If/Then vs. Bullets- Page 2

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 2:20am

So we should be grateful that we are even able to get in the theater and see 20% of the show rather than disappointed we couldn't see 80% of it? Well, that's certainly one way of looking at it.

Again, I don't think people expect rush tickets to be great seats, they understand you get what you pay for but there's obstructed which might mean you miss a few minutes of action at the corners and sides of the stage and then there is "holy crap I can't see a freakin' thing" which is beyond obstructed. Big difference.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 2:29am

I sat in the second row of the orchestra at full price, and had no issue, so I'm unclear how moving up one row would make the show so obstructed, as I didn't miss anything one row back. The stage was a bit high, but I certainly didn't have an experience anything like the one being described here. I'd've gladly moved up one row for $100 less.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 2:48am

I rushed this show this past weekend, and got a front row seat as well. Yeah, my neck hurt because I had to look straight up but in no way was it obstructed. I enjoyed it quite a bit and could see everything.

"They don't have to offer any kind of discount tickets"

EXACTLY!

[delongpre]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 6:45pm

"I sat in the second row of the orchestra at full price, and had no issue, so I'm unclear how moving up one row would make the show so obstructed, as I didn't miss anything one row back. The stage was a bit high, but I certainly didn't have an experience anything like the one being described here. I'd've gladly moved up one row for $100 less."

The LIP of the stage hangs over your feet if you sit in the front row. If you bend down to get your purse you are in danger of hitting your head on the bottom of the stage lip if you come up too fast. If you stand at your seat your chest touches the extension of the stage. If you want to look at the math and the trajectories to note the difference in viewing angle from the front row and the second row, I will gladly show you. In the second row you were at least two feet from the lip of the stage whereas I was UNDER the edge and had NO chance of seeing anyone's feet or knees unless they were hanging over the edge of the stage. Since the extension was not straight across, there were some first row seats that were better than others. And needless to say, If you are 6ft tall you will have a better view than someone who is 5'3. And like I said, I have enjoyed first row before but this was just impossible. A senior couple got up and left before the show started. The guy to my left fell asleep, bored because he couldn't see anything. Go check out the seats before you judge my complaint. Rush is to allow cheaper tickets for "cheaper" seats but this was like being robbed.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 7:05pm

I did check them out, as I already stated. It wasn't obstructed. We aren't judging your complaints.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 8:07pm

"I did check them out, as I already stated."

You stated you rushed and got a front row seat which would mean you sat there for the entire show. In this post you "checked them out" which doesn't mean that's where you actually sat. Did you actually sit there for the whole show or briefly walked up there prior to the show to check the view and then returned to your seat elsewhere?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 8:31pm

Yes, I rushed and sat there for the entire show, I was simply quoting the poster above. It's so weird you're defending one person's post, like it's fact.

[rjm516]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 8:46pm

I got to Bullets b.o. at 9:20 on Saturday and got the aisle of the center row. I think the view gets worse as you go towards the middle. The aisle, though still bad, wasn't horrendous. I also got 2 cushions from coat check and told everyone in the first two rows to go get them as well (they were super grateful, especially the people in the 2nd row who paid $150 and still couldn't see. That's ****ty).

Are they still doing If/Then lotto loser tickets? And if so is there a mad rush to the ticket window or should you be in line already for that?

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 12:35am

"It's so weird you're defending one person's post, like it's fact."

I haven't seen the seats so I don't know one way or the other. What I was really defending is the concept that if you truly can't see most of the show, then even at $35 they are a lousy deal and really shouldn't be sold. I did find it very curious that if you sat there over the weekend yourself and had direct information, you didn't mention that in your first response which is where I would think you would naturally bring it up that you sat there too and saw everything fine instead of bringing it up later, but then I find a lot of things in life "curious". That's just me.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 12:46am

My first comment was a general one about people feeling entitled to good seats when they rush. The conversation kept continuing about it, so I decided to share my experience with Bullets and the front row, a few hours later. Nothing particularly "curious" about that.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 2:07am

Actually unless I missed or misread something, delongpre did not at any time express any sort of belief he was entitled to good seats, he just expressed frustration that most of his view was completely obscured and he genuinely couldn't see most of the show. I'm sure he would have been happy with a balcony seat as long as he could see the stage. A second poster confirmed there are issues with those seats as well, some worse than others. You decided to turn it into a discussion about how inappropriate it was for people to complain and feel entitled to great seats for rush prices when that's not the point he was making at all. Just sayin'.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 9:22am

"Actually unless I missed or misread something..."

I think you misread that delongpre is a male, unless he is a short dude that travels with a purse, which I suppose is an option.

[Fishcake]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 12:15pm

If/Then is pretty awful, I'm very surprised to see some positive response here. I went with my wife and daughter, both experienced theater goers and we all came very close to leaving at intermission, something we have never done. Bullets is entertaining, nothing earth shattering, but if it's between paying full price for If/Then & discounted Bullets I think Bullets is the easy choice

[MVintheheartland]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 1:15pm

I have seen both, "Bullets" is fun, sort of mind-rot musical theater, but with a very strange finale. If/Then was just too hard to follow, and the characters were hard to identify with or cheer for. After a while, I just thought, "Oh, Liz/Beth, I don't really give a **** what you end up doing". SO I would go for "Bullets".

Just an FYI, the seats in the ST. James Theater (anyway, row P orchestra) were pure torture, no leg room at all, and I have short legs.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 1:43pm

"If/Then was just too hard to follow, and the characters were hard to identify with or cheer for. After a while, I just thought, "Oh, Liz/Beth, I don't really give a **** what you end up doing".

^^^^ THIS FOR DAYS!

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 3:36pm

If/Then did change a lot in previews, so depending on when you saw it, it isn't necessarily fair to call it confusing. They changed the opening number a lot from DC to previews to opening. You can still not like the show, obviously, but it doesn't seem slightly off to complain about something that is no longer part of the show.

Also, she didn't end up doing either. She did both. It wasn't a fantasy about which one to pick, but then... you did say you didn't understand it already, heh.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 3:40pm

Thanks haterobics, I'm glad I'm not crazy. I had zero problems following anything about the story. Between the lighting, the name, the glasses and the references made in each track, it took minimal effort to understand what was going on.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 3:47pm

I did see all three versions (which is vastly simplifying things, since there were changes happening constantly throughout DC and previews), and they did a lot of work to clarify things for the audience, so it was a fair critique at a specific moment in time... but I don't think the narratives are as confusing anymore.

It would be like saying you don't like a song that was removed in previews, what would be the point?

Now, people can still dislike the show, not care about the story, etc., but that's a separate issue entirely.

[Everlast85]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 3:49pm

I saw it the first week in D.C. I wasn't drunk, high, and I'm not a stupid guy. But, I was lost and confused several times throughout the show. I'm glad to know they made it a lot clearer.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 3:53pm

I completely agree. I saw the show in DC and there were individual moments where it took a a minute or so to realize which story you were in. The work done to rectify that confusion is truly a testament to the creators.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 4:14pm

I saw the first preview in NYC, and was confused several times, throughout the show. I'm glad they made it clearer for the audience, I know it wasn't just me because people around me kept asking what was going on.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 5/13/14 at 5:01pm

We saw If/Then 3 weeks ago, and really enjoyed the challenge of tracking the parallel stories. I already was familiar with the conceit having read up on the show here at BWW. But my husband came in to the show cold, and though he's a damn smart guy, he literally missed the fact that there were 2 separate tracks to follow till the final scene of Act I when they collide in the same space on the rooftop.

And no, I wouldn't say that the creators had made the 2 tracks absolutely crystal clear throughout, and I'm happy that they didn't. Thank goodness there's still at least one musical on Broadway that challenges the audience to piece things together on their own.

[broadfan327]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 1:34pm

If you seat is so bad, I would go find the house manager at intermission and ask for another seat. I did this once because two women next to me were rudely talking throughout and they found me another seat with no problem.

I saw If/Then post opening and I understood everything fine, and I normally have issues following a story, but two women behind me were audibly confused while watching it.