Is once boring? Is so, any advice fore a show?

[lesliecasewell]

Hi everyone, I was thinking of going to see Once next week and I've always been bit against it because of the pit being on stage. But now with the sudden, Broadway good show drought, I decided to re examine it. I really don't like min stream or Disney shows and all the other shows I would have really liked to see have now closed. Once is starting to look better to me, I'm just afraid it will be boring? Has anyone seen it and could tell me if it is boring or not? If so, any other shows you would recommend? I'm open to anything!

[dramamama611]

I'm not sure how this thread will help you. About 1/3 of the folks here adored Once. About 1/3 liked it with the final 1/3 disliking it.

WHAT bores you? What are both some of your favorite and least favorite shows -- and what made them so -- that would make it easier to address.

Personally, I adored the show. Nothing fancy, but a beautifully told touching story.

[Mister Matt]

Some people love it. Some people hate it. Some say it is boring. Others say it's not. Watch the clip and if that appeals to you, then by all means, go see it. I think it looks quite beautiful. I don't mind musicians on stage. Didn't seem to harm Chicago any.
Once 2012 Tony Awards

[bjh2114]

Also... the "pit" isn't on stage. There is no pit. The actors are the musicians, and they are playing musicians in the show. Very different things.

[dramamama611]

To be honest -- I've never found any tv clip of Once to actually do it justice.

And it's not so much the pit is onstage, but the actors double as the pit.

[Cupid Boy2]

I was among those who found it to be boring. I felt the plot was too simplistic to hold my attention. With that said, I wouldn't discourage you from seeing it if you have genuine interest in it. Everyone has different tastes, and you could end up loving it.

[lesliecasewell]

My favorite shows I've seen are 100% Ghost and Leap of Faith because they had incredible talent. They could be saying "The sky is blue" and have you crying or laughing, just by how they said it. They were so IN the show. In both performances the delivery was PHENOMENAL. Also, the stories were so touching and they had such a beautiful message.
My least favorite is Sister Act, just because of not great acting and the men in the show were not great dancers, nor singers.

The reason I ask if Once is boring is because I feel like the basic story line could either be VERY dry or VERY good.

[supersam1026]

I had the same hesitations I had before I saw it too. I thought the first act was great and was pleasantly surprised I was liking it as much as I was. Unfortunately, I found Act II to be a bit boring, especially the first 20 minutes of it. Overall, I'd say if you could get a discount, go for it, don't think it's worth full price.

[bjh2114]

If your favorite shows are Ghost and Leap of Faith, you will not like Once... nor anything remotely good ever.

[Mister Matt]

My favorite shows I've seen are 100% Ghost and Leap of Faith because they had incredible talent.

Then you will have incredible difficulty finding someone with similar taste in musicals. Not a whole lot of Ghost fans here and even fewer Leap of Faith fans.

[lesliecasewell]

What are your favorite shows? And what didn't you like about Ghost or Leap of Faith? I thought the acting was INCREDIBLE that's what made it so wonderful.

[lesliecasewell]

I also enjoyed, West Side Story and Memphis a great deal. I saw How to Succeed and it was good, but not the best. Those are the shows that stand out to me. What are the ones that do the same for you?

[dramamama611]

Leslie -- there are scads of threads that discuss why neither of those shows won too many hearts around here -- and they get pretty ugly. Personally, they are among two of the worst shows I've ever seen.

Given those are our favorites -- I can't think of any shows to reccommend -- maybe Newsies?

[JoeKv99]

So this is a troll, no?

[lesliecasewell]

Thank you to the few of you who had kind responses. Thank you to the others for responding. I am deleting my account because this website has so much negative energy.

[lesliecasewell]

This a troll, no. This is a 14 year old girl, whose only wish and dream for the last 10 years is to sit before a Broadway stage in awe and admiration of the stunning actors and actress' we are blessed with. After several year of illness and finally recovering from brain surgery, I am once again able to sit in front of Broadway stages, once again.I thank God to be a survivor and I hope you remember to do that as well.

[dramamama611]

Wow -- you got ONE slightly negative response, and you're running away? Everyone else tried to actually answer your question.


Yup, BWW is not place for the thin-skinned.

[lesliecasewell]

You're right. Thank you for that.

[JoeKv99]

Hey, I thought it was VERY well done. I like the idea that you hate Once because the pit is on stage. It seems like a call-back to LuvsWikked498 who complained in 2008 that Chicago was bad because the costumes were dull.

[ucjrdude902]

I took my Dad to see this, he goes to shows with me, I watch football games with him. I've taken him to other shows I knew he'd get a laugh out of that were more of safe bets and told him we'd be seeing a "serious" show and took him to "Once". We left and I asked him what he thought and he said "Great story, quite beautiful actually".

[lesliecasewell]

I like your post that is under your last comment. I stand corrected. Thank you.

[JoeKv99]

AND the idea you've dreamed for 10 years about ACTUALLY getting TO SEE a Broadway show and now you can- but HAVE NO IDEA what to see!

[JoeKv99]

I think the "recovering from brain surgery" is pretty great too- at least you didn't say you died from it-- BUT it sure put me in my place for picking on a sick teen!

[Phillytheatreguy10]

I too am in the minority of Ghost fans! Loved it, new favorite, talent blew me away! They made the most of the material, and man, Caissie Levy, she makes it look effortless! Moving on...if you are looking for a show filled with talented people and great material, my suggestion is The Mystery of Edwin Drood- closing soon! Such a fun day at the theatre, yay audience participation! Next, I would suggest Newsies, it is Disney, but that cast always blows me away!

[Wynbish]

When I was 4, I didn't know about Broadway. Just Barbies and booboo's.

[JoeKv99]

There was a time when shows were great
When their voices were loud
And show tunes tune-full
There was a time when shows were billiant
And were filled with song
And each song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When prices low
And shows worth seeing
I dreamed that Ethel would never die
I dreamed that Patti was forgiving
But I was young and took a pic
And screams were screamed my ticket wasted
There was no apology to be made
Patti's Rant went up on You Tube

But the Scalpers come at night
With their prices high as Lilo
And these posters rip you new ones
As they turn your dream to sh...