If/Then vs. Bullets

[gfaustswa]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 2:30am

Looks to me like the lottery for If/Then isn't very promising. However, appears rush tickets for Bullets Over Broadway are relatively promising. If you had to choose between those two shows, would you pay full price for If/Then or get up early and get rush tickets for Bullets? Thanks for all of your opinions!

[darreyl102]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 3:26am

Having Seen Both, and enjoyed both- I would say whichever works best for you- If you want a deal and have the time to do rush, I would do that, but if you want a sure thing without the wait, go full price If/Then. If you pick a 2 show day, you could rush Bullets for the Matinee and Lottery for the evening If/Then Show. However, if you really want to see If/Then then the lottery won't guarantee you tickets, but sometimes rush does not either unless you get there at the right time. Sorry if this seems confusing and rambling.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 2:12pm

IF you loved the movie Bullets Over Broadway, keep your memories intact and avoid BULLETS, the musical. IF you don't know the movie, and have never seen another Susan Stroman show, or any other 20's Broadway musical ever in your life, only THEN might you be moderately entertained by the show at the St James. We found the musical BULLETS a dispiritingly unoriginal waste of time.

IF/THEN, on the other hand, was a thought-provoking meal for us, if not a feast. We loved not knowing where the story was going, or how it was ever going to get there. That alone was reason to recommend it. The score didn't come close to NEXT TO NORMAL levels of brilliance, but the performances are swell (especially La Chanze), the set does a few surprising things, and the staging tries new ways to present a story.

IF/THEN hands down.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 3:43pm

Based on the show alone, I would definitely say If/Then is the better show. Also, I don't know if they are still doing this, but when I lost the If/Then lotto I was able to buy a "lotto loser" ticket. Partial view for $40 (though I think the price varies). From my seat I could only see the bottom level of the stage, but that's where most of the show happens. I thought it was worth it.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 4:45pm

Well there you go. I think Bullets is far better than If/Then, a muddled mess. Bullets is 2:25 of sheer entertainment, and in spite of what a previous poster said, I knew the movie well and still loved Bullets.

Having said that, I think all of us are put in a difficult position when we're asked which of two shows to see. We're each going to respond as per our own taste and judgment as to which show we preferred.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 8:11pm

I liked If/Then much better, but I'd pick Bridges, Cinderella or Pippin before seeing those two shows.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 8:42pm

If/Then is no where near as wonderful as Bullets. If/Then is cold, and kind of throws the show at you instead of inviting you in. Bullets on the other hand, is musical theatre bliss.

[gfaustswa]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 10:17pm

Thanks for all the responses. I will be great food for thought before I fall asleep tonight. Appreciate all the input!

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 10:23pm

I lost the lotto for If/Then a few weeks back and got a front right mezz losers lotto ticket for 50 bucks. Must have been a slow day. There were a lot of seats open up there that evening. Perfect view.

[gfaustswa]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 11:48pm

One more question concerning rush tix for bullets. everything i have read, say rush tix for preview performances. Obviously, previews are over, but they are still offering rush tickets, correct?

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 11:50pm

The one place you didn't read: http://bulletsoverbroadway.com/tickets.php

[gfaustswa]

Posted: 5/4/14 at 11:52pm

Good grief....you are correct. I was looking everywhere, other then the official site. Thanks! =)

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/5/14 at 12:55am

They were both my favorite shows of the 13-14 season. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

[gfaustswa]

Posted: 5/5/14 at 1:23am

Thank you! It seems pretty evenly spit on here. I watched a couple videos on youtube and I think Bullets is going to win out. Seems like much more of a "Broadway" show, plus I'll be in from out of town and don't mind getting to theater box office between 830-9 for rush tickets. I wasn't overly impressed with what I saw on youtube from If/Then. I know you can't judge it from a few minutes of video, however, I have to say from what I saw, I think I'll enjoy Bullets more. Thank you for all of the input and suggestions. Can't wait to arrive in June!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/5/14 at 1:58am

Bullets Over Broadway is musical comedy heaven. I was smiling from the first note of the Overture to the last bow. Pure bliss.

[gfaustswa]

Posted: 5/7/14 at 2:55am

Thanks again! Once again it appears Bullets will win. Really appreciate all the comments.

Posted: 5/7/14 at 7:03am

I saw both and wasn't overly impressed by either. I only went to Bullets because the preview clip on youtube looked like a lot of fun, but I was really disappointed with everything after the opening number. There seemed to be a lack of energy throughout the whole piece.
I can really appreciate what the creators of If/Then tried to do, I just think it could have been done so much better, there are many moments that felt like lazy writing to me.

Most of the audience seemed to enjoy both a lot. If I had to pick from those two, I'd say If/Then.

[bdboston]

Posted: 5/7/14 at 8:54am

Having just seen "Bullets" this past weekend and "If/Then" last month, I without a doubt would recommend "Bullets." Full disclosure, I've never seen the movie. But, I was grinning and laughing throughout and had a great time. I'll definitely see it again.

[delongpre]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 9:44pm

I rushed Bullets today and got first row center seats. I have to say it was the worst seat I have ever had. The top of the stage is extended out about 12 inches into the walk space for the first row and it is a very high stage. The combination of extended and high makes for a virtual WALL between anyone sitting in the first row and anything at all of stage. Sitting down, I could only see actors when they came to the front of the stage, and then I was staring straight up at them into glaring spotlights. I missed all of the dancing because I could not see below anyone's waist.
I don't know if that blew any chance of me liking the play because I found it boring. Some of the performances were great but overall, not exciting.
On the other hand, I LOVED If/Then and would see it again.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 10:26pm

"I rushed Bullets today and got first row center seats. I have to say it was the worst seat I have ever had."

But, that's probably why you only paid $35 to be in the front row... if it had a low stage and unobstructed views, they'd sell that seat for full price.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 10:31pm

If you're paying only 20% of a full price ticket, chances are your seats will suck. I never understood why people think they are entitled to good seats when they pay so little compared to other patrons.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 10:38pm

Were the tickets labeled Partial View

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 12:58am

I'm sure delongpre understands the concept of not expecting to get a great seat for $35 but some of you appear to be losing sight of the basic purpose of rush seats. They are a good will gesture to give a small number of people who might otherwise not be able to afford to see the show the chance to see it, not to dump off seats that are so ridiculously obstructed that 80% of the show can't even be seen and that no one given a choice would ever choose to buy. I don't think most people rushing expect to be given front row center seats but they do expect to be able to SEE THE SHOW even if it is from the last row of the balcony. When a seat is so bad most of the show cannot be seen at all, the seat simply should not be sold for any amount of money, even at rush prices.

[delongpre]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 1:49am

Thank you Fisherman Bob for saving me the trouble or explaining myself.

Of course I understand that the tickets were only $35, but that whole row of seats should be removed as it is impossible for anyone to see the show in that manner. It is beyond the definition of rush to sell seats that are so obscured that partial becomes, as Fisherman Bob said, only 20% of the stage.

[Everlast85]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 2:10am

If you're buying discounted tickets, there's a huge chance that the tickets will be an obstructed view. Broadway is a business, and they want to make as much money as possible. I don't think they care if you think the entire row of seats be removed. They would miss out on making money, something that I'm 100% sure they aren't interested in. They don't have to offer any kind of discount tickets, and when I scored a rush ticket for Bullets the seat sucked too but I was still grateful to see a show on Broadway and didn't complain.