Sondheim and Ives' HERE WE ARE at The Shed- Page 44

[schubox]

Posted: 10/9/23 at 12:26am

n2nbaby said: "Call me crazy, but I just don’t see this transferring but, hey, crazier things have happened.


It is worth seeing 100% if you’re a fan of this cast and/or Sondheim."

Agree. Doesn’t seem like something that would transfer. And this cast is absolutely stacked. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/9/23 at 12:35am

If Days of Wine and Roses could transfer, I see no reason why this couldn't and shouldn't. I enjoyed Wine and Roses, but Here We Are is a better show and production. Not sure either show will/would be particularly successful on Broadway, but it's nice to have smart adult musicals given a chance on a larger stage. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/9/23 at 4:28am

For those that have gone recently... what's the current running time? Still clocking in at 2:30?

 

 

 

[MrBroucek]

Posted: 10/9/23 at 5:33am

Also can recent attenders confirm if there is any music in the final five minutes or so? 

Please and thanks! 

[binau]

Posted: 10/9/23 at 6:00am

In a weird way I actually think Here We Are has more commercial prospects than both Passion and Road Show. That’s not high praise, and it doesn’t NEED to transfer (maybe it’s better to quit while you’re ahead). But it’s hard not to be impressed at how much has gone into this production. Wasn’t an article saying someone put an $8 million enhancement? Maybe with these ticket prices and run they can recoup that but it does make me wonder if someone has bigger ambitions. 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 10/9/23 at 6:13am

MrBroucek said: "Also can recent attenders confirm if there is any music in the final five minutes or so?

Please and thanks!"

There’s music but no singing.

[BJR]

Posted: 10/9/23 at 11:37am

binau said: "In a weird way I actually think Here We Are has more commercial prospects than both Passion and Road Show. That’s not high praise, and it doesn’t NEED to transfer (maybe it’s better to quit while you’re ahead). But it’s hard not to be impressed at how much has gone into this production. Wasn’t an article saying someone put an $8 million enhancement? Maybe with these ticket prices and run they can recoup that but it does make me wonder if someone has bigger ambitions."

That sounds about right, but since The Shed is mostly a presenting house, I can't imagine they spent much to be begin with.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 10/9/23 at 9:05pm

ljay889 said: "If Days of Wine and Roses could transfer, I see no reason why this couldn't and shouldn't. I enjoyed Wine and Roses, but Here We Are is a better show and production. Not sure either show will/would be particularly successful on Broadway, but it's nice to have smart adult musicals given a chance on a larger stage."

I'm hearing though Broadway is not the intention for this production. Now will it extend after reviews is the question?

[Mskuphantm]

Posted: 10/9/23 at 9:13pm

Completely unnecessary to transfer to Broadway,  the only difference between off broadway and broadway is the number of seats truly and of course the Tony's...   if anything I can see this extending and possible replacements eventually. 

 

On a different note, Rachel Bay Jones, there were certain phrases, singing, timbre in her voice that were extremely  similar to Bernadette Peters!!! To the point of you felt and heard Bernadette in the room.  She was definitely a muse for Sondheim that's without a doubt!

[Voter]

Posted: 10/9/23 at 9:54pm

For those you have seen the show/production, can someone please elaborate on the “stimulated gunshots” that happen in the show? Are the gunshots pre-recorded? Coming from the sound board?

My private messages are open as well. 
 

Thank you!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 12:28am

Went again tonight and if I truly enjoyed it when I saw the first preview, I think I kinda loved it tonight. They've cut a little over 5 minutes from act one and a little over 8 minutes from act two so I think the show feel tighter and the cast is finding so many new comedic moments in their already hilarious dialogue it's even more of a joy to watch that ensemble, and I didn't think that would be possible. 

Funny story. As we were leaving tonight, an older woman was next to us on the street and we spoke for a minute. She sounded very "meh" on it because "there's no hummable songs" and we just had to laugh. I think Sondheim would have very much appreciated that interaction. 

[binau]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 8:20am

According to ATC, the producers are not inviting any voters of various bodies (i.e. Drama Desk etc.) to the run. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 9:41am

How odd. I wonder why that would be. 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 9:49am

People who have seen this- would you say this is Sondheim's best musical since Passion?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 9:50am

Also meant to say that there's no new music at the end of act two. Did they add something and then remove it?

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 11:31am

I do wonder if they really did try the singing in the finale at that early performance, or if maybe someone was confused and expected no underscoring and was surprised to hear any music at all in the finale? Could've been a misunderstanding. Either way, I do wish there was a little singing in the finale. I see the show again on Sunday, but I've accepted there won't be anymore singing. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 11:40am

It’s a tough one. But I really think the lack of music in act two makes sense once the piano dies. Curious if Ives wrote that plot point in there as a way to explain it. But when the piano works again that symbolizes the return of the music and not having another song is the only thing in the show that I personally think doesn’t work and truly makes the piece feel unfinished. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 11:42am

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "People who have seen this- would you say this is Sondheim's best musical since Passion?"

 

Well he only had one other show after PASSION, and that was BOUNCE/ROAD SHOW -- so not a wide body of work to choose from.

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 12:08pm

ROAD SHOW is a much fuller score, and I do think it's very good. There are several Sondheim "standards" in it, but the boring book often weighs down the show. 

Of his newer songs written in this century, "Brotherly Love" (Road Show), "God!" (Sondheim on Sondheim), and "She'll Be Back" (Cut from ITW movie) - I think HERE WE ARE is better. HWA is lighter Sondheim, you can feel he let his guard down, and was trying to have fun with this score. It's quite refreshing. 

Updated On: 10/11/23 at 12:08 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 12:10pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "People who have seen this- would you say this is Sondheim's best musical since Passion?"

I would rank it his worst work he has ever done. Everyone around me was confused but needed to justify the ridiculous ticket prices so they just pretended to get it. I heard someone say people are suffering from "Sondheim lust". Made me smile. People should be singing through the duration of a musical, that's kind of the point of their existence, imo. Gorgeous space and very talented cast though. 

 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 12:48pm

Sutton Ross said: "People should be singing through the duration of a musical, that's kind of the point of their existence, imo. 

"

No.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 12:52pm

It's my opinion so it's not a yes or no situation

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 1:01pm

Depends on what you mean. Sung-through like Evita or Umbrellas of Cherbourg? No.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 1:52pm

Sutton Ross said: "It's my opinion so it's not a yes or no situation "

The thing is, musical numbers are there to dramatize specific moments where they are needed. I didn't miss the music at all during the second act, and that did not diminish my enjoyment of Act 1 as well. You would think this could not work, but it does. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/11/23 at 1:55pm

That's great that it worked for you, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. It just didn't for me and that's perfectly okay.