THE BOYS IN THE BAND (2018) Previews — Page 8

Does that mean the party is on 5/30 and reviews come out 5/31? Or the other way around?

Aside from the oft-discussed Matt Bomer's shower scene, are there any other notable scenes out of view for those in standing room?

I just wanted to pass this information along, since there was some confusion over the opening date. I reached out to the show's press agent, and she confirmed that, although the official opening date is May 31st, "the production is hosting a private celebration after the show on May 30th; most of the guests will be seated in the orchestra." This seems very unusual to me, but there it is. I'll stick with my seats on 5/30.

I just saw Boys in the Band is on TKTS for 40% off. Just an FYI. Seems like that's the best deal I've seen for this show.

I thought this was an exceptional production all around. Top-notch direction from Mantello (who is truly one of the greatest theatre directors of our time) and incredible performances (the standouts being Parsons, de Jesus, and Quinto, who I hope are remembered come awards time next year). The show is both bitingly funny and deeply moving. An exceptional start to the new season, and one of my top recommendations for the summer.

"How would he direct the audience to laugh at inappropriate times?!"

If he really is "truly one of the greatest theatre directors of our time," then he can do anything, right?

mamaleh said: "was perplexed by laughter at what seemed to me inappropriate times. Certain lines and situations that I have always considered highly dramatic were greeted with guffaws by large segments of the audience.

So I’m wondering: Was that Mantello’s direction? "

How would he direct the audience to laugh at inappropriate times?!

I'm sure the audience's laughs were always there -- in the original 1968 Off-Broadway production and continues in this 2018 production.

Most of us know the film religiously and have watched the film privately without an audience therefore we interpret dialogue and scenes in our own personal way. Watch this same film with an audience and the experience is completely different. Inappropriate laughing will be rampant.

The happened to me when I saw 1939's GONE WITH THE WIND. For years I had watched the film at home, on my time, and loved it. Then I attended a festival screening with an audience and boy, did the film become a completely different film for me. All of the sudden I saw the delicious silliness and humor in Vivien Leigh's Scarlett O'Hara. The first time I heard the audience laugh I was completely thrown off as I had seen the film countless times and never saw the humor in countless moments in the film. Seeing the film with an audience taught me quite a bit and I now make it a point to see classic films I know so well with an audience. These older films have become new to me again experiencing them with an audience.

theaterdarling said: "Saw the show last night and really loved it. The cast has their timing down beautifully and really click. I think Parsons was fantastic and I believed every note. Bomer was a little uninteresting to me, but worked as part of the whole given the strength of the other dynamics created.

Quinto was more mannered and stilted than the others, as another commenter noted, and though a big Quinto fan, his performance was, for me, the least successful of the evening, though not so much so that it pulled me out of the stage universe created.

My bigger issues were audience related. The obsession on this thread as to whether you could see Bomer's butt from any particular seat was so disappointing. I bring this up because the maturity level of this was consistent with this occurring last night: when Bomer comes down the stairs and asks Parsons if " he looks stunning" an a-hole audience member shouts out "yes" and some audience members laughed prolonging the interruption.

Grow the F up - this is not your living room. This was not a talk-back. First time theater goer? Learn some manners.

You could tell, momentarily, it threw Bomer and Parson off and trampled their lines though they handled it in a predictably professional manner. This was as rude, stupid and incomprehensible as a phone going off.

I hope it was worth it to that audience member to have his moment in the sun and it felt satisfying not to give a c**p about the actors or other audience members. Shame on the other audience members who laughed at the comment and extended the moment. If any future attendees think they will feel the need to add their own improvisations, please stay home and talk back to the movie.

Also, FOUR sets of entrance applause-Parsons Bomer,Rannells (as he entered as part of a group of lesser known cast members--so insulting to the others) and then for Quinto much further along in the play. It stops the show FOUR times. For an ensemble piece it is a disservice to the actors and the show itself. And why? because you know these actors from TV and must transmit your knowledge that you recognize them?

I know there have been threads about such entrance applause, who gets it, etc. This is a phenomenon that escapes me in general. But to interrupt a show FOUR times for such a trite exercise is ridiculous. Actors receive energy from the audience all the time in many ways but to applaud only to single out their existence in the cast unnecessarily interrupts the organic flow of the show.

Doubling up on applause at the end would be just as welcome--they take a group bow at the end singling out no one cast member so why single someone out at the beginning of a show that is expressly an ensemble work.

Even before the curtain went up on last night you could feel the excitement for this show and it was great to be a part of that. But please be appropriate and considerate of the cast and your fellow audience members. Otherwise, stay home or go see "Margaritaville" where your need to interact might be better appreciated.

"

Man, this audience sounds just REVOLTING! Dude, if you are going to offer your thoughts on a show in previews, but then use your review to bemoan the audience at the Booth Theatre last night, then honestly, what's the point? A lot of people, I'm sure, want to see this production of Boys in the Band, and your belittling of the audience (which you used 2/3 of your review for) is kind of ridiculous. That's just my two cents!

This happens a lot on this board- so what if theater darling thought the audience was rude- that was his experience and I, for one, am interested in all reactions to this play. For whatever reason, people come in and say he was moaning and groaning and wasting his time complaining about the audience. I think his experience should be respected- and if someone else felt differently- post it up. But why the need to denigrate a poster whose experience you did not share?

Updated On: 5/27/18 at 03:56 PM

Gizmo6 said: "I really don’t understand ‘Entrance Applause’ it’s so shallow."

I tend to think that entrance applause personally gives the actor receiving the applause a sense of importance (i.e. any leading actor, famous person, Tony winner, etc.) For this kind of show, which is chock-full of celebrities, I would think that the excitement radiating from the audience is only justified by the actors on stage, if that means anything.

JBC3 said: "I skipped On Your Feet and will do so with Summer after hearing the dance party nature of audiences at both."

If people want to experience joy, why attend the theater?