Nov 16/17 Show Advice

[Johnsylva]

Posted: 10/21/19 at 8:22pm

Hi there!
 

So sorry to be back with another 'show dilemma' post, but I'm making an impromptu trip to NY for Saturday, November 16 and Sunday, November 17 and am looking for a little advice/guidance on my show schedule. My trips from LA are going to be more frequent than the past season which alleviates some of the pressure I feel, but I truly want to catch as many of this season's offerings as humanly possible. 

There's a pretty easy (scheduling-wise, endurance wise...we'll see!) schedule that I can build on Saturday that includes FOUR shows -- one 90-minute play at 2pm (SLAVE PLAY, THE SOUND INSIDE, BETRAYAL, or THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM) the 530pm AMERICAN UTOPIA, another 90-minute play at 8pm (one of those I don't see at 2pm), and FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME at 10pm (should I see this...!?).

Sunday then becomes either the third of the 90-minute plays I missed on Saturday or HADESTOWN (to finally knock that out -- still haven't seen it). I'm leaning toward HADESTOWN so I can finally just focus on this current season and tickets are shockingly affordable.

If I go with a much more sane plane for Saturday, I could really do any combination of any of the aforementioned shows or something else entirely. I've seen THE INHERITANCE PART I and would like to save PART II for my New Year's trip, so that's out, as I would TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. If I don't catch SLAVE PLAY this trip, I would next time around as well. I've also already seen MOULIN ROUGE and THE ROSE TATTOO from this season.

LINDA VISTA and SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW are not priorities for me at this time (unless someone convinces me otherwise).

Any thoughts/feedback/opinions on how to tackle this weekend to make it as smooth and well-rounded (and satisfying!) as possible?

Thank you!!

Updated On: 10/21/19 at 08:22 PM

[sm33]

Posted: 10/21/19 at 8:33pm

Of the shows you've mentioned, I'd highly recommend both Hadestown and Betrayal, but especially Hadestown. I also come from LA a few times a year and see as many shows as I can, and they are two of my favorites from this year.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/21/19 at 8:41pm

Your Saturday does seem pretty insane, but at the same time I think it's chunked up nicely since you can mostly just let American Utopia/Freestyle Love Supreme wash over you (the latter of which I definitely recommend, but to be honest I find the prices a bit steep for a 1.5 hour show).  I personally have no interest in Height of the Storm, and the reviews weren't strong enough to get me to watch it so I'd go with Betrayal (which everyone basically says to be the definitive version) and Sound Inside (which also seems to be a fantastic thriller of a piece).  One thing to note is that if you do a 4-show Saturday, The Sound Inside is significantly farther than the rest of the theaters, so you'd probably want to do that first, and also scope out where you want to get lunch/dinner beforehand.

[Johnsylva]

Posted: 10/21/19 at 8:47pm

Thank you so much to you both! I completely neglected to include SLAVE PLAY in the equation -- which I could catch my next time around as well. Any thoughts in the inclusion of that one?

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/21/19 at 8:56pm

I saw both Betrayal and Hadestown on my recent trip. Betrayal is a good play most notable for its backwards chronology. It’s expertly acted, but I do wish I’d seen The Height of The Storm and The Sound Inside so I’d suggest those two for your Saturday.

I unequivocally endorse Hadestown for your Sunday show. I’m glad to hear prices have become affordable again. My friend and I were lucky that we purchased before their Tony wins as our seats doubled in price after the Tony Awards. I’d like to see it again.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/21/19 at 9:09pm

Johnsylva said: "Thank you so much to you both! I completely neglected to include SLAVE PLAY in the equation -- which I could catch my next time around as well. Any thoughts in the inclusion of that one?"

I would DEFINITELY recommend seeing Slave Play, and it's my prediction that it'll be between Slave Play and Inheritance for Best Play this year.  That said, I guess it depends what kind of shows you'd want to see, like Betrayal and Height of the Storm both deal with family/relationship dynamics from what I understand, while Slave Play is more broad social commentary, albeit in a very unconventional way.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/21/19 at 9:22pm

I will point out that both Slave Play and The Inheritance could be doing better at the box office so it’s possibly they both might close before New Years. Hadestown on the other hand isn’t going anywhere.

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 10/21/19 at 9:32pm

Oh, absolutely see Hadestown! It's so incredible, and try to see Eva, she is truly the heart and soul of the show. Enjoy the city!

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/21/19 at 9:37pm

I haven't been able to warm up to FLS, since it seems like if you saw them for 6 minutes on Fallon, then it would seemingly just be them doing that 15 times over for the show?!

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/21/19 at 10:05pm

haterobics said: "I haven't been able to warm up to FLS, since it seems like if you saw them for 6 minutes on Fallon, then it would seemingly just be them doing that 15 times over forthe show?!"

I feel the same. I’ve heard great things about FLS and am a fan of so many of the guest performers, but the YouTube clips from the previous off-broadway didn’t do much for me. I think it may be something you just have to experience live, which may be part of the reason for the Yondr pouches. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 5:12am

Miles2Go2 said: "I will point out that both Slave Play and The Inheritance could be doing better at the box office so it’s possibly they both might close before New Years. Hadestown on the other hand isn’t going anywhere. "

Slave Play is a limited run, already slated  to close  in January.

BTW to the OP: with all your planning , its hardly an impromptu trip.

[Johnsylva]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 12:54pm

dramamama611 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "I will point out that both Slave Play and The Inheritance could be doing better at the box office so it’s possibly they both might close before New Years. Hadestown on the other hand isn’t going anywhere. "

Slave Play is a limited run, already slated to close in January.

BTW to theOP: with all your planning , its hardly an impromptu trip. "

 

Lol! I always like to pretend I'll just swing through and see what feels right at the time... but the overwhelming need to plan always takes over :)

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 2:24pm

Johnsylva, I’m exactly the same way. I think planning is the exciting precursor to the trip.

BTW, I hope you’ll let us know what you decide on and then share your reviews afterwards.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 2:34pm

dramamama611 said: "Slave Play is a limited run, already slated to close in January."

Oops, either that had eluded my attention or I had forgotten. I do worry with it’s underwhelming box office performance whether it’ll last another 13 weeks. Still, I suppose that it has one of the cheaper running costs of the current broadway productions plus enthusiastic backers who believe in the play. 

[Johnsylva]

Posted: 10/23/19 at 7:27pm

In case anyone's interested -- I opted for the following schedule --

Saturday 2pm: THE SOUND INSIDE
Saturday 530pm: AMERICAN UTOPIA
Saturday 8pm: BETRAYAL
Sunday 3pm: HADESTOWN

Still a possibility I add FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME to the equation on Saturday night! Will catch SLAVE PLAY on my New Year's trip -- sadly will not catch HEIGHT OF THE STORM before its close.

Thanks again everyone!

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/23/19 at 8:27pm

Exciting choices! Please report back on your experiences.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 10/23/19 at 8:29pm

I honestly urge everyone to see Slave Play. It isn’t East theatre by any means but it is the best thing I’ve seen in a long time.