Story of My Life, Guys and Dolls, and Hedda Gabler

[noahrp3]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 6:22pm

I am taking a trip back to NY on Feb. 7th and have room to see two shows, but am trying to decide between Story of My Life, Guys and Dolls, and Hedda Gabler. I know none of them have started previews yet, but does anyone have any advice on which would be the best two to see? Thanks!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 6:23pm

Well, "Guys and Dolls" is one of the greatest musicals ever written...

[matty159]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 6:46pm

I am actually coming up that same weekend and have the same three shows on my radar. If I had to get rid of one, it would be GUYS & DOLLS. Even though I am dying to see Lauren Graham and what they do with the staging, my fond memories of the 1992 revival will be forever burned into my brain. However, if you haven't seen it before, do it! STORY might not be around too long and HEDDA has an incredible cast and is a wonderful play. Tough decision!

[noahrp3]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 6:51pm

Yeah im dying to see all three. I've seen Guys and Dolls before, but never a good production...actually never even a decent production

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 6:58pm

I'd definitely go with Guys and Dolls. Story of My Life is a quickie transfer from Goodspeed and is a two-character show. Hedda Gabler is a classic, but God knows what the Roundabout will do with it. There's an article in Sunday's NYT that talks about its being an "adaptation" and their arguments didn't convince me. Anything is up for grabs, but Guys and Dolls seems to be the best best of the three.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 7:04pm

If you are a Lauren Graham fan, that may sway your decision to see Guys & Dolls. I would go with that, with Hedda Gabler coming in second.

[HBBrock]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 7:11pm

Guys and Dolls is arguably the best musical ever written in many people's minds...including mine.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 7:31pm

I'm going a few weeks later and am already planning to see HG and Jane Fonda's play 33 Variations. HAIR was on the menu, but now that's pushed back so I'm torn between G&D and Story of my life!

I have to admit: I've about had my fill of G&D, having been in it 3x, choreographed it 2x and directed it once.

[homeimp]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 7:40pm

I saw The Story Of Us in its Toronto incarnation a couple of years back. Brent Carver played one of the two leads. It has some lovely music in it, but as others have said, it is just a 2-character 90 show. The version I saw had only one set. You are not going to get much bang for your buck unless you are looking for a low-key but carefully crafted show such as A Catered Affair. Guys & Dolls will no doubt be a big splashy musical production of the old school, with a whole gallery of classic songs to savor. Hedda Gabler is a classic play, but every Ibsen or Chekhov production that comes along these days is billed as a new adaptation with a new translation. I wonder sometimes why we can't have Ibsen/Chekhov plays the way they were written. But if you're in the mood for a psychologically intense study of a troubled woman, see Hedda.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 7:52pm

FYI
Guys and Dolls was rehearsing in LA across from my school, and I got to see Lauren, and hear part of her singing her LAMENT

We were in dance class, and she was in the room next to us (we have classrooms in that building as well) and she was freakin' ripping it apart! She is gonna do great!

Then I ran into her at capezios too, just downstairs. Buying some shoes.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 8:50pm

Does anyone have a discount code for Story?? PM work great!

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 11:52pm

I'm putting a vote in for Story. Yes it's a 2 man, 90 minute show with one set. But it's simple. Sometimes the simple shows are the underdogs. I saw it several times at Goodspeed and loved it.

[noahrp3]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 11:54pm

Yeah, I do really want to see Story...i was a huge fan of A Catered Affair and it seems to be in the same vein as that show

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 12:36am

I saw a workshop of Story of My Life and found it trite. With a cliche plotline and pretty but unmemorable music, the only reason worth seeing it Will Chase (see above post).

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 1:20am

I'm excited for "Story.." because I don't know anything about it and I get to see inside the Booth!

Why is "Guys and Dolls" rehearsing in LA? Seems pointless to move the entire cast out there, when most are probably stationed in NYC.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 1/13/09 at 11:17pm

NOT TRYING TO THREAD JACK...BUT...

RENTBOY:
I don't really know why at all. I don't even know if it was the entire cast, although we had heard them rehearsing quite a few things. But mostly all of it was Lauren.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/13/09 at 11:29pm

"I'm excited for "Story.." because I don't know anything about it..."

Isn't this usually the case for most shows you see?

[ashley0139]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 12:08am

I would see Story just because it's something new and interesting, and might not be around for too long. But I'm always up for seeing the new ones. My picks would be Story and Guys and Dolls.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 1:47pm

Based on what I've heard (haven't seen it yet, am seeing it tonight), you won't be missing much by skipping Hedda Gabler. I'd go for the other two.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 3:25pm

I can't wait to see G&D. I'm hoping Lauren Graham can erase the memory of Karen Ziemba playing Adelaide at the Papermill.

Note - I like Ziemba, but she was an awful Adelaide.