Broadway Banter - Summer 2011

Old Jun 10th, 2011, 09:02 AM
  #21  
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N-Patrick; "the male lead as being Billy" -- yes, that's who it referes to. Again, I didn't write the notations. They were written by a friend who has seen a lot more theater than I have. I agree with you, the whole role was pretty forgetable. Personally, I felt he wasn't matched well with Sutton's character. In the beginning of the piece, she is supposedly very smitten with him and for the life of me, I couldn't see why. But then, I couldn't see why she was taken with the Englishman in the end either. Uneven casting? Old book? Not sure what the problem, just didn't "sit right". As I stated earlier, while the show was good, it wasn't a rave for me.
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Old Jun 16th, 2011, 08:08 PM
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There's no need to be there early to sign up for the Book of Mormon lottery. Everyone who is there when the lottery opens is given a chance to enter.

On a different topic ...

Just saw the filmed "concert" version of "Company" that is playing in movie theaters for only a few days this week. It was FANTASTIC!!!

Patti Lupone's "Ladies Who Lunch" was astounding. Neil Patrick Harris was perfect. Christina Hendricks was another standout (pardon the pun ) I could go on and on about the staging, performances, and of course the score ...

It exceeded my very high expectations. If you can see it on the big screen, do it.
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Old Jun 19th, 2011, 12:09 AM
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We saw Chicago while in NYC and while 99.9% of the cast was fantastic, Christy Brinkley was awful. She can't sing in key or act or dance. It's very nice that she's fulfilling a life long dream blah blah blah, but honestly, she was dreadful and obviously petrified although she is now 1/2 way through her 3 month stint.

It must be driving the rest of the cast insane.

We loved it despite Christy and it was a good choice as one of our group isn't a fan of musicals.
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Old Jun 19th, 2011, 09:37 AM
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And lucky, lucky London. They get to see Christy Brinkley next in her miserable attempt to fulfill her life long dream.
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Old Jun 19th, 2011, 09:40 AM
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Kara Dioguardi will replace Christy. Kara's a great singer. Don't know whether she can act or dance -- but she sure can write hit songs ;-)
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Old Jun 20th, 2011, 03:12 AM
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We are planning to see How to Succeed when we go with our kids in August. Does anyone have an opinion on whether 17 rows back on the orchestra or 3 rows back on the mezzannine would be better (both in the centre). Thanks!
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Old Jun 20th, 2011, 04:25 AM
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At the Hirschfield Theatre, the third row mezzanine is directly above the 15th row of the orchestra. So in theory, it's slightly closer in distance from the stage, although higher. I like watching musicals from the mezzanine where you get a better overview of the full choreography in my book. And I prefer not being 4 or 5 rows back under the mezzanine sitting in the orchestra where I always feel the sound is more distorted or muffled. The orchestra seating there is also pretty "flat" so with kids it's more likely they'll have heads in front of them. So I'd chose the mezzanine seats. (Actually I'd prefer front row mezzanine even if very much to the side -- which often Ticketmaster or Telecharge doesn't consider as good as center further back, but I disagree. I've often gotten front row side mezzanine when their websites show fourth or fifth row mezzanine as being best available). In either case, there's not a lot of difference and either should be fine. Just a matter of personal preference.
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Old Jun 20th, 2011, 04:36 AM
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thanks very much - I think I found one day with second row mezzannine, on the side, but on the inside aisle, so your insight is very helpful! Thanks
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Old Jun 20th, 2011, 04:48 AM
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And I just checked back and there were front row mezzanine on the side, but right on the inside aisle on exactly the day I wanted... so I got those! Thanks very much for your advice
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Old Jun 20th, 2011, 06:04 AM
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N-Patrick, I have always agreed with the seating advice you give above. However, lately I'm finding that some of the big musicals are so heavily miked and the sound level so loud that it's quite distorted in the Mezz -- directly in front of those HUGE speakers hanging on the walls. I saw In the Heights from 4th row center orchestra and then again from the first row center mezz. Couldn't believe the difference in sound quality. Have you found this to be an issue for other shows?
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Old Jun 20th, 2011, 09:07 AM
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I'm not sure why the sound would be "distorted" when one is directly in front of the speakers -- as in the front of the mezzanine. I do understand that it might be even louder there than downstairs (where all shows seem too loud to me these days). The most distorted sound I've had recently was in Catch Me If You Can, when I was downstairs in a side section about 5 rows back. I was very aware when some sound was coming out of the right speakers and some out of the left ones, but I suspect it would have been far less noticeable in the mezzanine, where both speakers would "fan" out to cover the full mezzanine. But in any case, once you go under the mezzanine, I think the sound automatically becomes muffled as opposed to being out in the "open" of the full theatre.

Annie_V, those should be great seats. Now that you've done it, I'll mention that sometimes the seat right on the aisle at the side may have a bit of a rail at the foot of the mezzanine stairs, slightly blocking or distracting from your view. But I still find that less offensive than heads in front of me.
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Old Jun 20th, 2011, 11:36 AM
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Thanks for the heads up NeoPatrick - though I'm not too worried about that possible railing (as the biggest problem I have with 'heads in the way' is that they move Thanks again for your help!
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Old Jun 20th, 2011, 12:17 PM
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Enjoyed "Born Yesterday" with Nina Arianda as Billie She stole the show in spite of good perfromances by Jim Belushi and Robert Sean Leonard. Never a dull moment in this comedy with a timelss story.
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Old Jun 30th, 2011, 05:19 AM
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The family has voted to add Priscilla as our third show so I am looking for thoughts about seating locations at the Palace Theatre. We can get discounted tickets either

Orchestra Row D, but at the side (seats 114 and wider)
Orchestra Row O, in the centre on an aisle
Front row mezzanine, to the side seats 12 and wider
Third row mezzanine, in the centre

Any opinions on the size, 'flatness' (for kid sightlines) and legroom in this theatre?

thanks
A
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Old Jun 30th, 2011, 05:28 AM
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My first choice of those would be the front row mezzanine. Being to the side in the mezzanine really should make little difference.

Second choice would be Row D in the orchestra, even though they do get pretty far to the side -- but I'd rather be up and back a little to see the whole thing -- in other words, the front row mezzanine.
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Old Jun 30th, 2011, 06:13 AM
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Reminds me about aisle seats, at hot shows like "How To Succeed" they are charging $20 extra per seat for 2 on the aisle. Must be taking lessons from the airline industry.
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Old Jun 30th, 2011, 06:18 AM
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We just saw Priscilla from Row K, seats 117,119 in the Orchestra. They are a slight bit to the side, but not in the "side section". Excellent seats. The Palace has three aisles in the orchestra; one down the middle and one on each side.

Row D, seat 114 would be wonderful. Its almost dead center. Might even be a bit TOO close, but its not too far to the side.

Row O on the center aisle would be very good. Its a big production so further back isn't all bad.

The front row of the mezz in this theater has a very deep overhang that is fitted with a lot of lights, etc. We have found the seats are low so that one must lean forward to see at times. That, in turn, blocks the view of those sitting in the second row of the mezz. I saw West Side Story from the side mezz, Row A, seat 8,10 and it wasn't bad.

However, the sound for Priscilla is very loud. The speakers hang from the ceiling and in the mezz its almost distorted.

I'd go for Row D as first choice and Row O as second choice.
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Old Jun 30th, 2011, 06:20 AM
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Perfect Thanks!
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Old Jun 30th, 2011, 10:25 AM
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We recently saw Priscilla from front row mezzanine, and the sound (yes, it's loud) didn't seem at all "distorted" -- not sure why it would be. Also we did not have to lean forward to see anything, so not sure what that's about. Granted we're both over 5'9", however. But I still would prefer not to have a head in front of me that I have to keep leaning to see around. Maybe that's just me.
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Old Jun 30th, 2011, 02:33 PM
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By distorted I mean that it is so loud and one is so close to the huge speakers that at times all I hear is the vibration of my own eardrums. Very difficult to understand the lyrics. I also don't like to hear an actor's voice coming out of the ceiling instead of their mouths. Possible that the rigging on different shows is more or less, however it was bothersome enough in the Palace mezz that I made a special notation in my "Seats" book. However, you make a good point NP, I'm not 5.9.
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