Posted: 10/21/24 at 2:30am
perfectliar said: "bway1430 said: "pablitonizer said: "Tacky and tasteless if you ask me."
No one did. <3"
Ah....for once a poster whose name provides an apt description...
Posted: 10/21/24 at 4:50am
Or possibly less unhappy now about being told his services were not required.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 7:44am
The opening of Act 2 of Gypsy could work quite nicely outdoors.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 8:01am
This is very true, but the p original deal in London was to create a show that would debut straight into the West End. They signed a deal with the Gillian Lynne before the Almeida got involved. When James was hired, he brought Rupert in, who requested a pre-West End run at his own theatre be added.
So they took what was originally conceived as a big West End musical and made it temporarily smaller, rather than it being a small show that did well enough to get a transfer.
Then Katie got pregnant and they had to postpone their original Gillian Lynne dates, and ended up losing their venue to Sky’s Edge and couldn’t work out new dates.
Personally I thought the production looked very squashed at the Almeida, and that it looked like a show that had been created with a bigger venue in mind. Palace is bigger than the GL though. And NY is always going to be a much harder sell than London since they can’t build off the Almeida buzz and anything in London would sell well with those names attached, because it has creatives who are famous in the UK but not well known in the US. Obviously I’m not talking about Elton here!
Posted: 10/21/24 at 10:27am
lilpunkin said: "DaveyG said: "Going from a 325 seat theatreto a 1650 seat theatre was probably not smart for this show. What thrills in a small space can feel very underwhelming in a grand theatre like the Palace. Sounds like they have a lot of work to do.
"
This is very true, but the p original deal in London was to create a show that would debut straight into the West End. They signed a deal with the Gillian Lynne before the Almeida got involved. When James was hired, he brought Rupert in, who requested a pre-West End run at his own theatre be added.
So they took what was originally conceived as a big West End musical and made it temporarily smaller, rather than it being a small show that did well enough to get a transfer.
Then Katie got pregnant and they had to postpone their original Gillian Lynne dates, and ended up losing their venue to Sky’s Edge and couldn’t work out new dates.
Personally I thought the production looked very squashed at the Almeida, and that it looked like a show that had been created with a bigger venue in mind. Palace is bigger than the GL though. And NY is always going to be a much harder sell than London since they can’t build off the Almeida buzz and anything in London would sell well with those names attached, because it has creatives who are famous in the UK but not well known in the US. Obviously I’m not talking about Elton here!"
I think that given they clearly added a lot of material (the London production was 2 hrs 25 mins, not including an interval) and the fact that the show schedule has been reduced until the week before previews, it is obvious they plan to use the preview period wisely in cutting/focusing the material once they see what works and what doesn't.
Would be great if someone published a song list to see any additions/subtractions from the London production.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 10:31am
TBFL said: "TheatreFan4 said: "Those screens literally look like cardboard. You can see creases and wrinkling on some of them. Where'sthe $25M and did most of it land in Elton's bank account?"
How are they meant to open without 'creases' on them?"
I'm talking about the folds on the frame of the "TVs" that just look like distressed cardboard boxes got out of shape.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 10:38am
Jordan Catalano said: "They don't look "cheap" in person."
It's just people piling on----to make them feel better or cool and/or justifying walking out or not buying a ticket
Posted: 10/21/24 at 11:07am
Those of you who have been to the Palace post renovation, do you think Mezz Row K is way too far for this particular production? I snagged a very cheap ticket but some views online suggest the stage is very far. What's your opinion?
I have almost no recollection of this theater since I haven't been there since Spongebob previews.
Thanks!
Posted: 10/21/24 at 11:23am
gibsons2 said: "Those of you who have been to the Palace post renovation, do you think Mezz Row K is way too far for this particular production? I snagged a very cheap ticket but some views online suggest the stage is very far. What's your opinion?
I have almost no recollection of this theater since I haven't been there since Spongebob previews.
Thanks!"
Some photos here of the view from K and elsewhere in the rear mezz. It seems pretty far from the stage but at least there isn't an awful overhang like in the rear mezzes of the Shubert & St. James.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 2:49pm
This was the last show o saw on my recent trip. I saw 9 shows, my wife saw 8. This was far and away the worst, with the second ‘worst’ being a mediocre production of a great play, Our Town.
Boring, cheesy looking, neither performances nor most of the songs made positive impressions. We decided to leave at intermission, since we did not even like the leading lady. I guess that being last of 9 shows in 5 days didn’t help, but I would not have liked it any more if it had been the first. Disappointed that we ended on a low sine, prior to this, it had been an incredibly successful visit.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 3:12pm
Oh my. I've enjoyed reading your reviews for what you saw during your trip Jarethan. This worries me. I was looking forward to this based on London reaction. But now even Jordan whobssw it there is giving a mixed review. I'm still 4 weeks away from seeing it, but I'm thinking I should get a cheap ticket to something else as a backup plan.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 3:34pm
inception said: "Oh my. I've enjoyed reading your reviews for what you saw during your trip Jarethan. This worries me. I was looking forward to this based on London reaction. But now even Jordan whobssw it there is giving a mixed review. I'm still 4 weeks away from seeing it, but I'm thinking I should get a cheap ticket to something else as a backup plan."
The show has had one single preview. You can't really go by that and given their reduced show schedule over the next three weeks, I think it can be guaranteed that the show folks get two weeks from now will not be the same as what people judged on Saturday night. Performances will have settled, pace will be better and material altered/changed/cut that isn't working.
It's really quite sad how people who claim to love theatre jump at the first moment to try and kill a show before the cast and creatives have had time to fix what isn't working.
If you are still reading hateful reviews in two weeks time then yes, maybe have that back-up, but having seen the London version of the show, there is a LOT to like, they just need time to adjust it and I am certain that they will. :-)
Posted: 10/21/24 at 4:01pm
bway1430 said: "The show has had one single preview. You can't really go by that and given their reduced show schedule over the next three weeks, I think it can be guaranteed that the show folks get two weeks from now will not be the same as what people judged on Saturday night. Performances will have settled, pace will be better and material altered/changed/cut that isn't working.
It's really quite sad how people who claim to love theatre jump at the firstmoment to try and kill a show before the cast and creativeshavehad time to fix what isn't working.
If you are still reading hateful reviews in two weeks time then yes, maybe have that back-up, but having seen the London version of the show, there is a LOT to like, they just need time to adjust it and I am certain that they will. :-)
"
I think there is less grace to be had when the production has had a full previous life elsewhere, at least when it comes to fundamentally unchanged material, because of the book/music/structure is a problem, but it worked elsewhere, there isn’t much hope that they will change it during previews.
Example: A WONDERFUL WORLD had multiple previous productions and they all have cited the book as needing trimming and tightening and they don’t seem to have done that in more than a year since it last ran…
Posted: 10/21/24 at 4:57pm
I think there is less grace to be had when the production has had a full previous life elsewhere, at least when it comes to fundamentally unchanged material, because of the book/music/structure is a problem, but it worked elsewhere, there isn’t much hope that they will change it during previews.
Example: A WONDERFUL WORLD had multiple previous productions and they all have cited the book as needing trimming and tightening and they don’t seem to have done that in more than a year since it last ran…"
Sorry, but no.
It isn't fundamentally unchanged material. The show went back into redevelopment earlier this year. I can see from the song list that 2 numbers were cut in the second act with a new song and a handful of reprises added. It also has had several changes to scenes and clearly new material added as the running time is allegedly 20+ minutes more than its 2hrs/25 mins running time (sans interval) in London.
And even if the material wasn't altered, the entire cast, except for the leading lady are all new. No-one else was retained from the London production. In addition the design is similar but expanded which clearly has created problems due to the technical delays on the first night.
As I mentioned earlier, if they didn't plan to make revisions/tighten the show during previews, then I doubt they would be working on the reduced schedule that doesn't expand to a full 8 show week until the last week of previews.
Updated On: 10/21/24 at 04:57 PM
Posted: 10/21/24 at 5:10pm
I love the London production and look forward to seeing it here in NY. My favorite song was "Satellite of God," sung by the great Zubin Varla as Jerry Falwell. I hope they didn't cut that, Michael Cerveris should do it justice.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 5:55pm
inception said: "Oh my. I've enjoyed reading your reviews for what you saw during your trip Jarethan. This worries me. I was looking forward to this based on London reaction. But now even Jordan whobssw it there is giving a mixed review. I'm still 4 weeks away from seeing it, but I'm thinking I should get a cheap ticket to something else as a backup plan."
Hopefully, I was just tired out. I really did think that it seemed amateurish, however.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 5:58pm
inception said: "Oh my. I've enjoyed reading your reviews for what you saw during your trip Jarethan. This worries me. I was looking forward to this based on London reaction. But now even Jordan whobssw it there is giving a mixed review. I'm still 4 weeks away from seeing it, but I'm thinking I should get a cheap ticket to something else as a backup plan."
A lot of the nasty comments on here are coming from members of the Broadwayworld B*tch Squad who have not even seen it but are out in full force attempting to demolish this one as quickly as possible. Some of them are using third party hearsay reviews that Judge Judy wouldn’t even allow. I suggest waiting until it has had a couple of weeks of performances and seeing if reactions (from those who actually saw it) improve.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 8:35pm
bway1430 said: "Would be great if someone published a song list to see any additions/subtractions from the London production."
Prologue
It's the light of the world - Billy Graham
If only love - Tammy and Jim
PTL TV Theme
Open hands / right kind of faith - Tammy
He's inside me - Tammy, Jim, Jan and Paul Crouch
Satellite of God - Jerry F.
God's House / Heritage USA - Jim
Empty Hands - Tammy
In my prime time - Tammy
Don't let there be light - Tammy, Jim, Jerry
The right kind of faith (reprise) - Tammy, Jim
Promised me - Tammy, Jim, Jerry, Jessica
God's house (reprise) - Jan and Paul Crouch
Look how far we have fallen - Jan and Paul Crouch, preachers
Look how far we have fallen (reprise) - Tammy, Jim
If you came to see me cry - Tammy
See you in heaven
Posted: 10/21/24 at 9:27pm
bway1430 said: "
The show has had one single preview. You can't really go by that and given their reduced show schedule over the next three weeks, I think it can be guaranteed that the show folks get two weeks from now will not be the same as what people judged on Saturday night. Performances will have settled, pace will be better and material altered/changed/cut that isn't working.
It's really quite sad how people who claim to love theatre jump at the firstmoment to try and kill a show before the cast and creativeshavehad time to fix what isn't working.
If you are still reading hateful reviews in two weeks time then yes, maybe have that back-up, but having seen the London version of the show, there is a LOT to like, they just need time to adjust it and I am certain that they will. :-)
"
This is not a public workshop. This is a Broadway production selling at Broadway prices, and one that desperately needs word of mouth on its side to get its sales up. “Oh, don’t go for a few weeks because I think they’re still fixing it” is not a solid foundation for success.
Nobody here is trying to “kill” this show- and it looks like the negative reactions are not confined to this board. People have a right to share their negative reactions to it.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 9:36pm
ACT 1 is the same as before,. Thankfully they cut 'Run This Show' but kinda disappointed they also cut 'Bring Me The Face of Tammy Baker'
Posted: 10/21/24 at 9:41pm
TheatreFan4 said: "TBFL said: "TheatreFan4 said: "Those screens literally look like cardboard. You can see creases and wrinkling on some of them. Where'sthe $25M and did most of it land in Elton's bank account?"
How are they meant to open without 'creases' on them?"
I'm talking about the folds on the frame of the "TVs" that just look like distressed cardboard boxes got out of shape."
I'm pretty certain that's because the front/top of the box opens like a hatch.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 9:48pm
Jarethan said: "This was the last show o saw on my recent trip. I saw 9 shows, my wife saw 8. This was far and away the worst, with the second ‘worst’ being a mediocre production of a great play, Our Town.
Boring, cheesy looking, neither performances nor most of the songs made positive impressions. We decided to leave at intermission, since we did not even like the leading lady. I guess that being last of 9 shows in 5 days didn’t help, but I would not have liked it any more if it had been the first. Disappointed that we ended on a low sine, prior to this, it had been an incredibly successful visit."
No song made a good impression? Right Kind of Love? Empty Hands? Heritage USA was boring?
God knows what the cast have done to the show since it crossed the Atlantic.
Posted: 10/21/24 at 9:53pm
TBFL said: "ACT 1 is the same as before,. Thankfully they cut 'Run This Show' but kinda disappointed they also cut 'Bring Me The Face of Tammy Baker'"
Well that's too bad; I thought "Bring Me the Face..." was a great number.
Intrigued about how this has changed for Broadway (but not enough to have bought a ticket yet). Please keep the insights coming! Positive, negative, neutral, whatever. It's an interesting discussion and helpful for those of us who are on the fence lol
Posted: 10/21/24 at 11:51pm
I was at tonight's preview. It went a little long: we started a few minutes past 8, and I don't think curtain call hit until 10:50 or so. (These are estimates; I wasn't clock-watching.) It seemed like the audience was heavily papered; box-office line was quite long when I arrived.
I'll preface by saying I did not see this in London, knew almost nothing about the show going in, and had only a general idea of the whole Jim Bakker/Tammy Faye/PTL storyline. (I haven't seen the Eyes of Tammy Faye, either.)
I'd texted a friend during intermission to say that I thought the musical was irredeemably terrible. I texted at the end to take the comment back. There's a lot to like in Act 2, and sprinkled throughout parts of Act 1. But Act 1 tries to do too much, and it leaves too much unanswered. Was Jim Bakker a sellout from the beginning, or was he blinded by his own prosperity gospel? What was it about God and faith that drew Tammy in the first place, and what was it about her belief that made her outreach so magnetic? I realize this musical is intended to be camp, but there was an earnestness missing from Tammy that made it really hard to care about her throughout Act 1.
I cared about her in Act 2 because she'd been cheated on, she lived and preached the gospel of love in her treatment of Steve, and because she eventually comes to believe in herself trying to redeem her faith in God. But all of that was too rushed.
This was the first time I'd seen Michael Cerveris sing live, and my goodness, he has a gorgeous voice. That said, Satellite of God has *got* to go. It deflated all the momentum of Act I, and it's ultimately a whiny "tell, not show" song that explains Falwell's visceral reasons for acting as the Bakkers' antagonist. I'd rather see envy, not be told about it.
Because I wasn't really able to connect with Tammy in Act I, Empty Hands fell flat. Beautifully sung, but my reaction to it was "eh." "If You Came to See Me Cry" had a little more resonance, mostly because it's only natural to feel some emotional connection to Tammy's downfall and redemption. Most of the Act II songs hit for me -- especially Promised Me, Look How Far We've Fallen (reprise), and If You Came to See Me Cry. Not so much in Act I.
There were also little things that bothered me. Pope John Paul II, for example, said "und" instead of "and," which struck me as an odd choice. I'd think JPII would insert Polish or Italian filler words, instead of ... German? (JPII spoke German, but he spoke 14 other languages...) For that matter, why is the international syndicate of Christian religious leaders even a thing in this musical? The audience doesn't need a clergy-peanut gallery.
I thought Katie Brayben was good-to-great as Tammy, but inconsistently so. Christian Borle was Christian Borle, playing the role of Christian Borle as a generic, philandering Christian preacher, not Jim Bakker. Michael Cerveris was terrific as Falwell, although I wish Falwell was a little less cartoonishly written. Yes, yes, I know, campy musical.
All told, I'd like to see fewer wink-and-nod references to MAGA, a little less Ronald Reagan, and maybe a little more character development. I will probably go see this again after it opens, mostly to see if they end up changing anything.
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