Decisions, decisions...

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 12:03am

Have an open Saturday night slot this Saturday, and am weighing:

• Linda Vista (love Letts)
• Sound Inside (hear good things)
• Betrayal (hear good things)
• Seared (typically like Rebeck)

Soft Power is the matinee, if you want to pair things like a theatrical sommelier.

I don't think I can truly go wrong with any of these, but I will only see one of them live on stage, and the other three I never will. Three of the four are already NYT Critics Picks.

So if anyone wants to advocate for or against, I am listening.

And yes, I realize someone will also say to skip Soft Power and to pick two from this list, as well as offer solutions NOT on this list.

Thanks in advance!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 12:20am

Haven't seen Linda Vista yet, but I've only heard bad things. 

People on this board have been enjoying Seared, but I didn't care for it.

I would definitely go with either Betrayal or Sound Inside. Tough call between the two of them. I probably enjoyed Betrayal more, but I'm a big Pinter fan. 

[msmp]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 12:21am

Going purely on word-of-mouth, I'd say Sound Inside.

[PianoMann]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 1:27am

I haven't seen all of the shows you're considering, but I'd highly recommend The Sound Inside. Parker is brilliant, the previews thread has nothing but good comments, and it just got a flurry of rave reviews. It is sneaky in its simplicity, but open to so many interpretations and as soon as it ended I really wanted to see it again. Definitely something you'll think about long after its over and, if you're seeing it with someone, it's a great piece to discuss over a drink on a Saturday night!

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 1:46am

Betrayal.

Enjoy "Soft Power". I really want to see it.

One show that caught my attention, and I am seeing this week, is "Our Dear Dead Drug Lord". It just extended. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 2:00am

I’ve only seen Betrayal of your options. It features three spectacular performances, but not sure it’s a profound play. I just found out there’s a slight chance that I might make it back to New York City for work before the end of the year and before The Sound Inside closes and The Sound Inside is definitely high up on my list so that’s my vote.

[JPeterman]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 2:25am

It sounds like your heart or gut or some anatomic part of you is leaning toward Linda Vista ... maybe you should go with that.

Having said that, from years of experience misjudging what shows I think I will like the most, I have come to the realization that I am usually best off utilizing the George Constanza Opposite Method of choosing shows.

Jerry: If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.

George: Yes, I will do the opposite!

George: (introducing himself to a young, attractive woman way out of his league) Hi, my name is George. I’m unemployed and I live with my parents.

So in the spirit of my antihero, George Constanza, here is my list, and the resulting opposite list. I suggest you do the same ....

1)Seared
2)Sound Inside
3)Betrayal
4)Linda Vista

Resulting Opposite List:
1)Linda Vista
2)Betrayal
3)Sound Inside
4)Seared

But seriously, I think I would have a really hard time choosing between the Sound Inside and Seared.  You may bump into Linda Vista down the road at your local regional theatre, and it may be almost as good as the Broadway version.  But if you catch a future regional production of The Sound Inside, it is unlikely to be anywhere near as good as the show and its 2 actors that are on Broadway now.  So after all that fanfare ... my vote is The Sound Inside.

Updated On: 10/18/19 at 02:25 AM

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 2:27am

I liked Betrayal, loved Linda Vista but IMHO, The Sound Inside is the best play of the season.

[magictodo123]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 4:11am

I’d either go with The Sound Inside (been told it’s really good) or Seared (mg favorite play off Broadway right now). I don’t think you can go wrong with either of those!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 7:37am

The Sound Inside for sure. It is an absolute must see.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 9:09am

Having seen all but The Sound Inside, my vote goes to The Sound Inside!

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 10:08am

Sound Inside seeming like the crowd fave. My original plans were to do a bunch of lotteries/rush with a friend, but she had to bail, so I'll pick up a show I haven't seen yet instead. Sound Inside seeming to be the winner, although I think I'd be fine with any of the four picks. So, once I get word that I didn't win Moulin Rouge CanCan seats and such, I'll look into sorting Sound Inside. Thanks everyone!

[inception]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 11:36am

Show-score counts as a positive review for Sound Inside, one that starts out:
"Pointless, Contrived, Unconvincing, Slight, Banal"

I'm crossing my fingers that you get those Moulin Rouge lottery tickets

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 11:48am

Lost Moulin and Hamilton, so Sound Inside it is!

Saw a lot of complaints about the size of Studio 54 vs the intimacy of the show, so I got row C on the side aisle. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 11:55am

I forgot this was at Studio 54. Good choice to get aisle seat (in the orchestra?). I consider the lack of legroom in the rear Mezzanine to be a valid torture device. The front mezzanine is only better in that it’s only bad, but barely tolerable.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 11:59am

Yes, orchestra.

I am nearly always orchestra, heh.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 12:15pm

I get it. I usually prefer front orchestra if the price is right, but for the 8 Broadway/off-broadway shows I saw on my recent trip, I sat front mezzanine/dress circle rear orchestra for all of them. Views were all great although legroom in mezzanines/dress circles were uniformly lacking. But the price was right and allowed me to splurge on VIP concert tickets.

[Wick3]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 12:52pm

Miles2Go2 said: "I get it. I usually prefer front orchestra if the price is right, but for the 8 Broadway/off-broadway shows I saw on my recent trip, I sat front mezzanine/dress circle rear orchestra for all of them. Views were all great although legroom in mezzanines/dress circles were uniformly lacking. But the price was right and allowed me to splurge on VIP concert tickets."

That Ben Platt concert was worth the splurge!!!! Also, I hope you get to see Inheritance both parts when you comeback to NYC later this year!

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 1:17pm

I got a discounted downgraded premium, I assume, for $119. So not terrible...

[Joe Mayo]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 1:37pm

haterobics said: "Lost Moulin and Hamilton, so Sound Inside it is!

Saw a lot of complaints about the size of Studio 54 vs the intimacy of the show, so I got row C on the sideaisle."

I pulled MR lottery tickets today. 4 months of diligence pays off!

Sound Inside is on my list, will be interested to hear your thoughts, MLP is always great. Excited to see her in How I Learned to Drive next year as well.

Enjoy the show

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 1:45pm

I loved both MR and Sound. I do think that a decade from now Sound might be viewed as a masterpiece. It is already a masterwork.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 2:27pm

haterobics said: "I got a discounted downgraded premium, I assume, for $119. So not terrible..."

That’s great. As a planner who wants to see as many shows as I can on my trips, in last couple years I’ve gravitated towards pre-purchasing tickets for all my shows. Sometimes that’s advisable when I definitely want to see a hot show (Moulin Rouge, Hadestown), but other times not so much. I did see 5 shows over long weekend in January and only pre-purchased one (final performance of Torch Song - front row orchestra for $93.75 including fees).  Everything else was purchased day-of via TKTS, rush or just box office. Definitely cheaper way to go. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 2:33pm

Wick3 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "I get it. I usually prefer front orchestra if the price is right, but for the 8 Broadway/off-broadway shows I saw on my recent trip, I sat front mezzanine/dress circle rear orchestra for all of them. Views were all great although legroom in mezzanines/dress circles were uniformly lacking. But the price was right and allowed me to splurge on VIP concert tickets."

That Ben Platt concert was worth the splurge!!!! Also, I hope you get to see Inheritance both parts when you comeback to NYC later this year!"

Yes, although the meet n greet was pretty rushed. Loved my seat, but don’t feel need to do that again. Now my 5 minutes with Madonna including a hug was totally worth it so much that I’m trying to catch the tour again in another city before it moves to Europe. Probably no repeat convo or hug from M, but maybe a fist bump!

I’m really hoping I can see both parts of The Inheritance too. If not in December then hopefully early next year. 

[JPeterman]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 3:08pm

Your Madonna ticket must have cost a fortune. I’m looking at tickets for her Miami shows and the best seats in the front are crazy expensive. But with what happened to you it was worth it.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/18/19 at 3:28pm

It was a lot. The most I’ve ever paid for a concert or a show by a large margin. The second most expensive ticket was for my Row N left Orchestra seat also for her concert two days previous to this one. The front row seat while pricey was still a bargain compared to what other front row seats were going for at that time. It just popped up on Ticketmaster one night in June.