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THE ROOMMATE Previews

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AC126748
#50THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 8/31/24 at 12:31pm

LuPone and Farrow are talented actors, but there's only so much anyone can do with a script this weak.


"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

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WldKingdomHM
#51THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 8/31/24 at 1:32pm

How bad are the PV seats ? 

AP1979 Profile Photo
AP1979
#52THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 8/31/24 at 1:36pm

I was in PV orchestra right, row A seat 10 and for 50 bucks I thought it was a great value. I was able to see 95% of the show. I enjoyed myself and thought it was funny. 

GiantsInTheSky2 Profile Photo
GiantsInTheSky2
#53THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 8/31/24 at 1:45pm

AC126748 said: "LuPone and Farrow are talented actors, but there's only so much anyone can do with a script this weak."

Thank you for this feedback. As much as I love some legends, I’ve seen them before and would prefer to spend my money on a more ‘important/must-see’ piece of work (as a whole). Different strokes. 


I am big. It’s the REVIVALS that got small.

WldKingdomHM Profile Photo
WldKingdomHM
#54THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 8/31/24 at 2:03pm

AP1979 said: "I was in PV orchestra right, row A seat 10 and for 50 bucks I thought it was a great value. I was able to see 95% of the show. I enjoyed myself and thought it was funny."

Thanks I was looking at last row on the far aisle hopefully I won’t miss too much 

MysteriousLady
#55THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 8/31/24 at 2:04pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "AC126748 said: "LuPone and Farrow are talented actors, but there's only so much anyone can do with a script this weak."

Thank you for this feedback. As much as I love some legends, I’ve seen them before and would prefer to spend my money on a more ‘important/must-see’ piece of work (as a whole). Different strokes.
"

That's one of the problems of the high ticket prices of today. It becomes hard for some people to justify paying for a play that's just "good" or "fine." Such plays were common decades ago on Broadway. 

binau Profile Photo
binau
#56THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 8/31/24 at 3:24pm

I’m happy to pay to see Patti being Patti so sounds good to me. 


"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022) "Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009) "Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000

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TheatreFan4
#57THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 8/31/24 at 4:49pm

MysteriousLady said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "AC126748 said: "LuPone and Farrow are talented actors, but there's only so much anyone can do with a script this weak."

Thank you for this feedback. As much as I love some legends, I’ve seen them before and would prefer to spend my money on a more ‘important/must-see’ piece of work (as a whole). Different strokes.
"

That's one of the problems of the high ticket prices of today. It becomes hard for some people to justify paying for a play that's just "good" or "fine." Such plays were common decades ago on Broadway.
"

I mean, the back two rows are only $48 with fees and the seats don't appear to be bad, so I got them for October show. First chance to ever see Patti live and I'm gonna take it. Mia Farrow is just a bonus. 

Musicaldudepeter
#58THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 8/31/24 at 4:54pm

Three-time Tony Award-winner Patti (Ann) LuPone. 

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
Fordham2015
#60THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/1/24 at 7:59pm

ljay889 said: "CBS Sunday Morning "

Patti says in this segment that Annette Bening was originally offered her role (definitely something the producers didn't want out lol). Patti seems like a better personality contrast to Mia, but we shall see.

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TaffyDavenport
#61THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/1/24 at 8:50pm

That's interesting. I might have preferred to see Annette Bening in the role. As it is now, I think Mia gives the far more natural (and memorable) performance, and maybe Annette would have paired better with her than Patti, for me. I can't say there's anything particularly wrong with her performance, but I thought Mia totally outshone her, and it was an extraordinary pleasure to see her on stage.

Updated On: 9/1/24 at 08:50 PM

TotallyEffed Profile Photo
TotallyEffed
#62THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/1/24 at 8:55pm

I am a massive fan of LuPone but I’m still pinching myself that I get to see Mia Farrow on stage next week.

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JayElle
#63THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/1/24 at 10:50pm

If Mia and Patti were the only 2 Tony nominated for best actress, who would win?  I'm thinking Mia. 

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sinister teashop
#64THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/2/24 at 11:01am

I could see Farrow getting a Tony nomination. I thought LuPone was also excellent. I don’t think the play is all that weak. I think it’s well made but unbelievable. 

The Roommate review 

BETTY22
#65THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/2/24 at 11:57am

The CBS Sunday Morning piece made me want to see this. Just purchased tickes 

MemorableUserName
#66THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/2/24 at 8:39pm

The best part of the interview is getting a lot of social media attention.

https://x.com/FeldmanAdam/status/1830649774976221627

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nmartin
#67THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/3/24 at 11:06pm

I'm trying to be more positive, so I'm going to focus on that.

I thought it was oddly appropriate that once the house lights went down and the stage lights came up both actresses walked on stage and basically acknowledged the audience applause. I wouldn't exactly call it a pre-show curtain call, but it was close to that.  After that, they took their places, and the play began.

Mia Farrow is sublime in this.

MezzA101
#68THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/4/24 at 11:52am

NYT: The Truth About Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/04/theater/mia-farrow-patti-lupone-broadway-roommate.html?unlocked_article_code=1.IE4.pehU.q_y1fnoLThk8

Guessing this will appear in print in the A&L Fall Preview.

 

TotallyEffed Profile Photo
TotallyEffed
#69THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/4/24 at 12:22pm

I thought the "opening credits" at the beginning were a bit strange and awkward, not sure how I feel about it.

Patti is doing Patti before she's chiseled away at her marble. I find Patti is at her best either after an out of town/off-Broadway tryout and marinates for a bit. She is really a fantastic actress after she'd really done the work and found the subtleties and nuance. Give her a few weeks. I think someone with a bit more earthy realism would be good in this role, Francis McDormand comes to mind.

Mia is already there. It was an honor to see her on stage and she is alluring, gentle, warm, adorable, and already giving a very believable performance.

The play itself is silly and unrealistic but fun and it was a thrill to see these two legends play together. It feels like instant gay lore.

The audience was perhaps the worst I have ever encountered and makes me worried about the future of theatergoing. An absolute nightmare of incredibly entitled and downright obnoxious human beings.

 

binau Profile Photo
binau
#70THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/4/24 at 1:27pm

I'm a little surprised that the audience of an early preview for this kind of show would be the worst ever. What happened?


"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022) "Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009) "Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000

TotallyEffed Profile Photo
TotallyEffed
#71THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/4/24 at 1:37pm

The hearing devices were a huge problem which really dampened the experience. They were chirping and buzzing and squeaking the entire show and the play is very quiet and hard to hear as it is. The ushers did nothing to assist the people with devices making sounds.

Many cell phones going off, texting, people talking in full voice to their partners, loud candy and food being eaten and unwrapped. It was such a headache. Multiple shushing and turning around and shooting dirty looks did absolutely nothing to shut any of the rude people up.

Updated On: 9/4/24 at 01:37 PM

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Jordan Catalano
#72THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/4/24 at 2:38pm

I can’t believe the audience has only gotten WORSE since the first preview. When Patti and Mia come out before the show starts (again, a GENIUS move), Patti needs to step forward and do the preshow announcement live. 

UWS10023 Profile Photo
UWS10023
#73THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/6/24 at 12:18am

I thought the production was an absolute stinker. The direction was clunky and the set design was obtrusive especially to those of us sitting in the first 5 rows far house right. I stared at a porch and the back of a chair through the entire production. Yes it was a partial view ticket but it was an obstructed view and should not have been sold. I suspect far house left did not fare much better given there was a down stage wall extension flushed against the proscenium. In a theatre that is somewhat small there is no excuse for a bulky set design that limits viewing in several of the seats. Even the actors had a poor sense of where they were standing, closing themselves off to the audience even when they were center stage. One of the worst set designs I have seen on Broadway. For god’s sake get rid of the chair down stage left and replace it with a tiny bench of some sort and have the actors cheat a little down stage right while sitting on it. Or don’t use it at all. The porch idea should have been scrapped thus opening up the kitchen area. It was barely used.The boxes could have remained inside the door.

 

I did not find the acting to be very authentic. At times they seemed to be “acting”rather than talking to one another. To be fair the play is not very good and it is predictable. Several people were checking phones for the time and it was only 90 minutes long. 
 

I am not sure why the two actresses agreed to do it. They should have picked a better vehicle. I found Mia’s character (she looked like Mary Hartman) to be rather one note and exhausting. I felt like Patti didn’t quite know how to respond to her because there was so much sameness. Almost like she was making up Mia’s subtext in her mind if that makes any sense. Patti should have used her own hair. 

A more interesting choice might have been to have cast them in opposite parts. Just a thought. I would have been happier seeing them in Arsenic and Old Lace!

I left thinking that perhaps I should have waited for the reviews before buying a ticket. Live and learn I guess.

I do not expect any Tony nominations come next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 9/6/24 at 12:18 AM

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Bette's Turban
#74THE ROOMMATE Previews
Posted: 9/6/24 at 8:58pm

I had a fun time.  The play is meh but it sure was great watching the two ladies on stage.  I saw in the front row all the way to the side and had none of the problems you just mentioned.  Mia might be remembered Tony time.  But it is very early in the season and I don't think thats what this show is intentionally going for.  It is September in NYC with nothing else with names like this playing for now.  It is a fun night and what I imagine is their target audience will enjoy.  Just don't spend a fortune. 


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