BOY FROM OZ DRESS...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/16/03 at 1:13pm

Anyone go? Who is seeing it this week? Keep all of us out here in the hinterlands posted. We are on pins and needels.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 9/16/03 at 6:02pm

Yes, went. Wonderful cheering, great ovation. Tremendous cast (give or take one or two)...first act might need a little work.
Liza debated whether to go or not. But too much pressure on the cast and too much attention would be taken away from the real purpose of a gypsy dress rehearsal (that purpose is not to be a media event). She needn't worry about how she is portrayed (the show's "Liza" works - it didn't at the workshops as much because Ruthie was soooo miscast).

Back tonight for the first preview...why not a double-header before returning to London?

Don't miss it...even though the changes from Australian edition are not good...they are really quite necessary for America.

Posted: 9/16/03 at 6:21pm

I still want to see it very much. I love the music and I liked Peter Allen alot.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 12:27am

The songs are second-rate and inappropriately shoe-horned into the book. Why does Greg or whatever his name is sing I HONESTLY LOVE YOU from beyond the grave with lyrics like "I don't wanna make you feel uncomfortable"--they've already been lovers!! It makes no sense whatsoever. And how contrived is the intro to DON'T CRY OUT LOUD? The smarter selection would have been I COULD HAVE BEEN A SAILOR which doesn't even make an appearance in the show and one of Allen's few decent songs! What does LOVE CRAZY have to do with anything? What kind of bone-headed boobs are workin' this production?
Why do all of Jackman's lines sound like bad punchlines, where you expect to hear, "ba-dum-pum" after each one?
How cold is it for Jackmans's character to say his Broadway flop is even worse than his lover's death? How dim can you get?
Since the only summation the show has to offer is, "party hearty and wear Hawaiian shirts," why does Jackman hardly ever wear a goddam Hawaiian shirt and when he does, you can hardly tell?
A stupid, pointless show.

[lass]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 1:10am

I still can't wait to see this show!

Did anyone see Hugh on Good Morning America yesterday? What was the name of the song he performed?

[PigletH13]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 3:51am

Issa!!!! I was there too! Where were you sitting??? I wish we had met! Ahhh sigh!

Anyway, I guess from where I was sitting, the show completely made sense. I completely understood why Jarrod sings "I Honestly Love You" and I thought that Stephanie J. Block was tremendous as Liza. Hugh had the entire audience wrapped around his little finger from the moment he walked on stage during the overture.

I had a blast...and since I have seen Allen perform in person, I felt that Hugh did a wonderful job. I was also blown away by the chemistry btw him and Jarrod. From where I was sitting, it was plainly obvious that the discussion btw them was almost a form of foreplay...and the kiss....well I will let Badseed describe that one when she is awake in the morning!!!!!


Basically, you are paying for the opportunity to see a major Hollywood star prove that he is also a major Bway star. It works...and it works well. Just my HUMBLE opinion!!!!

[jo]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 4:01am

Hi Piglet,

Been waiting for your first impressions of the show -- if you can still open your eyes at this time of night

Jo

[IssaMe]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 6:48am

At gypsy dress, sitting downstairs, downfront.
At first preview wanted to check it out from the front of the mezz.

Jarrod the best thing in it. Can't wait to see him in "Can't Help Falling in Love" if indeed he ends up starring in it as he did in the showcase earlier in the year.

My opinion about the miscasting (creatively... but certainly not box-office-wise) of Jackman has been expressed before. I feel he is even further away from who Peter Allen was than he was at the workshops. But that is just a personal opinion from someone who worked with Peter. The audience doesn't know the difference and LOVES Jackman. Just eats him up.

He certainly is a major Broadway star now. Equity was wrong about "Oklahoma!" (although it did give Patrick Wilson...and then Steve Buntrock... the opportunity to shine instead of Jackman)...but Jackman has triumphed in the end.

But lordy, how I miss the show as it was in Australia!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 9:52pm

Dear, dear, dear. The title of this thread is so misleading! I thought it would be about a garment used for a specific reason in the show. You know, the BOY FROM OZ Dress....like the Monica Lewinsky Dress! (Has Monica had that thing dry cleaned yet?)

[PigletH13]

Posted: 9/18/03 at 2:53am

Interesting that you feel that way. I am still excited by her performance even after tonights show. Isabel was unbelievable tonight and had people roaring for her.

I think what needs to be expressed here is this...

Give these people a chance to find themselves in their roles! PLEASE! Everyone needs time to grow and adjust! Everyone deserves a second chance...and also realize that Ms. Block is not Liza! Maybe we should all wait to hear what Liza herself has to say about the show...to me that is the real critic that matters here.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/18/03 at 12:55pm

Basically, you are paying for the opportunity to see a major Hollywood star prove that he is also a major Bway star.

Is that what YOU are paying for? I am paying to be moved, entertained and enlightened. I don't care who the star is or what he is trying to prove.

[PigletH13]

Posted: 9/18/03 at 1:07pm

What I am paying for is to see Jarrod on stage with Hugh Jackman...but that is just me. And we won;t get too involved with why! LOL!

Hell, I will be very honest about this...I would pay anything I could to be able to see a show on Bway. I think being a NY'er makes me take these things for granted. My fellow friends who are flying from all over the world to see Hugh (Jo! ) will be more than pleased with spending what they will for tickets, flights, hotels, etc.

It just so happens that with BFO...you get all of what you are looking for and more! So go see the show! I will be waiting to hear what you think!

And thanks for responding to my post! :)

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 9/18/03 at 1:16pm

i'm there at Sunday Mat, just found out i have a quick trip to NYC next week, can't wait. And for the record, isn't it okay that different people pay B'way prices for different reasons, even if it's the same show? And before Namo can say it, isn't that what makes America a democracy?!?! (just wanted to get the sardonic cynical "i'm so world weary" comment in first to save him the time, maybe he can just ad his little winking face thing...)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/18/03 at 3:18pm

I've flown all over the worrld to see my favorite opera singers perform certain roles: Vienna, Salzburg, London--even Russia. I see nothing wrong with flying into NYC to see a major Hollywood star prove he has theatrical chops. I'm seeing THE BOY FROM OZ next month.

[jo]

Posted: 9/18/03 at 5:29pm

The first time I saw him on stage - I forgot his name afterwards. But the memory lingered on about this charismatic guy who had a great singing voice. Yes, I did see him as Curly in OKLAHOMA! at the West End in London.

I'm flying across the world to see him again in THE BOY FROM OZ, not because he is a major Hollywood star but because I want to renew my acquaintance with his musical theatre talent once again!

Looking forward to the show

Jo

[jo]

Posted: 9/18/03 at 5:47pm

I have also flown across the world to see Michael Schumacher race in Formula One (and see how it feels to be in Monaco on Grand Prix weekends), hear Michael Ball's fabulous voice in London (in the theatre or in concerts in a city which I have discovered to be such a wonderful town), watched Les Miserables in French in Paris ( just to see if the show is even more enchanting when you get to walk the streets of the city where it all happened)... yes, there is much more to see than just a rare talent or a great production ! Fortunately, I didn't have to endure a jet lag to hear Luciano Pavarotti in a concert - as he chose to come to our side of the world.

I'm trying to discover the world of opera, too, DollyPop - just starting with recorded music and some filmed productions first. My being drawn to the theatre, musical theatre in particular, I suppose, is a good headstart ( I have been going to see Broadway and West End productions for so many years now -- a love affair which started when I used to work in the financial community in New York)...But one of my regrets is that I have actually seen the outside of La Scala in Milan, la Fenice in Venice ( before it burned), the Garnier ( not the Bastille) Opera House in Paris, and the Royal National Opera House in Covent Garden but I have never been inside for an opera production - someday, maybe. I have been to the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center but not for the opera season.

Jo Updated On: 9/18/03 at 05:47 PM

[Zola LaPlaya]

Posted: 9/18/03 at 6:33pm

I was there and am certain it will be a hit of herculean proportions. Is that deserved? I would say so. It has flaws, but Mr. Emmick is a delight and Mr. Jackman is quite good. Mind you, darling youngsters, he is no Peter Allen but is that so awful. In these tough times for the chorines and others in our business, I am pleased to see a venture which will provide jobs.

On the other hand, I shudder at the impending Sondheimian show about to BOUNCE upon us.

Z

[PigletH13]

Posted: 9/19/03 at 12:49am

Well, I know you will go back to see it once it is opened...so let me know what you think then! :)

[alterego]

Posted: 9/19/03 at 8:19am

I'll be interested to see Hugh in BFO in January. I've seen him in Beauty and The Beast (Gaston) and Sunset Boulevard (Joe). While I admire his stage work he never exactly knocked me out. I'll also be interested to see just how much the show has changed since I saw it in Melbourne in 1999. How is the woman who plays his mother? How are the Australian accents? Will it survive after he leaves it? Contrary to what might have been stated over there it wasn't a huge success everywhere it played in Australia. It opened (and did it's best business) in Sydney where Peter Allen was based for many years and respectable business in other Australian cities.

My question is this. Is there that much interest in Peter Allen and the show or is all the interest in Hugh Jackman?

[MabesNY]

Posted: 9/19/03 at 10:05am

I went to see BFO primarily to see Hugh Jackman. And based on conversations I overheard during intermission, there were many others there like me. I was hoping to be blown away but, although it seemed that Hugh & all the other performers gave it all they had, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. I'm no music expert but I thought Hugh occasionally sounded nasal and I understand Peter Allen wrote a lot of famous songs but I only recognized a few of the songs in the play. I just thought it seemed "forced". I don't want to leave this as a totally negative review so I will end saying that the young man who played young Peter Allen was terrific. I agree with the others who have posted, I hope the performers will eventually grow into their roles.

[Tiny_Dancer]

Posted: 9/19/03 at 5:22pm

ddtruitt..It seems as though you're implying (through your last 2 post) that Stephanie is the only negative piece in the BFO puzzle? Do you know Stephanie? It sounds as though you know her professionally. You seem to have a personal vendetta against her. The rest of the preview reviews, besides yours, have stated nothing negative re: her performance. What night was it that you saw her? I agree that she has an amazing voice, but we must remeber that this is her first Broadway affiliation and that previews are for her going to be used to work things out.

According to what I've read, one of the reason that they hired Stephanie is that she had an immediate chemistry with Hugh. Did that not read on stage?

Updated On: 9/19/03 at 05:22 PM

[IssaMe]

Posted: 9/20/03 at 10:32am

Hold off for a while. Many changes being made in the show. They intend to use the month before opening to rework it somewhat. Stephanie is improving as Liza...actually, she has to - or they just might replace her. Nobody mentioning Days of Our Lives star Kevin Spirtas brought in as standby for Jackman at the last minute? - unbilled except for bio slip in Playbill & castboard in lobby as required by union.

[PigletH13]

Posted: 9/20/03 at 12:56pm

Um....ok, Issa...you and I have been talking for a long time. So please explain this to me. Are you really serious about Stephanie? She is great and really does the part justice. If they are thinking of replacing her, I am really very surprised. I also hope she knows about it already and won't find out by reading this post! How sad would that be!

As for Kevin...we have mentioned him on the Oz-Forum quite a bit. Me being the most excited about him b/c Days has been my favorite soap for 31 yrs. I saw him outside stage door and didn't have the guts to go up to him yet...but Lord I want to! If I am able to go back to the show...I will have to introduce myself!