re: re: re: Biggest disapointments or surprises...

[Peter]

TxTwoStep..yes Eder was really terrific. And it's not sung thru. Her fight scenes with Nouri were quite realistic..and her emotional breakdrown heartbreaking..theres at least two scenes where real tears are flowing, while she sings. I've read that she has been working with a prominent NYC acting coach after Jekyll and I think it shows here.

Now I don't know what you're heard about her acting in CC, but the majority of reviews I read of her here and on the other boards were quite favorable, if not raves. The only real negative one I read is from someone who intensely dislikes both her singing and acting. Now this was a workshop production and there's some kinks to be worked out. One of these is how Eder is suppose to be a teenager early on in the show and those scenes do come off a bit stilted, but I think any fortysomething actress wouldnt be able to pull that off. To me, that was more of a book issue that no doubt will be ironed out prior to broadway.

[alterego]

I'd forgotten my disapointment at Phantom. I remember seeing it just after it opened I was with people who were agog at interval at this show and all I could say was "great sets".

I'm going to be in New York in the new year, I saw The Boy From Oz here (Melbourne) didn't care much for it, OK I hated it (the production not the music) I'm very tempted to check it out again if only for future dinner party conversation. I've also heard a from alot of people who were disapointed in The Lion King, I guess it is a case of seeing something before the hype takes hold.

[broadway guy]

disapointments:

Pirate Queen: when you hear that the creators of Les Mis are writing a new musical for broadway you can't help but get really excited.I saw the show and was sadly disapointed.The Cast was amazing!But the story was a little boring.I was falling a sleep by the ACT 1 finale.

Evita Revival: It wasnt bad but it didn't WOW me.I also might have set myself up for dissapointement cause I listen to the original cast recording 24/7.

Little Mermaid: favorite movie as a kid but I felt the production needed to be on a bigger budget.

Cirque du soleil 0: Alot of cirque fans say this is the best show.I didnt like it at all.some awesome Moments but it's nothing like La nouba or Mystere.

Bananna shpeel:....never again

JCS revival: it was ok....but didnt wow me.

Surprises

Lion King: thought i would hate it but i actually enjoyed myself. Would love to see it again

Next to normal: There was so much hype about this show when it came out,and i trhought people were exaggerating but...oh god I was wrong....BEST SHOW SINCE WICKED.

Ghost: thought it would be just some hollywood movie turned into a mediocre musical. I was right but the songs actually were quite good IMO.

Beauty Networks tour: from everyone bashing the show on here I thought I would hate it.I actually liked it alot.Its nothing like the original show and its much more cheaper but the cast was excellent and IMO was of broadway caliber.

[Broadway Joe]

Peter and the Starcatcher - after a huge portion of this board raved about it, I never expected to be something I completely hated. Couldn't wait to leave the theatre.

[KylePKJP]

Disappointment: RENT

Surprise: next to normal, The Syringa Tree

[ACL2006]

how the heck did the nearly 10 year old thread get dug up?? anyway:

Biggest disappointment: West Side Story revival (really had high expectations).
Biggest surprise: Mary Poppins (because of it's mixed reviews).

[keb2]

For most shows, I have an idea of how I'll feel about them, and I'm right, but obviously, that's not always the case.

Surprise: Yentl (in Sarasota)—I was stunned in the best possible way. Oklahoma at Arena. Spring Awakening (I knew I'd love it, but I didn't know how much I'd love it). Lysistrata Jones. Book of Mormon (I didn't think it could live up to all the hype, especially because I don't like South Park, but I loved BoM!). Burn the Floor 1NT. Next Fall. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (knew I'd love it or hate it, but didn't know which).

Disappointment: West Side Story 1NT (my first time seeing the show live). Bonnie & Clyde. Godspell. Catch Me If You Can.

Clearly, I love having wonderful surprises when I see and enjoy a show!

[theaterfan862]

Biggest surprise: I saw Rock of Ages last week mostly because there was a matinee and it has been on Broadway this long. I was very pleasantly surprised and had loads of fun!

Biggest disappointment: Clybourne Park was very disappointing because I expected it to be a masterpiece ,especially because of the great reviews and awards but it was not. It had some good moments but it was nothing special overall it left me cold.

[JohnyBroadway]

Surprise: Little Women National Tour. With it being Little Women I didn't know what to expect, but it's top notch cast and beautiful score blew me away and has remained one of my favorite performances. Maureen McGovern brought the house down during "days of plenty"

[EricMontreal22]

When I was in Lonon in 1999 I went to see Whistle Down the Wind expecting to see one of the biggest disasters on stage. I got tickets at the half price booth and was pleasantly surprised. Not a great musical, but a fantastic production and great cast (accents aside). It's too bad that when it briefly toured the US it was in the "kiddie-fied", simpler production--Gale Edwards' original production had a great set that was almost like a mini version of Sunset Blvd.'s two tiered set.

[bwayphreak234]

Disappointment: Lion King and Wicked
Surprise: American Idiot- I thought I would hate this show, but I loved it.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang- such a fun show with beautiful special effects.

[Wynbish]

Two examples of "I wish the show was as great as my cast recording" - Miss Saigon and Aida

[phan24]

Biggest Disappointment for me:

Once - I thought that after all the rave reviews and publicity (before the Tony's) this show would blow me away, but it sadly didn't make me feel anything. The story, cast, music, and scenery left me wanting for more. The whole show seemed like a long Act 1 of something. Definitely not going back, and don't know how it appeals to people.

[After Eight]

Biggest surprise and disappointment: that people on this board whom I had thought to be reliable turned out to have the most godawful "taste" imaginable. (My fault, though, since no one forced me to follow their advice. A painful lesson, learned the hard way.) Based on the unholy raves of some of them, (you would think that what they effused over was better than everything Rodgers, Kern, Gershwin, and Porter had written combined), I hied myself to what turned out to be two absolute horrors, Queen of the Mist and Once.

From here on in, whatever disappointments I experience at the theatre will be due to my own expectations.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

The two disappointments that come to mind, for me are:
-WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN (I liked it more than most on the boards, but with the pedigree behind it, it still should and could have been infinitely better.)
-NEWSIES (One more pirouetting twink and I thought I was going to pass out. The energy on stage was overwhelming in a way that was near grating. The songs all sound the same and the book was mediocre at best.)

Two surprises that come to mind are:
-CAROLINE, OR CHANGE (I really had no idea what to expect. Walked in on a hot summer afternoon after waiting on the TKTS line and when those lights came up at the end, I was just blown away. Not even by the show, which is excellent, but by Tonya Pinkins. To this day, the best performance I've ever seen onstage.)
-A CATERED AFFAIR (After reading all of the horrible reviews, my hopes weren't high. I sat front row, center, expecting the worst. And I stick by my claim that it was the best musical that opened on Broadway that season. I still haven't seen anything like it. Sure, parts of it didn't work, but overall, I was really moved by it. Particularly the masterful performances by Faith Prince and Tom Wopat.)

[givesmevoice]

Jerusalem was a surprise for me, because even though I saw it at the end of its run, I really only had a faint idea about its plot. I knew I would be blown away by Mark Rylance's performance, but I was surprised at how moving I found it.

Fanny at Encores was also a surprise for me. I knew some of the score, but I really fell in love with it in a way I never expected. I still consider it one of the best shows and productions I've ever seen at Encores.

[MusicAndPassion]

The biggest disappointment recently was Peter and the Starcatcher. I was expecting to love it, based on the reviews on this board and across the NY papers. I found it way too over the top (especially Borle) and I couldn't wait for it to end. The final 30 minutes are the only part worth watching.

The biggest surprise was Next To Normal Off-Broadway. I had no idea what my friend had recommended to me, but I walked in expecting some weird musical without depth. Loved every second!

[brettarnett]

For me it would have to be the HAIR revival, with the replacement cast. Mind you I listened to the cast recording day and night, and by the time I finally got out to New York, the old cast already left for London. The energy was lacking, some performances I thought I'd love ( Annaleigh Ashford) we awful. An this is coming from someone who tho thought she was stellar in legally blonde. But she talked her way through air, and kind of had no warmth. Maybe it was an off day. If any how is completely dependent on the casting to make it truly flourish it would have to be HAIR. I did see the revival's first national tour and I must say I was much happier with the show. Including Kacie Sheik, with her treating acting, warmth, and incredibly unique voice that fit the score perfectly.

[faithtrustpixiedust]

Biggest surprise: Priscilla. I wasn't planning on seeing it at all, it just looked like a snooze-fest with glitter, and I had heard awful things about it. I managed to get comps one day and while it was no life-changing theatrical experience, I had a great time, and brought tons of my tourist friends to see it. They all ate it up!

Biggest disappointment: Wicked. I had very low expectations for it, but the hype got me excited and tons of people managed to convince me that my pre-conceived opinions were wrong. Major letdown.

[Mark_E]

Catch me if you can - love the film, thought the musical was one of the most boring shows I've ever seen

[rosscoe(au)]

The Addams Family would have to be the biggest surprise, loved that show both Broadway and Touring..A fun night in the theatre.

Hated the Lion King great opening, every thing that followed was awful, wanted to slap little Simba across the stage

[wonkit]

Disappointment: ONCE. Undistinguished music and predictable plot. The second act had more pauses than Pinter. I am a romantic person, and hoped to be moved by the situation. Wasn't.

Surprise: WOMEN ON THE VERGE. Loved the film but loved the musical for different reasons. Wonderful music and outrageously good performances. I was prepared to be disappointed but I was totally engaged. A couple of songs not so much, but on the whole fast and enjoyable.

[Marlothom]

Biggest Surprise: All Shook UP - I thought it was a better jukebox musical than Mama Mia! and certainly had more spectacle (and better choreography).

Biggest Disappointment: Nice Work If You Can Get It - did not mind Broderick, but the book was so boring! And out of all the Gershwin songs, they picked the most boring ones! Blah Blah Blah.

[Marlothom]

Biggest Surprise: All Shook UP - I thought it was a better jukebox musical than Mama Mia! and certainly had more spectacle (and better choreography).

Biggest Disappointment: Nice Work If You Can Get It - did not mind Broderick, but the book was so boring! And out of all the Gershwin songs, they picked the most boring ones! Blah Blah Blah.

[iNick1224]

Disappointment: Addams Family - its great material for broadway but ultimately I feel the show was thin and too upbeat. I enjoyed the humor and pop tunes nonetheless but I think the story could have better by far.

[goldenboy]

Did not like the following over hyped shows:

Phantom of the Opera... dull dull dull. I just don t get it
Jersey Boys-it was okay.
The Revival of La Cage with Douglas Hodge.. Hated this. Love the original.
Newsies - great dancing. great Jeremy. Thats about it.
Peter and the Starcatchers a snoozefest.
Rent


I had low expectations for Leap of Faith and had a good time.
Also ended up loving The Columnist, Toxic Avenger,
Loved Wicked. Did not expect to like it being an original Wizard of Oz Fanatic.