GHOST the Musical - Preview Thread- Page 5

[swoboda]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 12:57am

I sat in the front row orchestra tonight via the ticket lottery. NOT a great location to appreciate all the special effects? The city panoramas, disappearing characters, lighting visuals, screens, scrims, etc. were kinda difficult to put into a coherent context. Unless you're fascinated by actually seeing the nuts and bolts of how theater "magic" is created, I would not reccomend these seats despite the low price. Rear mezz would have been much better....live and learn.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 9:26am

This show is deadly to anyone who likes to think.

The theme park special effects are there to hide the awful book (a simple-minded re-hash of the film, nothing more) and the dreary "score." (It's not really a score, just a bunch of simple pop songs that have little to do with anything happening in the show).

That said, it could make a million a week like the similarly brain-dead Spider-Man. Audiences seem to go gaga for stupidity. (Although at the performance I saw, the whooping was only coming from the shills in the back of the house, the rest of the audience only applauded politely for most of the numbers.)

All flash, no substance.

Updated On: 4/18/12 at 09:26 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 9:29am

Let's hear it for the brain dead!

[DAME]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 9:31am

Sounds like you just want to put people down that enjoy something you didn't.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 9:43am

There are some Sensitive Susans on the board today...

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 10:01am

^ Oh please. You're just too much to pass up.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 10:05am

You're still only getting points for the hat, Jane.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 10:09am

Now THAT I like!

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 12:51am

Well add me to the list of brainless then. And everyone else that was in my group on Tuesday night.
This show is fantastic IMO. By the end of it, not only were people crying...but they were SOBBING. Like legit, ugly face, snot oozing sobbing. This show does strike a nerve with people. And the fact that its filled with great songs (2 iffy ones though) and a solid book with amazing effects will make make a lot of people fall in love with it.
BTW, Caissie and Richard are amazing. Nuff said.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 1:15am

While not necessarily agreeing, I can buy that there could be an argument that it's not a proper "score" but merely a string of pop songs. Ok, whatev. But the mind boggles to then suggest that the songs have little to do with what's happening in the show. I'm still not sure what I think of the score, and it definitely has some pop/generic lyrics, but I had no trouble understanding all the plot and action merely from first listening to the recording--and no, I've never seen the movie. It's just an argument I can't even comprehend.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 9:06am

I can elaborate on that, Eric. First, it's very difficult to understand many lyrics because a) the band (or orchestra, if you prefer; to me it's so heavily synthed and amplified, it sounds more like a band) is often louder than the singers, and b) the singers are braying at the utmost top of their ranges, necessitating some strange diction in order to hit the notes.

When one can understand the lyrics, they seem generic or relatively meaningless - as in the opening number "Here Right Now," which consists mostly of those three words, or the supposed 11:00 number, "I'm Outta Here," which also seems to be primarily comprised of its title words.

The songs also don't advance the show, they generally actually halt it; for instance, in Act II, as the action (such as it is) is rolling towards the climax, the show suddenly stops to give us yet another glacially-paced ballad, "Nothing Stops Another Day," which only seems to exist to give Caissie Levy her fair share of stage time - the sentiments expressed in the song (such as I could understand) have already been expressed before in the show.

This is why I identify it less as a "score" than a string of pop songs - the songs don't do anything to inform us of character or advance the story, instead they halt the show primarily (it seems) to showcase the singers' prowess (much like an oratorio).

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 9:45am

Saw the show last night - a Wednesday night. Back of the mezz actually had 6 entirely empty rows. Sat in row B of the mid-mezz and saw everything with no problem.

I loved the movie so I admit that I found that to be a strong reason for me to like the show. However, the person I went with never saw the movie. He is not an avid audience member because he prefers to work backstage at his community theater. He loved the show. Both of us agreed that the music and lyrics (excluding Unchained Melody) were forgettable. I wouldn't listen to this on CD.

I thought the Addams Family left overs were laughable to the point that I wish they weren't there. I did not like the rap number but accept that they can't transition each character over from the movie. There is a limited amount of time and that is how they chose to portray the subway character.

I LOVED Oda Mae Brown - Da'Vine was fantastic! Richard (Sam) and Caissie (Molly) were also great. They all did the best with the material (music/lyrics) provided to them. Richard and Caissie really gave a great performance to convey their love for each other!

Overall I enjoyed the show and the special effects. The show was successful with making me care about the characters and yes...I'll admit - I was one of those with a runny nose and tears streaming down my face.

Unfortunately - not sure this show will have longevity.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 10:28am

Brian, from yours and other posts, and from everyone I know who saw the show, I tend to think that it will have longevity. It remains to be seen - but- in my experience, I know that any show or play that captures the tourist trade will make it. enuf said!

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 2:56pm

The show is definitely not selling out as it is in London though...in the West End nearly every performance is sold out and it is rather hard to get tickets for it (not quite as bad as Matilda but still pretty difficult if you don't book it in advance).

Any of you who recently saw the show, have they changed the name of the song Carl sings in Act II yet? Or is it still called "Life Turns On A Dime"?

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 4:42pm

Still called "Life Turns on a Dime"

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 5:16pm

ANY POSTER for sale yet?

[kdogg36]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 6:03pm

Yes, there's a poster. My friend bought one on Saturday night.

I enjoyed the show a lot. I thought most of the music was pretty effective, including a lot of nice underscoring. And what's not to love about Caissie Levy?

The show's just way too big and slick for its own good, though. Sometimes it seems like the cast is just lost in a huge machine. I'm not sure why someone would want huge projections of dancing people while actual dancers are doing a fine job on stage.

But I liked it overall, and I think the music adds something to the movie's story and justifies the show's existence.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 12:41am

Saw it tonight and thought the score was the worst thing about it. Why do a musical if the songs are bland and boring? . Poor Cassie Levy having to sing those atrocious power ballads. It was like watching bad American Idol on rewind.

The sets and projections made it feel like they wanted to make it like a movie. Oh wait it was a movie. And the movie did it better.

That being said, I enjoyed the specatacle of the whole evening. Too bad you can't sing sets and projections.

Oda Mae Brown (Da'vine Joy Randloph) stole the show and was the highlight of the evening. I found myself smiling whenever she was on. Richard Fleeshman was hot. Cassie Levy as I said was saddled with those awful songs. And as someone pointed out, the leads did seem a bit generic. Their chemistry wasn't even close to Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore's.

I thought Bryce Pinkham played a great villain and I really liked Tyler McGee as the subway ghost.

The show did stop for twenty minutes for technical difficulties. I was with one of the critics.. can't say who but he hated the whole thing. I had a better time than he did.


Updated On: 4/20/12 at 12:41 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 1:04am

Loved the songs. I don't usually love songs at first hearing, but these I did. I downloaded Caissie's gorgeous ballads and have them playing whenever I'm on the computer. What a voice!

[goldenboy]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 1:55am

Jane. Are you her mother?
Jane Levy. Me thinks you are a tad biased.

Updated On: 4/20/12 at 01:55 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 10:12am

I'm with you goldenboy - the score is total bargain basement. Not an interesting lyric, melody, or harmonic progression in sight. It's easy to imagine Dave Stewart idly humming the tunes into an mp3 recorder, handing it off to the arranger, and then going on vacation.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 10:29am

The idea of the show from the very beginnings here in Manchester was to mix live theatre with the movies, so yes they are trying to give it a cinematic feel, for me personally apart from a few moments i thought it was fantastic, it's a shame it's not doing as well in the states but we all predicted it would not, it would appear that many don't want to embrace for what it is, a romantic overblown spectacle that has a great energy, some catchy songs and some wonderful performances.

I adore the music in this (apart from 3 songs) and think the ballads work well (plus Cassie was of course going to sing ballads, her lover is dead, she was hardly going to a dance number). I think her songs (With You and Nothing Stops Another Day) are stunning. Yes at time the songs do not 'move' the action along but what they do is show you very effectively how someone is feeling. The songs come from someone's emotion.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 10:33am

The new AIDA. Big tragic romance, pretty people in love, despair, and various stages of undress, power ballads, a sassy black lady with A Big Song, smoke and mirrors (literally) and mostly very happy audiences. The night I was there, the exiting crowd buzzed, thrilled to have been in the house. I trust that vibe: a critic-proof hit.

Updated On: 4/20/12 at 10:33 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 10:56am

Yes goldenboy, I am Caissie Levy's mother.

Methinks you auditioned and didn't even get a callback!


eta-You are an example of those who make negative accusations about anyone who really loves something and wants to share their enthusiasm. A real buzz killer.

Updated On: 4/20/12 at 10:56 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 4/20/12 at 11:00am

Like someone who thinks the only reason someone wouldn't like a show is because they auditioned for it and weren't cast?