Times they are a.....FIRST PREVIEW REVIEW

[rent18]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 11:05pm

WARNING SPOILERS*****

Ok so I saw the first preview of TTAAC tonight and I was impressed. I expected not to like it, but it was fun and engaging the whole way through. Michal Arden was FANTASTIC! I was all the way up in the Mezz and I could hear him loud and clear. Caren and Thom were also good, Caren was maybe the weaker of the 3. The ensemble is amaizing, almost all of them were from Movin Out so their dance skills were perfection.

SPOILERS!!

So the show moves from song to song with no spoken lines in between. At first it feels a little clunky, but soon it becomes smooth and natural. My favorite scenes were "Rollin Stone" , "Tambourine Man", and "Knockin on HEavens Door". I am nt a fan of Dylan music AT ALL, but hearing these songs sag by the cast really was enjoyable. I thought the dancing/acrobatics were fun, but there could have been more of them.


Overall the show is fun, has some heart, and is basiclly a fun hour and a half at the theater. I would have liked more dancing, but not every Twyla Tharp musical can be as good as Movin Out.

[rent18]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 9:58am

BUMP

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:00am

Could you please post the musical numbers? Thanks!

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:03am

thanks for the mini-review

i didnt expect so much positive buzz on this, so now i might consider seeing it

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:07am

So bascially, it sucks?

[ruprecht]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:24am

That's interesting to hear. I had many friends go last night, I think they were heavily papering and they said it was nothing short of a disaster, which makes me salivate with anticipation. Again, this is all second hand info, but I heard the only thing it's got going for it is the dancing and acrobatics and that CLM was really bad. I didn't hear anything bad about Michael Arden other than he was boring. I will post a "review" when I see it for myself.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:26am

Twyla's a smart woman. She transformed a doomed MOVIN' OUT into a smash hit, so maybe she can work her magic here too.

But I guess lightning doesn't strike twice...

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:28am

they said CLM was really bad?
that is dissappointing to hear... her looks make up for it though

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:31am

Instead of heavily papering, the producers should put the show on tdf!!! (sorry, i've been checking like every half hour for days now...so annoying!)

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:35am

I'll withhold judgement till I see it for myself but Manuel is going to have to be more than just "pretty" to cut it esp singing Dylan.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:36am

I can't wait to see it...I'm just afraid it's going to suck.

And after last year's suck-overload, I don't know how much more bad theatre I can tolerate.

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:49am

Didn't it get pretty good notices before?

[mint0621]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 11:01am

I've seen it and it is nothing short of a disaster. I am a big Dylan fan, as well... and a bit Twyla fan (of her choreography). And I love love love Thom Sesma & Michael Arden.

I saw in San Diego, and was hoping it would be heavily improved, but apparently, that's what everyone is now saying in the previews on Broadway...which tells me it may not have improved as much as hoped.

When I saw the show (in San Diego), the show was all about style. It had great style, a circus freak style, and in the beginning, it was lovely. The depression, the dark, circus atmosphere really showed off Dylan's music. However, as the show went on, you realize that that's all there is. The show is very disjointed, and it is too literal...art should be abstract, but when they are acting "stoned" when the lyrics say that they are stoned, with no explanation why or how this drug fest came about...it's just odd. No plot really. The dancing is disappointing; not so much dancing as expected from a Twyla show. Again, I saw the show before they added John SElya, so I hope they were able to incorporate more dancing in the show.

I'm still willing to see it again to see Caren Lyn Manuel & to see the fabulous performers on stage again, if they offer student or rush discount tickets. But don't go in there with high expectations...enjoy it for the talent and style the show brings.

I hate being so negative about a new show, but that's just my opinion. I personally loved Michael Arden's rendition of "Blowing in the Wind", but avid Dylan fans may dislike the new rendition.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 11:03am

Any clue on a rush policy?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 11:21am

I think I heard they're going to have a lotto, but I'm not sure.

[mabel]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 11:41am

While it's still only the first preview, it's disappointing to see that the general consensus is pretty negative. I didn't really read the reviews from San Diego, but I was under the impression that it was interesting, albeit flawed, and that Twyla was totally revamping, giving a lot of hope for major improvements for the Broadway move. Hopefully things will continue coming together over the next couple weeks, but it doesn't sound promising, does it??

And what's with all the lottos lately? I want rush, dammit. If a person's willing to camp out an obscene amount of time to guarantee tickets, them more power to 'em, I say!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 11:54am

So how are the tech aspects? Sets? Show Curtain?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 12:02pm

I was told "maybe lotto" last week. They still don't know.

Truth be told, even a "maybe" is better than a certain show's "oh, don't expect rush for 2 years" and a 6 person SRO policy.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 12:05pm

I think I'm going to bite the bullet and pay $56.25 with the discount code...these policies should be determined BEFORE previews begin!

And I totally agree with you, YankeeFan, the 6 person SRO is ridiculous!!!

[folkyboy]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 4:10pm

i just hope it'll last until November so i can see it before it's gone :)

[bjh2114]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 4:23pm

I'm seeing it Friday. I'll post some stuff in response to rent18 then.
-BJH

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 4:46pm

I believe its on TDF now.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 4:48pm

It is...just for tomorrow afternoon and evening.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 6:34pm

I'm not that interested in the show, but I just want to go for Michael Arden.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:30pm

I saw it tonight. For me, Michael Arden and THE contortionist (if you've seen it, I am pretty sure you know who I'm talking about) were the highlights of the show. I wasn't crazy about it, but maybe it's just not my cup of tea.

Though, there were ensemble members out of costume roaming around the mezzanine. That was pretty cool. Well, not wandering, but not on stage. lol.