The Bands Visit

[(Insert Clever Name)]

Remember the rave reviews we got when it opened? I have been seeing $20 tickets on stubhub and was wondering if this is really that good.

[dramamama611]

There is no universal answer. Some people love it, others are bored. Stub hub jyst means there isn't a scalping market. Take advantage.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

(Insert Clever Name) said: "Remember the rave reviews we got when it opened? I have been seeing $20 tickets on stubhub and was wondering if this is really that good."

It IS that good but it's not a show for everyone. It's small, quiet, reflective, rueful. Not your typical musical.  

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Since when does the Stubhub resell market dictate anything about show quality?

Don't let those tickets deter you from seeing this stunningly beautiful, transporting show. It's one of my favorite shows on Broadway in a long time.

[(Insert Clever Name)]

Just wondering, I’m more excited now, i have tickets, I heard that it’s worth it to be closer so I’m sitting row D center orch, hoping this is worth it.

[UncleCharlie]

(Insert Clever Name) said: "Just wondering, I’m more excited now, i have tickets, I heard that it’s worth it to be closer so I’m sitting row D center orch, hoping this is worth it."

You figured it out. Don't believe the reviews and the hype. It's terrible. Dreadful. Horrible!!! You'll never be "right" again after seeing it. Get rid of your ticket immediately. Hurry! You seem nice and it's the holiday season so I'll do you a favor. Send your row D orch center ticket to me and I'll make sure it's disposed of properly for you and you'll never be troubled by it again.

[jpbran]

It's been at 100% capacity, while (at least last week) receiving just over 126% ticket-cost sales. It's doing fine. (and it's an amazing show... this is the first show I can remember where I'm literally baffled by the occasional "dislike" comments)

[Robbie2]

jpbran said: "It's been at 100% capacity, while (at least last week)receiving just over126% ticket-costsales. It's doing fine. (and it's an amazing show... this is the first show I can remember where I'm literally baffled bythe occasional "dislike" comments)"

 

It's been at 100% capacity since previews

[MattRVA]

(Insert Clever Name) said: "Just wondering, I’m more excited now, i have tickets, I heard that it’s worth it to be closer so I’m sitting row D center orch, hoping this is worth it."

I’m glad you’ll see TBV. Those are perfect seats. I saw the show two weeks ago, and it’s even more haunting and beautiful than I had hoped. Less plot-driven than character-driven. A small, bittersweet collection of encounters I found completely engrossing. My favorite show since seeing the touring company of Fun Home this spring. Please let us know what you think.

[ArtMan]

If you paid $20 for that center Row D ticket, you really should be excited.  Uncle Charlie...your reply was priceless.

[(Insert Clever Name)]

No, I did not spend $20 on that ticket, that would be very unlikely and based on some of these responses, I'm going to guess that it is not universally praised.

[ljay889]

The critics went crazy for it.

 It's a subtle, yet passionate musical aimed at adults, not children and teenagers, and I am so glad it has found a place on Broadway. 

[Andy51]

"It's a subtle, yet passionate musical aimed at adults, not children and teenagers . . ."

Well, my 11 yr. old son totally got it, loved it and pleaded with me to see it again -- which we did this week.  So, if you have reasonably sophisticated children who are into theater, it's worth considering taking them along.

 

 

 

[ljay889]

Oh, I'm sure certain teenagers will enjoy it. But it's definitely a musical for adults, not a show that I think will attract large groups of young people like DEH, Hamilton, Wicked, etc. 

[Andy51]

ljay889 said: "Oh, I'm sure certainteenagerswill enjoy it.But it's definitely a musical for adults, not a show that I think will attract large groups of young people like DEH, Hamilton, Wicked, etc."

I agree with the general point.  It's just that I almost didn't take my son in the first place because Brantley's review described it as a musical for adults. And it's now clear to me that it would have been unfortunate had I denied him the experience.

[uncageg]

It's really that good.

I have listened to it several times since the OBCR was released and alway from beginning to end. A wonderful recording.

It was so refreshing to see something simple. No major drama, big special effects or big show stopping numbers. Something you pay attention to and hang on almost every word. It left me breathless.

[raddersons]

The scalping market has become so over saturated lately with Hamilton and DEH... people want to get in on the next wave of it. People see ticket scalping as a low effort investment opportunity. The Band's Visit is basically this year's only non-hyper-commercialized Best Musical contender, and theater-folk thought ticket prices will go for crazy for that. It's not working out too well for them. 

For what it's worth, I didn't think it was that good. It was a fine show that was kept moving by some amazing bongo playing...  but there were absolutely no stakes, and some of the songs were superfluous and cringe-worthy, and i think it tried a bit too much to be "deep" without any actual depth.

If you do go, sit close. It's worth the cheaper sub-hub prices.

[haterobics]

Now, the StubHub fire sales for Meteor Shower... those are worth avoiding.

[Wee Thomas2]

We saw this on Saturday and really liked it.  The movie is better -- the musical was a bit simplistic -- but they did a good job of it.

 

On a lighter note, our seats were right next to the sound board and we could see the screen with the conductor on it (where *is* the orchestra, anyway?) and between numbers you could see her on her phone and knitting.

[Phantom4ever]

Does anyone know the name of the song that played at the roller rink? And is it possible to listen to it outside of the production? On youtube or anything?

A quick google search (duh) brought it up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD8DcgpLp_w

This was my favorite song in the show. I know that is going to make a lot of you demand my banishment from BWW, but I do admit that most of the show went over my head. I did not get why it was so funny that two towns had similar sounding names. I did not get why the woman who owned/ran the cafe had all this time to just hang out and chill with this stranger, and why she seemed absolutely enamored with his dull stories. I went in knowing nothing about the show except it's about an Egyptian band going to Israel so I was expecting something along the lines of "hey look Muslims and Jews can be friends---through the power of music! Yay!"  And when they started the show with the explanation about the Egyptian band coming to Israel but that it wasn't that important---winkwink!  Quite a bit of the dialogue was not in English and the audience seemed to have no problem following along. And man did I feel bad for the actor who had to stand there and look at the phone for about 90% of the show. 

Now I meekly bow down to the Gods of BWW and I acknowledge my ignorance of what this show was REALLY about so if someone could enlighten me, that would be great. If someone could do it without being condescending or obnoxious.......oh please this is BWW go ahead and let me have it lol. 

[GeorgeandDot]

^Passive aggressive much? Seriously, this is one of the most neurotic posts that I've read on here and I'm the queen of neurotic posts on BWW. Congratulations.

[Phantom4ever]

Anybody have anything to add to the thread rather than an ad hominem attack? I’d love for someone to explain what I missed.
That said, I did enjoy the “.....much?” comment, GeorgeandDot. Been ages since I heard one of those! Bringing back the oldies much! Haha I did it too! We are totally going to bring that phrase back......much!

[GeorgeandDot]

I think SpongeBob is more your show. It seems to fit your age range and intelligence level.

[dramamama611]

Wow...a person openly admits he didn't get it....and instead of bashing the show, he seeks insight, and you treat him like this? Good god.

Phantom - I wish I could help, but I haven't see this yet myself. It's killing me to wait until April, but I've promised my students NOT see any of our chosen shows until our trip together.

[GeorgeandDot]

^Cry me a river Dramaqueen, the post was clearly condescending and passive aggressive with no real interest in hearing anyone else's opinion. I don't even know why I'm bothering to respond to you considering that I blocked you months ago, so that I wouldn't have to constantly be reminded of your clear moral superiority. Sorry, hun, that I can spot a troll on here and you can't.