Desperate Measures?

[dramamama611]

Can anyone report on Desperate Measures either from the former York production or the one that is at New World?  Looks like it could be fun or awful!   (Did a search, but nothing came up.)

[bwayphreak234]

I am curious about this as well!

[MoveOnGypsy]

I saw it at the York and recently at New World. I think it’s hilarious. I thought the music, costumes and sets were inventive and unique. It’s a super fun and smart show.

[DAME]

What a delightful show. Worth seeing. And the sheriff is so handsome.

[sephyr]

dramamama611 said: "Can anyone report on Desperate Measures either from the former York production or the one that is at New World? Looks like it could be fun or awful! (Did a search, but nothing came up.)"

I got a comp to the show back at the York and I really loved the show! Some great standout performances especially Lauren Molina! And the songs and plot were fun and great!

[dramamama611]

Thanks, everyone.   Since it's unlikely my Harry Potter lottery will happen (one can dream), I think we might be taking this in July 4th week.

[VintageSnarker]

I saw the York production. As far as I know, the nun character is the only actor who didn't transfer with the production. It was good. As with all of these shows that commit to a shtick, the rhyming has high and low points but it's generally well done while also dipping into vernacular/more simplistic language fitting the characters. It's silly and fun and manages to not be too offensive, only dipping into some light misogyny. For a musical comedy western with an actual Madonna/whore dichotomy, it could have been worse. The costuming was generally solid. The humor again has highs and lows but isn't too cringey. But to me the strongest element was the performers. Everyone was in FANTASTIC voice. The quality of the songs almost doesn't matter when the voices are that good in a little theater like that.

[JBroadway]

It's actually the best take on Measure For Measure that I've seen (though I didn't get to see the Mark Rylance one, which was supposedly great). They actually manage to fix some of the problems with the plot and tone. 

[macnyc]

I saw it at the York and thought it was a very well done B musical. 

[JBroadway]

macnyc said: "I saw it at the York and thought it was a very well done B musical."

 

Or is it an extraordinarily well done C musical? 

[JBroadway]

double

[DAME]

It’s a fun and silly off broadway show. The grading thing is stupid . It was such a welcomed musical farce to see after all the overblown brioadway stuff.

[BuddyStarr]

We saw the matinee on Sat.  I enjoyed it, it is a cute musical and would agree with Dame: the sheriff is not only handsome but adorable.  Lauren Molina was out but I enjoyed her understudy.  I thought the weakest performance was by Susannah/Nun.  She seemed to have difficulty with her lines with the rhyming scheme.  Everyone else was perfect. The actor playing Johnny was like rubber.  His body moved every which way.  My favorite song was the Act I song "In the Dark"

[dramamama611]

Thanks again to everyone that lent me insight about thie show.   We caught it Tuesday night and thought it was adorable.  I'll agree with the above comment about the weakest link being the nun (Sarah Parnicky) . Her line delivery was often odd and she really seemed to struggle with making the meaning be at the forefront.  She also has a terrible habit of  allowing her sentences end "up" so it sounds like she's unsure of thought.

Everyone else was spot on in their silliness.   Molina's first number was one of my favorites and such kudos to the costume designer on that particular costume.

 

May it have a long life at NWS, go - enjoy!

[lightguy06222]

expected to absolutely despise this and leave at intermission.

I was surprisingly impressed!  it was a cute show.

[moira8]

Saw this last Monday and was thoroughly entertained! I love the silliness of it all. :)

[Cesare2]

The musical is very loosely based on MEASURE FOR MEASURE, and is not nearly as interesting as the Shakespeare play. If you're in the mood for silliness and not in the mood for subtlety, you'd probably like it.

[dramamama611]

It's not THAT loose.   It takes a LOT directly from the plot.   Yes, there is a lot missing: but the basics are definitely there.

 

It is definitely silly but I found it a lot more pleasing than Head Over Heels.

 

[uncageg]

Love this show. Conor Ryan is a riot! I was skeptical about the country sounding score, being a country music fan, but it is really good.