleased you added your opinion. After our disagreement regarding, Memphis, I was curious to see what you thought about 13. At least we agree on something.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 8:32pm

Scott -

13 trumps Memphis in its horid ways. As I've said before, I do enjoy some aspects of Memphis... 13 was a complete joke.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 8:36pm

It's funny because as we shared opinions on the Memphis threads I was thinking about how so many people thought me negative when I bashed 13. I sort of had a reputation of being the "13 hater" when it was a regular subject here. A lot of people thought me unnecessarily cruel. It was remembering those moments that softened my approach to the intrinsic disagreements/battles that are often waged here.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 8:39pm

I'm thirteen, and I think this musical is pretty unrealistic of what might actually happen at a middle school. I think with some improvements, it could be a guilty pleasure, but that's at its maximum potential.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 9:19pm

Awful.

I saw a very early preview and apparently they made many changes in the preview process but I found it to be offensive at times, beyond banal, and totally unclever. It also wasn't true to life as a thirteen-year-old at all, IMO.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 9:22pm

Catchy score (not Jason Robert Brown's best but honestly, I've yet to hear his worst), cliche-filled book, some very strong performances, especially from Allie Trimm. I actually know some people who saw it and actually loved it. They're over 16 but not by much. And neither am I for that matter.

Updated On: 1/7/10 at 09:22 PM

[romgitsean]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 9:25pm

I didn't see it on Broadway, but I did know two kids in the cast.

I think that the show was a concept that could only exist within Jason Robert Brown's lovely little mind. As a show itself: most of the songs are forgettable, it's extremely campy and the jokes are really tasteless (one of the main characters is crippled jokes, and cripple jokes are the norm in the show. It can get pretty distasteful after a while), and overall the book is horribly written.

However, I saw the regional premiere at French Woods (I'm actually wearing the '13: The Musical' promotional wristband as I type. I refuse to get rid of it, because it's already a piece of flop memorabilia) and the cast was very energetic and into it, and the vocals were great, and it was entertaining to watch them perform it because they were so psyched and very much talented. The fact that Jason Robert Brown was there made it even better. It was truly an experience to see it or be involved with it-it was a very big deal at camp. I know fellow BWW member Josh Frelich saw it as well and would probably agree.

It's no "The Last Five Years", but it's what it is.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 9:35pm

strummergirl, Corey was a stand-by and did all matinees and it wasn't do to restrictions it was because Graham Phillips did not feel fit to do double shows, Graham was the only one with a stand-by.



I personally loved the show!

Many people read the first review on this board and then the fate was sealed due to pre-formed opinions. For example, Piruagaguy bashed the show to no end but then actually saw it and said how it wasn't that bad (hope you don't mind me using you as an example) that was the same with many people.

Bottom line: most of the reviews were mixed with more positive than negative ones. It's a fun time at the theatre.

And, while Wickedrocks says the show is disrespectful and offensive, it is, because that's how teens act today, sad but true. It's extremely true to life.

And I will tell you first hand, it is very true to the life of a 13 year old. And no, I'm not 13 but I was not to long ago. They are cruel. You should see what goes on in middle school today. Oral sex starts in 7th grade!

Updated On: 1/7/10 at 09:35 PM

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 10:32pm

"I personally loved the show!"

Oh, God.

"pre-formed opinions"

Is that the same thing as 'preconceived notions'?

"Bottom line: most of the reviews were mixed with more positive than negative ones. It's a fun time at the theatre. "

That's an inaccurate bottom line. The show was bashed by many critics. Feel free to pull up the reviews and we'll talk...

"It's a fun time at the theatre."

Fun? The measurement of Fun doesn't equate to well-crafted material. Anyone could say a show is fun. That's like saying GLORY DAYS or STARLIGHT EXPRESS was a quality show because it is a "fun time at the theatre". This means nothing at all.

"And, while Wickedrocks says the show is disrespectful and offensive, it is, because that's how teens act today, sad but true. It's extremely true to life."

While I acknowledge that this statement is fairly coherent, it is also incorrect. The show purposely went out of its way to try, VERY HARD, to acheive status as an obxnoxiously campy teenage comedy/musical. This style is far from "true" or realistic and, actually, depicts unrealistic stereotypes. IF it were trying to be "extremely true to life" then why make it campy??? You're contradicting yourself.

"And no, I'm not 13 but I was not to long ago"

We can see that! xoxoxo

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 10:35pm

God Awful show. I remember sitting there during an early preview and at intermission looked at my friend and said "They'd better take this intermission out because half these people are going to leave". And I was right and they did.

I saw Jason Robert Brown there that night and it took all I had to not walk up to him and just say "Shame on you". lol

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 10:50pm

Music Snob, the kids who took part in the workshop had a lot of input in the book, not matter how it comes across live you can't argue the fact that it isn't how teenagers actually act in real life. I'm not contradicting myself at all, if how the show performed is obnoxiously campy that's because kids are obnoxious, and the stereo types are those used everyday by teens.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 10:57pm

While I simply think that's so inaccurate (I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree), you only responded to about 25% of my post.

Care to engage further? No? xoxo

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 11:06pm

Eh, fine, I'll play your games.

"I personally loved the show!"

Oh, God.

"pre-formed opinions"

Is that the same thing as 'preconceived notions'? Sure, why not? Make an inference.

"Bottom line: most of the reviews were mixed with more positive than negative ones. It's a fun time at the theatre. " This is true all true, the show had more positive reviews then bashes, I never said they had raves, never said they didn't have bashes either.

That's an inaccurate bottom line. The show was bashed by many critics. Feel free to pull up the reviews and we'll talk...


"It's a fun time at the theatre."

Fun? The measurement of Fun doesn't equate to well-crafted material. Anyone could say a show is fun. That's like saying GLORY DAYS or STARLIGHT EXPRESS was a quality show because it is a "fun time at the theatre". This means nothing at all. It's an opinion.

Updated On: 1/7/10 at 11:06 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 11:08pm

The whole show felt to me in tone and style like a South Park episode focused on just the kids, with all the references to South Park carefully removed from it.

[broadwaypink]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 11:12pm

MusicSnob1...how about you stop being a snob..

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 11:32pm

Oh! Haven't heard that one before.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 11:49pm

WishingOnlyWounds2- Thanks for the clarification. I just assumed since Corey did Billy Elliot on West End that 13 was the same deal with its performers.