The View Upstairs? — Page 2

At 105 minutes with no intermission, it feels long. I’d rather have had three less songs and 15 minutes off the runtime.

But eliminating the modern-day surrogate would result in an entirely different show. TVU is as much about the push-and-pull of confronting changing times and what particles of our past – both personal and communal – we accumulate and shed on our journeys as it is about the crew of the UpStairs Lounge.

So, sure, you could theoretically cut that character and be left with a “day in the life” 1970s story. But I thought the time-travel/hallucination device which allows for that added layer to be one of the show’s biggest strengths, ham-fistedly executed tho it be.

This show deserves a lot more buzz. I just caught this with the ongoing 20at20.

It starts off a bit slow but it didn't take long for me to be charmed. It features a highly pleasant pop score sung by extremely talented performers that I'd love to listen to again.

The show is lovely and intimate, and never felt over-the-top. It was sweet and funny, sad and poignant (without being pedantic), and generally entertaining. I was engaged, the characters were interesting, and the main character really endeared to me by the end of the show. They do a great job of transporting you to that bar, and make you feel like you're one of its patrons. At some point, I had forgotten that the doors to the lobby were not actually doors to go downstairs. Plus the lighting guy was on point!

And complete non sequitur but, I just have to say, the guy who plays Patrick is super cute; it's like they found the perfect person to play that role, and his voice was damn good. Would love to see more of him.

You have one more week to enjoy this for $20 with 20at20, it's an absolute steal. Definitely go give it some love and support!

So glad there's something to memorialize it. It's closing on May 21

Time's a wastin' if anyone was planning to go see it, go now! $25 student rush and $30 general rush.

Was hoping it'd play till June cuz I think a Pride Playbill for this show would have been so cool to have.

@mpkie Oh, a pride Playbill for this show would be great.

I would love it if they just recorded Nathan Lee Graham's monologue. Why not? Everyone else seems to get their own song to establish their characters. And it's worth the price of admission alone.

Finally seeing it tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

Was there last night as well! We were moved to the onstage seating and had a great time. While this is a clear cut case of a gimmick elevating the material, there was some wonderful stuff in here--notably Graham's performance and some of the songs. The plot is ridiculous, but its very well intentioned, and the composer, while not a strong librettist, has a bright future ahead of him as a composer/lyricist.



Indeed, there were three understudies on tonight, and I have to applaud April Ortiz for going on--and killing it--as Richard, the pastor character. I had no idea that it was written for a man until after we got the programs at the end. Thought it worked surprisingly well and thought she was great! I know that once during the run of Jerome Robbins' Broadway, a male understudy went on as Peter Pan--any other instances where the understudy or swing went on for a character normally played by the opposite sex? Seems rare.

I didn't realize they had a 6pm performance so my friend and I managed to get last minute tickets to this show. I had wanted to see this during Pride month but once I heard it's closing next weekend two days ago, I made it a priority to see this.

WOW! I agree for those interested in experiencing a glimpse of LGBT history, come see this show. I know Jeremy Pope is from Orlando, FL and I'd imagine he'd think this as similar to what happened at Pulse in Orlando almost a year ago. I think he grew into his role as the evening progressed.

I had no idea there were 3 understudies until after I got the playbill at the end. Wow! I loved Ortiz and Alfaro!!!!!!! Kudoes to them! Also, I didnt' know Taylor Frey was part of the cast (he's Kyle Dean Massey's husband.) Taylor was great too. Overall I had a great time and am glad I saw this show.

Heck I had no idea Burt Reynolds was a sex symbol back in the 70s!

Wicked3, I agree that he grew into the role as the evening went on. I also founf him vocally better was he was singing with the cast.

And yes, burt Reynolds was a sex symbol back in the 70's. I think he did a Playgirl centerfold.

Based on the show description I guess I had expected a mpre mature acting charater in Wes.

I didn’t care for the show as much as you did, uncageg, but the Jeremy Pope performance you describe sounds very much like the performance I saw two months ago. While the book doesn’t exactly give him a ton to build a character from (first he’s required to react; then he’s required to emote), I don’t think Pope is up to snuff acting-wise or vocally here. Or: if he has notable talent, this material doesn't allow him to display it.

And I’m with you, Kad. The conceit is good one, but it ultimately weighs far too heavily in favor of a “These dang kids today” mentality. The two sides, as it were, are not on equal footing. As the show has it, Wes – i.e., his generation – has much to learn but very little to contribute.

Updated On: 5/15/17 at 02:47 PM

Kad, that is where I think they need to work on the book. A lot of the future references were not needed. It could have focused more on what the gay community specifically would go through in the coming years. But it was a nice peek into the gay community at the time.

themysteriousgrowl, I do think there is talent there, at least vocally, with Mr. Pope. There were moments it peeked through. I kept thinking this score was not the perfect fit with his vocal abilities.

Still and all, I am so glad I saw it. I left feeling a bit nostalgic. I have heard that there are some future plans for the show after doing some work on it. I would definetly see it again. Even with its flaws I fell in love with all of the characters. Everyone around Mr. Pope had great chemistry together. I am still laughing at the moment during the song Wes sings near the end where the cast says what they say to him in unison!

Vintage, I kind of understood Patrick's upset. Back then there were nowhere near as many gay bars asnthere are now. They were a special place. I suppose he was thinking more about legacy and having a place for gay people to comgregate.Even though Wes tells them about some things to come, Patrick was still in the 70's. Back then we were not that optimistic that things would advance the way they have in the gay community.

broadwaygirl89 said: "For those of you who have rushed this, what time did you get to the theater? Do you think getting there the hour before curtain is fine or have people been lining up beforehand?"

I showed up at 9:59 for a 10p Saturday show, the box office guy ran and told them to hold the show a minute, then came back and sold me a ticket, there were a lot of empty seats... a bit atypical.