RUBEN & CLAY’S FIRST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL FAMILY FUN PAGEANT SPECTACULAR REUNION SHOW- PREVIEW THREAD- Page 3

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 12/9/18 at 2:11am

no one should be surprised at how poor Rubens delivery is, dude was reading off cards for EVERY single promo video they dropped. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/9/18 at 2:46am

Honestly, I'd love to know what both of them have been doing in the past 5 years to the pay the bills. 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 12/9/18 at 2:53am

I'll confess to being quite the Clay Aiken fan back in the day. (Even his autobiography is pretty good--classic white trash family that threw him out of his own father's funeral--considering he was only 24 or thereabouts when he or a ghost writer wrote it.)

He is quite talented. But as his subsequent career (including recordings) has shown, he has no taste whatsoever. Too bad.

 

[amoni]

Posted: 12/9/18 at 5:40am

tirecage, Dude, really, don't be afraid, PARAGRAPHS are our friends.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 12/9/18 at 6:55am

Well this thread can now be locked because we have a winner 

BroadwayConcierge said: "10086sunset said: "The opening number is somewhat enjoyable, as Clay and Ruben attempt to top each other throughout the song"

Seems mildly inappropriate for a Christmas show."

 

[After Eight]

Posted: 12/9/18 at 7:45am

I can't recommend this as jolly holiday fare. Ineptitude was pervasive, with some elements in surprisingly poor taste. The ersatz "rivalry" bombed completely, as did the mad libs segment and the host of pitiful "jokes" delivered by the performers sticking their heads through slats in a curtain. Timing was off. The two leads seemed uncomfortable throughout. The other performers revved up the enthusiasm level,  but their efforts were akin to trying to roll a boulder up a mountain.

The most pleasurable moment was hearing "We Need a Little Christmas." It brought back memories of hearing that  song in Mame, and allowed me to savor anew how much I loved that show way back when.

 

 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/9/18 at 8:40am

You know when this was first announced, I thought it’d be a quaint holiday show suitable for families seeking an inexpensive night out during the holidays. I posted as much in the early days of the thread that was locked by the moderators.

But based on these reports, man was I wrong. To be clear, this show never really appealed to me. But they both seem like likeable personalities although I’ve always been Team Ruben than Team Clay (my voting record during their season of American Idol would attest to that). I actually met Ruben in the OKC airport 2 years ago and he was very gracious, if a bit shy. So I’m disappointed to hear reports here about Ruben.

This should have been just them singing holiday songs (much like described during the encore) for about 90 minutes (although it sounds like even that might be a struggle for Ruben who reportedly didn’t know the lyrics). Of course, based on the title of the show and the promos, all signs pointed to it being designed more like this skit show.

Based on reports, there is no way this is fixable during a preview period. Based on reports, too much is wrong. It’s like they decided that their goofy titie excuses all that the actual show lacks. Sad for all involved. At least some people are employed during the holiday season, but at the expense of selling a substandard product to the public.

[tirecage]

Posted: 12/9/18 at 10:47am

Sorry, amoni. It was late, and I was in “stream of consciousness” mode as I wrote. Tried to get out as much as I could remember. Fixed. 

Updated On: 12/9/18 at 10:47 AM

[David10086]

Posted: 12/9/18 at 8:57pm

For those interested, the duo was on "The View" this past Thursday morning, singing 'O Holy Night'. It didn't exactly entice me to go see the show (which I was debating). And Meghan McCain's screechy introduction (where she tells viewers for the hundredth time she and Clay are 'great friends'  ) didn't help matters. The audience went home with a pair of tickets per person - wonder how many will actually use them?

 

Here's the link: 

Ruben and Clay on 'The View' December 6 2018.

Updated On: 12/9/18 at 08:57 PM

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:42am

a friend of mine who filled in as an usher for a couple of performances told me that the average number of people there is around 700. Keep in mind that the imperial has a capacity of 1400 or so seats. Not good at all.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:47am

It was one of the most...strange experiences I've ever had in a theatre.

For one thing, yes EVERYTHING looks cheap. Fine for the set, it's a 3 week run and we don't need more than fake trees and a fireplace. But the costumes look like everyone (Clay and Ruben as well) were given $100 and an hour at Macy's. Everyone's outfits were so ill-fitting and wrinkled and just not flattering. 

That poor ensemble is working their butts off to try and sell 100 year old jokes and have a sense of personality.

Ruben doesn't seem to be trying. If you told me they started rehearsals on Tuesday morning and he didn't show up until Thursday afternoon, I'd believe you. Clay at least tries to dance and interact with the ensemble during songs while Ruben is *literally* parked on a stool for every number minus his solos/duets where he stands still. He doesn't hit any big notes or do any great runs/riffs. I kept thinking during "Oh Holy Night" after Clay hit the big note and Ruben repeated that part he was going to hit the big note too but...no, optioned down and Clay hit it again. 

Clay at least tries, but he's trying too hard. The Anne Hathaway to Ruben's James Franco. 

The only way to really "fix" it is to just ax half of it-- the skits, the weird Laugh In wall segments, the group stuff, and just have it be a straight up concert with some banter. Keep the weird "broadway!" opening but then just trade songs back and forth with the duets thrown in. The audience was eating it up and lots of "omg I cried! loved it!" from the fans as I was leaving so I doubt they even care.

[GreeneStreet]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:53am

Damn. I don’t wanna say, I saw this coming. But I saw this coming.

[broadway.4me2]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 11:22am

Does anyone know the cheapest way to get tickets to this?

[10086sunset]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 4:00pm

Wow. The grosses aren't bad. They are worse.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 4:28pm

MassiveMeGo said: "

Sales look healthy enough. The mezz not as much."

11% potential gross this week with an average ticket price of $27. Yup, definitely healthy sales here.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 4:32pm

Looking at the houses the day of a performance is misleading- you'll see the effects of papering and discounts.

The box office for this weekend is dire. And reviews will come out tomorrow, and they will not help. This thing is a triumph of bad sense.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 8:07pm

The box office was literally handing out comps tonight.

I left at intermission.

Updated On: 12/10/18 at 08:07 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 9:09pm

Cape Twirl of Doom said: "The box office was literally handing out comps tonight.

I left at intermission."

I had two friends at the show tonight thanks to comps as well. Both left at intermission and said there was maybe 100 people in the orchestra.

[MarilynMonroeSmash]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 9:13pm

Where do I get one these comps because I'd love to see this **** show?

Never really considered sh*t too profane of a word, but I guess BWW's censorship does.

Updated On: 12/10/18 at 09:13 PM

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 9:36pm

ACL2006 said: "Cape Twirl of Doom said: "The box office was literally handing out comps tonight.

I left at intermission."

I had two friends at the show tonight thanks to comps as well. Both left at intermission and said there was maybe 100 people in the orchestra."

No, the Orchestra was pretty much full tonight, however from what I could tell at the box office and around me inside the theater, a loooooooot of those were comps.

Very tepid applause to most numbers. A couple songs got a few cheers. Someone here mentioned audience participation Mad-Libs in Act One, I did not see that tonight. If the show was 90 minutes I would have stayed, but the usher said the second act was over an hour so no way was I sitting through another 60 minutes of that. This is not a show that should be 2 hours, 15 mins!

Updated On: 12/10/18 at 09:36 PM

[Anakela]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:04pm

Audience participation mad libs is (or was, on Saturday) in Act II. It wasn't true audience participation, though, as the storyline was that they chose the person during intermission.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:17pm

In the other thread, I said I had no intention of seeing this, but my friend offered me an extra comp and I decided to take a chance and see it for myself. I liked them on American Idol back in the day, so I figured at the very least it might be a nice dose of nostalgia.

In that thread, I also said something along the lines of “how bad could this be?” And boy do I stand corrected. Everything in this thread is absolutely true. This is a disaster from beginning to end. It’s not the singing - they both still sound pretty good, with the exception of the occasional strained note. But the whole show around it is just dreadful.

I wouldn’t say it was my least favorite thing I’ve ever seen on Broadway. I’ve had stronger negative reactions to other shows. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen something on Broadway that was so blatantly amateurish, so shoddily thrown together in every regard. Never have I had so little confidence that the performers onstage could even get through the material they were given. Never have I seen a series of jokes so consistently and unfailingly bad. Even Gettin the Band Back Together had a few stray chuckles, and at least those actors had some comedic timing.

[MassiveMeGo]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:24pm

Tough crowd. Social media has people deliriously happy with what they experienced. The cognitive dissonence is strong. 

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:27pm

MassiveMeGo said: "Tough crowd. Social media has peopledeliriously happy with what they experienced. The cognitive dissonence is strong."

How do you explain those grosses then?

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 10:30pm

MassiveMeGo said: "Tough crowd. Social media has peopledeliriously happy with what they experienced. The cognitive dissonence is strong."

C’mon, dude. It made 12% of its gross potential last week. It’s a flop anyway you slice it. 

I know I’m only reinforcing your ploy for your desperate need for attention by reacting to your post, but I got to repeat: 12%.