STRAIGHT WHITE MEN Previews

[After Eight]

"Wait? People who enjoyed the show are happy people didn’t like the show?"

Absolutely. The hip crowd is thrilled when the rubes get it stuck to them.

 

[BobbyBubby]

You never seem content in simply disliking something. You have to take it further and try to find motives of why someone liked something you didn’t. That feels more like snobbery to me. Not everyone is a lemming because they gravitate to something that’s not up your alley.

[UncleCharlie]

BobbyBubby said: "You never seem content in simply disliking something. You have to take it further and try to find motives of why someone liked something you didn’t. That feels more like snobbery to me. Not everyone is a lemming because they gravitate to something that’s not up your alley."

He's just projecting. Tastes have changed and the world has passed him by. He's a dinosaur who can't adapt so he desperately tries to convince others of the correctness of his views to make himself feel better. It's like the guy clutching his circa 2004 flip phone relentlessly trying to convince everyone else that no one needs any more technology than that.

[Jordan Catalano]

Does Armie stagedoor?

[BroadwayNoob]

Aside from everyone's comments, I still really want to see Armie in person.

 

Are the $32 rush tickets online hard to grab like Lobby Hero's? And what is a good recommended age? I'm kind of on the younger side of stuff (15) so I don't know if I'll be really uncomfortable with my mom here lol

[Miles2Go2]

For the person comparing the reaction on here to Skintight as opposed to Straight White Men, let me first say I saw Skintight, but have not seen Straight White Men.

In full disclosure, I will say I enjoyed Skintight and am very glad I saw it, but can concede it’s flawed. Even critics of it seem to agree it is humorous and well-acted. The consensus is that it doesn’t deliver on its intended more serious commentary. But I think people walk out of the theatre understanding what the intention of the playwright was even if they find fault with the execution. I also people did walk in expecting to laugh and that occurred so some expectations were met.

On the other hand, based on comments on here, it sounds like the title of the SWM and the playwright’s previous work led audiences to expect an edgy pointed critic. Instead, people are walking out puzzled as to what the point of the play was or what the playwright’s intention was.

So two flawed works of art. One makes people laugh and perhaps misses the mark of its more serious intentions, but people understand what those intentions are. The other is a less pleasurable experience for many and they don’t even know it the play met its intentions because it’s not clear what those intentions are.

For those who have seen both Skintight and Straight White Men, is that an apt comparison?

[Jonathan Cohen]

BroadwayNoob said: "Aside from everyone's comments, I stillreally want to see Armiein person.



Are the $32 rush tickets online hard to grab like Lobby Hero's? And what is a good recommended age? I'm kind of on the younger side of stuff (15) so I don't know if I'll be really uncomfortable with my mom here lol"

Your best bet is to go TodayTix at exactly 10am that day. I think it's actually pretty okay to take your mom, depending on her personality or taste the music before it actually starts might annoy her but that's really it. 

 

[BJR]

Folks talking about the “self proclaimed” cool crowd, no crowd has proclaimed themselves cool.

There are just people who like Lee’s work and see what she’s doing, some who do and don’t think it work, and some who don’t on both. Deciding which of these groups is “cool” says more about you then others or the play.

[JBC3]

Jordan Catalano said: "Does Armie stagedoor?"

He must at least some of the time. On Colbert he talked about people bringing him peaches to sign.

[Impossible2]

BobbyBubby said: "You never seem content in simply disliking something. You have to take it further and try to find motives of why someone liked something you didn’t. That feels more like snobbery to me. Not everyone is a lemming because they gravitate to something that’s not up your alley."

I'm yet to see him like ANYTHING so I wouldn't take anything he says too seriously...

[ImAProphet]

Jordan Catalano said: "Does Armie stagedoor?"

I walked past the theatre yesterday afternoon and he was out there signing after the matinee. He seemed very friendly, too.

[After Eight]

 

"It's like the guy clutching his circa 2004 flip phone relentlessly trying to convince everyone else that no one needs any more technology than that."

A 2004 flip phone? I think you've lost something off your fastball, Charlie. Surely you know I would opt for a carrier pigeon. 

"He's a dinosaur who can't adapt so he desperately tries to convince others of the correctness of his views to make himself feel better."

Wow, how can someone turn from a smart cookie into a waterlogged Saltine in the space of just one post? As if anyone could "convince" anyone else of anything on this board! 

I let people know the lay of the land, no more, no less. In that, I do a public service. If  people choose to disregard what I say, well, that's entirely up to them. But they can't say they hadn't been warned.

 

[BobbyBubby]

You attempt to get into everyone's head, making broad generalizations that people are elitists and followers if they happen to like what you hate.  You can never simply state your thoughts on a show.  You have to insult everyone who had an enjoyable experience, insulting people's intelligence and ability to make up their own mind about something.  People seem to only love Sondheim because they were told to, per you.  F*CK the hours of enjoyment that his work has brought people, right?  Every post you make just comes across as bitter. Perhaps people would value your opinions if you didn't feel the need to insult their intelligence every chance you get.

[JBC3]

Public service?

ffs

ego much?

[UncleCharlie]

After Eight said: "

"It's like the guy clutching his circa 2004flip phone relentlessly trying to convince everyone else that no one needs any more technology than that."

A 2004 flip phone? I think you've lost something off your fastball,Charlie. Surelyyou know I would opt for a carrier pigeon.

"He's a dinosaur who can't adapt so he desperately triesto convince others of the correctness of his views to make himself feel better."

Wow, how can someone turn from a smart cookie into a waterlogged Saltine in the space of just one post? Asif anyone could "convince"anyone else of anything on this board!

I letpeople know thelay of the land, no more, no less.In that, I do a public service. Ifpeoplechooseto disregard what I say,well, that's entirely up to them. But they can't say they hadn't beenwarned.

"

There are probably 8-10 people on this board I use as what I call contra-opinions. Just do the opposite of what they recommend regarding a show and you'll more than likely be happy with your choice. So yes AE, you do provide a public service and I have no problem telling you I appreciate it.

[After Eight]

"You can never simply state your thoughts on a show. "

Patent nonsense. I hope you're just talking off the top of your head, and not one of those postmodernists who play fast and loose with the facts to serve their own ends. In either case, Bobby, you're the one making broad (erroneous) generalizations here, not to mention being insulting.

And frankly, if you don't like my posts, rather than getting yourself all in a dither, why not just put my name on ignore?  That way, you'll never be sorry, and always grateful.

 

[After Eight]

"So yes AE, you do provide a public service and I have no problem telling you I appreciate it."

Glad to be of help. 

I'm sorry though not to have caught any of your own reviews of shows here, so as to be similarly guided by you.

[YouDon'tClimbTrees?]

I've read all of the reviews I could find and I'm a little unsure of the overall sentiment for this play. The New York Times is generally positive, although somewhat tepid -- the only things Jesse Green says about Armie Hammer are that he's "shiny" (not really a compliment in this context) and "spot on" (I guess that's a compliment but if I were Armie, I would have liked a little more than that). There are several other positive reviews, but I would say that they're not the raves I was expecting. Even the tepid reviews were too nice for this production, in my opinion, but I'm happy that Armie Hammer was praised across the board (although I really don't think he deserved the praise he received -- it's not entirely his fault since the play is such a hot mess). I felt that all of the reviews held back a bit because they did not want to take away from the fact that this is a watershed moment for the female Asian playwright.

So, based on the reviews, is this considered a hit?

[Miles2Go2]

I think it will be considered a historically important moment for Broadway, but it will not be considered a hit. It received mixed reviews but beyond that it has struggled to find an audience. Given the subject matter that may not be too surprising, even with Armie Hammer’s presence in the play. Last week it only grossed 53% of its gross potential and that was only slightly down from the week before. I don’t see these reviews helping it. The reality is that unless you’re Harry Potter, it’s very, very difficult for a straight play to become a hit. The Iceman Cometh is a beloved play and the revival had Denzel and was well-reviewed and still didn’t recoup. We aren’t even confident Angels in America recouped.

[Kad]

...it was not put up to be a financial "hit". It is pretty impossible for it to be a financial hit. It was put up in a very limited run as part of a nonprofit's season.

[YouDon'tClimbTrees?]

Any idea on whether this could be extended?

[newintown]

"Any idea on whether this could be extended?"

The website rather explicitly states "THROUGH SEPTEMBER 9 ONLY!" And Torch Song starts performance October 9. It seems unlikely that it could extend.

 

[LxGstv]

Saw this the other day and thought it was ok, the pre show music wasn’t nearly as loud as I thought it would be... I wonder if they toned it down or knowing in advance what to expect made a difference...

Also, does anyone happen to have a list of songs they play before the show? I was enjoying them, but I didn’t get there early and was only able to Shazam two of them... if anyone happens to know other songs they play I would really appreciate it!!

[Lot666]

Jordan Catalano said: "Does Armie stagedoor?"

He did when we saw it (July 21 matinee) and was clearly trying to be nice, but he looked like he was trying to move quickly and the crowd was exhausting him.