Flashdance

[Markecib]

Posted: 1/1/13 at 11:09pm

Today was the first performance of Flashdance. Sergio told the audience it was a preview and the may have to stop the show because the put in changes yesterday and they were working with a new crew etc...

For a first preview it wasn't horrible, I've seen worse. There was quite a few good things in the show, especially the first act. Act II though needs some serious work. The Act II opener needs replaced or they just need to reshuffle the scenes because it didn't work, and "Gloria" a song that they have pimped constantly was AWFUL. It wasn't a full song and featured a, "You haven't seen the last of me" line. It was just bad.

The show clocked in at 2:45 with an extended intermission. So I would say it would be around 2:30 total.

Emil Padgett was good, I liked her and how she played Alex. I was underwhelmed by the "Audition Scene." I don't think it was her per se, but how it came of.

I'm still trying to process it all, I'll post song list later. The only song the same from the UK was "Steeltown Sky" and it was a sold opener that did it's job.

The story is kept simple. They cut all the really dark stuff from the UK. No one is murdered in this version.

The cast overal was solid though I think you can inset anyone in the roles and they would just be as good.

It was a an OK first preview though, and they have a 7 month tour to make changes and tighten things up.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 1:36am

I'm seeing the tour in a few months. I am curious to see this one! How was the set?

[Markecib]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 8:03am

I think the set worked fine. It uses projections, panels and these 2 story towers that move in and out and have elements of the Newsie towers and Next to Normal set(sliding panels).

The one thing I've been noticing in shows is the use of video of a character doing the same choreography as the character is doing live, but it never syncs right and it became annoying.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 8:17am

Markecib, I saw the production in London and really enjoyed it. However, I had no interest in seeing this production, since I felt I already saw it. You mentioned that "Steeltown Sky" was the only song used from the UK production. Are you talking about original songs? They are still using the standards from the movie, correct? If you saw the UK production, is this production completely different, that it would be worth a Broadway ticket price. (The tour, is not coming anywhere near where I live). Thanks for the input.

[Markecib]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 9:03am

It's different than the UK version. Steeltown Sky is the only song with the same title, but the duet "Here and Now" between Nick & Alex is the same, but different title based on the song list from the UK that I looked up. I can't say if a price is justified for any show. It all depends on the person, but the plot is different and there are many new songs and characters than the UK version.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 11:49am

what's Rachelle Rak's character, Tess?? Tess isn't in the movie version, so I'm curious as to where Rak's character comes into play. I wonder if Rak still wishes she was doing Pippin at A.R.T.(and likely Broadway)??

[Markecib]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 12:32pm

I'm usually not thrilled with Rak in most things, she is like a Plot C character in this, but I liked her in this. Tess is the oldest of the trio of girls Alex works with (Tess, Gloria and Kiki)they makes some older than dirt jokes, and she sings I love Rock n Roll as her stage solo dance in a horrivle Tina Turner-ish wig. She also has a fun act 2 song with the Dequina Moore (Kiki) and Matthew Henerson (Harry)that would probably be a beter act 2 opener if the scene was reworked a little. I liked the song which is a reprise of of a song in the first Act "Put it On"

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 12:34pm

Dropping ALL the UK original songs is a silly idea. It had some great songs in like High Art, The Long Way Home, Don't Stop.

Sad that they have taken the darker themes away as well, what will be left will be fluffy and light, for the problems the UK version had the show had some added and much needed weight with the new book.

[Next2Noone]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 8:58pm

At intermission now. Will post about it later tonight.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 9:42pm

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

[Next2Noone]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 11:09pm

I just got back from the second performance. The person who joined me and I both enjoyed the show. Both of us are Flashdance virgins(we hadn't even seen the movie). Also I'm a review virgin so bare with me.

The show seems pretty strong considering it has just started. It flows fairly well and doesn't tend to drag on as much as I thought it would considering the amount of songs. Act I is definitely the stronger act, but I feel that the relationship between Alex and Nick falls flat in some parts. Also the character Jimmy, played by David R. Gordon, needs more to do. He comes in and out of scenes a fair amount, yet he does not add anything to most of them. It's not really Gordon's fault, I just think he is an underdeveloped character.

Act II needs a little more work. I agree with Markecib with the issue of the Act opener. It is not an interesting song, and I do not feel that Christian Whelan is up to par with the rest of the cast.

The highlights of the show were definitely the leads. Emily Padgett & Matthew Hydzik are both great in their respective roles. I didn't know Padgett was such a great dancer. Also the three ladies Kiki, GLoria and Tess were great as well. Both acts have great closing numbers and the infamous water scene is the perfect ending to Act I. And on a technical aspect, the set design worked well. I'm not a fan of projections, but they were not distracting like they usually are AND the lighting is amazing!

SOrry for the long windedness. If you have any specific questions I will try to answer. Other than that. I enjoyed the show and think there is great potential for the Broadway production.

[Markecib]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 11:32pm

Nex2Noone-They were having set issues yesterday. I hope they had those worked out. I also enjoyed Alex's relationship with Hannah and I wished there was more.

The Act 2 opener and the Gloria scene still bother me today.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 2:01pm

How does act 2 open? i wonder if its similar to the UK opening that also had a weak act opener

[Markecib]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 2:25pm

Act 2 Opens with C.C. welcoming you to his club the Chameleon. He introduces the dancers you are on stripper poles who say like one line. Gloria comes in and C.C. says she can be the next big MTV star and she has a dream sequence. Her part isn't bad, but it's the whole beggining that's not so good.

Actually any scene in the Chameleon is pretty awful. Their the scenes that really bring down act 2.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 2:51pm

Well, tonight is press night, so we'll see how the Pittsburgh critics treat the show. I guess reviews will be on-line late tonight or tomorrow morning.

[Next2Noone]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 3:07pm

Last night, I had people involved in the production sitting behind me. At one point I heard them talking about contracts. This made me think. What will happen when the show goes to Broadway? Will the tour cast transfer, or will they just continue with the tour?

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 3:56pm

Entirely different cast, based on what I've read.

[Markecib]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 5:13pm

Some of the cast will go the the Broadway show and some will continue to tour. I read an interview with Emily and that's what she said.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 7:04pm

Yes i think (if i remember) the UK one opened act 2 in a similar way.

[dwwst12]

Posted: 1/4/13 at 1:20pm

Here's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette senior theater critic Christopher Rawson's review.

I was seated next to him, and the "learned discussion" he references about whether the dancing was really from the 80's began when the two ladies on the other side of him asked me if I thought the show was set in the 80's or today. An amusing conversation about breakdancing and pink leggings ensued.

[dwwst12]

Posted: 1/4/13 at 1:20pm

OK, evidently I don't know how to link.

www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/theater-dance/stage-review-flashdance-musical-premiers-here-plays-itself-to-a-tie-669013/

[Markecib]

Posted: 1/4/13 at 1:42pm

I'm glad it was Chris who reviewed this instead of Sharon Eberson. She tends to just love everything.

Here's the song list:

Act 1

Prologue...Alex and Ensemble
Steeltown Sky... Alex, Nick and Ensemble
Just Out of Reach...Alex
Maniac...Kiki, Gloria, Tess
Dealbreaker...Alex, Nick
Put it On...Kiki, Gloria, Tess, Alex
Just Out of Reach (Reprise)...Alex
Hannah's Answer... Hannah and Alex
Inside...Alex, Ms. Wild, Ensemble
Justice... Nick, Steel Workers
I Love Rock N Roll...Tess
Remember Me...Gloria, Jimmy
Manhunt...Kiki
Here and Now... Nick, Alex
My Next Step... Alex, Nick, Jimmy, Gloria Ensemble
Maniac (Reprise)...Full Company

Act 2
Chameleon Girls... C.C., Gloria, Ensemble
Here and Now (Reprise)... Alex, Nick
My Turn...Alex, Nick, Ensemble
Where I Belong...Jimmy
Enough...Nick
Put it On(Reprise)...Kiki, Tess, Harry
Gloria... Gloria, Ensemble
Where I Belong(Reprise)...Jimmy, Gloria
Hang On...Alex, Nick
Leap...Alex
What a Feeling... Kiki, Gloria, Tess, Full Company

[jenloveswen]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 8:22pm

Saw the show this afternoon.

I've been a theater nerd for 30 years and have never left a show during intermission until today. My husband and I thought this was the worst show we've ever seen. It pains me to say that, but I'm only posting it in hopes someone affiliated with the production will see this and take my points under consideration.

The show does not make sense. She's a union worker, who needs to take some kind of union test (???), yet the mill is cutting workers anyway. Let's think about that for a sec. First off, a mill can't just "cut" union workers (although it could furlough, typically based on seniority). This detail needs to be explained a little better because they're dealing with it like they're a non-union industry. Also, why is the audition such a conflict for her if she's probably going to be let go from the mill anyway?

The accents. This is supposed to be Pittsburgh and there was one character who said "yinz". However, he used "yinz" and "you's" in the same sentences and mostly sounded like he was from Brooklyn. Just lose the accents altogether or be consistent in the regional minutia.

The music. Awful. Hard to understand the lyrics in many songs as well.

Marketing. I was utterly dismayed by how many very young children were in attendance. The show was marketed here, at least from what I observed, as a feel-good, perhaps family-friendly experience with some catchy pop tunes. For goodness sakes, it isn't the Lion King! This show contains women exposed in their underwear, suggestive dancing, adult themes, and strong language. Please producers, this needs to be clarified in your marketing going forward. (I realize this criticism has nothing to do with the performers, but it still needs to be mentioned.)

The lighting. Way too much tight spotlighting. It was so harsh. I also felt that there were too many projections. What was probably supposed to come across as cool and high-tech came across as low budget, as though there wasn't enough money to buy real sets. Also, it's the 80's! The current technology of using these elaborate projections didn't gel with everything else on the stage being from the early 80's.

The supposed efforts to move the show along quickly made it difficult to become invested in the characters. We really didn't care if Alex made it to the dance school. And the Manhunt montage was strangely placed and had nothing to do with what was going on in the story. Alex wasn't exactly on a manhunt, or so the show had led us to believe up until that point. Made no sense at all.

They have A LOT of work to do before hitting Broadway. The show is so beloved here for some reason that it's almost sacrilege to say anything negative about it, but we thought it was a real stinker. The performers were fine, the dancers were talented, but they're all given terrible material to work with.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 8:28pm

I read in Broadwayworld today that the broadway opening is not until the summer. Since my only two trips this year will be the first week of May and first week of June...my decision for seeing this (again) has been made for me. (Unless the previews start early.)

Updated On: 1/6/13 at 08:28 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 1/7/13 at 9:03pm

lol how does anyone think Flashdance is a family show? Plus the advertising is half naked woman getting water dropped on her