BEETLEJUICE Previews- Page 14

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 9:44am

magictodo123 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "magictodo123 said: "If I have epilepsy but haven't had a seizure in a long time, would you still recommend staying away from this show because of the strobe?"

My mom is epileptic and I wouldn’t recommend youattending.The risk/rewardratio suggests it just isn’t worth it.
I was considering rushing this, but after the last two comments, I think this is one I'll be skipping. Thank you so much for your input!"

You’re welcome and best wishes. I think you made a wise choice. I wonder if it’s possible down the line that they’ll have infrequent performances for audiences that are sensitive to strobe lights. Something similar to when The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time did select performances that were less likely to trigger people on the autism spectrum. I believe other productions (Wicked?) have done something similar. 

Updated On: 4/21/19 at 09:44 AM

[Playbill_Trash]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 10:50am

For those of you saying you only paid $33 for a good orchestra seat, were those rush seats or did you get them in advance some other way?

I’m looking to see this show next Friday night, but for a good deal based on what I’ve heard here. The best deal I could find is the playbill code which is like 30% off, still around $100 each through telecharge? Is there another deal I could find where I can still pick my seat in advance? Or is rush the best option?

Also, if you call the box office with a promo code, do you avoid all those online service fees? Or do box offices have their fees too? Never bought tickets that way before.

[Playbill_Trash]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 10:50am

For those of you saying you only paid $33 for a good orchestra seat, were those rush seats or did you get them in advance some other way?

I’m looking to see this show next Friday night, but for a good deal based on what I’ve heard here. The best deal I could find is the playbill code which is like 30% off, still around $100 each through telecharge? Is there another deal I could find where I can still pick my seat in advance? Or is rush the best option?

Also, if you call the box office with a promo code, do you avoid all those online service fees? Or do box offices have their fees too? Never bought tickets that way before.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 10:57am

The first day tickets went on sale they were selling them for $33 for a limited time.

[Claire8]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 11:04am

Playbill_Trash said: "For those of you saying you only paid $33 for a good orchestra seat, were those rush seats or did you get them in advance some other way?

I’m looking to see this show next Friday night, but for a good deal based on what I’ve heard here. The best deal I could find is the playbill code which is like 30% off, still around $100 each through telecharge? Is there another deal I could find where I can still pick my seat in advance? Or is rush the best option?

Also, if you call the box office with a promo code, do you avoid all those online service fees? Or do box offices have their fees too? Never bought tickets that way before."

 

Unsure about calling, but I know if you go to the box office you can give them the discount code and then you don’t have to pay fees. I got the feeling that sometimes they don’t offer the best seats though. When we went to the Mean Girls box office they offered us something in row R and we said we’d seen row K online, then after she spent what seemed like ages typing stuff in she said that row K was available. It was odd, from the way she seemed to be searching she wasn’t just able to look at a map of what seats were still left. 

[annang]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 10:56pm

Playbill_Trash said: "Also, if you call the box office with a promo code, do you avoid all those online service fees? Or do box offices have their fees too? Never bought tickets that way before."

There really is no more “calling the box office.” When you call the phone number for the box office for any show whose online sales are through Telecharge or Ticketmaster, the phone number goes directly to those companies, and they do charge you fees for a phone purchase. The only way to avoid the fees is to buy directly at the box office in person. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/21/19 at 11:00pm

Playbill_Trash said: "For those of you saying you only paid $33 for a good orchestra seat, were those rush seats or did you get them in advance some other way?

I’m looking to see this show next Friday night, but for a good deal based on what I’ve heard here. The best deal I could find is the playbill code which is like 30% off, still around $100 each through telecharge? Is there another deal I could find where I can still pick my seat in advance? Or is rush the best option?

Also, if you call the box office with a promo code, do you avoid all those online service fees? Or do box offices have their fees too? Never bought tickets that way before."

 

You don't get the box office for Broadway theaters when you call ( you get Ticketmaster/Telecharge) so you'll have to go in person to the bo with no fees

[LoLsmileyFace]

Posted: 4/22/19 at 8:27am

I was able to get tickets for the show for this past Saturdays matinee performance.  I saw Beetlejuice in DC, and thoroughly enjoyed most of it, yet knew that it did need some work. 

Luckily, they did put a lot of work into the show. 

The good stuff:The opening was shorter, Beetlejuice somewhat served as a narrator for leading up to the death of the Maitlands, 2 new songs - Maitlands 2.0  replaced Kerry Butlers slow depressing song, and thankfully they got rid of the horrible boy band song and replaced it with a song for Miss Argentina. Lighting and set are amazing.

The not so good stuff: The end of act one has changed, and not for the better.  The ending of Act 1 was more raunchy, and I remember in DC I just couldn't stop laughing.  Now they toned down Maxie Deans character and added a giant Beetlejuice puppet head and arms.  The ending is very basic, no real plot twists or shocking moments that you didn't see coming.

Regardless, the show was hysterical and the audience were going crazy! I don't think I have seen an audience this excited before a show and then after the show.  I consider myself someone who loves this show, but the audience was way more excited than even I was. 

This show is not for everyone.  If you are looking to just have a fun night out, I would recommend it. I went with someone who hates theater and musicals and he thought it was fantastic and even said he would come back multiple times to see the show.  If anyone wants more details, feel free to PM me.

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 12:23am

So, what's next for the WinterGarden?

Okay, that was mean and snarky, but I want my 2 1/2 hours back from this crapfest.

I went in totally cold, tonight. I've never seen the film and I didn't even know what the plot was.

When the most entertaining thing that happens is that the set breaks down for a few minutes, there's troubles afoot.

This is a musical with a terrible score. In fact, I hated every single song in this. It makes the score of Tootsie seem like Cole Porter.

The cast is so talented and I've liked them immensely, in other things, but Alex Brightman was just manic and awful. Leslie Kritzer whom I adore, was wasted. The less said about Sophie Ann Caruso, the better. I think Rob McClure is great, but not here. Same for Kerry Butler. 

The lighting was good and the "eerie" music played before the show and at intermission, I really liked, for some reason.

The usher who showed me to my seat was just lovely.

But, dancing skeletons? Really? Kombucha and kale jokes? That self-referential, meta thing that isn't really funny anymore. Gay Republican and Trader Joe's jokes. Make them funny or thye're just stupid.

I texted a friend during the tech break and said, the 'Banana Boat' song, really? He said it was from the film and was a highlight. It's just cringeworthy here.

About halfway thru the 2nd Act, I realized that my primary question was: "Why is this a musical?" Nothing about it screamed that it needed to be a "musical." 

I'll just stop because I really don't like it when I can't find anything to like about a production. I almost feel guilty that I can't. So many wonderfully talented people. I'm sad that it's so much missed opportunity.

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 1:00am

I saw it again tonight, too. Wolfwriter, this sounds like you went into this show expecting Sondheim, so I’m not surprised you disliked it so much. Even from just looking at the outside of the theatre, you get a sense of what this show is, so I’m confused as to how it completely went over your head just what you were going into.

The house was full tonight and the audience loved it so I guess that’s your criteria for a show not lasting. Cool.

[magictodo123]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 7:35am

Jordan Catalano said: "I saw it again tonight, too. Wolfwriter, this sounds like you went into this show expecting Sondheim, so I’m not surprised you disliked it so much. Even from just looking at the outside of the theatre, you get a sense of what this show is, so I’m confused as to how it completely went over your head just what you were going into.

The house was full tonight and the audience loved it so I guess that’s your criteria for a show not lasting. Cool."

I hope you liked it!

To your knowledge, how much strobe is there in this show? That's the only thing holding me back from seeing it. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 7:54am

I didn't love it, either - but thought the Banana Boat song was actually a highlight.    

 

 

[LoLsmileyFace]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 8:42am

magictodo123 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I saw it again tonight, too. Wolfwriter, this sounds like you went into this show expecting Sondheim, so I’m not surprised you disliked it so much. Even from just looking at the outside of the theatre, you get a sense of what this show is, so I’m confused as to how it completely went over your head just what you were going into.

The house was full tonight and the audience loved it so I guess that’s your criteria for a show not lasting. Cool."

I hope you liked it!

To your knowledge, how much strobe is there in this show? That's the only thing holding me back from seeing it."

I think there is a lot of strobe in the production.  If strobe lights can cause you issues, I would avoid seeing the show.  There is strobe lighting around the stage, as well as certain areas in the audience.  

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 8:44am

Wolfwriter, I HIGHLY recommend you watch the film. It is a classic (at least where/when I grew up) and I have always thought it was something that could have a solid musical adaptation - but this production is so poorly executed and misguided. I wish they had taken a year to go back to the drawing board after DC...same way I feel about Mean Girls.

I guess those who aren’t normally into musical theater are liking it. Good for them. Good for the cast, who are doing the best they can with such disappointing material. Good for David Korin’s wonderful set designs. Let’s pray that Eddie Perfect never writes for Broadway again.

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 8:54am

Jordan Catalano said: "I saw it again tonight, too. Wolfwriter, this sounds like you went into this show expecting Sondheim, so I’m not surprised you disliked it so much. Even from just looking at the outside of the theatre, you get a sense of what this show is, so I’m confused as to how it completely went over your head just what you were going into.

The house was full tonight and the audience loved it so I guess that’s your criteria for a show not lasting. Cool."

I'm happy you liked it, Jordan. But, no, I didn't expect that something called Beetlejuice would be Sondheim. I did hope that it might be pretty good. I had no sense of what the show was about except that I thought it might just be silly, fluffy entertainment.

I debated watching the film this past weekend, but decided I would go in with a totally clean slate and open mind.  

Full disclosure, I've had 6 people in my family, including my mom and dad, die in the last year. So, I really could have used a laugh, especially about death.

The folks a few rows in front of me actually climbed over people and left, during the second act. And, the woman next to me didn't laugh at all. That's anecdotal, of course, but I doubt I'm alone thinking this is a miss.

I admitted I was being unnecessarily snarky (not literal) about my "not lasting" comment. I'm sure the show will do well since there are obviously many fans of the film. Crowd reaction to the songs seemed strong, last night, but reaction to the jokes, less so. Like the audience at Tootsie laughed loudly so you knew the jokes were landing with most of the audience. I never got that feeling, last night.

I don't mind not liking things that other people do and vice versa. I just feel disappointed when I know the folks involved are so talented that the playwright in me really wants them to have material worthy of those talents.

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 9:02am

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Wolfwriter, I HIGHLY recommend you watch the film. It is a classic (at least where/when I grew up) and I have always thought it was something that could have a solid musical adaptation - but this production is so poorly executed and misguided. I wish they had taken a year to go back to the drawing board after DC...same way I feel about Mean Girls.

I'm curious enough that I think I will take your advice GiantsInTheSky2.

Amidst all the silliness, I think there could be a very sweet story in there, but by the time dad and daughter were at that point, last night, I had zero emotional involvement with them or their story. I think the film will be my weekend viewing.

 

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 9:06am

Jordan Catalano said: "I saw it again tonight, too. Wolfwriter, this sounds like you went into this show expecting Sondheim, so I’m not surprised you disliked it so much. Even from just looking at the outside of the theatre, you get a sense of what this show is, so I’m confused as to how it completely went over your head just what you were going into.

The house was full tonight and the audience loved it so I guess that’s your criteria for a show not lasting. Cool."

And plus, seems like you should have some familiarity or nostalgia interest in the movie to appreciate it

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 10:23am

NO show should need prior knowledge to be "appreciated".  It NEEDS to stand on its own or it has actually failed.

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 10:27am

I'll say it again, claiming "everyone" around you liked something does not negate thoughtful critique.

To keep seeing this being used to shoot down opinions, especially on a board of theatre lovers, is very disappointing.

[magictodo123]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 2:33pm

How has the rush line been for this?

[LoLsmileyFace]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 3:23pm

magictodo123 said: "How has the rush line been for this?"

I went on Saturday.  Got there around 8:30 am and I was 17th on line.  Seats were Row S all the way to the side.  I would recommend getting there by 7/7:30am.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 3:25pm

I'm with dramamama611 on this one. If an adaptation is good, you shouldn't have to know about its ancestors to appreciate it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 3:49pm

I 100% agree with that. I hate that I’m coming across as a staunch supporter of the show, when I only just “liked it”, but I do think it succeeded in coming off as it’s own thing and I don’t think prior exposure to the film will make you like it any more than you would, otherwise.

I will say that is is SHOCKING to me the amount of people I seeing who have never seen it, though. The film is a legit classic that I just figured everyone knew by heart.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 4/23/19 at 4:01pm

FYI, quite a few seats are available for opening night this Thursday, even far side orchestra partial views for $59.

[Pashacar]

Posted: 4/24/19 at 10:51am

Went last night, with a $33-er. I think this may be the worst musical I have ever seen.

Everything I felt has already been said. I wasn't expecting high art, but holy cow is this thoughtless. Lazy. Unfunny. Miscast. Low-energy.

If I had to pick a single strongest criticism, it's that it relies way too heavily on Eddie Perfect's absolute garbage muzak. Every scene goes into the same awful ballad after 20 seconds of book, sometimes less.

Absolutely stay away at all costs.

Updated On: 4/24/19 at 10:51 AM