Bat Out Of Hell in San Francisco

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Hi kids!  Just wanted to let you know that my theatre-going group will be attending the 12/12/18 performance of BAT OUT OF HELL at San Francisco's Orpheum theatre.  As a group leader I may also be comped into opening night on 12/4.  Additionally, I have ticket for the very, very special MIDNIGHT performance at the Orpheum on 12/7.  Just purchased the digital original cast album a couple of days ago and I'm McLoving it.  Yes, my taste in musical theatre is quite catholic.

I suspect there will be the usual rants about jukebox musicals vis-a-vis the end of the world as we know it, but you know what?   I don't give a flying Fosca what anyone opines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-HD4VDca6Q  

 

 

[ggersten]

Saw it in London. Fun time

[UncleCharlie]

We haven't yet decided whether it's a clever, creative work or just another lazy, jukebox musical and until we do, whether you like it or not, you'll turn back your tickets until we tell you it's OK. I don't want to hear another word about this. Understood? 

[Loopin’theloop]

The music is wonderful - the singers and band in the original production just incredible. The production is a complete mess. Fun if you watch it as a series of vaguely connected music videos (which would have been better) but headscratching and sometimes infuriating if you try and actually take the dialogue or character motivations seriously. If you love the music, it will a great and fun evening out. If you are looking for a solid piece of musical theatre and Meatloaf isn’t your first love, be warned.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

UncleCharlie said: "We haven't yet decided whether it's a clever, creative work or just another lazy, jukebox musical and until we do, whether you like it or not, you'll turn back your tickets until we tell you it's OK. I don't want to hear another word about this. Understood?"

Oh, [show] queen!  lol

 

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

"The music is wonderful - the singers and band in the original production just incredible. The production is a complete mess. Fun if you watch it as a series of vaguely connected music videos (which would have been better) but headscratching and sometimes infuriating if you try and actually take the dialogue or character motivations seriously. If you love the music, it will a great and fun evening out. If you are looking for a solid piece of musical theatre and Meatloaf isn’t your first love, be warned."

TY.

[GavestonPS]

Meat Loaf (and Jim Steinman) is absolutely my first love!

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Spoiler alert: this is the plot in a nutshell. You're welcome.

 

[antonijan]

So...did you figure out what he won't do for love?

[UncleCharlie]

Haven't we all seen this plot so many times before. Think of something original for heaven's sake.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Spoiler alert: this is the plot in a nutshell. You're welcome.



"

I yam SO there!!!!!

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

antonijan said: "So...did you figure out what he won't do for love?"

Anything but that.

 

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

UncleCharlie said: "Haven't we all seen this plot so many times before. Think of something original for heaven's sake."

Don't you mean for HELL'S sake?

 

[yankeefan7]

I have said a few times that "Bat Out Of Hell" album has been a guilty pleasure of mine for years but could not imagine it being a decent musical. I wish it luck and just pray it is not horrible because I do enjoy the music.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

antonijan said: "So...did you figure out what he won't do for love?"

Okay, it's been explained before (once, memorably, by Meat Loaf himself, with a blackboard and pointer, on VH1 Storytellers), but I will break this down again:

Each verse mentions two things that the man would do for love, followed by one thing that he will not do. The title phrase repetition reasserts that he "won't do that." Each mention of "that" is a reference to the particular promise that he made earlier in the same verse.

Example:

"And I would do anything for love
I'd run right into hell and back
I would do anything for love
I'll never lie to you, and that's a fact
But I'll never forget
The way you feel right now
Oh no, no way
And I would do anything for love
But I won't do that -- no, I won't do that"

And so on, throughout the song, including at the very end when the female vocalist names two things she assumes he will do that he insists he will not. 

In order: he'll never "forget the way [she] feel[s] right now," "forgive [him]self if [they] don't go all the way tonight," "do it better than [he] does it with [her]," "stop dreaming of [her] every night of [his] life," "see that it's time to move on," or "be screwing around" (all "I"/"you" statements replaced according to character).

All of the above are "that." The song is just so long that it completely sweeps by people. Ironically enough, Meat Loaf thought the lyrics were unambiguous, whereas Steinman predicted the confusion they would cause. Those rare rock critics who are also schooled in grammar have since suggested that this sense would have been more clear if the lyric had been "and I won't do that" instead of "but I won't do that." Per them, it is the use of "but" instead of "and" that leads to the ambiguity. I think it wouldn't make a lick of difference, personally.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "antonijan said: "So...did you figure out what he won't do for love?"

Okay, it's been explained before (once, memorably, by Meat Loaf himself, with a blackboard and pointer, on VH1 Storytellers), but I will break this down again:

Eachverse mentions two things that the man would do for love, followed by one thing that he will not do. The title phrase repetition reasserts that he "won't do that." Each mention of "that" is a reference to the particular promise that he made earlier in the same verse.

Example:

"And Iwould do anything for love
I'd run right into hell and back
I would do anything for love
I'll never lie to you, and that's a fact
But I'll never forget
The way you feel right now
Oh no, no way
And I would do anything for love
But I won't do that -- no, I won't do that"

And so on, throughout the song, including at the very end when the female vocalist names two things she assumes he will do that he insists he will not.

In order: he'll never "forget the way [she] feel[s] right now," "forgive [him]self if [they] don't go all the way tonight," "do it better than [he] does it with [her]," "stop dreaming of [her] every night of [his] life," "see that it's time to move on," or "be screwing around" (all "I"/"you" statements replaced according to character).

All of the above are "that." The song is just so long that it completely sweeps by people. Ironically enough, Meat Loaf thought the lyrics were unambiguous, whereas Steinman predicted the confusion they would cause. Those rare rock critics who are also schooled in grammar have since suggested that thissense would have been more clear if the lyric had been "and I won't do that" instead of "but I won't do that." Per them, itis the use of "but" instead of "and" that leads to the ambiguity. I think it wouldn't make a lick of difference, personally."

My mind, she is boggled!  But in a good way.

 

 

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

yankeefan7 said: "I have said a few times that "Bat Out Of Hell" album has been a guilty pleasure of mine for years but could not imagine it being a decent musical. I wish it luck and just pray it is not horrible because I do enjoy the music."

It has played Toronto and is currently back in London (where it originated) for a second run.  "Guilty Pleasure"  is the general critical consensus.  Even won the Evening Standard award in 2016 for Best Musical.

Two reviews:  https://torontosun.com/entertainment/theatre/review-bat-out-of-hell-stage-show-hugely-entertaining

 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bat-out-of-hell-musical-theater-1104519  

 

[Loopin’theloop]

Any show who’s writer won’t attend rehearsals but sends a minion in his place and occasionally joins rehearsal via Skype...but only ever wearing a mask (yep) is going to turn into ‘guilty pleasure’ variety of show, as mentioned

[yankeefan7]

"It has played Toronto and is currently back in London (where it originated) for a second run.  "Guilty Pleasure"  is the general critical consensus.  Even won the Evening Standard award in 2016 for Best Musical.

Two reviews:  https://torontosun.com/entertainment/theatre/review-bat-out-of-hell-stage-show-hugely-entertaining

 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bat-out-of-hell-musical-theater-1104519  "

 

I think the Hollywood reporter review is probably the type of reviews this show will get if it makes it to Broadway.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

yankeefan7 said: ""It has played Toronto and is currently back in London (where it originated) for a second run. "Guilty Pleasure" is the general critical consensus. Even won the Evening Standard award in 2016 for Best Musical.

Two reviews:https://torontosun.com/entertainment/theatre/review-bat-out-of-hell-stage-show-hugely-entertaining

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bat-out-of-hell-musical-theater-1104519"



I think the Hollywood reporter review is probably the type of reviews this show will get if it makes it to Broadway."

Wonder if the critics/public will harp on the fact that some of the score was used previously in the "epic" Dance Of The Vampires.  Oy!

 

[CATSNYrevival]

Which songs were in Dance of the Vampires?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Well, to be frank, "Objects in the Rear View Mirror..." was partially recycled into Tanz first, but that is present, as is "Who Needs the Young," which would be familiar to any fans of the German version as (again, partially) forming the base for Chagal and Magda's number in the crypt in that version.

In case you actually meant DOTV, part of "God Has Left the Building" pops up -- I swear to God it's even the same prerecorded segment of keyboard programmed music -- during a fight scene that erupts in the first number.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Well, to be frank, "Objects in the Rear View Mirror..." was partially recycled intoTanzfirst, but that is present, as is "Who Needs the Young," which would be familiar to any fans of the German version as (again, partially) forming the base for Chagal and Magda's number in the crypt in that version.

In case you actually meant DOTV, part of "God Has Left the Building" pops up -- I swear to God it's even the same prerecorded segment of keyboard programmed music -- during a fight scene that erupts in the first number."

Thanks for this g.d.e.i.g.i

 

[CATSNYrevival]

I’m enjoying the cast album immensely. The elaborate scenery and pyrotechnic effects also look like something I’d enjoy. I don’t mind if the plot is a little out there. It almost wouldn’t be Steinman if it was any other way. I may look into seeing the tour in LA.

And now that Bat Out of Hell seems to be such a success, is it too much to ask to get a second try at Vampires here in the US?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

CATSNYrevival said: "And now that Bat Out of Hell seems to be such a success, is it too much to ask to get a second try at Vampires here in the US?"

I've been trying. 11 years this September. Believe me, the minute I know something, you will.