The Frogs

Take a look on ATC...there is one report that was good and one scathing one from someone who liked Bombay Dreams but didn't like The Frogs...so you make your own decision about that one.

There are also posts farther down from the Invitation Only Dress Rehearsal.

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I doubt I'd take into consideration a review from someone who loved Bombay Dreams and hated The Frogs...you simply can't compare the two styles at all.

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the more ridiculous. Based on one or two ATCrs who saw the show on the first night of Previews or for dress rehearsal, some people are now decrying the downfall of this show and that it will fail.

Can we put this in perspective and realize that this is 1-2 people out of a lot of people who saw it AND that it is the first night of previews? That's what previews are FOR is to tweak the show in front of an audience. If you don't want to be in on the testing ground...DON'T buy tickets to a preview performance. There was also a suggestion that many people don't realize they are buying preview tickets. Well, hey, there's no accounting for stupidity, is there?

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I've seen previews before and it's not like you're getting a crap show or anything. I mean, people need to know what they're going into but I've noticed with a lot of things people just don't pay attention.

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bythesword84: I agree that you aren't getting a crappy show. If it's in previews, it has at least gone through the prequisite rehearsal time and audiences that see previews (in my opinion) get to be in on the creative process and watch the show forming, but not everyone GETS that. If they don't want to see a work in progress, they should wait to see the show until it has officially opened and just pay the higher price for the ticket.

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It's "All That Chat". It's part of Talkin' Broadway. This is the link.

All That Chat

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Well, previews USED to cost less than regular performances after the opening. Broadway producers did away with that practice several years ago (with an occasional exception) so now tickets cost the same whether you're seeing a very rough work-in-progress at a first preview, that may or may not be ready for a paying audience, or whether you're seeing the "finished product" two months after opening. The top ticket price for "The Frogs" right now the night of the second preview is $95, the exact same price as an orchestra seat for the show for closing night in October. There is a discount out there for previews (only for seats in the loge) that expires by opening night, but obviously not everybody knows about that.

Is it fair for producers to present an unfinished product to the public, but charge full price and make no effort to inform paying customers about the nature of what they are seeing (so that they can decide whether they would prefer to see a later performance)? Well, I don't think so, especially in the case of a new show that didn't have the benefit of an out-of-town tryout like "The Frogs" or a play like "Match" that opened cold on Broadway a few months ago and not only was still being rewritten in previews, but had replaced the lead actress very shortly before previews began, so that those who paid full price for one of those early performances witnessed poor last-minute-replacement Jane Adams frequently having to call for lines from the stage manager in front of an audience full of paying customers. One could hardly call that a professional Broadway performance that was worth $85 -- but the producers got their money and they could clearly give a damn whether they were presenting a quality show for that $85.

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Updated On: 6/23/04 at 08:42 PM

Why not come to your own conclusions instead of depending on received (and suspect) opinion?

Then see it and come to your own conclusions.

DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS OF THE SHOW:


Without giving away any of the really new and different stuff..here's the rough overview.

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The Frogs is loosely based on the ancient play written by Aristophanes. This version (and the original performed in 1974) chronicles the pursuit of Dionysis (and involves other greek gods along the way) to go to Hades and bring back one of the many authors/poets to get the world back on track using their eloquence and intellect.

Along the way, Dionysis meets and interacts with Frogs (in this version...quite LIVELY frogs) and gatekeepers and takes his slave along for the ride. It is meant to be biting, political, fast and schticky and the Sondheim music is NOT typical Sondheim and is complete with Greek Chorus. Not your usual Broadway fare.

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In that there are some, as in your example of someone calling for lines, that these PREVIEW events can be abused.

A reading or workshop is one thing and can be as rough as actors walking around on stage with books, or just sitting and reading...but a preview should be SOMEWHAT put together. In the case of the Frogs...all reports indicate that the show is up and running and while I'm sure they will make changes to it...there are no edges that are so rough that people are losing their place or acting like they are in rehearsal.

The practice of charging full value or nearly full value is one that has gained popularity in the past few years and I don't like it either. Frogs is (or was in early sales) selling preview seats at $5.00 less than after opening, but that's not much. However...that's the state of the art on Broadway right now and my advice to anyone who doesn't take pleasure in seeing the work in progress and then going back to see the final version...should stay away if they are going to feel robbed by not seeing a final product.

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Re: Previews

Dracula has lower prices for its previews ($61.25 for previews, $101.25 after previews). Some sites say it is a "special discount", but the full price was always lower from the beginning. So some producers still believe in the practice of charging less before opening.

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