just back from Lennon...- Page 2

[thisdude]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 12:31pm

2 things:
First off, the show had a good chance by skipping Boston to do a major overhaul. If it's not where it needs to be by now, it will never be. That is the sad reality.

Second--Please don't blame the producers for what's going on. I heard through an anonymous reliable source that Tracy Ullman constantly argued with the creatives about the lack of quality of the show. One person told me that they heard her yelling about how it's "not the bloody Yoko Ono show." I place most of the blame on the stubborn director/writer, but that is more of a personal opinion.

[overthemoon419]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 3:16pm

touchmeinthemorning, i read your posts at least five times and i STILL don't see where, before your last one, you said that the musical structure was predictable, not the story line. and my question to you is, what did you want to hear if not ballads after his death and inspirational songs before intermission? a hard rock song during the mourning period, a sullen rant before intermission, and ballads to open the show? the musical structure mimics the emotion of the story as well as the structure of the show itself--e.g., the song before intermission ideally leaves the audience wanting more (like "cant help falling in love" does for ASU), and then they are welcomed with act II. as for ballads after a death, i don't think that choice really needs any explanation. if a more upbeat song had been placed there, i bet you'd probably be in line to claim disrespect for john's passing, i know i would. don't knock a structure that's satisfying, appropriate, and proven to work, please.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 3:22pm

My problem with the structure of the story/song style of this show is that it is so old that it doesn't fit the experimental nature not only of this show, but of John's life. Throwing a tear-jerking song after his death that is sung by Yoko didn't make me feel anything -- because she was not in a setting, she was commenting -- which removed me from the plot, and removed me from the potential effect of that moment.

Lennon was never into convention, and his show shouldn't be either. Especially convention that is "proven" to work so often that it, in fact, doesn't work anymore because it is cliche.

Again, I WANT this show to do well, and it just isn't theree yet.

The easy fix is this: PLAY...be EXPERIMENTAL...the show should LIVE on that edge between theatre and political commentary. Right now, it has a political soundbyte "stop the war" and nothing more. If the producers and creative team on thiis one want something memorable, they need a HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE overhaul of the show...they can't rely on the emotion associated with lennon to take them everywhere they need to go.

[justme2]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 5:49pm

"The easy fix is this: PLAY...be EXPERIMENTAL...the show should LIVE on that edge between theatre and political commentary."

It sounds like what we saw in SF is closer to what you want in NY!! Maybe they have taken too much of the original concept out?

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 7:38pm

tough to be edgy when the show has its head up yoko's butt.