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

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.

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.

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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?

Damn.

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

Pity.

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theatre development fund

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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