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#101

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/20/13 at 12:40am

Saw it tonight. It's not good. But I found FIRST DATE to be much worse. And while this is insufferably long (they could cut an hour), I was entertained for a few long stretches.

The first scene between Nina and Shlomo is quite lovely, and well acted. And Amber Iman is magnificent.

But it's so long. And so much of it is not good. And so very little of it is redeemable.

There's no way they can save this. No way, no how. And it doesn't seem they're willing to either. The house emptied out at intermission (even though it was half empty to begin with).

I'd snark more and go into more details, but I wasn't on the street til about 11:05 and I'm exhausted. Christ, that was long...

(Oy, those costumes, those sets... Oy....)

And poor Amber Iman doesn't even get her own bow, though she is grossly deserving of one. The show is only worth watching when she's present, sadly. And that's not very often. I would much rather have watched a 90 minute 2-person musical of Shlomo and Nina.

"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

#102

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/20/13 at 12:45am

iluvtheatertrash, how many people showed up after you for the rush line?

#103

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/20/13 at 12:59am

There were only five of us when it opened. Most showed up after 9:30.

"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

#104

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/20/13 at 9:34am

Is there a limited amount of rush tickets available or is it based on availability?

As bad as everyone is saying it is I am still curious.

#105

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/21/13 at 12:06am

I saw the show last Wed night for the first preview.
It started at a Jewish curtain call at 815pm.
I found the performance much too long as it did not end until around 11pm
I did enjoy the song Ki Va Moed and the theme of following your heart.

#106

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/21/13 at 1:30am

I'm going to be the odd man out here. Yes, this show is much too long, and no, it almost certainly won't be here come fall, but it is nowhere near the disaster people are making it out to be. There are a few clunker lines, too many songs and not enough Nina Simone, but...

...it's funny and it has heart. There is a good story in there somewhere, it's just buried. It also has massive second act issues (and act 1 is too long as well). I think averagebwaynut has it right:

"Only if the show gets/has gotten a lot better -- producing far better word of mouth than it has now -- or if the producers are prepared to fund losses (beyond whatever reserve they may have as part of capitalization) does this not come and go very quickly."

I disagree that it can't be fixed, but after all this time, I don't think it will be. I think they're just too married to the material to let go of it, and that will be their downfall. I also don't get the complaints about the set. Yes, it's very simple, but quite functional. At one point a sort of a Maypole of ribbons (without the Maypole) is carried out into the house and quite cleverly is pulled up at points to suggest a kind of tent, transforming it into Shlomo's temple in San Francisco.

When I saw it, it was an almost a full, very enthusiastic (mostly Jewish) house, and ran just under three hours.

I think they will be making cuts and changes. I also don't think it will be enough, but my guess is its built-in audience and the producers' determination to keep it on Broadway will keep it running until their money runs out. I don't see the theater initiating the stop clause because no show is waiting for the Circle in the Square.

#107

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/21/13 at 2:46am

I saw the show last night, LUCKILY I had comps. I wanted it to be good, but it was actually one of the worst things I have ever seen on Broadway. Worse than Baby It's Pew! I found myself laughing way more than I should have been, not because it was funny. I just couldn't believe that this made it to Broadway. First of all, there were many many open seats, but it's got kind of a cool atmosphere when you walk in, like "Wow, this looks like this could be a fun show." Nope. Not at all. Nina is the best part of the show, her vocal runs are unreal and she is really selling it to the audience. Eric Anderson does a good job too but I had a hard time connecting to his character because some of his decisions were just so stupid that you sit there shaking your head. The set was hideous, mainly with a large brick wall that lights up every color of the rainbow, and I expected to see it at a nice community theatre. The choreography was so modern/In The Heights, and it felt extremely inappropriate with the style of music and theme of the story. It was also 3 hours long. I really did hate it and cannot recommend it to anyone, EVEN if the ticket is free. Don't take it.

#108

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/21/13 at 10:32am

I would love to hear a little more about the music.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#109

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/21/13 at 11:29am

For me the score sounded like one long recitative. There isn't much variance in the music; I didn't know there were so many ways to say, "Sing a Song of Shabbis."

When Shlomo's original lyrics are used they sound like the type of songs I was taught in Sunday school, except with a Jewish rather than Christian bend. The new lyrics sometimes elicit a cringe, but more often than not they just fade into the background and are quickly forgotten. There is certainly no cleverness involved.

It's not unpleasant music, but rather its worst crime is that it isn't very theatrical.

Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco. Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!

#110

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/21/13 at 1:44pm

That's what I was afraid of. Oh well, will see on Wed.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#111

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/21/13 at 2:09pm

Why is it that Amber does not get a bow?

#112

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/21/13 at 2:38pm

It's the first week of previews. The show is ending so close to 11 that they are just taking a group bow and that's it. For the show to end even 1 minute after 11 is a VERY expensive proposition.

I think that once cuts happen, they'll work out proper bows - but as you see here from reports, they have far more pressing matters to attend to.

Updated On: 7/21/13 at 02:38 PM

#113

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/22/13 at 11:57am

There's a few nice musical moments. One of which isn't a Shlomo song - Nina sings one of her standards (can't recall which, and it isn't listed in the Playbill). In addition, the wife has a rather pretty song towards the end. But that's about it...

"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

#114

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/25/13 at 9:47pm

Went last night. It is the first Broadway show that I have left at intermission.

Without going into detail it felt like being invited to a party that you realize you don't have much in common with most of the guests and you feel slightly like an outsider, so after the amusement of just watching from afar kind of wears a bit thin, you leave. But you leave wondering how the night ended.

Amber was good as Nina. The book needs to be shaved down. The music in the first act is a bit repetitive but not real,y bad and the choreography leaves a lot to be desired. It is like Spring Awakening meets ONCE. Some good voices onstage though. Was not impressed with Abdur-Rahim Jackson.

A few other things we noticed but with the above said, I will most likely go back to see how the night ends.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#115

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/31/13 at 10:47am

I saw this last night and I have to say, it exceeded expectations. Of course, my expectations were that it was going to be utter crap. The first act is fun, if not long but the second act does start to drag a bit. The acting is mostly very campy but I think Eric and Amber do a pretty great job with what they're given. Yes, the whole thing (especially the costumes) looks very cheap and I spent the entire evening thinking, "why is this on Broadway?" I can't imagine who this would appeal to other than Jewish groups, and it most definitely won't run very long but it's certainly not the worst thing I've ever seen. I enjoyed it more than The Addams Family, Ghost, and Scandalous. I just wish producers would get the hint and stop putting these biographical musicals on Broadway. If Chaplin, which was about a well-known figure couldn't run, how could a musical about Shlomo Carlebach (whom I've never heard of before this show) be successful?

Do I regret seeing it? No. Would my world have been altered if I hadn't? No. I don't necessarily recommend it to anyone but it's a harmless evening in the theatre. And FYI, it ended at about 10:35 last night so cuts are being made.

A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

#116

Soul Doctor

Posted: 7/31/13 at 7:33pm

I saw their performance and liked 2/3 of their songs. The woman playing neena Simone is amazing but the rest is just... Meh.

Let me be your star, now wouldn't that be lovely?

#117

Soul Doctor

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:22am

Wow I'm actually very surprised at some of these responses. I saw it yesterday and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book could use some tightening, but I still found the story engaging. I thought the music was very well arranged and well performed.

#118

Soul Doctor

Posted: 8/1/13 at 12:18pm

So yeah, I saw it and it's not the worst thing I've ever seen. This ain't SCANDALOUS.

But it isn't particularly good, either, which is sad because I actually think Shlomo's life could make an interesting musical if done better. As it is, it felt like the ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD to a Nine Simone musical's HAMLET. Nina is by far the best character in the show, the best singer in the show, and she has the best music. Shlomo's music is pretty catchy but very repetitive (given its nature as liturgical music, it probably doesn't lend itself well to narrative situations), and I just assume so as not to speak ill of the dead that all the terrible new lyrics weren't his but the librettist's.

A few bright moments of promise, more than a few clunkers and cringe-worthy moments of bad taste or poor execution, and mostly just otherwise forgettable mediocrity. I will echo JBroadway, though, about the band. They were easily the highlight for me.

Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.

#119

Soul Doctor

Posted: 8/6/13 at 8:29pm

I saw Soul Doctor this weekend, and found it pretty dreary. I can't say it's the worst of the worst, since it has several elements that lift it a little bit above a show like Scandalous. Eric Anderson's performance is fine, and the scenes with Nina Simone work pretty well. The character of Ruth gets a very nice ballad near the end (even if sounds as if it would be more comfortable in Once).

#120

Soul Doctor

Posted: 8/6/13 at 9:55pm

I saw it last night and very much enjoyed it- it was pretty uneven and sometimes long-winded, but the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. I think that with some trimming (particularly in the beginning) and more marketing, it can be a sleeper hit.

#121

Soul Doctor

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:14pm

I saw this last night and enjoyed it. The title makes me think it will be like Motown the Musical when it's the opposite; the songs did sound the same but they were beautiful, very Once with a bit of Godspell joy thrown in. I was unfamiliar with the Rabbi Schlomo Carlebach but found myself fascinated with his story. I had heard of how long the show's running time was but didn't find myself squirming in my seat wishing it would end soon at all. I learned that it has been trimmed significantly, especially the character of Ruth

SPOILER -

her part has been cut by about 75% and she's no longer the wife! That caused some confusion for me. Zarah Mahler is lovely and it's sad that she seems underutilized now; her 11 o'clock number is still in and very pretty.

Updated On: 8/7/13 at 10:14 PM

#122

Soul Doctor

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:29pm

A friend of ours went recently and said the house was full & many comps were given out as it was being recorded (legally). By who & for what I do not know.

Poster Emeritus

#123

Soul Doctor

Posted: 8/8/13 at 5:43pm

The show I saw was definitely being filmed. The crowd really loved the show.

#124

Soul Doctor

Posted: 8/8/13 at 5:58pm

B-Roll/The Archive?

#125

Soul Doctor

Posted: 8/10/13 at 8:36pm

Was at today's matinee. Got the opening night Playbills which have the songs listed but a change was made and the last two scenes in the opening act were the first two scenes in the second act.

With that out of the way I really enjoyed it. My husband loved it since he was a fan of Rabbi Shlomo and saw him many times performing. The audience seemed to love it also and I didn't see any empty seats for Act 2. The show is 2 hours 30 minutes now. Some people commented the time flew so fast.

I really think you need to be Jewish to fully get many of the things portrayed here. It's a cultural thing, and growing up in synagogue thing.

I really hope this succeeds time will tell. The tourists will hate it.

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