THE BAND's VISIT Reviews- Page 2

[ethan231h]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 11:09pm

222disneyland said: "Why is not a NYT Critics Pick?"

It is.

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 11:15pm

Disappointed in the great reviews because, repeated viewings will now cost me a fortune, if I can get tickets.

Actually, I'm really happy for this show. It's one of the best musicals I've seen in the last 10 years and it never leaves my head for very long. Can't wait for the Cast Recording.

Congrats to everyone involved.

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 11:33pm

Wow, what a review from Brantley! That must feel good for Mr. Yazbek after what Brantley did to Women on  the Verge. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 11:44pm

About to read Brantley's review. Read the Deadline review to see what he had to say about getting seats in the orchestra. The people he talked to must be very hard of hearing. The sound upstairs was wonderful. I sat in the next to last row in the balcony. I even sought out the sound designer, Kai Harada, to compliment him after the performance I attended last week. He said he was worried about the sound up there and was going up to listen to it. I suggested he not to touch a thing!

So maybe it's my fault those people hated the sound! I also don't think it is fair for a critic to make a suggestion like this if he or she has not experienced what these people supposedly complaimed about.

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 11:52pm

I know I won't be seeing this in New York anytime soon (being in Los Angeles), but have a digital copy of the original movie to watch this weekend. I hear it's great in and of itself...

[RndmAnswrs4RndmQstns]

Posted: 11/9/17 at 11:53pm

Well, I’ll be excited when Welcome to Nowhere comes out in cast recording.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 12:03am

RndmAnswrs4RndmQstns said: "Well, I’ll be excited when Welcome to Nowhere comes out in cast recording."

 

Me too! A great song!

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 1:00am

222disneyland said: "Why is not a NYT Critics Pick?"

In the article itself I didn't see the little NYT Critic's Pick check mark but on this page listing all the critic's picks the Band's Visit is listed there as a NYT Critic's Pick:

https://www.nytimes.com/reviews/theater/critics-pick

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 3:01pm

A "STAR is BORN" !

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 3:35pm

I just read the Vulture/NYMag review, and I'm glad they gave it a good review, but it seemed annoyingly spoilery! (Exactly as someone posted in the comments.) I haven't seen the show, so I'm hoping that one thing in particular that she gave away isn't actually a big deal, but still. A word of caution to anyone who prefers to go into a show without knowing a ton of plot points. I'm pretty annoyed with them right now... reviews should paint a general picture and let us know whether something's worth seeing, not give away twists. 

[Miss Jezebel DuPree2]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 4:03pm

A "STAR is BORN" !

 

YES!!!!!!

[macnyc]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 5:05pm

JudyDenmark said: "I just read the Vulture/NYMag review, and I'm glad they gave it a good review, butit seemed annoyingly spoilery! (Exactly as someone posted in the comments.) I haven't seen the show, so I'm hoping that one thing in particular that she gave away isn't actually a big deal, but still. A word of caution to anyone who prefers to go into a show without knowing a ton of plot points. I'm prettyannoyed with them right now... reviews should paint a general picture and let us know whether something's worth seeing, not give away twists."

 

This is a pet peeve of mine. I just read the Vulture review and I agree with you. At least one major spoiler!!! It basically gives away the ending. Why can't reviewers see that this is bad?

 

Updated On: 11/10/17 at 05:05 PM

[Jim3]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 7:50pm

I've been living in Manhattan and attending the theater here in the city for over 40 years. That critic, Christopher Kelly, from Jersey was spot on about The Bands Visit. I saw more walk outs and yawns than ever before than the night when I attended the show.

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 8:06pm

You know I saw this show fully expecting to love it but ended up being very disappointed. I felt like this show just didn't translate well in a big theater. I agree with Chris Kelly, I was definitely underwhelmed.

http://poisonivywalloftext.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-bands-visit-it-wasnt-important.html

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 8:11pm

Put me in the boat that was also extremely underwhelmed by this show. I was bored out of my mind and thought it would never end.

[rjm516]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 8:45pm

I'm so glad this show is getting stellar reviews...but I'll be honest, I kind of agree with the above negative thoughts. But I also agree with the raves! I've never been so conflicted about a show - or I guess it's not conflicted, just that it leaves a lot to mull over. I was sleepy during it, and a little bored sometimes, but the fact that it was so quiet and allowed to be slow is something kind of special for musical theatre! I haven't stopped thinking about it and I think that while it isn't the most fun to experience, it's amazing to HAVE seen. This is a hard one to talk about, ha. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 8:53pm

The source material is not exactly an action packed razzle dazzle. It is subtle, profound and charming, not for audiences who are looking for immediate and accessible entertainment. 

[Jim3]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 9:14pm

Not normally looking to see razzle dazzle anymore when I go to the theater these days. There are plenty of wonderful revivals to provide me with that. But, with a new work, I hope to see something creative and spellbinding. Didn't see that in The Band's Visit.

Updated On: 11/10/17 at 09:14 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 9:20pm

Despite many of you disliking it ...It will WIN Best Musical along with many TONY Awards like ONCE did back in 2012. I predict 10 Tony nominations. Anyone else obsessed with Katrina Lenk's performance?

[Jim3]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 9:30pm

Yep, after Once won best musical, anything is possible these days on Broadway.  It might even be SpongeBob!

Updated On: 11/10/17 at 09:30 PM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 9:37pm

Eh it looks to be a weak year for original musicals. I mean what's it up against? Spongebob? Frozen? Mean Girls?

Last season was very strong in terms of original musicals. Whatever you might have thought about DEH, TGC, CFA, GHD, they were all strong contenders for best musical. 

Some years the field is weak and some years it's strong. I don't think The Band's Visit would have quite the buzz had it been competing in the fall season against DEH or TGC (just to mention two shows that opened last fall).

[RndmAnswrs4RndmQstns]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 10:18pm

I guess the profoundness was so subtle that I missed it completely.

No, all snarkiness aside, I’d be curious to see it again. Maybe I did actually miss something, or maybe I’ll see something that I can see people liking but it not being my cup of tea. When I saw the show, I wasn’t expecting a spectacle. I knew it was going to be intimate and small- but it was often so small that it almost seemed meaningless.

I don’t know, I’ll probably see this again further down the run and see how my opinion changes.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 10:35pm

I've noticed within the last decade or so, audiences seem to like to have things blatantly spelled out for them. I saw it during Dear Evan Hansen and The Great Comet as well, the prior one especially. Many posters on here can't seem to grasp anything that is heavily implied or inferred. I don't mean for this to sound rude or snarky, but it's just an observation that I've picked up. Schools seem to be largely focusing on critical analysis skills these days and I wonder if it's due to it being a weakness of the previous generations. I have also noticed a problem with listening. Many people don't seem to be really listening to what's happening onstage, but are instead choosing to let it wash over them and maybe catch 80% of the material. I'm just challenging all of you, if you revisit this show, to really listen up and think deeply about what you're seeing because I thought the show was very profound and very beautiful.

Updated On: 11/10/17 at 10:35 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 10:49pm

GeorgeandDot said: "I've noticed within the last decade or so, audiences seem to like to have things blatantly spelled out for them. I saw it during Dear Evan Hansen and The Great Comet as well, the prior one especially. Many posters on here can't seem to grasp anything that is heavily implied or inferred. I don't mean for this to sound rude or snarky, but it's just an observation that I've picked up. Schools seem to be largely focusing on critical analysis skills these days and I wonder if it's due to it being a weakness of the previous generations. I have also noticed a problem with listening. Many people don't seem to be really listening to what's happening onstage, but are insteading choosing to let it wash over them and maybe catch 80% of the material. I'm just challenging all of you, if you revisit this show, to really listen up and think deeply about what you're seeing because I thought the show was very profound and very beautiful."

Right on G&D!!!

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/10/17 at 10:51pm

Jim3 said: "Yep, after Once won best musical, anything ispossible these days on Broadway. It might even be SpongeBob!"

We loved ONCE ~ it's one of my favorite musicals!