Times they are a.....FIRST PREVIEW REVIEW- Page 2

[rent18]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:54pm

Hey sorry I am back

Ok the sets were interesting, kind of minimal and almost reminiscant of RENT. CML was not good, not aweful, but not good. And yeah, Michael was kinda boring, but his voice is amazing. The Lighting is amazing, absolutly beautiful. The show only runs 1 hr 30 min with no intermission. The songs I can remember are Mr. tamborine man, forever young, times they are a changin, rollin stone, lay lady lay, mrs. henry, dignity, knockin on heavens door, serve someone. I can't remember the rest.

If you can get cheap ticks...go for it! Other then that, get the soundtrack if it comes out and enjoy Michael Arden's voice in your own living room for free.

[Unknown User]

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

well, if you get the "CAST RECORDING" then it wouldn't be free now, would it?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/26/06 at 11:15pm

just saw it tonight, pretty much agree with rent18.

i don't know dylan's work at all, but the show made me a fan, and appreciate the strong lyricist everyone says he is.

arden sings it beautifully, i think the boring notices being thrown out come from not really having a notable character of any sort. manuel was fine, i think her problem is she's stuck with awful contexts to sing the song, so it might be hard to connect the lyric with the story. sesma was fine as well, didn't really care for his character or why (it seems) we're suddenly supposed to care for him at the end.

orchestrations were really good, and the design elements are really great. fun to watch and listen to...one exception. the end features a moment that will probably make most people think of CATS, you'll have to see it to see what i mean.

if you didn't know the plot going in, you wouldn't know what the hell is going on, and that's a big problem. otherwise, it's just a bunch of people jumping around. (although i will say, i actually enjoyed the choreography here better than movin' out).

main problem i had is what i had with movin' out...hated that you could tell there were some really interesting things being sung, and you were just continually distracted by the dancing and the scenic elements - with this show, it's worse. i mean, there are people dancing on the trampolines over the pit and we're supposed to be following the lyrics?!

didn't go in with any expectactions and didn't leave with a memorable moment, really. some performances maybe we're strong, but too striking, but that's about it. otherwise just a whole lot of things to distract you from figuring out what was going on.

bob dylan and michael arden fans, i saw wait for the cast album.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 12:20am

OH I FORGOT!

It seemed to be three curtain calls in a row - a dancing solo call, a group curtain call with a final tableu (with a curtain close), then solo spots through the slots in the curtain and a final "real" bow.

By time the final curtain call happened, half the audience was gone. Probably the dumbest curtain call ever.

[feinstein9]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 2:21am

it shall be interesting to see if the dylan fans are turned off from it and the non-dylan fans are more into it. that seemed to be a bit of what happened with lennon. hard core fans don't really like hearing other people singing their artists songs with completly different arrangements. when i heard "blowin in the wind" at bway on bway, all though it *sounded* good, i was kind of irritated because i wanted to hear BOB! it's not like the covers the byrds, joan baez, simon & garfunkel, and joan collins do, which are versions i like... broadway-tized versions of folk/folk-rock songs just doesn't sound that appealing to me. any other dylan fans wanna sound-off?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 9:06am

everythingtaboo, it's an extremely ridiculous curtain call.

As is much of the show itself.

Poor, poor Twyla. And poor Michael, who's pouring his heart and soul into it and singing just as beautiful as ever.

I must say this: Lisa Brescia is being robbed. How could a lady with that voice be standby to.... that disaster? (Caryn)

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 10:18am

Damn.

I was hoping it would still be on TDF today...but I guess it's dissappeared now.

Pity.

[jennafan]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 10:55am

What does TDF mean?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 10:57am

theatre development fund

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:44am

It's on tdf for Thurs, Fri, Sat @ 2, Mon and Tues!

Just got my tickets for this Friday night at 8pm!

[kikki327]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:45am

How big of a role does John Selya have? Is he on for most of the show? Does he sing too, or just dance? Thanks.

[rent18]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 12:23pm

Curtain Call = aweful


John Seyla unfortunatly blends into the ensemble for most of the show, but his ensemble character does have a bigger part later on in the show. He does sing, but I don't recall if he has any solos. I wanted to see him dance MUCH more!!!!!

[jennafan]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:22pm

I saw the show in San Diego and I hated the whole circus theme of it. I loved the dancing, but the concept was terrible.

There could have been a thousand different story lines better than a traveling circus. I was hoping Tharp would completely change the story line before going to broadway. I don't know if that's ever happened though.

*** Some spoilers ahead ***

Personally, I think there should have been a 'dancer' as one of the leads. In my opinion, the show should have focused on Captain Arab and his two sons, Arden and Seyla. One of them could either want to join the circus or become a dancer (John Seyla). The other son could play the rebel (Arden) wanting to be with his girlfriend (who would have a much smaller part than Cleo does now).

With a storyline like that, the audience would see a lot more dancing numbers (since it would be establised one of the main characters wants to be a dancer). I also think it would be a good story line between a father and his two sons that are trying to rebel (in different ways).

I do think words should be spoken too, I mean the show is only 90 minutes and a lot of people watching have no idea whats going on.

[Hank]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 3:16pm

re: "any other dylan fans wanna sound off".
I thought this was a dumb concept for a Broadway musical to begin with. "Dylan fans are turned off and non-Dylan fans are more into it" sounds about right.
Bob Dylan is a genius, and his works shall be heard for as long as human society survives, but as a Broadway musical, I just don't know.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 3:19pm

I want to see this... but I REALLY want to see Lisa go on. I guess the best I can do is hound around and wait to see if I hear anything in that direction.

Saw Woman in White for Lisa... and will see this for Lisa too if that ever happens.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 3:32pm

If I know Lisa will be going on as the lead, I will definitely see it a second time! Lisa is an incredible performer.

[jennafan]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 12:39am

I saw Lisa in the Woman in White, she was amazing. I would also love to see her go on as the lead.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 1:05am

You can't look at this show as a Usual Musical.
Twyla is trying to expand her Art and present
Song and Dance in a new vein.
Not everyone may understand.
Hell, She might not understand.
But she is trying to do something different.
Arden and Sesma are brilliant,
so many people want more dance
but Twyla is branching out and experimenting
with character and movement.
Just go sit back and try to enjoy and
see what you want to see.
The Mr. Tambourine segment alone is worth the trip.
Arden's voice and Neshyba-Hodges beautiful Dancing
are a perfect match.
just my opinion.

Updated On: 9/30/06 at 01:05 AM

[jennafan]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 1:14am

I agree with you completely. However, I think a lot of people are turned off by the whole 'circus' concept. It IS different, but Tharp is known for her dancing and I would have just liked to see a dancer as one of the leads. I think it would have told a story a bit better.

[erica23]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 1:22am

I really liked it... Visually I thought it was stunning. The lighting was really amazing and the ensemble is so talented. I think the story needs a litte more clarification, but I will recommend this to everyone just to see the beautiful picture the cast and crew create. I thought Arden's voice was amazing too... I think that Twyla just needs to clear up a few things. One of the most unique theatrical experiences I have ever experienced.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 1:25am

I was there tonight...will post my thoughts soon.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 1:38am

Twyla picked up on many of Dylan's Circus lyrics.
and She went from there.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 9/30/06 at 2:18am

Honestly, if you're a big Michael Arden fan but not too excited for the show itself, GO.

Michael Arden has so much stage time, and so many incredible songs to sing, that it is worth it, and you will definitely get your money's worth.