TOOTSIE the Musical: PREVIEWS START- Page 4

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 9:28am

• Looks and feels like a third-rate touring company production

• Songs are not memorable or enjoyable

• Book is funny... but completely void of all the movie's heart and wit

SHILL FOR SOMEONE. JOINED THIS WEEK.

 

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 9:34am

Charley Kringas Inc said: "NYCblurb said: "Charley Kringas Inc said: "Excited to hear reports on this! There are definitely some things I hope they've changed since the first Chicago tryout performance, and a lot I hope they've kept.

One lyric change I hope is solved: during Sandy's panic attack song, she sings "Next thing I know I'm in Taco Bell stuffing my face with wings", and I'm not sure that Taco Bell sells or has ever sold wings."

The line in Chicago was "stuffing my face with meat.""

That’s so funny, I must’ve misheard it. I remember thinking, “what?”. On the other hand, that means the punchline is still weak because Taco Bell isn’t really known for their meat. I know it has to be Taco Bell to rhyme, but they don’t sell many one-syllable items."

I think THAT is the joke. At a greasy fast food joint, pushing in GRADE D meat.

: )

[CarmenA3]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 10:21am

NYCblurb said: "• Looksand feels like a third-rate touring company production

• Songs are not memorable or enjoyable

• Book is funny... but completely void of all the movie's heart and wit

SHILL FOR SOMEONE.JOINED THIS WEEK.

"

Well, I DIDN'T JOIN THIS WEEK, and I agree with their 3 sentences.

I really wanted to like it and the jokes in Act I were cute - until they got old. As I woman, I cringed at a lot at some of them - 80s demeaning humor does not work in 2019. 

I kept thinking back to "The Other Josh Cohen" (not a compliment). Everyone did the best they could with the material, but there wasn't much to work with. I think the lowest for me was the Max lines (slight paraphrase): "Everyone makes fun of my grammar. But I love my 'gramma and she's...."  (punchline being the grammar/gramma bit).

Good enough to see via a rush ticket, IMO, but no way is this in contention for Best Musical. Hadestown for the win.

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 10:37am

NYCblurb said: "Charley Kringas Inc said: "NYCblurb said: "Charley Kringas Inc said: "Excited to hear reports on this! There are definitely some things I hope they've changed since the first Chicago tryout performance, and a lot I hope they've kept.

One lyric change I hope is solved: during Sandy's panic attack song, she sings "Next thing I know I'm in Taco Bell stuffing my face with wings", and I'm not sure that Taco Bell sells or has ever sold wings."

The line in Chicago was "stuffing my face with meat.""

That’s so funny, I must’ve misheard it. I remember thinking, “what?”. On the other hand, that means the punchline is still weak because Taco Bell isn’t really known for their meat. I know it has to be Taco Bell to rhyme, but they don’t sell many one-syllable items."

I think THAT is the joke. At a greasy fast food joint, pushing in GRADE D meat.

: )"

I don't really buy that, though, and it has to be a really good, on-point punch-line because it's coming at the very end of a dense word typhoon. Nobody says they're going to Taco Bell to eat meat, or that they ate meat at Taco Bell - it's a line crying out for something very specific. If you're going to name Taco Bell, the punch-line has to really solidly reflect that.

It probably says something about how much I enjoyed this show that I'm squinting at a single vowel in a song.

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 10:41am

My thoughts on this Yazbek/Horn joint: A hit is had. I see most everything that opens due to my spouse dragging me to shows. So here goes...

Show started about ten after eight, and I left the spot at 10:58 after being given a headshot and resume on exit by an usher (fun bit). The "resume" is winning - my favorite job was "Woman in Sand". Ok, to the show, and key changes from Chicago where I was or work last fall and saw the show several times.

1A) Overture is new. Beautiful and rolling. Highlights Yazbek's style story. Very strong.

1B) Opening edited quite a lot. Works better, and improves upon the "show within the show". Sets the stakes here better. Michael is desperate and will do anything for a job.

2A) Confrontation between Michael & agent "Stan" (a thrilling & heartfelt Michael McGrath) now takes place in Stan's office. Set is flimsy here, and shakes when exits. Distracting. A great comedy scene by Horn brought to life by these two. McGrath shines in this memorable spot.

2B) Sarah Stiles playing "Sandy" has I KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN as her show-stopper (reprised twice in bits) that really blossomed with a NY audience. She will win the TONY for best-supporting I predict.

2C) Santino Fontana''s entrance as "Dorothy" for the audition is a master class in comedy, song craft and power of mixing them with exceptional actors - Fontana, Julie Halston, John Behlmann (where has this guy been?) and Reg Rogers . Cooper also in the scene, who plays the straight counterpart to the comedy throughout. "Rome-O!" This is where we meet Halson's producer "Rita" who is twisted and botox-ed and every moment a delight. Halston gets a TONY nomination.

3A) "John" (Julie's first song) is now a minimally two-header duet, focussing less on Julie's former partner, and more on Julie's dream of the theater and how being an actor required her to give push all else aside for this very dream. Really connects the two "women" and establishes both have much at stake. The costs to their decisions to commit to this life are real and painful to understand as they sing, in ways. Lili Cooper has truly blossomed in NY, and I find her Julie now powerful and a glue to the show. She is our truth teller. She shows us how in real ways, we play the games to live life and go after our dreams. Brava! 

3B) ACT I finale has been tightened, and the number called UNSTOPPABLE is still not the best.  Dorothy & ensemble work their tails off to show Dorothy's dream as it expands and becomes more unruly to control.

4A) Behlman as a young "Max Van Horn" is incredibly winning, memorable and relevant. A fun, reimagined foil to Dorothy's womanly wiles. His timing is terrific, and only thrills throughout the night. Predicting Behlman is TONY nominated for this turn. I saw him doing a trapeze based JAWS parade on the Bowery years ago, and that comedy gold he takes with him wherever he goes. Bravo!

4B) "Jeff" (the Bill Murray character in the film) here is played brilliantly by Andy Grotelueschen. His "YOU F*CKED IT UP" in ACT II opener is a high point for me. I predict TONY nom for him, and a win. 

4C) Ensemble shines in THE GREATEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE (?) which takes us from waking up on OPENING NIGHT from Max Van Horn's bed (Behlman's Max is a child-man from the crack of dawn we see the cast of JULIET'S CURSE/NURSE getting ready for their Broadway opening night. I liked this number more tonight than ever, and think it will be the "TV" number they put on TONY et al as some sort of Yazbek woven medley. 

4D) Dorothy's big ACT II reveal is quite different here at the Marquis. Still too long to tease out the moment but tighter and better.

5) Curtain now has a TOOTSIE drop-down for curtain call, along with a special tap dancing number I wish I could have seen better. Was Dorothy really tapping? I think so. Like to see this more clearly. 

Show is an "A" book-wise now, in the vein of Neil Simon & Mel Brooks. Robert Horn will be nominated and win the TONY for BEST BOOK I predict. The show will have MANY noms including the above and adding David Rockwell (SCENIC DESIGN) and William Ivey Long (COSTUMES), and Scott Ellis (DIRECTOR). One note on the stage, and what Rockwell has done to/for it -- and please chime in those who know the Marquis stage better than I -- what has he done to it to make it feel less like a barn? I was seated in ROW T center, and found the room/stage/experience much more personal and poised. Was part of the stage reduced somehow or TOOTSIE? I am trying to remember what it was organically. The first time I saw something here as I remember was DAMN YANKEES w/ Jerry Lewis, and it has been barn-ish forever for me. 

David Yazbek, will be nominated I predict. Following up the more intimate BAND'S VISIT with this muscular, vulgar at spots and shining TOOTSIE score shows how Yazbek is one of Broadway's most versatile composer lyricists. The real revelation for me is how Robert Horn's book translates a piece from 30 years ago into a whole new world adding humor and grace and humanity. Horn is nominated and wins his first TONY I imagine.

Possible noms inclus Denis Jones, whose choreography is winning if not a centerpiece of this TOOTSIE. Lighting design by Donald Holder is solid.

I have seen PROM and liked it. Once was enough. Not a hit-feeling broad based musical comedy. Some of the brutal negatives felt like drunken posts by the above, but whatever. We all have fingers. Have not yet seen, though will see HADESTOWN in two weeks, so that will add perspective I know. Too this broad TOOTSIE: an American comedy musical hit is born! Here's a to a good long happy run for this ensemble - who if there were such a thing would win the BEST ENSEMBLE award. The amount of actor talent on this stage is unparalleled in a musical at this time. In my count, I think TOOTSIE gets 11 or more TONY nominations. 

The best parts of the experience for me are that they didn't **** up a classic, but enhanced it for a new genre, and just how extraordinary the cast is as a group of creative organic and brilliant singles coming together for something truly special. As a cast/book piece, it reminded me of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN the movie and WHAT'S UP DOC in the manner in which the cast expanded a genius script.  

 

Updated On: 3/30/19 at 10:41 AM

[getupngo]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 10:56am

NYCblurb said: "My thoughts on this Yazbek/Horn joint:"


-woman in the sand made me LOL too

-agree on the set; when he slams the door and the entire thing wobbled I was like uh oh.

-im torn between Sarah winning and Ali stoker for OK! I feel like Sarah will take it if the voters split between stoker and testa. but Sarah def. deserves it cause she works more on stage.

-"John" I wasn't a fan of this song. or Lilli tbh. but she surprised me and did better than I expected.

-"You ****ed it up" was my second favorite song, after Sandy's

-agree "greatest night" will probably be the tony perfermance
 

LOVED your review!

 

[ThreeSentencesOnly]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 11:01am

 

• NYCblurb = "the pot" calling "the shill" black

• the show is, at best, mediocre

• obsessed musical theater queens/fans like it because "they made "Tootsie" a musical!", that's enough for them

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 11:02am

“Whizzer you're right, the musical theatre choreography bit was hilarious, but I thought was more a dig at a Jerry Mitchell type?”

Oh absolutely it is a dig at Jerry Mitchell/Rob Ashford type choreography. The combo of them doing those moves in Shakespearean garb made me instantly think of Head Over Heels though.

NYCblurb, although I share your enthusiasm for the show, you really should see Hadestown (and Oklahoma, which I take it you haven’t seen yet?) before handing out Tony wins here ha. Tootsie will most assuredly receive many nominations, but its best shot it winning is Best Book. Hadestown should easily take Musical and Score, but all four musical acting categories are have-it-in-the-bag-free right now. Sarah Stiles and Julie Halston are great. Both deserve nominations, I agree. But if they fill out the category with Amber Gray, Ali Stroker and Mary Testa then this will be one of the strongest acting categories in years. (Right now, my bet is on one of the two Oklahoma ladies winning.)

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 11:06am

Did the tryout not have an Overture? I love Yazbek’s standard zippy overtures.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 11:10am

ljay, not only is there an overture, but there’s also an entr’acte!! Both are great.

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 1:14pm

ljay, not only is there an overture, but there’s also an entr’acte!! Both are great.

Yes Whizzer, I forgot there were both. Neither in Chicago as I recall. Entr'acte! 

Posted: 3/30/19 at 1:24pm

In the second act, not since The Producers have I heard an audience laugh this loud and long. Some were gasping for breath because they laughed that hard. When Santino tripped and fell it was obvious how much the audience was into the show -- they roared their approval as they watched him quickly improvising to get the comic rhythm back on track -- one of those unexpected moments when you feel just how into the show the crowd is.

I sat next to a 3-generation family -- two high school age kids and their parents from Madison, WI, along with two grandparents (who live here) -- a good sign that they all loved it, and the kids hadn't even seen the movie.  

It's old school in the best way -- so many funny lines for so many of the actors onstage, it's not just the leads who get to shine.  A true ensemble.  The curtain call choreography adds to the fun with some visual sleight-of-hand that enables both "Michael Dorsey" and "Dorothy Michaels" to bask in the spotlight -- the evening finished so strong, and then to be handed "Dorothy Michaels" headshot/resume by ushers in the lobby -- a comic bonus.

I think they are in for a long and happy run.  It would help if the first act could be a bit shorter, but the second act feels just right.  The stage door scene was an ecstatic mob of people clutching their Dorothy Michaels' headshots. I don't know if Santino signed any of them on the way out, but if he did, a hundred years from now at The Antiques Road Show the great great great great grandchildren of those theater fans at the stage door will no doubt get good news. 

[TaylorF221]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 1:26pm

WhizzerMarvin said:  "Hadestown should easily take Musical and Score"

Whizzer I wouldn't give Hadestown Best Musical so easily. Yes, the Tony's like supporting the more 'artistic' musical, but I would say that Hadestown is even more esoteric than The Bands Visit, and I'm not sure older voters will swing to it. Tootsie also has the road vote and some serious Broadway vets as it's producers/backers. 

All to say I think Hadestown will take score, Tootsie will take book, and it will be a Tootsie/Hadestown race for best musical. Let's see how the reviews turn out for both shows. 

Prom may be getting shills on this board plus Ryan Murphy to host an event for them, but I think they'll get totally lost as Hadestown, BJ, and Tootsie open and suck up attention and audiences. 

 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 2:49pm

Taylor, fair enough. It could be a closer call between Hadestown and Tootsie for BM than I’m imagining, but I do think Hadestown will still win. I believe Hadestown is far less esoteric than you found it to be. Regardless it will be a very interesting award ceremony. Lots of suspense. I have a feeling book, score and director will each go to a different show- how often has that happened in the past?

[Jakeevan942]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 2:54pm

Always a pleasure to be at the first preview of a new work, especially in the room with Whizzer, and the others on here.

My TDF seat was Row V, right orchestra, and it seemed that most of the people around me were also there on TDF seats. 

I'd like to note that I popped into the lobby outside the theater around 7 last night, and the ushers, merchandise people, and bartenders were all still being trained to run this new show, so any front of house kinks should get worked out during previews. It seemed that last night was most of the house staff's first night back working for the new show.

I agree with many of the sentiments here. The book is absolutely hilarious, but with one caveat-just like with The Prom, many of the jokes rely on at least a passing knowledge of the context of contemporary musical theater, so I'm not sure if it will appear quite as funny to a casual theatergoer as it does to those of us on here. Yazbeck has cemented himself as a unique voice in musical theater, able to go from such a niche score as Bands Visit to this contemporary musical comedy score.

Santino and Lilli were great, but Sarah Stiles is the clear stand-out, even in a small featured part. I also thought Andy Grotelueschen as Jeff was a highlight, making a whole lot out of a part that could be a throw-away track in the hands of a different performer. It's also worth noting that Michael McGrath's agent part, with maybe ten minutes of stage time, is their easy slot to stunt cast when they need to bring in people during slower months.

The show could definitely use to lose 20 minutes-started at 8:07, and didn't break until 10:50.

The headshot/resume was a first-preview exclusive, per the Spotco people handing them out. Bob Horn, who wrote the book, also wrote the faux-resume, and it's quite hilarious-it's posted over at Playbill if you want to read it.

And yes, Santino signed quite a number of the headshots; an unsigned one is already on eBay.

I'm not ready to call the Tony's yet, simply as I haven't seen Hadestown yet, but it's been a really nice season for new musicals on Broadway.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 3:02pm

If anyone has a headshot from the first preview that they don’t care to keep, I’d love to have one!

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 3:46pm

gleek4114 said: "If anyone has a headshot from the first preview that they don’t care to keep, I’d love to have one!"

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 3:46pm

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 4:27pm

“Folding contour sheets” lmao

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 5:09pm

I grabbed three. Give me your address and I will put in mail to you.

[bk]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 6:45pm

NYCblurb: "Some of the brutal negatives felt like drunken posts by the above, but whatever."

Frankly, your post sounds like a drunken post.  

I wonder when the meta trend will end - it's so boring by now - it's been going on for over two decades now and still musical theater "FANatics" whoop and holler at every reference they recognize.  I guess it makes them feel smart or something, but really, I'm done with that stuff.

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 6:58pm

Any photos of merch?

[lemiz1862]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 7:16pm

EllieRose2 said: "Any photos of merch?"

Don’t have a photo of the merch but it was pretty great. The “Friends of Dorothy” T shirt is funny and I think people have been posting it on social media. 

 

bk said: “I wonder when the meta trend will end - it's so boring by now  - it's been going on for over two decades now and still musical theater "FANatics" whoop and holler at every reference they recognize. I guess it makes them feel smart or something, but really, I'm done with that stuff."

Did you even see the show? The Broadway/Theatre insider jokes were actually pretty subtle and I didn’t hear and whoops and hollers at the Meta theatre jokes. They were far worse in Prom.

 

 

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 7:46pm

YOU JOINED 24 HOURS AGO

• NYCblurb = "the pot" calling "the shill" black
• the show is, at best, mediocre
• obsessed musical theater queens/fans like it because "they made "Tootsie" a musical!", that's enough for them

Updated On: 3/30/19 at 07:46 PM

[bk]

Posted: 3/30/19 at 9:16pm

lemiz1862 said: "EllieRose2 said: "Any photos of merch?"

Don’t have a photo of the merch but it was pretty great. The “Friends of Dorothy” T shirt is funny and I think people have been posting it on social media.



bk said: “Iwonder when the meta trend will end - it's so boring by now - it's been going on for over two decades now and still musical theater "FANatics" whoop and holler at every reference they recognize. I guess it makes them feel smart or something, but really, I'm done with that stuff."

Did you even see the show? The Broadway/Theatre insider jokes were actually pretty subtle and I didn’t hear and whoops and hollers at the Meta theatre jokes. They were far worse in Prom.



"

I don't need to see the show to know that this show travels in those jokes, because what do you suppose people have been posting here?  Including the laughter at said meta jokes?  I understand if they're worse in The Prom but you seem to be missing my point, which is I'm done with that crap, truly.  I just find it hard to believe it's STILL going on - I would have thought that Something Rotten would have put the nail in the coffin, but apparently the coffin is still open.