GETTIN (G) THE BAND BACK TOGETHER Previews

[Tom-497]

I saw this afternoon's performance from an excellent $50 orchestra seat ($61 with fees). Unlike some people here, I thought the show was well-paced and around the correct length. There were some good laughs and a lot of pleasant moments. Most of the songs, to me, were solid. And I particularly liked Life without Parole and Bart's Confession, which went over very well with the audience. Also, I thought it was a fun touch when, at intermission, Marilu Henner came out into the audience briefly to hand out Rice Krispies squares.

As far as criticisms, too many of the actors playing the main characters read to me as well under the 40 or so that they're supposed to be. This was one of the aspects of the show that made it seem overly slight at times (along with the cheap-seeming, cartoonish sets).

Also, I thought the whole thing began rather weakly. I found Ken Davenport mildly annoying (not in himself, but just in choosing to give an introduction to the show). Then, the opening number seemed to me to be one of the weakest of the afternoon (more than once, it struck me, in presentation, as a sort of cut-rate "Madrid" from Women on the Verge).

Still, in all, I had a good time.

 

 

 

[CoffeeBreak]

[Jordan Catalano]

Yep. It’s a fun little surprise involving the audience. Thanks for ruining it for people.

[HBBrock]

Moderator...

Please delete CoffeeBreak’s comment....completely inappropriate spoiler and really rude to future audience members.

Coffeebreak.....delete it.

[haterobics]

HBBrock said: "completely inappropriate spoiler and really rude to future audience members."

If you are really sensitive to spoilers, a previews thread is a really horrible place to hang out.

[UncleCharlie]

HBBrock said: "Moderator...

Please delete CoffeeBreak’s comment....completely inappropriate spoiler and really rude to future audience members.

Coffeebreak.....delete it."

Overreact much? You really think them doing that after Ken talked to him before the show is some amazing, incredible plot point that will shock and awe the audience? The whole thing just sounds cringeworthy to be honest.. 

[dramamama611]

It sounds like a "cute" moment, but hardly an actual spoiler.  Doesn't sound like it has anything to do with the plot, so what's the big deal?

[#1Elphie]

You could at least use the clickable 'Spoiler' feature to hide it for people who might like to be surprised. 

[ACL2006]

From friends that saw the show today, they were interviewing audience members after the show for a commercial. This should be interesting since my friends got interviewed and didn't like the show.

[CoffeeBreak]

Spoiler?   New Jersey produces.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Town-of-Sayreville-NJ-Becomes-Co-Producer-on-GETTIN-THE-BAND-BACK-TOGETHER-20180806

[emaxman]

How many people on this thread have actually seen the show? You DO realize this is basically the, what, third week of previews? You DO know how much can change between now and opening night? Please stop attacking this show unless you've actually seen it. And yes, I have seen it, and I support it. Not all shows have to be a Hamilton or a Wicked or something. Some shows can just be a good fun time at the theater. So stop judging and let people enjoy something funny, fun, and original in a time where that doesn't really exist.

[20806]

By taking on a producer now after it is presumably fully capitalized this is basically like a priority loan I wonder?

[JBroadway]

emaxman said: "You DO realize this is basically the, what, third week of previews? You DO know how much can change between now and opening night?"


These days, very few shows ever make any meaningful changes in previews. They may fine-tune it. But if someone hates a show in previews, it's very unlikely their mind would be changed by seeing it again after opening. 
 

"Not all shows have to be a Hamilton or a Wicked or something. Some shows can just be a good fun time at the theater."


Nobody is denying that. There is a difference between being a "good fun time" and being a mediocre show. As I said earlier in the thread, many light and fluffy shows get great reviews, word of mouth, and even win awards. This isn't about people wanting everything to be high art. This is about people not liking this show. I don't understand why that is so hard to accept. 

 
"So stop judging and let people enjoy something funny, fun, and original" 



No one is keeping you from enjoying the show. You're the one who's ranting and raving against people simply for expressing their opinions. 

I'm glad you liked the show, and I hope nobody changes your mind. You don't need to discredit the show's critics in order to continue liking it. If you want to be supportive of the show on this thread, why not just talk about what you liked about it? Or even argue against some of the specific criticisms that people have written? 

I'll never understand this constant need ON BOTH SIDES to make comments that are designed to discredit and invalidate other people just to make you feel more secure in your own opinion. 

 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

ACL2006 said: "From friends that saw the show today, they were interviewing audience membersafter the show for a commercial. This should be interesting since my friends got interviewed and didn't like the show."

They were doing that! They asked to interview me, but I politely declined because I knew they didn’t want someone to say the show was meh and not something they felt totally invested in. Get the happy smiling people who had a great time.

Like I said, the show was just meh. Sadly, nothing about the show managed to really draw me in and care. The plot was fairly generic, I didn’t think the music was memorable, and what I found the most frustrating was that nothing really made me care about the characters. They seemed thin and underwritten. 

I didn’t hate the show. I just didn’t care and to me, that’s worse then disliking something. I know this had a regional try out a handful of years ago and maybe that should have been enough. Not everything is made for Broadway and Broadway shouldn’t be the goal for all new works.

I’ve seen the first 3 musicals to start the season, as well as The Cher Show and Moulin Rouge. I’ll be seeing Tootsie this fall, as well. If this is 2018-2019 original musical season, I’m concerned.

[haterobics]

emaxman said: "You DO realize this is basically the, what, third week of previews?"

But it's had two previous versions, and been in development for 9 years or so... 

[Robert16]

This is fine for New World Stages but not Broadway - what were they thinking?

[RippedMan]

The score is just plain awful. Not a tune in there. And the book is predictable, but at least has some fun characters. But I just think all the comedy could be MORE and FUNNIER. 

[HBBrock]

Rod Stewart was in the audience last night.

[emaxman]

And? Okay forget everything for a second. Do you see how  many negative comments about this show there are? And how many are from people who have ACTUALLY seen the show? I'm allowed to react how I want to how disrespectful people are being on here. And LOL critics? You're a bunch of people posting on a chat board. That hardly makes you a reliable source. Write your own original musical and then get back to me. This toxic environment is nor worth investing in. I just wanted to say it's a fun, funny, original musical, which aren't something you come across lately. PLEASE GIVE A SHOW A CHANCE. Also, once you see it, don't say it deserves to close, or put down the producer...do you know how HARD everyone works? To say things like people are saying in this post is rude and obnoxious. There's no need for it. Grow up.

[bwayphreak234]

emaxman said: "I'm allowed to react how I want to how disrespectful people are being on here.”

Just because some one doesn’t like a show you do doesn’t make them “disrespectful”.

[dramamama611]

emaxman said: "And? Okay forget everything for a second. Do you see how many negative comments about this show there are? And how many are from people who have ACTUALLY seen the show? I'm allowed to react how I want to how disrespectful people are being on here. And LOL critics? You're a bunch of people posting on a chat board. That hardly makes you a reliable source. Write your own original musical and then get back to me. This toxic environment is nor worth investing in. I just wanted to say it's a fun, funny, original musical, which aren't something you come across lately. PLEASE GIVE A SHOW A CHANCE. Also, once you see it, don't say it deserves to close, or put down the producer...do you know how HARD everyone works? To say things like people are saying in this post is rude and obnoxious. There's no need for it. Grow up."

First of all: MOST of the people here have seen the show.  Most of the people here see nearly every show that opens.   Have all?  Of course not.  I haven't, but then again, I've said nothing about the show except for it's lac of appeal to me.  

Broadway is not the place for participation awards - they TRIED real hard?  So does every single show that opens at every HS, at every community theater, at every regional theater.  That doesn't mean it's good.  Criticism is part of art. And just because it's "on Broadway" doesnt' make it good.

As to the importance of any opinions here? No different then yours - if you want YOUR voice to be heard, you have to turn up the volume on everyone else's.  And no, "we" aren't important -except we are ticket buyers - but don't forget, the professional critics haven't been kind, either.

The real question is: why do YOU care so much?  How is it a personal affront to you what anyone thinks? If anyone needs to "grow up" it is you. Life doen't give out participation trophies.

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Some people on here need to grow a pair. I loved Honeymoon in Vegas to shreds and consider it one of Broadway's greatest losses. Many, many people on here thought it was horrible. I do not feel the need to hound them down and interrogate them when they express disdain for that show.

I saw Gettin' the Band Back Together and loathed it. So much. I am entitled to actively dislike it just as much as the people who actively disliked Honeymoon. It's called being freely entitled to having and sharing an opinion. My opinion doesn't hinder yours, just like the Honeymoon haters never hindered mine.

[emaxman]

You know, you’re right. Predicting when a show is going to close, insulting the producer- that’s not disrespectful at all. 

I look forward to writing a review on here about your show. 

[emaxman]

dramamama611 said: "emaxman said: "And? Okay forget everything for a second. Do you see how many negative comments about this show there are? And how many are from people who have ACTUALLY seen the show? I'm allowed to react how I want to how disrespectful people are being on here. And LOL critics? You're a bunch of people posting on a chat board. That hardly makes you a reliable source. Write your own original musical and then get back to me. This toxic environment is nor worth investing in. I just wanted to say it's a fun, funny, original musical, which aren't something you come across lately. PLEASE GIVE A SHOW A CHANCE. Also, once you see it, don't say it deserves to close, or put down the producer...do you know how HARD everyone works? To say things like people are saying in this post is rude and obnoxious. There's no need for it. Grow up."

 

 



First of all: MOST of the people here have seen the show. Most of the people here see nearly every show that opens. Have all? Of course not. I haven't, but then again, I've said nothing about the show except for it's lacof appeal to me.

Broadway is not the place for participation awards - they TRIED real hard? So does every single show that opens at every HS, at every community theater, at every regional theater. That doesn't mean it's good. Criticism is part of art. And just because it's "on Broadway" doesnt' make it good.

As to the importance of any opinions here? No different then yours - if you want YOUR voice to be heard, you have to turn up the volume on everyone else's. And no, "we" aren't important -except we are ticket buyers - but don't forget, the professional critics haven't been kind, either.

The real question is: why do YOU care so much? How is it a personal affront to you what anyone thinks? If anyone needs to "grow up" it is you. Life doen't give out participation trophies.

 

Maybe be because I actually LIKED the show. And even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t trash it like some people on here. 
"

 

[dramamama611]

And that's your choice. But you don't get to dictate how others choose to respond.