Gatsby or Merrily?
Gatsby or Merrily?
220Basswood
Stand-by Joined: 10/26/14
#1Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 1:22pm
Normally I see four shows when I'm in New York but for this trip I can only see three.
I have tickets to Enemy of the People. I confess I got it because I enjoyed the tv show and want to see him on stage. I enjoy seeing people in different roles and observing the differences in their styles in different roles.
Suffs has also been selected because I have seen some of the actors in Come from Away and If/Then and liked them. Plus, this show didn't seem to get as many mixed reviews as the others.
This brings me to the 3rd show. I liked Jeremy Jordan when I saw him in Newsies and I think he was ok in American Son. I also like that Gatsby appears to have big numbers kind of like 42nd street. However, the reviews don't appear good and it didn't get nominations in many of the big categories.
Merrily We Roll Along has a nice book and I like Sondheim. I saw Lifespan of a Fact and Equus (but not Harry Potter movies) and didn't think Daniel was bad. He wasn't spectacular but he wasn't bad. I liked Lindsay's tv show but she wasn't the reason I watched it.
In contrast to Gatsby, Merrily did get many nominations in the main categories.
Having said all of this, which show would people select between Gatsby and Merrily? I truly cannot remember a season when there were so many shows that so many people thought were mediocre.
berniesb!tch
Stand-by Joined: 5/23/21
#3Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 1:29pm
What a strange question, although I am curious to see if anyone says The Great Gatsby, which would forever label them as someone with absolutely no taste.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#4Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 1:33pm
This isn't Sophie's Choice.
Merrily.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Sammy232
Understudy Joined: 8/3/23
yyys
Broadway Star Joined: 6/29/14
#7Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 1:45pm
I haven’t seen or heard a single note of Gatsby and I can predict the right answer!
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#8Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 1:58pm
dramamama611 said: "This isn't Sophie's Choice.
Merrily."
LOL
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#9Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 2:09pm
Merrily was not eligible for Tony nominations for book and music, because it is a revival. Its sets and costumes are appropriate for the show, if not Tony nominations.
On the other hand, I expect Merrily to win more Tony’s than any other musical this season, including all three leads (two of whom will likely win supporting honors). It will either win the most Tonys this season or, more likely come in second after Stereophonic). Only an idiot would choose Gatsby over Merrily, unless the ticket prices are a factor in your decision.
#10Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 2:16pm
Merrily.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#11Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 2:53pm
I’ve seen both and I can easily say HANDS DOWN…
Merrily!
Gatsby was terrible!
The idea is to work and to experiment. Some things will be creatively successful, some things will succeed at the box office, and some things will only - which is the biggest only - teach you things that see the future. And they're probably as valuable as any of your successes. -Harold Prince
#12Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 2:57pm
dramamama611 said: "This isn't Sophie's Choice.
Merrily."
Literally, The Perfect answer.
#13Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 3:02pm
Lindsay Mendez will NOT win the Tony. The race has come down between Nikki m James and Bebe
220Basswood
Stand-by Joined: 10/26/14
#14Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 3:12pm
Thanks everyone. I will log on and get tickets now. Having seen Bebe in various shows, I am sure she will win instead of Lindsay even though I haven't seen the current version of Cabaret. I was going to get tickets to Cabaret because I really liked the show when Alan Cumming was in it but the promos for the current version changed my mind. Thanks again.
#15Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 3:48pm
The correct answer is STEREOPHONIC!
Yes, MERRILY is the show not to miss before it closes. HOWEVER... on our trip to NYC a week ago, MERRILY left me a little underwhelmed, even with the full cast on. Sure the actors are all doing their damndest to sell the story, and sure the best songs in the score are among the best ever written, but I just couldn't forgive the deadly libretto about a central guy who everyone loves even though he's a f**k-up and a s**tty friend and a worse husband. I walked out thinking--what was all that for?
And after the bare-bones production of MERRILY (and ILLINOISE and STEREOPHONIC), I knew I'd need to see one damn show with big sets, costumes and spectacle. And you know what? THE GREAT GATSBY gave me that. Knowing I was seeing a Vegas production of the story, I was perfectly well entertained by Act I. (Act II was all downhill unfortunately.) See? There IS someone to recommend GATSBY for at least some show-goers out there.
ElephantLoveMedley
Broadway Star Joined: 10/14/21
#16Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 3:52pm
One of these shows was my very favorite of the season and the other was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen on Broadway. Take a guess!
#18Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 4:15pm
Broadway Flash said: "Lindsay Mendez will NOT win the Tony. The race has come down between Nikki m James and Bebe"
GO AWAY!
The idea is to work and to experiment. Some things will be creatively successful, some things will succeed at the box office, and some things will only - which is the biggest only - teach you things that see the future. And they're probably as valuable as any of your successes. -Harold Prince
#19Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 4:19pm
220Basswood said: "Thanks everyone. I will log on and get tickets now. Having seen Bebe in various shows, I am sure she will win instead of Lindsay even though I haven't seen the current version of Cabaret. I was going to get tickets to Cabaret because I really liked the show whenAlan Cumming was in it but the promos for the current version changed my mind. Thanks again."
To echo everyone else, Merrily is most definitely THE show to see. To quote the NT review - "It has never been this good, and will never be this good again".
However, since you mentioned it, i'd absolutely see Gatsby again over this version of Cabaret
Slotted spoons don't hold much soup
Ball of Buttah
Swing Joined: 4/18/23
#20Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 6:43pm
This thread did not disappoint. Lol.
Btw, when I saw Merrily I had big expectations based on reviews and WOM...and it even surpassed that. Lindsay was the standout for me (and I LOVE Jonathon) in the overall stellar cast.
#21Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 7:08pm
I’m happy back to the future and Gatsby are making money. Shubert and Nederlander jointly produced both of them and clearly know what they’re doing, despite the theatre snobs
starlightlocamotion
Stand-by Joined: 1/22/14
#22Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 9:47pm
MERRILY if you are looking to see a perfect production of an otherwise flawed show. It really is so special.
Gatsby is a fun night at the theatre ... if you like spectacle & seeing what you paid for (despite some shortcomings in both book & score) then I say go with GATSBY. I had a great time.
**though I couldn't help but mourn HERE LIES LOVE no longer beautifully inhabiting that space.**
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#23Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 10:04pm
Broadway Flash said: "Lindsay Mendez will NOT win the Tony. The race has come down between Nikki m James and Bebe"
Just like The Great Gatsby is a huge hit. There. Is only one person on this board who I have found as annoying as you. It was 6-7 years ago and he was a young know-it-all…have you come back under a different name???
#24Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 11:18pm
Gatsby actually is a hit whether u like it or not. I am not a know it all, I don’t like being dismissed.
Falsettolands
Featured Actor Joined: 11/18/13
#25Gatsby or Merrily?
Posted: 5/10/24 at 11:29pm
Broadway Flash said: "Lindsay Mendez will NOT win the Tony. The race has come down between Nikki m James and Bebe"
you just love to hear yourself say ridiculous things.
There is no world where Nikki is in the top two for that award.
