Sondheim and Ives' HERE WE ARE at The Shed- Page 56

[matty159]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 11:21am

inception said: "I don't think this turned out to be a hot ticket, and they overpriced themselves. All these reports of people getting great seats through rush just makes me feel like a chump for buying early."

Agreed.  I was amazed at the assigned seat via rush.  
 

Also, if you download the inKind app you get $25 off a $75 tab at Little Spain.  It seems like nothing, but it ain’t cheap there.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 1:27pm

What happened to the Damien Hirst? It was missing last night! I wonder if he objected?

[UpstateNYGuy]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 1:50pm

I was there last night too.  It was there, and if I could figure out how to post a photo I'd prove it!

[Kad]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 1:52pm

It was there when I saw the production on Friday.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 2:17pm

UpstateNYGuy said: "I was there last night too. It was there, and if I could figure out how to post a photo I'd prove it!"

It's there in several pics/stories on Instagram from 19 hours ago, which would have been the 7 p.m. show last night, as well as in ones from today's matinee.

 

Updated On: 12/3/23 at 02:17 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 2:18pm

As has often been said about Sondheim and other "serious New York theatergoer" shows, there is a finite interest in shows like this that dries up after 6-12 weeks. That said, the sales aren't horrible based on a spot check of the seating chart. 90 seats avail for this Thur, ~160 available the Thursday after Christmas (500 seats in the house).

I've also seen it multiple times now and it has grown on me (I was already quite positive after first watch).

I hope Joe Mantello directs another musical again soon.

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 2:42pm

UpstateNYGuy said: "I was there last night too. It was there, and if I could figure out how to post a photo I'd prove it!"


Really? Maybe a mirror was blocking it from my view! My mistake!

[BETTY22]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 4:58pm

Saw Scott Rudin the the audience Saturday.

Wasn't he involved with this show once?

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 6:21pm

The song sung by the french waitress was really really wonderful. I think for one of the last Sondheim songs that one really stands out and funny and eerie. 

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 7:03pm

BETTY22 said: "Saw Scott Rudin the the audience Saturday.

Wasn't he involved with this show once?"

Yeah, at once point Rudin gave an interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air saying they were hoping to stage the musical in 2017. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 8:33pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "The song sung by the french waitress was really really wonderful. I think for one of the last Sondheim songs that one really stands out and funny and eerie."


It is what it is.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 12/3/23 at 10:06pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Hearing the initial Lyceum rumors might actually come to fruition next season afterMy Son's a Queerends its limited run."

Here We Are is not moving to Broadway and where are the Lyceum rumors coming from as I haven't heard any rumors on moving as it's ending the run in Jan at The Shed. 

[binau]

Posted: 12/4/23 at 2:11am

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "The song sung by the french waitress was really really wonderful. I think for one of the last Sondheim songs that one really stands out and funny and eerie."

I agree, thematically I think it's new territory/quite deep (i.e. Sondheim relatively closeish to his death writing about accepting the reality of mortality is pretty intense), but manages to have a humorous touch and aesthetically a diva-style song with Tracie Bennett's haunting dark vocals. What is there more to love??

[bear88]

Posted: 12/4/23 at 3:28am

Kad said: "Finally saw this last night. It's probably the only Sondheim show for which I feel the book outshines the score, which I found to largely sound like motifs from Road Show with glimmers of Sunday. However, the lyrics are easily Sondheim's funniest- actually laugh out loud funny, which is something I know he himself would say was never his strength. Ives' book is probably one of his best pieces of writing.

Rachel Bay Jones is giving a brilliant turn and David Hyde Pierce is perfect casting for the Bishop. Everybody is very strong- with my main caveat being Denis O'Hare, who is over the top in a different way than everyone else, particularly in act 2.

The piece is clearly unfinished regardless of what Ives and Mantello say and what we have is best efforts to make the show work without Sondheim. I don't know that anybody can fairly assess the show right now because Sondheim's death and what we know about the show's development loom so large over the piece. I'll be very curious to see what people say years in the future. Right now it seems to me the show represents what we lost and what we could've had more than anything else."

That’s fair. There’s a ‘Sondheim’s Last Musical’ factor that I was mostly able to put out of my mind while watching the show, but it certainly affected how I approached it - even with the knowledge that the songs would stop early in the second act. I realize not everyone could (that seemed to be one of Ben Brantley’s issues with it) - and others like you weren’t going to be able to get past the feeling that it wasn’t really finished. The show wasn’t cast when Sondheim signed off on it. It’s hard to imagine that he wouldn’t have wanted to take a stab at writing a song or two for some of the distinctive and talented actors in the cast.

Because the contributions of Mantello, Ives, the set designers and the cast are so strong, I have a feeling that many people who revisit the show later may find those elements difficult to match. It’s also less a ‘Sondheim show’ than his others, although his lyrics are quite funny. (That was my wife’s main reaction to the first act.) It’s certainly one reason I hope the show is professionally filmed.

[matty159]

Posted: 12/4/23 at 3:13pm

I found yesterday’s matinee (my second time) to be a far better experience than my first just under a month ago.  This is for many of the reasons stated above.  Perhaps my expectations were not so high the first time (one reason for not reading early reactions).

Yesterday, I found the show tighter, engaging, and the cast more invested.  I don’t think this needs a transfer.  It should be seen at The Shed.  The creative team and cast delivered.  I also don’t think the experience can be replicated in a Broadway house.  I was hesitant about revisiting yesterday, but the rush ticket made it hard to say no.  I’ll definitely want to head back again.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 12/9/23 at 6:33pm

Finally saw this brilliant musical this afternoon.  Absolutely phenomenal piece.  I was howling.  It's genuinely funny. The audience ate it up.  We leapt to our feet. It only feels unfinished if you compare it to the traditional musical theatre rules.  This to me was a breath of fresh air because it doesn't, and completely works.  I am speechless, and i think its the most original thing ive ever seen.  Show of the year.

I do question how this would work in a Broadway house.  It feels so perfect at the shed.  But i still want it to transfer because it deserves to win many many Tony Awards.  

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 12/9/23 at 9:16pm

I’m still holding hope that it will extend into February. Slim chance I know but one can wish. 

[CityofStrangers]

Posted: 12/9/23 at 10:34pm

I'm seeing the show next Saturday, and reading all these positive messages is really making me excited! 

[Claude Perkins]

Posted: 12/9/23 at 10:58pm

Spotted Mandy Patinkin there last night.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 12/10/23 at 2:04am

Where was the Damien Hirst?

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 12/14/23 at 9:33pm

Going to have to respectfully disagree with those who found Ive's book to be on par/a worthy match of Sondheim's genius. I found the book to be utterly void of wit, specificity, or insightful satire. The absurdity just...needed to go further and deeper. Truly felt like they were afraid to take it to the realm of ridiculousness. That being said, found this to be one of his most thrilling scores. Every song knocks it out of the park. I'm A Terrible Priest is just one of his funniest tunes since Forum. And that vamp? Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.

Updated On: 12/14/23 at 09:33 PM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/14/23 at 9:47pm

Broadway Flash said: "Where was the Damien Hirst?"


Apparbetly where it always is but I couldn’t see it from my seat? When is it brought on? When I walked into the theatre the second time I saw the show it was definitely not there. Is it brought on at some point during the pre show? I feel like I’ve been gaslit about this hahahaha

 

In my defense I was in one of the partial view rush seats the second time I saw it.

[binau]

Posted: 12/15/23 at 4:12am

Is this the painting with the coloured dots? I thought it was just on the back wall somewhere when traci Bennett is vacuuming pre show etc. 

[berniesb!tch]

Posted: 12/15/23 at 10:06am

I saw this for the third time last week, same night as Mandy Patinkan. I really love this show. It is bizarre (but honestly don't feel like the show is as WERID as some people make it out to be) and also just so damn chic and well directed. 

Rachel Bay Jones and David Hyde Pierce's scene in Act 2 continues to be such a beautiful moment of theatre. 

I do have to say I think Bobby and Francois are giving my least favorite performances in the show, but even then the performances are super tight overall. 

I have been listening to my bootleg of the "it's the end of the world" duet over an over again. Some of Sondheim's best work in that song imo.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 12/15/23 at 10:40am

Would love to see Ives rewrite some dialogue in Follies.