| "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES | |
| Posted by: | Icanseeit 05:45 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
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| I went with a group of six the other night to see this show with great expectations (two of my friends are Cuban American). Well let me get this out of the way first…..this is first rate cruise ship entertainment or for Las Vegas. We have truly lowered the bar to accept something like this for Broadway. Its not nearly as good as “Beautiful” with an amazing score and solid book or “Jersey Boys”. The book is really weak and has viturally no impact until late in the second act. The dancing is what you would expect and not terribly inventive from Mr. Trujillos previous work. The direction is perfunctory, not bad, just perfunctory. I grew up with Gloria Estefan’s music as well as my friends that I was with, and to that you can go no wrong as it was a delight to hear this music again, song after song. The main reason to see this show is an actress/singer named Ana Villafane…..I can go so far to say that its really the only reason to see this show. She looks like Ms. Estefan, moves well, is a wonderful actress with great stage presence and even sings like Ms. Estefan (and it’s not a performance of imitation). I think we will see big things from her in the future, a talent like this will not go overlooked. The other actress I will give kudos to is Alma Cuervo as her grandmother. A delight to watch, engaging, funny at one moment, and pulls at your heart at other moments. The little boy in the show is cute but way overused……It’s the oldest trick in the book to throw a child onstage and make him sing and dance, (and he’s very good), but way overexposed. This musical is not really a “jukebox musical” in my opinion as it has a story line (poorly executed) but it exists nonetheless. Now I have to mention Ms. Villafane’s husband Emilio Estefan Josh Segarra. One of the biggest miscast roles I’ve seen in awhile. This is not to say Mr. Seggara is not talented, but so wrong for this role. He looks very uncomfortable on stage especially in any solo moments, I didn’t buy the chemistry between Gloria and Emiliio. Ms. Villafane walks away with every scene without even trying. And Mr. Seaggara (who doesn’t need to be a body builder) is dressed is some costumes that do nothing to enhance his body, but just the opposite. The ensemble is fine but again they are performing Latin dance that we have all seen time and time again, nothing inventive. Spoiler Alert- This musical manipulates the audience which is really annoying forcing you to participate in a standing ovation at the curtain call or you won’t see the action onstage. All in all I think it will get mixed reviews, but continue to run and do well at the box office even though it is mediocre at best and doesn’t belong on a Broadway stage. It’s just not good enough. I cringed (as well as my friends) at some of what was presented on the stage. I wish them well, and any new shows that opens, but this is a classic case of “What were they thinking?”. Everyone in my group from age late 40’s to early 60’s agreed and my comments represent a combination of all of our comments. It’s too bad, it could have been a helluva lot better! | |
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| re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES | |
| Posted by: | Singapore/Fling 09:39 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
| In reply to: | "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES - Icanseeit 05:45 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
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| What do you think Broadway *is* these days? Cruise ships and Vegas is a sizable portion of the audience, and these shows get made for them, and they generally do well, or at least appear to. Thankfully, the art and the more interesting commercial shows get made as well, but not as much as we would like, and they don't play as many people as they might once have. That's just Broadway in 2015. I've kind of made peace with it, because I'd still like to work there one day. | |
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| many times the producers of a successful cruise/Vegas show | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 01:41 pm EDT 10/29/15 |
| In reply to: | re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES - Singapore/Fling 09:39 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
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| Use those profits in less commercial shows. There are probavly many examples of artistic shows that wouldn't have made it to Broadway without the profits of a commercial hit from a less artistic venture. | |
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| Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." | |
| Posted by: | 2hrsOfJustPow 10:44 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
| In reply to: | re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES - Singapore/Fling 09:39 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
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| I think the original poster was just pointing out that we deserve BETTER. | |
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| re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." | |
| Posted by: | Singapore/Fling 10:07 am EDT 10/29/15 |
| In reply to: | Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." - 2hrsOfJustPow 10:44 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
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| Do we? What are we doing to make the environment possible where Better will also be Successful? Much like our face, we tend to get the Arts Culture that we deserve, and apparently this is the best that we can do. | |
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| re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." | |
| Posted by: | 2hrsOfJustPow 11:46 pm EDT 10/29/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." - Singapore/Fling 10:07 am EDT 10/29/15 |
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| I don't know..personally? I'm writing musicals, directing them and actively seeking like minded individuals to make some classy art. That's what I'm doing - so some of us do actually do more than just complain here. | |
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| re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." | |
| Posted by: | Singapore/Fling 12:29 am EDT 10/30/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." - 2hrsOfJustPow 11:46 pm EDT 10/29/15 |
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| Yeah, me too. But per my original post - I've accepted that this is where we are at. Because the problem isn't about content, it's about finance. It's about where our culture has placed its values, which is not towards the arts (unless the arts can net a few million dollars), and it's about what the audience has turned into as a result. And I reiterate - we have done nothing to suggest that we as a culture deserve any better. But again, I am not complaining. I am just pointing out the reality, and saying that a "Fun Home" or a "Hamilton" are one side of Broadway, and jukebox-a-palooza is the other, and we should stop being shocked that these third tier Vegas shows are running on Broadway. | |
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| re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." | |
| Posted by: | 2hrsOfJustPow 01:10 am EDT 10/30/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." - Singapore/Fling 12:29 am EDT 10/30/15 |
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| Well I'm glad people love HAMILTON. I haven't seen it yet...as for FUN HOME. I think it would have been just as successful as a play. I think people were compelled by the performances and the story...but honestly - the raving over that score? It left me cold...I listened to it once.Then I was engaged when I was in the theatre. But I have no desire to return to that thing ever. But best of luck to you - to both of us - in our quest to create something special. | |
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| re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." | |
| Posted by: | keikekaze 04:11 pm EDT 10/29/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." - Singapore/Fling 10:07 am EDT 10/29/15 |
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| I'm with you on this point, Singapore/Fling. "We" will start deserving better theater when "we" start demanding better theater, both by patronizing better theater and by avoiding junk. | |
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| re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." | |
| Posted by: | 2hrsOfJustPow 11:47 pm EDT 10/29/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." - keikekaze 04:11 pm EDT 10/29/15 |
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| I agree with that for sure. | |
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| re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." | |
| Posted by: | keikekaze 04:24 pm EDT 10/30/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Some have said, "We get the theatre we deserve." - 2hrsOfJustPow 11:47 pm EDT 10/29/15 |
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| Thanks. And I'll add my best wishes for success in your musical writing and directing! | |
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| re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES | |
| Posted by: | muchkasmom 09:17 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
| In reply to: | "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES - Icanseeit 05:45 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
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| Spot on Review!! Very disappointing especially the production, book, direction, choreography. Anna Villafane was excellent as was Alma Cuervo. Just total schlock which will run a long time. | |
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| re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES | |
| Posted by: | KingSpeed 06:51 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
| In reply to: | "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES - Icanseeit 05:45 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
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| This show is the definition of a jukebox show- a show that shoehorns existing music into a story. Beautiful, Jersey Boys, Saturday Night Fever, Good Vibrations, All Shook Up, Mamma Mia, all have have story lines and all are jukebox musicals. Perhaps you're thinking of a "revue," examples being Ain't Misbehavin, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Fascinatin' Gershwin, and Putting it Together, for examples. | |
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| re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES | |
| Posted by: | Chromolume 09:00 pm EDT 10/29/15 |
| In reply to: | re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES - KingSpeed 06:51 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
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| IMO, those are ALL jukebox musicals (though I would debate whether the Gershwin and Sondheim shows are, because they use theatre music as opposed to pop music not written for the theatre). I don't think it matters whether there is a story or not - it's the pre-existing pop music that defines the style. As to the jukebox shows that use the subject's biography as the "story" - I don't know why they have yet to figure out that those stories are mostly very uninteresting. (I like to call these shows the "Behind The Music" musicals - except that the biographies are much better suited to a short TV documentary than to the elevated, longer story arc a musical demands.) | |
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| re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES | |
| Posted by: | BrianJ 12:18 am EDT 10/30/15 |
| In reply to: | re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES - Chromolume 09:00 pm EDT 10/29/15 |
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| "As to the jukebox shows that use the subject's biography as the "story" - I don't know why they have yet to figure out that those stories are mostly very uninteresting. (I like to call these shows the "Behind The Music" musicals - except that the biographies are much better suited to a short TV documentary than to the elevated, longer story arc a musical demands.)" Maybe it has to do with the way the stories are told? Like, I wouldn't say that either the Four Seasons or Carole King have exceptionally more compelling and fascinating life stories than other pop/rock stars... yet the writers,directors,actors,etc. who put together those shows found a way to tell those stories that connected with, and excited, audiences in a way that most other "Behind the Music" musicals haven't. | |
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| I'm waiting for "Weird!" | |
| Posted by: | Delvino 09:40 am EDT 10/29/15 |
| In reply to: | re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES - KingSpeed 06:51 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
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| The story of Al Yankovic, with attendant songs. | |
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| re: "ON YOUR FEET" - I loved it | |
| Posted by: | NYCscribe 12:45 am EDT 10/29/15 |
| In reply to: | re: "ON YOUR FEET" SHOWS ITS CALLUSES - KingSpeed 06:51 pm EDT 10/28/15 |
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| I went with four people and we all adored it. Two were Latin Americans. Is it perfect? No. But a fun night, with great music. I though the salsa was fantastic. Ms. Villafane is extraordinary. I truly believed it was Gloria Estefan. And I disagree about the actor playing Emilio - he matched the voice and mannerisms of the real Emilio as perfectly as Ms. Villafane did his wife. What he was doing was not showy Broadway acting but felt real and true to the man he was portraying. I enjoyed it more than Beautiful but that's because I have a predisposition for salsa and am not a fan of Carole King's music. Given the strong wraps for previews, it seems people are enjoying it or the word of mouth wouldn't be good. | |
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