Hands on a Hardbody previews thread

[After Eight]

"The disbelief-suspending choreographic breaks from the contest all worked fluently for me"


Not for me. In fact, they not only failed to suspend disbelief, they engendered it. The problem with a show like this that has no chorus is that the characters have to double as one. In this case, they are all so specifically defined that it jars to see them engaging in songs in which they should never be singing, even if they're supposed to be out of character. Consciously or unconsciously, these incongruities take you out of the moment, to the detriment of the song and show. It seems ludicrous to see the "bad guy" engaged in a joyous gospel number, or
people very happy with Starbucks and Walmarts singing a song lamenting the existence of such enterprises.

As for the songs that seem to appeal to many here, I found them all fairly flat beer, strictly paint by numbers fare, musically undistinguished and uninteresting. The gospel number, whether acapella or not, is the same sort of thing that we've seen trotted out countless times to try and rouse a somolent audience.

[jnb9872]

You either accept the conventions of a show or you don't. I had no problem accepting each time the songs broke away from the reality of the competition... suspension of physical as well as personal reality as far as the characters becoming a makeshift chorus, worked perfectly fine for me most of the time. For some of the songs at the beginning of the show, "My Problem Right There" and "Brothers in the Storm" for instance, it took me out of it, either because I wasn't used to the convention or the material wasn't as strong yet. But "I'm Gone" picked up the quality and "Joy of the Lord" ran with it, so by "Stronger" I was fully onboard with it and it didn't bother me much after that stretch.

[After Eight]

"You either accept the conventions of a show or you don't."

The show has to make you accept them. And to do that, it can't be so far-fetched as to make you question them. In other words, in Carrie, you can't have the teacher acting as if he's one of the kids singing about what they're going to do at the prom. In The Shaggs, you can't have the mother appear in a scene as one of her daughters' high-school classmates.

In this show, I think it would be better for some songs not to be sung with a chorus. Keith Carradine's song would be more credible and affecting if sung
alone.

[mamaleh]

I must admit I'm intrigued by the concept and by the comments of a co-worker who caught an early preview. She not only praised Keala Settle to the skies but also liked the score. I'm not usually big on country-flavored tunes but was assured I'd like this score. So I'm looking forward, with more than a little curiosity, to seeing this in a few days. Will report back.

[newintown]

The descriptions of the show make me think of that unbearable Happiness a few years back (or the very enjoyable Spelling Bee) - a group of disparate folks are thrown together in an unusual circumstance, but they all get to break away to sing fantasy cabaret songs about their individual lives/problems/hopes/dreams/aspirations. In other words, a revue posing as a book show.

[jnb9872]

I agree with everything you said, After Eight, except for the underlying belief that the convention was so far-fetched as to make me question it. As I wrote, my questions were washed away by the production's increasing quality as the first act moved along. Or perhaps my opinion of the quality increased as I accepted the convention. Maybe the first few songs are necessary sacrifices to pull the audience onboard. (I don't think it's true, as I cannot recall much of the melodies of the first five or so songs, but can distinctly recall each of the last five or so of the act; I just like not to rule out possible explanations or others' experiences.)

I'm sorry it didn't work for you to the extent it worked for me or (presumably) others for whom it worked from the get-go, even. No one intends to dislike a show, it's a souring feeling when it happens, wished upon no theatre-goer.

[jnb9872]

I think Spelling Bee and Chorus Line are especially good comparisons for the structure of the show, but I happily accept them as book shows because the element of competition provides a dramatic structure that is involving on an emotional level (to varying degrees in each, of course, with varying emotions.)

[Luv2goToShows]

I grabbed a ticket on TDF and saw it last night. I really liked it and am looking forward to seeing it again. I am not a fan of country music so I was glad it was not too country, just enough Texan. I enjoyed the story, but I had a thought, since each character had their own reasons for winning I wonder if the creative team considered having variable endings/outcomes to change things up to keep the audience guessing. The cast is strong and very talented, loved some of the songs and hope there will be a cast recording.

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

newintown- The friend I saw the first preview with likened Hardbody to Happiness (which I loved and saw 5 times, so maybe I'm a sucker for this format of show).

I love that all the characters join in each time someone delves into his or her fantasy number. When Jacob Ming-Trent launches into "My Problem Right There" and the three young women become his back-up singers and perform Supreme style choreography, all the while keeping one hand on the truck, it makes me giddy. Of course these women don't know him or the problems he's singing about, but it's his fantasy, so why not?

Concept musicals will polarize people and this show is no different.

[newintown]

Sometimes the confessional revue/musical works well, if the book bringing the characters together or the score are particularly good (as with Chorus Line, Assassins, or Spelling Bee).

Other times, one sits there waiting for everyone to get their moment, so the audience can be released (I admit, that's how I felt at shows like Happiness and Welcome To The Club).

As always, the biggest factor is how well the material lands for the individual viewer.

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

That's true, and I also realize that I am very much in the minority of people who thought Happiness was inspired!

I'm not usually too much of a sap, but something about the characters and setting get to me with Hardbody. If one doesn't care about the characters I imagine this show would be an ordeal to sit through.

[goldenboy]

I have not seen it.
It may be wonderful.
It may be awful but truth be told.. it sounds awful.

But being the musical theatre aficiaionado I am... at some point I will go and I will either be pleasantly surprised or go WTF as I did with Rent and Once.

Maybe I don't like show's with four letters? That can't be right.. I loved Hair.

[Mister Matt]

The more After Eight talks about the show, the more convinced I become that I will love it. The concept sounds wonderful.

[Up In One]

The concept for Hands On was not at all the issue for me. A Chorus Line is my number one show of all time. Loved Spelling Bee. I find concept shows very interesting. Hands on wants to have it both ways, a stylized competition in parenthesis within a realistic car dealer in trouble story arc. Sometimes its style over content here neither style nor content are compelling. I think if they take the 90 best minutes and step up the concept it might work.

[katie_fish]

I just saw Hands on a Hardbody last night and LOVED it. Knowing Trey Anastasio, Amanda Green and Doug Wright were on the creative team... and that Hunter Foster and Allison Case were in the cast was all enough to get me there. SO HAPPY I decided to check it out, because it was one of the most fun and different shows I have seen on Broadway in a long time. I was so interested to see how they could turn the documentary (which is great and you should totally see it if you are going to see the show) into a musical. and they succeeded in such a creative way. i personally love the music, and found myself thoroughly entertained starting in the second number "if i had this truck." soon after comes the song "my problem right there" with jacob ming trent and the 3 female contestants singing as his backup singers is great. then "I'm gone" the story of the 2 young contestants dreaming to get out of Texas is phenomenal . allison case delivers a beautiful and emotional performance, alongside jay armstrong johnson who is the adorable fellow contestant crushing on her. the pair make for a very memorable number (still have this one in my head!). then comes joy of the lord and WOW! it's unbelievable, and you WILL be jumping out of your seat in excitement. it's that kind of number that you can't help but just keep smiling and praising brilliant performers and creators. keala settle is incredible in it. the whole cast is involved and together they deliver a complete show stopper. 'stronger' and a song called 'hunt with the big dogs' round out a great 1st act. I thought act 2 was great as well! and leads to some fantastic moments and a very sweet finale. Hunter Foster has another show stopper toward the end. I could go on and on. The entire cast is great. Really no weak links at all. Am already looking forward to seeing the show again when it opens. Hope to see this one getting some cred at the Tony's!

[jnb9872]

I'll also agree with everything that's been said, pretty much, about the dealership storyline being the lowest points. Thankfully, it doesn't intrude much, and the biggest number to come out of it ("Burn That Bridge") is one of the better, musically (though the subplot it's a part of is problematic.) I'd say they could do with about half the material they have (maybe as much time as is given to Carradine's wife, perhaps?) but hopefully preserve enough to give enough 'oomph' the final beat to that story (the monologue about the National Car Dealers Assocation of America or whatever the title was, which was a pretty great character beat for her.)

[Mercades]

I feel like I am on crazy pills and am the mayor of toon town right now.

Did everyone see the same show I did? I don't think to date, I have EVER bashed a show on this board, but that was hands down the most boring, trite, piece of theater...Are you are all serious? Wow. other than Kaela's song and the "lorado" song, which were both beautiful, you could have mixed and matched them, and I would not have been able to tell the difference from one song to the next.

Trim and hour, cut the dealership scenes, make it a one act-a la "chorus line" and call it a day.

It must be me. I must be missing something. best musical? I have no words. I have tickets for all up coming shows and can't wait to see them-so we will see. I love the concept and think all the actors were convincing and committed. I just felt bad they were all working so hard with no pay off.

oh and I heard every other word Keith Carradine said. at best.

[notabb]

Mercades, what's your problem? You didn't like it someone else did. Big deal , get over it. It's called different opinions. They'll tell their friends to see it and you won't. Or you can do what Aftereight does where he quotes from people who don't agree with him and then tries to show them how they're wrong point by point. It's just sad. I saw the show tonight and enjoyed it. I didn't think it was great but I didn't think it was horrible. I won't go into specifics because then Aftereight will go point by point to show me the error of my ways. Anyone notice how Aftereight gives lipservice to the idea we all have equally valid opinions but what he really means is we all have opinions it's just a shame you like garbage. Do a search of his posts and see how often he quotes from people who disagrees with him and then tries to prove them wrong. Why are people so challenged by someone loving what they hate . If that's what they enjoy and want to spend their money on more power to them.

[Mystic Pasta]

This is a show about cultural populism even if we on this board make intellectual arguments based on our ability to see many musicals that generally portray hyper-articulate, fully-evolved characters. The characters in this piece do not come through Harvard like Elle Woods or live on a Sondheim stage. They are underemployed and underpaid and as a result view the world through a different lens than most of the other characters on Broadway. I was blown away by the power of creativity in staging something that I thought was going to be extremely static and boring. Sure, the show needs to be cut by 20 minutes. Sure, there are probably too many characters to equally care about. But, we don't really get to know the characters in A Chorus Line any more deeply and that is one of the best shows in terms of efficient storytelling. This will be a show with a long life beyond New York City. Perhaps, tourists will continue to prefer to spend $125 on the crowd pleasing tunes in Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys or Rock of Ages but I applaud the creative team who are working hard to support the creation of new works. This will help to keep the canon of musical theater alive.

[After Eight]

"It must be me. I must be missing something."

It's not you, and you're not missing anything. You're just an astute theatregoer. I'd vote for you as mayor of BWW.

"Or you can do what Aftereight does where he quotes from people who don't agree with him and then tries to show them how they're wrong point by point. "

You're wrong. It's called discussion, the supposed purpose of a discussion board. Or does that concept elude your understanding?

And stop whining like a baby.

As for the car dealership plot, frankly, I found that a welcome relief from the stock characters bemoaning their lot in life or drearily enumerating their hopes and dreams. At least with the dealers, they're not statues stuck in the moment; they're actually engaged in living and doing. They should have expanded the dealer's interaction with the cheating contestent, because that actually provides a real-time PLOT!

[notabb]

No ones whining you're just a pompous ass , , who always seems to get in name calling contests on the board. Please feel free to ignore my posts.

[After Eight]

^

You can do the same regardng mine.

As for name calling, it was you who spent an entire post whining about me, instead of talking about the show that is the subject of this thread.

If you have something to say about the show, then just say it.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Someday, After Eight may finally figure out that it's not the opinions. It's the person posting the opinions that's the problem.

[Mister Matt]

But that would take all the fun out of After Eight's hypocrisy!

[SonofRobbieJ]

It would also mean that the Hellmouth is opening and we're all totally f*cked.

[After Eight]

I'm not the subject of these threads and shouldn't be made to be.

Just discuss the shows themselves and there will be no problem.