Hey guys, I'm completing purchasing my tickets to the shows I'll be seeing on my trip to NYC May 28-June 1st. So far I've bought: On the Twentieth Century (because of KrisChen), Fun Home (because I adore the recording and Judy Kuhn) and An American in Paris (due to the stellar reviews).
I have two open slots in my schedule, and 4 or 5 shows I'm interested in: The Visit, Something Rotten, The King and I and On the Town (and maybe Gigi 'cause I love Victoria Clark). Help me decide! If you've seen many of them, which would you recommend? One of the shows I originally wanted to see was On the Town but now that AAIP is a hit I figured I would see that, and people have said they're similar (and I worry my boyfriend, who isn't musical-crazy, would get bored of seeing two that are dance-heavy). Any help would be terrific!
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
I have seen each of the shows on your list. On The Town was very, very disappointing to me. The music is good and the large orchestra is wonderful, but the book is absolutely dreadful. I felt that an American In Paris is very good, not great, but I enjoyed it much more than On The Town. Choose between On The Town and An American In Paris ... to me that is a very easy choice.
Of the specific shows you are considering for your last two slots, my two votes are most definitely for Something Rotten and the King and I. A fun, potential Tony winning new show and a beautiful, potential Tony winning classic.
The Visit was really hard for me .... hard for me to decide what to think. I saw it in March in its second preview performance and I still can't decide if I liked it, or disliked it. The person I was with thought it sucked. There were beautiful moments, and others that were not. I think I could hear dogs howling in the alley ways all throughout Midtown every time Roger Rees opened his mouth to groan .... oops, I mean sing.
Based on your comment about your boyfriend, please don't drag him to the Visit, An American In Paris and On The Town ..... he will dump you by intermission of the third show.
I'm interested in seeing The King and I and The Visit, because adding Chita and Kelli would be fabulous and (if one of the Fun Home ladies and Leanne Cope are nominated) I would be seeing each of the Best Actress nominees.
The thing about Something Rotten is I don't know much about its score. How are the songs? I need a good score when I see a musical.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
I have seen all of the shows on your list, except the King and I. I would strongly recommend Something Rotten. I think it has a good score as well as a very funny script. I enjoyed it so much, I bought a ticket the next day for my return trip this summer.
I would advise against The Visit. I was extremely disappointed. It was the least enjoyable show of the 13 I saw last month. I couldn't wait for it to end. I love Chita Rivera, but I wish I could have gotten the time back and gone to almost anything else.
I don't recommend On The Town. It has great music and dancing, but the book is terrible. I also thought some of the performances were lacking. An American In Paris is a much better bet.
I didn't think Gigi was that great. I love Victoria Clark and enjoyed Corey Cott very much. However, I would recommend it over OTT or The Visit.
Unexpectedly, I'd recommend FINDING NEVERLAND and ON THE TOWN as shows #4 and 5 if you're set on choosing a musical despite your boyfriend's avowed distaste. Both shows put huge smiles on my face and would have been my favorite nights of the season, had I not seen AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, and FUN HOME, which are both even more superb.
OOTT was a pretty good show with amazing performances by Kristen, Andy Karl and 4 tap-dancing porters. THE KING AND I is a must-see if you've never been to the show before. Otherwise, I'm mixed on the new revival; some of it is lovely, but little of it is revelatory. I'm a huge Kander and Ebb fan (I find SCOTTSBORO BOYS brilliant), but had no love for THE VISIT, nor even for Chita's performance frankly. SOMETHING ROTTEN is still on my list to see.
Have you already seen CURIOUS INCIDENT...? Dazzling production for you, with no pesky musical numbers to piss off the bf.
Ive heard really great things about OTTC and Finding Neverland. If you download the Today tix app and use code RSDSI you can get $20 off your first purchase.
As for the second show, I would recommend either The Visit or Finding Neverland, whichever one looks like it would suit you and your boyfriend's tastes more.
The King and I (a classic gem) and Finding Neverland (which is much more enjoyable and charming than reviews would indicate and for a non-theater goer much more appealing).
I also very much enjoyed Something Rotten but for me, part of the fun was catching all the inside jokes that refer to a gazillion other musicals. If you don't know those musicals, some of the fun might be lost.
I think Something Rotten would be a good choice, because even if he may not be into the musical/Shakespeare references, the overall fun of the show could be enough for him to enjoy it.
On The Town is certainly dance-heavy but I think it is also a very light and fun evening at the Theatre and a very good representation of a show that may be flawed but was a good relic of the past.
With the reviews, The King and I is also a strong consideration although I am not seeing it until late May.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
Go see The Visit. Seriously. I can't guarantee that you're going to love it, but you really shouldn't miss the opportunity to see a brand new Kander and Ebb show with the legendary Chita Rivera in what will possibly be her last Broadway performance. Even if you don't like it (I personally thought it was incredible), it's worth seeing.
The visit might be the weirdest show I have ever seen. I wanted to love it, but just couldn't get on board. If your boyfriend isn't into musicals, I don't think a dark conceptual musical is the right choice. I'm glad I didn't take mine to this one.
My Music Classroom Giving Page: https://www.donorschoose.org/MrHMusicRoom
I haven't met a person who said they liked The Visit yet, but I haven't seen it yet. I think On The Town is a must. Don't miss it. I also loved Gigi as I said and Something Rotten was great fun. I say close your eyes and go with your gut. No one on here can guess what you're going to enjoy or not enjoy. Don't let critics influence what you feel! That's all.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
I'm happy that he's been going to see musicals more with me lately; in the last 2 months we've seen Anything Goes on tour, Once On This Island at the Meadowbrook and She Loves Me...I just remembered he liked Once On This Island best out of all three. He's a deep and thoughtful person, he just isn't in love with musicals like me.
also, juice23: where did you take that photo with Kelli? I want one.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."