THE MINUTES - SPRING 2022- Page 3

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/25/22 at 5:01pm

MadsonMelo said: "Did they just released tickets for rear mezz in the first preview or just didn't sold any single ticket yet? ouch!"

The rear mezz appears to be closed for all but the first 2 preview performances, so maybe that was a mistake? There are PLENTY of tickets available in all areas of the theatre during all performances, so I don't really see a need to open those seats unless it starts selling out.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 3/25/22 at 5:05pm

MadsonMelo said: "Did they just released tickets for rear mezz in the first preview or just didn't sold any single ticket yet? ouch!

I'm going on sunday, but I'll wait for either rush or most likely TKTS - it's bound to appear there, right?"

Probably one of the safest bets you could make.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/25/22 at 11:18pm

Got TDF today for early April, to my delight. Only 4 performances posted.

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 3/31/22 at 8:13am

Making a last minute run to NYC this weekend.  Might have to see this Saturday night (first preview).  Not on TDF right now, but so much availability I wonder if it will show up

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 3/31/22 at 10:39am

If anyone is interested in going to opening night on 4/17, all seats in the rear mezzanine have been reduced to a maximum of $49 with code MITMC210 on Telecharge Offers. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/1/22 at 4:13pm

Previews begin tomorrow. This was one of the last shows I saw the week of March 2020. Curious to read reactions/reviews and get an idea of how things have changed.

[brdwybound04]

Posted: 4/2/22 at 10:12pm

Having just walked out of Studio 54 after seeing the first Broadway Preview of The Minutes since it’s reopening, I do not think this show will last long at all. Tracy Let’s’ “AUGUST: OC” remains a theatrical event I will treasure and remember for the rest of my life, I can’t forget tonight quick enough. I also saw “Superior Donuts” on Broadway, but both shows were leagues better than this… 90 minutes dragged on, despite strong acting from the ensemble, and Jesse Mueller in a totally wasted role. At $169 per top price ticket, I feel ripped off… the play itself feels unfinished and unsure of the point it’s trying to make… it feels like a weird commentary on current politics/CRT, and possibly cancel culture, but the fact that I had to ask a few other patrons what they got out of the show is not a good sign. Several people I spoke with also were not totally sure what they just saw. The one good thing was that the set design was gorgeous…

[VotePeron]

Posted: 4/2/22 at 10:19pm

brdwybound04 said: "…but the fact that I had to ask a few other patrons what they got out of the show is not a good sign. Several people I spoke with also were not totally sure what they just saw."

One could argue that those are qualities of the best theater can do, provoke conversation and not hand every answer to you on a silver platter. 
 

(Of course I respect your opinion, this is just coming from someone who saw the show in 2020 and adored it. I also didn’t find it confusing in the least, it’s meant to provoke.)

[Damiensta]

Posted: 4/2/22 at 10:44pm

brdwybound04 said: "Having just walked out of Studio 54 after seeing the first Broadway Preview of The Minutes since it’s reopening, I do not think this show will last long at all. Tracy Let’s’ “AUGUST: OC” remains a theatrical event I will treasure and remember for the rest of my life, I can’t forget tonight quick enough. I also saw “Superior Donuts” on Broadway, but both shows were leagues better than this… 90 minutes dragged on, despite strong acting from the ensemble, and Jesse Mueller in a totally wasted role. At $169 per top price ticket, I feel ripped off… the play itself feels unfinished and unsure of the point it’s trying to make… it feels like a weird commentary on current politics/CRT, and possibly cancel culture, but the fact that I had to ask a few other patrons what they got out of the show is not a good sign. Several people I spoke with also were not totally sure what they just saw. The one good thing was that the set design was gorgeous…"

Couldn’t agree more from someone that saw it pre pandemic. Can you say which ending are they using ? I remember prepandemic they kept tinkering with where to end

[broadfan327]

Posted: 4/2/22 at 11:02pm

I just saw it tonight, and I thought it was well acted.  I was disappointed in the ending...

[Synecdoche2]

Posted: 4/2/22 at 11:15pm

Wow! I thought that was just terrific. And what an ensemble. Not since The Humans have I seen a production that felt this tightly synchronized. It's dark and sophisticated and feels extremely current and relevant. Honestly this could have been written yesterday, and the fact that it's from 2017 speaks to Tracy Letts' skill as a playwright but also his insight into our culture. Overall I was totally satisfied, and it's the best evening of theatre I've had this year.

Unfortunately Studio 54 is not quite the right theatre for this (the Cort was probably better), but the cast did a good job filling out the space. Letts I have to say also steals the show with his performance, though there's plenty of great work to go around, including Noah Reid in a very impressive Broadway debut, Blair Brown, and a delightful Austin Pendleton.

I do have to say that I think the ending is far more credible and straightforward (maybe even heavy-handed) than most posters are giving it credit for. The Kafkaesque lack of information at the beginning (even as Mr. Peel demands it) I think pretty immediately sets you up for a surreal finish. To me, it read as the only logical conclusion to the setup.

Updated On: 4/2/22 at 11:15 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/2/22 at 11:52pm

I loved it as well. The cast has great chemistry with one another, it absolutely did not feel like their first performance in over two years, and the lighting was absolutely terrific. It's weird, tight, funny, dark, and as Synedoche said regarding the ending "it read as the only logical conclusion to the setup."

Bravo!   

[rayoflight104]

Posted: 4/3/22 at 12:06am

Rush ticket for 4/2 show was rear mezz jj 101

many open seats behind me

the line to get in took 25 minutes and stretched all the way down the block. Show started around 8:06-ish. 

they stamp your hand after getting vax verified. How sanitary is it to have a stamp on your hand that someone else was just stamped with? There’s no intermission to go out and smoke so why the need? Any other theatres stamping hands? 

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/3/22 at 12:09am

I've had my hand stamped at several other theatres, but I can't remember which - some Off-Broadway.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 4/3/22 at 12:14am

VotePeron said: "brdwybound04 said: "…but the fact that I had to ask a few other patrons what they got out of the show is not a good sign. Several people I spoke with also were not totally sure what they just saw."

One could argue that those are qualities of the best theater can do, provoke conversation and not hand every answer to you on a silver platter.


(Of course I respect your opinion, this is just coming from someone who saw the show in 2020 and adored it. I also didn’t find it confusing in the least, it’s meant to provoke.)"

I also saw it prepandemic, and I'll admit being slightly befuddled by all the positive praise it got.  The message seemed almost too straightforward to me and didn't seem to be saying anything we haven't already been talking about in general conversation, to the point where it did feel like I missed something because I came out with the sense of "that was it?" If anything, the conversations it provoked for us was just what we wished the play would be instead, though if you found it enjoyable/thought-provoking then more power to you.

[brdwybound04]

Posted: 4/3/22 at 12:46am

The ending tonight had Mr. Peel leaving the stage, and then Tracy Letts’ character comes forward and kinda takes over and gradually the whole ensemble comes back and forms a circle where they apply what I think was Native American markings on their face with face paints. Maybe I overanalyzed the ending, but I think the circular formation of the ensemble was a nod to the fountain in the proposed disability park which is one of the central conflicts of the show… just my two cents…

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 2:40am

I really enjoyed the play, its a cutsy fun one at the beginning and then theres the thing, and I was like “what?”, but I loved it

Its kinda too on the nose, maybe too preachy, but sometimes it is what it is.

I understand the characters needs to be sitted but sometimes its boring to see no move on stage.

I think the cast is great, but some are severely underused, I feel Blair Brown, Sally Murphy (her character didnt worked at all) and K. Todd were almost no existent on the play.

On the other side, I think Austin Pendleton will get a Tony nom, hes incredible.

I wouldnt ranking this one above August, Bug and Killer Joe, but is a very good play indeed.

[raddersons]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 10:18pm

Hm while I enjoyed this play I think it need some room to breathe. The first 1/3 of the show needs to be tightened. I was nervous that it would be a slog. At points early on it felt extremely robotic, almost as if no one was listening to each other nor reacting properly. There should be some focus on the jokes too — they haven’t quite hammered to the cadence of them in front of an audience yet. It was clear the jokes were there but just weren’t landing. Once they hit the Battle of Big Cherry scene it was off the races and picked up drastically. Otherwise I thought it was remarkable this was written in 2017 considering things like critically examining and/or censoring America’s own history feels like a very 2020 subject matter.


The ending definitely threw me but in retrospect it’s clear he’s trying to say 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

They all have literal blood on their hands. However don’t necessarily think that means Mr. Peel needs to come back and join the cult…

 

[NYactor85]

Posted: 4/6/22 at 5:03pm

Saw it today. Loved it.  Noah Reid is really an easy good fit for that role (cannot picture Armie Hammer in that part but could see him as some of the other roles).

 

The last 30 minutes are incredible and the show is pretty funny for the around 75 minutes (agree about Austin Pendleton and Tony's)

 

Also got a tdf ticket: orchestra row F dead center

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/6/22 at 5:11pm

Just came from the matinee as well and found it in every way riveting, its gear shifts powerful and appropriately open to subjective responses, both in terms of what happens in the story and what the audience takes away thematically. Noah Reid, as the baffled counsel interloper and de facto protagonist is superb. Avoid spoilers. Too many surface in this thread.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/6/22 at 5:15pm

I haven't seen Noah Reid in the role, but on paper I agree he's a better fit for the role than Armie Hammer. Having said that, I was impressed at Armie Hammer's ability to play this unassuming everyman - not the sort of role he usually plays (nor, it seems, his real life character...), but a solid, believable performance.

Not trying to defend Hammer in any way, btw, I'm speaking solely about the merits of his performance. I'm glad he was replaced.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/6/22 at 5:22pm

I also liked Hammer in this, better than most of his film work. I probably won't see it again post-Covid, but it's a solid play.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/6/22 at 6:01pm

Mr. Peel, the Reid role, can likely be played by a variety of actors, and I can easily see where Hammer would've brought a different, but useful young leading man quality.  The decision to move toward Reid intrigues, since his known persona from his beloved TV series (wisely) has not been abandoned, and gives the Broadway audience a warm point of access. From the opening moment, the disarming everyman aspect of his characterization is recognizable and welcoming.

It's possible that The Minutes will have a long life, and like The Humans (which someone referenced above) will give a wide range of actors a chance at all of these roles. Pendleton is quite different from the Chicago casting, as is Brown. It's a testament to the play that its depiction of small town insularity opens the doors on how it's portrayed.