GETTIN (G) THE BAND BACK TOGETHER Previews

[Jordan Catalano]

Well I disagree with every word you wrote, Whizzer.

[YvanEhtNioj]

Jordan Catalano said: "Well I disagree with every word you wrote, Whizzer. "

Was the theater pretty full? 

[Jordan Catalano]

Seemed like it was.

[KFC1991]

I remember you guys had this same reaction ( total disagreement with one another) after Holiday Inn.

It's amazing how subjective art is.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Well, we’re allowed to disagree, ha. I mean, you didn’t think this clearly a Full Monty rip off, and you thought this was better than both Monty and Rock of Ages? 

Full Monty at least made sense and there is something inherently funny and endearing about grown, out of shape men stripping for a good cause. Where was the tension that they wouldn’t succeed or make fools of themselves? 

I also can’t believe that I’m arguing for a non-original score, but this so badly needed to be a Bon Jovi jukebox musical. It’s scores like this that actually make great cases for using a tried and true catalog of songs. 

[Sauja]

KFC1991 said: "I remember you guys had this same reaction ( total disagreement with one another) after Holiday Inn.

It's amazing how subjective art is."

Who was anti-Holiday Inn? I’ll probably fall more in their camp. But I’m gonna give it a shot in a week. Got a great seat for very little money, and what can I say...I’m curious.

[Jordan Catalano]

Whizzer, the show absolutely reminded me of both Full Monty and Rock of Ages. I loved both of those shows but didn’t think this ripped them off, at all. As for the score, as I mentioned earlier I really enjoyed it! They were all songs mostly done in the style of 80s rock (which is the best music of all time) so that was a real treat for me.

As for having something endearing, maybe it’s the fact that I’m pretty much exactly the same age as these guys and totally understand wanting to make a change and how difficult etc. that can be. Judging by the audience response, I’m not alone.

[WhizzerMarvin]

I was anti-Holiday Inn. That was very bland, but professional compared to this. I just can’t believe how much this show made me long to see Rock of Ages again...

[20806]

You thought there was a possibility that the guys in The Full Monty were going to be humiliated and return to poverty in despair? Pretty sure that was always going to be a feel-good story!

[WhizzerMarvin]

No, I never thought they would actually be humiliated, but it is important for the audience to believe that THEY believe they could be humiliated and remain in poverty/lose their kid/etc. The characters don’t believe in themselves. That’s what’s important, and really central conflict of The Full Monty. There is a brief moment of self-doubt in Gettin the Band, but I never really bought into their self-doubt enough for an emotional response to them overcoming it. 

Jordan, I agree that the audience response to the songs was strong by the end, but I thought the reactions in act one were more on the tepid side and definitely many of the jokes went by without much reaction. People liked “Bart’s Confession” and Dance at the Gym-off because those were both silly and goofy and the closest the show came to being in line with ROA’s tone. 

[Sauja]

Oh, Whizzer. You aren’t making we feel very hopeful. Alas. Still a cheap ticket!

[Jordan Catalano]

I found th audience reaction very strong from the very beginning. I was in the mezz so I don’t know about anywhere else.

[20806]

I wonder if it changed much from George St? 

[barcelona20]

Jordan Catalano said: "I found th audience reaction very strong from the very beginning. I was in the mezz so I don’t know about anywhere else. "

What percentage of the audience do you think were friends of Ken and the producers? I bet at least 50. 

 

[WhizzerMarvin]

I was in the mezz too; I had a cheap ticket, so at least it wasn’t much money spent. 

[Bwayfan292]

Based on Instagram reactions people seem more excited to be attending a first preview than the actual
Show.

[bdwaygirl]

20806 said: "I wonder if it changed much from George St?"

That’s really what I’d like to know, too. 

[20806]

Bwayfan292 said: "Based on Instagram reactions people seem more excited to be attending a first preview than the actual
Show."

Where? I don’t know anything about hashtags but can’t see it.

[Bwayfan292]

20806 said: "Bwayfan292 said: "Based on Instagram reactions people seem more excited to be attending a first preview than the actual
Show."

Where? I don’t know anything about hashtags but can’t see it."

Type in Gettin the Band back together. Its the geo tag of the theatre. Its kinda funny cause the offical instagram of the show has commented on every single one saying thanks for coming. 

[After Eight]

What ever did New Jersey do to deserve this?

I'm sorry to report that this show was wanting in several important areas:  humor, intlligence, taste, craft, and good music and lyrics. It was also one of the ugliest shows to look at in memory --- no Cecil Beaton or Oliver Messel designs here. It seemed to try to convey the same vibe of juvenile stupidity and grossness as that awful movie, The Hangover. A wretched song about a man sleeping with his best friend's mother best succeeded in capturing that spirit. Poor Marilu Henner played the mother in question. I felt particularly sorry for her being trapped in this, especially when she had to come out periodically to ask if anyone wanted Fruity Pebbles, Fluffernutters, or Rice Krispies treats. Frankly, I would have preferred any of these to the show. 

Oh, yes. And there was also a joke about laxatives.

Paging Noel Coward!

 

[kdogg36]

[Oops! This thread got back on topic so I won't drag it off again.]

[WhizzerMarvin]

LOL, After Eight. I love that you mentioned all that food. There was also the bit where Bart couldn’t find the Buttermilk (gross!) in her fridge to pour on the Fruity Pebbles. And in his Confession he sang about spilling the Lucky Charms she had given him. 

My most cringeworthy moment was during the wedding when the rapper said, “When I say ?Matzah’ you say ?balls,’ ?Matzah’ ________ ?Matzah’ __________. Gentiles in the balcony, I can’t hear you!”
 

 

[20806]

WhizzerMarvin said: "LOL, After Eight. I love that you mentioned all that food. There was also the bit where Bart couldn’t find the Buttermilk (gross!) in her fridge to pour on the Fruity Pebbles. And in his Confession he sang about spilling the Lucky Charms she had given him.

My most cringeworthy moment was during the wedding when the rapper said, “When I say ?Matzah’ you say ?balls,’ ?Matzah’ ________ ?Matzah’ __________. Gentiles in the balcony, I can’t hear you!”

OMG

 

[20806]

After Eight said: "What ever did New Jersey do to deserve this?

I'm sorry to reportthat this showwas wanting in several important areas:humor, intlligence, taste, craft, and good music and lyrics. It was also one of the ugliest shows to look at in memory --- noCecilBeaton or Oliver Messel designs here.It seemed to try to convey the same vibe of juvenile stupidity and grossness asthat awful movie, The Hangover. A wretched song about a man sleeping with his best friend's mother best succeeded in capturing that spirit. Poor MariluHenner played the mother in question. I felt particularly sorryfor her being trapped in this,especially when she had to come out periodically to ask if anyone wanted Fruity Pebbles, Fluffernutters,or Rice Krispies treats. Frankly, I would have preferred any oftheseto the show.

Oh, yes. Andthere was also ajoke about laxatives.

Paging Noel Coward!

"

As in $35m budget. $450m takings Hangover? They may be onto something there.

[WaterPolo10036]

We only managed to sit through the first act, we walked out of a Broadway show for the first time last night. I am not sure where Jordan Catalano sat, but in the middle of the orchestra they sat in stunned silence. The book is just embarrassingly bad, no character development and the jokes are just weak. You could tell the audience wanted to laugh but the jokes sucked... at least in the first act. I was surprised by how bad the music was, the composer wrote Band Geeks, which had some great songs. I should of known it was going to be a bad show when the producer comes out before it starts and does a warm up act. I disagree slightly with the critique on the cast. I thought they were doing everything they could to make this bad material work. We decided to leave after realizing the second act had more songs in it than the first. I can't imagine anybody other than paid interns for the producer will like this show, the critics are going to tear it apart.