GHOST first preview?

[steven22]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 1:00am

Anyone going to the first preview today? Report back here about the show!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 1:12am

I will be there...looking forward to it!

Updated On: 3/16/12 at 01:12 AM

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 7:11am

I will be seeing it tomorrow! Can't wait to see this show again!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 9:51am

I'll be there too. I hope it's visually interesting because judging from the cast recording so much of the score sounds the same.

[matty159]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 9:58am

I think I am rather irrationally excited to see this...though I will be waiting until next Monday. Can't wait to see everyone's initial thoughts.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 10:06am

Have you heard the London cast recording? My mind wanders so much trying to listen to it I don't know if I've made it through the whole thing in one sitting. Every time I listen I keep expecting it be campy, or have so cringe-inducing lyrics, but veers more into bland territory than misguided fun.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 10:32am

I adore the score (except Ball of Wax), i know some UK critics were not the biggest fans of the score but i emotionally connected to it. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as we do here in the UK. It's big, commercial and very romantic.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 11:15am

The score really warms up after you see it in the show's context. When I first listened to the cast recording prior to seeing the show I found it to only be OKAY. But after seeing the show, I am in love with it.

The show is also very visually stunning. I have heard that they are cutting "Ball of Wax" from the Broadway version. Does anybody know if there is any truth to that?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 12:37pm

I hope to god they do cut it.

When the show played here in Manchester prior to London,critics, audiences etc told them to cut the song because it destroyed the emotional impact of the moment. They did not listen

[MillieDillmount]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 12:45pm

I'll also be there tonight!! I'm super excited, this is really a spur of the moment thing. I just decided last night to go. I really hope it's good. I feel this show can either be incredible, or really campy. So, we'll see how it goes. But I'm gonna try to just go in with an open mind.

[TheBatBoy]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 12:59pm

That song is one of the most useless things I've heard in a long time. I'm sorry - a tap number with ghosts telling their stories about how they ended up being ghosts? Way to destroy the momentum. I really do hope they cut it for the Broadway run.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 3:09pm

I see Sharon Clarke was the only actor nominated for an Olivire Award. Why the heck didn't they bring HER over.

The show got many noms, congrats to them!

[darreyl102]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 4:06pm

i am seeing the show tonight- very excited about it!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 9:41pm

At intermission- Levy is in great voice, well they all are. Randolph is walking away with the show. Overall I like it!

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 3/15/12 at 10:11pm

Can't wait to hear more! Da'Vine Randolph is a close friend of mine, I expect to hear plenty of good things. :)

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/16/12 at 12:48am

Ok, so I'm kind of surprised to be saying this, but when all was said and done I loved it.

Levy and Fleeshman had nice chemistry and they both have pop belt voices that fit the score. I said before I didn't like the score on disc so much, but it did play so much better in the theater. I think a lot had to do with their believability as a couple; if you told me they were an off stage couple I would believe it.

Randolph is making one hell of a Broadway debut. I know people say this way too much on here, but truly she will get a Tony nomination and have an amazing shot at winning. It's the type of performance you can't help but love and root for. I was happy for her as an actor coming to New York as an unknown and triumphing like this. Congrats!

Warchus has this set moving and spinning every second. It's massive and every panel is an LCD screen. There are non-stop projections and the scrim is often down with extra projections there as well. The production is also a special effects bonanza, and really delivers in that department

***SPOILER***
Every time someone was killed there was a great trick when a body double appeared as the dead person and the actor was walking around as a ghost. Surprised me each time. Also all the walking through walls etc was excellent.
***END SPOILER***

This delivers as a simple romance and big budget Broadway fare. No matter the reviews I think it will have good word of mouth and be a tourist hit. A pleasant surprise I will be visiting again.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/16/12 at 12:49am

Any new or cut songs from the original London production?

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/16/12 at 12:54am

I'd say it's just about OK. It's competent, well-performed, and flows smoothly. That's saying something.

It's better than Once, Death Takes a Holiday, Bonnie and Clyde, Lysistrata Jones, and the agonizing Queen of the Mist. But that's not saying much.

The tug-at-the-heartstrings story tugs at the heartstrings, though it is overly contrived and pretty sappy. The slight tale is not really well served by musicalization, however. The blaring sound, ugly designs, and technological overkill don't help matters.

The score is relatively painless, but unmemorable. It's of the kitschy pop-wail variety. There are some godawful extraneous numbers, the worst of which was a rap piece by a bitter ghost living in the subway. The poor ghost seemed very unhappy, indeed. Was it becuse he was stuck in the subway or that he had to deliver this number?

Now that I think of it, when it comes to plays about ghosts, I'll take Barrie's lovely little play, Mary Rose.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/16/12 at 1:03am

Oh yes- Ball of Wax was cut, but I didn't really care for the one that replaced it. It's better, but really that character of the old hospital ghost should be cut. There's no need for a song there, and ensemble looks too much like the ancestors from Addams Family in that scene, which isn't a good thing to remind us of.

My other complaint is a common first preview problem that the sound was off balance during some of the louder moments. I'm sure they will be toning down the band and cranking a few of the mics over the weekend.

Even though I loved it, I admit it's not a perfect show and I didn't love it in the way I love Once or Caroline. It's just crowd pleasing goodness. What something like Sister Act should have been- a great movie adaptation that gives in to the nostalgia people have for the movie, and still finds ways to be new and fresh.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/16/12 at 1:05am

Oh AfterEight- you're more obsessed with Queen of the Mist than anyone I know. Is there a show you haven't compared it to this season?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/16/12 at 1:12am

^What is the new song called that replaces "Ball of Wax?"

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/16/12 at 1:16am

"You Gotta Let Go" sung by the Hospital Ghost as played by Lance Roberts.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/16/12 at 1:24am

Uhh, Whizzer, if you read carefully, you'll see that I mentioned it as one in a string of titles.

And to answer your question, I don't recall comparing it to Got Tu Go Disco, Fearless Frank, or La Grosse Valise, though it was far worse than any of those.

And what's your beef, anyway?

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 3/16/12 at 1:29am

I liked a lot of Queen of the Mist. When I contemplate going to see Ghost I think how will this sentimental pop-rock musical compare to Queen of the Mist. And then I list the ways.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/16/12 at 1:33am

After Eight- Got Tu Go Disco wasn't this season...What I mean is ever since you saw Queen of the Mist you seem to be obsessed with comparing it unfavorably to every show you've seen since. I give you credit for going to lots of theater, but you certainly don't seem to like very much. What continues to drive you to go?

Personally I really like Queen of the Mist and worshiped Once. It's weird to compare Ghost to either show as they aren't in the same genre of show. It's like saying you thought The Help was an ok movie, but at least it wasn't as bad as Friday the 13th or Halloween. What does that really tell us about The Help?

Updated On: 3/16/12 at 01:33 AM