Flying Over Sunset vs Girl From the North Country vs Tina

[JaredBway]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 12:35am

I can only see one.  Which one should I pick and why?

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 8:44am

I have not seen Flying Over Sunset, but I was not a big fan of Girl From the North Country or Tina. GFTNC has gorgeous arrangements of Bob Dylan songs sung by an incredible cast, but suffered from, in my opinion, a terrible book that was bleak, bland and just not interesting. Tina was fun, but it is a by the numbers jukebox musical. Adrienne Warren is giving a sensational performance as Tina, but as someone who is not a huge fan of jukebox musicals or Tina’s music I was (perhaps unsurprisingly) underwhelmed. But if you do like those things Tina is probably still a good option for you. Flying Over Sunset is a bit of an unknown quantity, since it hasn’t don't a pre-Broadway tryout. But the cast and creative team are stacked and I have a good feeling about it in my gut. So that would be my recommendation personally.

[Ledaero]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 9:03am

^Echoing exactly. I share Hamilfan2's thoughts about both shows. I was absolutely bored by the book of GFTNC, although I'm eager to give it a 2nd try now that I'm aware of its plotless/vignette structure. 

I would absolutely put my money towards Flying Over Sunset if these are the three. Granted nobody has seen anything from it so it's a wildcard, but with James Lapine writing/directing and Carmen Cusack, Harry Hadden-Paton, and Tony Yazbeck all starring in it, it's bound for potential.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 11:30am

I am sure that Flying Over Sunset will be a monster hit, because it sounds like the stupidest idea for a musical that I can recall in a very long time (well maybe not that long, but if you leave out King Kong, that statement may still be true).  I personally would not spend good money, based on the little I have read,  until I hear something more about it, including feedback from early viewers, via a board like this one.  Why?  this just sounds like the type of show to me that could be either great or atrociously bad.  I learned long ago that the biggest stars and most talented people in the world can not save a show that is intrinsically bad. 

I have suffered through a brilliant Meryl Streep performance watching an awful take on Alice in Wonderland, I was bored out of my mind seeing the original production of Mack and Mabel, I was miserable throughout Gary, even though I purchased the ticket for only one reason, its star....and the list goes on.

At least with the other two musicals, if you like them, you will have Bob Dylan and Tina Turner music.  Plus, while it does sound bleak, Girl got excellent reviews downtown and the star of Tina got the kind of reviews that would alone warrant purchasing tickets.  IMO.

 

[JaredBway]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 11:43am

Thanks for these opinions guys, I look forward to reading more of them.  

Jarethan, this is the struggle I'm facing as well.  I can't wrap my mind around Flying Over Sunset and it begins previews so close to my trip that I'd hate to wait to get tickets until that time (when people start weighing in on it) as I'd probably end up in the nose bleeds.  I'm not sold on ...North Country or Tina either.  I have so many shows planned for my trip that nothing else is really pulling me in.  This is a Saturday night though, I want to see something great.  Something special.  

I don't have any connection to the music of Tina Turner or Bob Dylan either.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 11:51am

Of the 6 shows in previews I'm seeing in March, FLYING OVER SUNSET is the one I want to see most.

Carmen Cusack is the reason.

Updated On: 11/25/19 at 11:51 AM

[CarmenA3]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 11:54am

I saw North Country during its Public run and I was bored the entire time. The book is bleak and bland as mentioned above and it left me leaving gloomy. The book felt like filler between the songs. 

Haven't seen the other two so can't comment, but I'm excited to catch Tina at some point.

[little_sally]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 12:07pm

I adored GFTNC at The Public and can't wait to see it again, and really enjoyed Tina (it's not a great show but Adrienne Warren is outstanding.) However, I adore Tony Yazbeck so much and Flying Over Sunset is the show I am most looking forward to this spring.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 12:11pm

I recommend picking Girl From the North Country, but only if you can go into the show with the mindset that the show is mood-driven and theme-driven - it’s not designed to be story-driven. You also might enjoy it more if you think of it as a play with music, or a theatre piece with music, rather than a “musical”

I can understand why some people might have found it “bland” and “boring,” but I don’t agree. And anyway, it can’t possibly be as bland or boring as Tom Kitt’s score for Flying Over Sunset will probably be. And nothing in North Country is as “bleak” as the thought that Tom Kitt is still getting hired to ruin musicals with his mind-numbingly generic music.

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 12:31pm

The book isn’t the best but if you like Tina Turner I’d definitely go for Tina - v enjoyable and Adrienne is just superb. And the last 20/30 mins are super fun!! 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 12:43pm

JaredBway said: "Thanks for these opinions guys, I look forward to reading more of them.

Jarethan, this is the struggle I'm facing as well. I can't wrap my mind around Flying Over Sunset and it begins previews so close to my trip that I'd hate to wait to get tickets until that time (when people start weighing in on it) as I'd probably end up in the nose bleeds. I'm not sold on ...North Country or Tina either. I have so many shows planned for my trip that nothing else is really pulling me in. This is a Saturday night though, I want to see something great. Something special.

I don't have any connection to the music of Tina Turner or Bob Dylan either."

I would suggest waiting a while then.  Who knows what else will be announced to at least start previews in the timeframe you are talking about.  I would be shocked if it is not easy to get tickets to Sunset before the reviews come out.  None of the three leads -- however talented -- is remotely a box office attraction; the story sounds very hit or miss and none of the creative team -- however talented -- are box office attractions either.

 

[steven22]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 1:09pm

I was so incredibly bored during GFTNC at the public. I couldn't wait for it to end.

[Boston Friend]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 3:27pm

I agree with all re: Tina.

For GFNC, I will say that the performance of Like a Rolling Stone was really magic.