I have an opportunity to see ROAD SHOW in San Francisco. Tickets are only $15. I haven't heard a lot about it. I am a huge Assassins fan, if that makes a difference.
If you've seen it, let me know how it ranks with his others. I know it has a bit of a history.
I may see it to say I saw it, but I don't want it to be a terrible experience.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
I live in San Francisco, and when I heard they're doing Road Show, I immediately decided to see. I'm a huge Sondheim fan. And while it's far from Sondheim's best, the show is so rarely don that I think it would really be a treat to have the opportunity to see it. I for one, will definitely be seeing it.
It's not a long show, either (I believe the current version runs a bit over 90 minutes in one act.) As a diehard Sondheim fan it may be, after minor shows like The Frogs, the recording is one I have the least desire to ever put on and revisit, but when I do I always find more in the show that I enjoy.
This all sounds like suggestions to not bother, rather than to go, but I'd agree with most on here that you should. For 15 dollars, and it looks like a decent theatre company, *and* you are at least sorta a Sondheim fan, I think it would be worth it -- it's a show I would jump at the chance to actually see. (Besides, I am sure that AfterEight who hates Sondheim and, well, nearly everything paid much more for his experience to see it.)
I got a buddy in this (the guy playing Hollis.) I'm going tonight. I've heard good things about the production, and, I guess I'm in the minority, but I like the show. (My understanding, from a few friends who have seen it multiple times, is that it worked better without Alexander Gemignani or Michael Cerveris)
I saw the production last night and, while it was a preview performance, it was emabarrassingly terrible..
I'm a huge Sondheim fan and was familiar with ROAD SHOW, but hadn't seen it in New York. So, I was thrilled to be able to finally seen the whole pice. And while Rhino is quite a small company, so low production values can be expected. But the staging was outright clunky and terrible. Tthe work here was just incredibly bad.
See it if you're curious; I doubt ROAD SHOW will play again soon. But set your bar very low. Like bad community theater low.
For folks in or visiting Chicago, Gary Griffin (who directed a sublime CST Follies) directs a March 14-May 4th production for Chicago Shakepeare Theatre.
BRJ, hopefully it improves. We're seeing it in two weeks. I'm not a fan of the music, but it might be one of the few chances I'll have to see an actual production. For the price and convenience, I figure I shouldn't miss it so I can at least see it staged once.
I'm happy to have seen the piece, familiarizing myself with it beyond the recording. And it pains me to make any more comments, because it was that painfully amateurish.