Moulin Rouge! Previews

[Robbie2]

YvanEhtNioj said: "I love love love love the big Marquee letters that they added! With the string lights behind it, It looks like they’re actually trying to transform the theater into something new from the outside"

[Robbie2]

[Robbie2]

dmwnc1959 said: "I walked over to the Al Hirschfeld and Walter Kerr theatres when I was in town this past weekend and even just being there got me giddy for my trip at the end of next month to see Moulin Rouge and Hadestown...35 days and counting!"

[Robbie2]

[irishgator1]

I went on Saturday and was very pleased to find that very few of the audience was singing along. I saw it in Boston and the singing was rampant and annoying.

[dmwnc1959]

When did they add those big marquee letters and string lights? Must have been after the 20th when I was down there. They do add a lot to the marquee because it was looking sort of bare. Hate that I missed them them, but I’ll get to check them out next month when I’m there again. :)

[catalana3]

What has Aaron and Karen’s track record been? Are they going in for all performances including matinees?

[ren598]

catalana3 said: "What has Aaron and Karen’s track record been? Are they going in for all performances including matinees?"

Pretty good.  I saw it 6 times in Boston and once on Broadway.  Both have been on every single time.  Come to think of it, the entire main cast (Arron Tveit, Karen Olivo, Danny Burstein, Tam Mutu, Sahr Ngaujah, Ricky Rojas, Robyn Hurder) have been on for every show I saw.  Can't speak about matinees though.  All the shows I saw were in the evening.

[dramamama611]

There are no alternates so you should be able  to EXPECT they will be in. But life happens.

I havent heard of any absences, and people would have brought it up here.

[Mike Barrett]

Especially early on in Broadway run its very odd that someone misses a show. As others have said life can happen so they may not be there but id expect them to be! 

 

Also, any comments on row L in the mezzanine all the way to the left side? Not sure what to expect for my view and there really isn't anything up on view from my seat to judge on. Thanks! 

[dramamama611]

Im in the mezz tomorrow night. Ill try to take a look for you!

[Erin V]

As of now, none of the principles have missed a performance, evening or matinee.

[Mike Barrett]

dramamama611 said: "Im in the mezz tomorrow night. Ill try to take a look for you!"

Awesome! Thanks so much!!! Enjoy the show :) glad we’re going in the same week! 

[LeftofLinus]

Also, any comments on row L in the mezzanine all the way to the left side? Not sure what to expect for my view and there really isn't anything up on view from my seat to judge on. Thanks!"

 

I sat in Row L Seat 19 (pretty far to the left).  Like most seats in the mezz you can only see the top half of the performers on the runway portion...well you can if the rest of the people around you aren't leaning forward...or dancing...or continuously getting up to go to the bar or the bathroom.  You also miss anything that happens under the stage right box (which I don't think was too much)

 

I must say I have never been more disappointed in a show than I was with this.  The cast is talented, the set is beautiful and that is where the positives end.  This show makes Mama Mia seem like it has good scene to song transitions.  They tried to do too much and in my opinion failed miserably.  The only thing I've disliked more than this on Broadway is Be More Chill.  This show is a tourist trap and the audience is comprised of people who have no business in a theater.  The behavior was repulsive around me.  All in all, I wish I spent the good chunk of change I bought these tickets for and saw Hadestown again (or probably anything else).  I'm sure this will continue to be a success due to name recognition but I don't see many actual theater people seeing this more than once.  I know I feel duped.  

[IHeartNY2]

@LeftofLinus, what do u define as a "tourist trap" exactly?

[Stage Door Sally]

"...the audience is comprised of people who have no business in a theater."

Oh yes, that's right, didn't they get the memo?. The theater is only for specific people. A certain type, a special class. Just because they shelled out big money for tickets doesn't mean they have a right to be there. As Basil Fawlty said in his ad for Gourmet Night, "No riff raff."

  

[Colin852]

Yikes Linus. If you're gonna be that miserable at the Moulin Rouge, I'd hate to be standing next to you at a party.

[poisonivy2]

LeftofLinus said: "


Also, any comments on row L in the mezzanine all the way to the left side? Not sure what to expect for my view and there really isn't anything up on view from my seat to judge on. Thanks!"



I sat in Row L Seat 19 (pretty far to the left). Like most seats in the mezz you can only see the top half of the performers on the runway portion...well you can if the rest of the people around you aren't leaning forward...or dancing...or continuously getting up to go to the bar or the bathroom. You also miss anything that happens under the stage right box (which I don't think was too much)



I must say I have never been more disappointed in a show than I was with this. The cast is talented, the set is beautiful and that is where the positives end. This show makes Mama Mia seem like it has good scene to song transitions. They tried to do too much and in my opinion failed miserably. The only thing I've disliked more than this on Broadway is Be More Chill. This show is a tourist trap and the audience is comprised of people who have no business in a theater. The behavior was repulsive around me. All in all, I wish I spent the good chunk of change I bought these tickets for and saw Hadestown again (or probably anything else). I'm sure this will continue to be a success due to name recognition but I don't see many actual theater people seeing this more than once. I know I feel duped."

Once more for those in the back: if you paid money for a ticket you have a right to be in the theater. If only Lady Bracknell types attended the theater then musical theater would die a quick death. 

[LeftofLinus]

IHeartNY2 said: "@LeftofLinus, what do u define as a "tourist trap" exactly?"

A show that is a draw to people who want to see a show but have no real idea of what good theater is.  It will appeal to the out of towners since they know the movie and the songs but the show itself has no real artistic merit.  The mashups of songs are sloppy, the transitions into the songs are terrible (Satine and Christian arguing..."Shut up and Dance with Me" cue music for shut up and dance.  

I know my views of this show and its patrons were harsh but shelling out that kind of money I expect to be able to watch the show.  I expect people in movie theaters to not talk throughout the movie and I'm only paying $15 for a ticket.  If I'm spending over $150 on a theater ticket I would hope to be able to hear the show and not the woman in front of me singing along and not see her dancing in her seat or standing up in the middle of the show.  I would hope I can get comfortable in my seat and not have to stand up and let people past me 6 times in the first act alone so they can go to the bar.  I'm not saying certain people should not be allowed in the theater but there should be a certain level of theater etiquette observed when seeing a show as to not disturb the rest of the patrons who are there to actually SEE the show...not to get drunk, sing-with the actors like its a Frozen sing-along in Disney World, and inhibit the other people who also paid money from trying to enjoy the show. 

I also would hope the creative team would try and get a little creative with the way they structured the show and didn't just try to cram music together to get as many recognizable songs into the score as possible.  I admit I found Act 2 much better than Act 1 but Act 1 set a very low bar IMO.  

 

[Lot666]

LeftofLinus said: "IHeartNY2 said: "@LeftofLinus, what do u define as a "tourist trap" exactly?"

A show that is a draw to people who want to see a show but have no real idea of what good theater is. It will appeal to the out of towners since they know the movie and the songs but the show itself has no real artistic merit."

I'm sure it wasn't your intention to do so, but this sounds to me like you're saying that people who live outside of New York "have no real idea of what good theater is".

[LeftofLinus]

Lot666 said: "LeftofLinus said: "IHeartNY2 said: "@LeftofLinus, what do u define as a "tourist trap" exactly?"

A show that is a draw to people who want to see a show but have no real idea of what good theater is. It will appeal to the out of towners since they know the movie and the songs but the show itself has no real artistic merit."

I'm sure it wasn't your intention to do so, but this sounds to me like you're saying that people who live outside of New York "have no real idea of what good theater is"."

 

Not saying that at all.  I live outside of NYC.  I shouldn't have said out of towners.  There are plenty of people outside of NYC who can appreciate theater and know how to behave in a theater.  This show, from my experience, seems to attract people who have no clue how to behave in a theater either from lack of experience or lack of manners.  I feel like people who normally wouldn't go to a Broadway show will be attracted to this since it is a recognizable story, a visual spectacle, and they know all the music.  

[Colin852]

Linus, with all due respect, you pretty much captured every negative stereotype about NY theater-goers: arrogant and stuck-up (and why the industry hates these boards)...people who think their palette is more refined than everyone else's and that tourists spend money on garbage: Actually they're on vacation, and are looking for a FUN night out. They want the razzle dazzle, and I'm glad there's more on the menu than Hadestown or the 8000th revival of a Neil Simon play.  

I hate to break it to you: But all these shows you loathe (and the people who buy tickets to them) are what help keep this industry afloat...something to think about as you try to banish all the eye-popping spectacles to Vegas. 

Signed, 

A proud New Yorker (who will choose Sia over Sondheim any day of the week). 

[Lot666]

Colin852 said: "Linus, with all due respect, you pretty much captured every negative stereotype about NY theater-goers: arrogant and stuck-up (and why the industry hates these boards)...people who think their palette is more refined than everyone else's and that tourists spend money on garbage: Actually they're on vacation, and are looking for a FUN night out. They want the razzle dazzle, and I'm glad there's more on the menu than Hadestown or the 8000th revival of a Neil Simon play.

I hate to break it to you: But all these shows you loathe (and the people who buy tickets to them) are what help keep this industry afloat...something to think about as you try to banish all the eye-popping spectacles to Vegas.

Signed,

A proud New Yorker (who will choose Sia over Sondheim any day of the week)."

More of the same going on here:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1118325&dt=61

[Mike Barrett]

LeftofLinus said: "IHeartNY2 said: "@LeftofLinus, what do u define as a "tourist trap" exactly?"

A show that is a draw to people who want to see a show but have no real idea of what good theater is. It will appeal to the out of towners since they know the movie and the songs but the show itself has no real artistic merit. The mashups of songs are sloppy, the transitions into the songs are terrible (Satine and Christian arguing..."Shut up and Dance with Me" cue music for shut up and dance.

I know my views of this show and its patrons were harsh but shelling out that kind of money I expect to be able to watch the show. I expect people in movie theaters to not talk throughout the movie and I'm only paying $15 for a ticket. If I'm spending over $150 on a theater ticket I would hope to be able to hear the show and not the woman in front of me singing along and not see her dancing in her seat orstanding up in the middle of the show. I would hope I can get comfortable in my seat and not have to stand up and let people past me 6 times in the first act alone so they can go to the bar. I'm not saying certain people should not be allowed in the theater but there should be a certain level of theater etiquette observed when seeing a show as to not disturb the rest of the patrons who are there to actually SEE the show...not to get drunk, sing-with the actors like its a Frozen sing-along in Disney World, and inhibit the other people who also paid money from trying to enjoy the show.

I also would hope the creative team would try and get a littlecreativewith the way they structured the show and didn't just try to cram music together to get as many recognizable songs into the score as possible. I admit I found Act 2 much better than Act 1 but Act 1 set a v

"

Have you ever, ever had the thought, that just because you did not enjoy a show that someone else could? And it can still be qualified as good theatre? Such an ignorant comment. Art is subjective. People who buy don’t “Have no idea what good theatre is” they want to see what they want to see. Why do you have to be so judge mental on people who enjoy the show? Fine if you don’t like it, but no need to hate on people who do. Just seems snobby and elitist 

[LeftofLinus]

Colin852 said: "Linus, with all due respect, you pretty much captured every negative stereotype about NY theater-goers: arrogant andstuck-up(and why the industry hates these boards)...people who think their palette is more refined than everyone else's and that tourists spend money on garbage: Actually they're on vacation, and are looking for a FUN night out. They want the razzle dazzle, and I'm glad there's more on the menu than Hadestown or the 8000th revival of a Neil Simon play.

I hate to break it to you: But all these shows you loathe (and the people who buy tickets to them) are what help keep this industry afloat...something to think about as you try to banish all the eye-popping spectacles to Vegas.

Signed,

A proud New Yorker (who will choose Sia over Sondheim any day of the week)."

 

I'm not saying others can't enjoy this show...I'm certain many people will absolutely adore it and it will possibly be their favorite show EVER.  I saw it...I did not like it.  I won't go see it again.  There are plenty of shows I loved that others despise and vice versa.  Yes, theater is subjective and I understand that.  I am however not the only person on this board who also had the same feeling about this show.

 

Regardless of my thoughts on the show the audience behavior issue should not be up for debate.  If you had someone (or multiple people) completely distracting from the experience you paid to see would you not be upset?  I have seen plenty of shows and have NEVER experienced the type of behavior from an audience that I did at Moulin Rouge.  I'm sure that this also made my experience at this show a lot more negative than it would have been if I had seen a show with a respectful audience.   Call me stuck up all you want, but I know I don't need some deep intellectual musical to have a good time and yes while I love Hadestown, I also loved Head Over Heels and Beetlejuice...especially since I could actually enjoy the show and not the concert version of my seatmate.  Yes, I thought Moulin Rouge was not enjoyable as a show and even less enjoyable because of audience behavior.  I am quite positive that the majority of people on this board would also have a problem if they experienced the behavior I did in a show.

Signed,

A Proud Pennsylvanian (who would choose Britney Spears over Lin Manuel Miranda any day of the week)