THE STORY OF MY LIFE Reviews

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:28am

Post 'em here!

My best to all involved.
Updated On: 2/19/09 at 12:28 AM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:33am

saw it for the third time tonight and LOVED it all over again...I hope it gets positive reviews.

(but Mike, it is WAY TOO EARLY to be starting this thread)

[scott68]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:53am

Saw it this past weekend, and while I had major problems with it, I wish it all the best (even if that's possibly due to the fact that I want it to do well enough to merit a cast recording so I can listen to the music and pretend the rest of it didn't happen ).

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:54am

I really liked it. Nothing flashy, nothing over-the-top, and quite honestly a few numbers that I just felt didn't add much to the show. But such a moving play. It had me in tears near the end and I just thought it was so beautifully done. Not to jinx things, but I can already tell this isn't going to do TOO well on Broadway , but I certainly wish it the best. Some great performances and a nice script that keeps coming back to these lines and moments that are simply touching. A definite nice change of pace from the Shreks and the Disney shows of the world.

[Actor 7]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:55am

Yes, may the gods smile on this beautiful little new musical. Playbill just posted an Opening Night article about THE STORY OF MY LIFE. I noticed they are making an Opening Night Playbill available. It's a great service because so many people can't afford the trip across the country to Broadway and this makes it possible for us to have a connection to this opening night. Hope the reviews are supportive. Hope it has a good run so those of us on the West Coast can make it to NYC to see it.

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 1:39am

I'm going to Opening Night. SO EXCITED.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 4:36am

I was also presentand accounted for last night (the 18th)! Where were you sitting!? UGH! SoOoO sorry I missed you!

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:43am

I was also presentand accounted for last night (the 18th)! Where were you sitting!? UGH! SoOoO sorry I missed you!

Don't know if this was directed at me, I wasn't there last night. I'm going to Opening Night tonight.

How was the show last night?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 8:07am

Going next Wednesday - I'm sure I'll love it!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 8:29am

Mike, I was in L101 in the orchestra last night...can't wait to see it again!!!

[Elke]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 8:51am

I'm very curious about the official reviews. Fingers crossed!

So how was last night's show? WAT, have there been any signifcant changes during previews?

I'm flying back to NY next Thursday, seeing it 4 times. And I can't wait!

[GIZMO2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 8:57am

Please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please THE STORY OF MY LIFE . . .

Please don't pull a (Dare I say it?!?!?)

G . . .

L . . .

O . . .

R . . .

Y . . .

D . . .

A . . .

Y . . .

. . . . . . Well, you get the picture.

BREAK A LEG, THE STORY OF MY LIFE!!!

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 9:08am

That's just not nice.

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 9:31am

They made some minor changes throughout previews, to my knowledge the show has been frozen since last Thursday.

[Elke]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 9:36am

Thanks, lstbutifulgrl2. Enjoy opening night!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 9:43am

The responses to this show may be divided, but there's a big difference between this and Glory Days. People need to stop being so dramatic.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 9:45am

I was there last night for the third time as well! I love this show so much and wish the absolute best to the cast and creative team.

The show has truly touched my heart, and I've shed a tear each time I've seen it. I've got my fingers crossed for the rave reviews to start pouring in this evening. I'll be sending all my love to the Booth tonight.

As far as changes go, I haven't really noticed anything physically significant changing from the first preview through last night. The noticable difference is in the performances of Chase and Gets. They were already wonderful at the first preview, but by last night they were the total embodiment of their characters. They are not acting, but rather truly living their characters lives. They convey a such a deep sense of humanity and honesty in their portrayals. I apologize, but I can't gush enough.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 9:52am

There have only been minor changes in the actual production, but as Whizzer so eloquently pointed out in his last post, it is Will and Malcolm's performances that have grown tremendously over the past few weeks. I loved them at the first preview, but now they are true perfection. This show is wonderful and I hope the critics see this. ::crosses fingers for positive reviews::

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 9:59am

I saw the first preview and since then I haven't been able to get the incredible story and music out of my head. I'm hoping and praying that it gets glowing reviews tonight! I wish I could see it again, but I live in Florida. Darnnit.

[StarUsher]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 10:05am

Saw the show last night and I really enjoyed it. I agree that it's a welcome change from the big blockbuster type musicals. I love them too, but it's nice to see something more intimate. With a little more heart. I hope this show sticks around for a while.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 11:04am

I felt very fortunate because it was my first time seeing it and I was sitting Row AA Seat 103. So I was right up in front and just got completely absorbed in the world that is this tremendous story.

[Steve2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 11:43am

I am sorry to threadjack however I am going to purchase tickets today and any advice on where to sit would be appreciated.

Some front row tickets are available but was wondering if further back would be better. Updated On: 2/19/09 at 11:43 AM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 11:46am

steve2: You can literally sit anywhere it would be ok. It's not like you have to worry about sightlines with this piece.

[Insider2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:20pm

I was there on Saturday and think it is absolutely one of the worst shows that I've had the displeasure to see in many years.

Not one original thought or concept on display here. The music is a less of a homage TO than a blantant rip-off OF Sondheim. There are specific passages here that seem lifted right out of Sunday in the Park. If I was Mr. S., I might have a lawyer go in and take a listen.

The entire show, if it can even be called a show, is completely static from start to finish. Nothing happens. Everything is TOLD to us.

He did this.

He did that.

And even the events that are told to us are bland and unmemorable, usually accompanied by a sappy, dipped in pancake syrup song that is derivative of something better.

If the authors wanted to create a memory piece, perhaps they should have looked at successful memory pieces of the past such as The Glass Menagerie, so they could have learned that there is the possibility of actual DRAMA even in theatre that "looks back" rather than speeds forward. And this definitely does not speed forward. Ohhh no. It moves at the pace of a rotten slug, crawling across the stage leaving slime in its wake...or at least sleeping audience members. For the first time in a long time, the person to the right of me was asleep. The person to the left of me was asleep. I felt like I was in a commercial for Lunesta!

And these two cardboard cut-out non-characters are friends....why? Because they tell us they are friends, over and over and over again? Oh, okay. They say they are friends, so they must be friends. Some teacher sticks the two of them together, and bam, we have the classic tale of two mismatched souls with nothing in common who form a bond. Except in this case, we are given no real good reason why. And since the characters are both so paper thin, there is no reason to care about either one of them.

Will and Malcolm do everything they can to breathe some life into this train wreck, but honestly, nothing could save this.

The Story of My Life - the ironic title of a "musical" that has no story, and no life.

Enter at your own peril, and don't believe the hype.

[Elke]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:52pm

Insider2, I'm sorry that 'Story' didn't appeal to you. When you say "there is no reason to care about either one of them", I wonder why so many people around me had to dig up their tissues. Because they didn't care, I guess...

On a sidenote: according to someone at ATC, Mr. Sondheim saw the show on Tuesday.