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| SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY -- I've finally seen it | |
| Last Edit: BroadwayTonyJ 04:08 pm EDT 04/25/20 | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 04:07 pm EDT 04/25/20 | |
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| During the lengthy run of Springsteen on Broadway at the Walter Kerr, I actually made 6 trips to New York but was never able to snag a reasonably priced ticket to see it. In 28 years of seeing shows on Broadway, Springsteen was the only really good, high profile show that I didn't see that I regret missing. I was prepared to go as high as $175 for a ticket, but $275 was the least expensive ticket I was ever offered by the box office. Anyway, I watched it yesterday on Netflix. I'm not sure what took me so long. I did buy the OBC CD well over 2 years ago and enjoyed it, although it's a bit of a slog to get through. Springsteen's telling of the story of his life is certainly interesting, but does not come across well on CD. In addition, the slower than usual performance of many of his greatest hits on the cast recording is not as enjoyable as listening to his classic albums from the past. Nevertheless, watching the show on Netflix is an emotionally powerful experience. The filmed performance does a good job of capturing the magic that must have been present on Broadway 5 nights a week for over a year. I still wish that I had seen it at the Walter Ker, but my compensation is that I still have great memories of catching his legendary concert at Soldier Field 35 years ago. By chance, were any other ATC-ers there in 1985? |
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| re: SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY -- I've finally seen it | |
| Posted by: Deirdre 06:21 pm EDT 04/26/20 | |
| In reply to: SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY -- I've finally seen it - BroadwayTonyJ 04:07 pm EDT 04/25/20 | |
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| I saw it three times - the first was about 3 weeks in; the last was about 3 weeks before it closed. I felt like it changed dramatically between viewings. The first time he was not entirely comfortable with the material; some of it just didn't feel organic (obviously the spoken material - the songs were perfection, but then again he can do no wrong in my book.) And "Ghost of Tom Joad" wasn't performed originally. By the last one, he was amazing. So funny and charming (I've seen him in concert dozens of times so I knew how funny he was, but he was such a raconteur in this show) and "Ghost of Tom Joad" blew me away. It was when the federal government had started separating families at the border and it was so incredibly powerful and charged. Incredible experience. | |
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| re: SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY -- I've finally seen it | |
| Posted by: jerseymerle 06:48 pm EDT 04/25/20 | |
| In reply to: SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY -- I've finally seen it - BroadwayTonyJ 04:07 pm EDT 04/25/20 | |
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| As the Broadway run progressed, Springsteen kept adding to the material, so the Netflix program was about half an hour longer than what I saw on stage. Personally, although I am a fan, I think the shorter version packed more of a punch, or maybe I was just less exhausted at the end. | |
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| re: SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY -- I've finally seen it | |
| Last Edit: mikem 11:08 pm EDT 04/25/20 | |
| Posted by: mikem 11:06 pm EDT 04/25/20 | |
| In reply to: re: SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY -- I've finally seen it - jerseymerle 06:48 pm EDT 04/25/20 | |
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| I saw the show very late in its run, and it was about 15 minutes longer than the Netflix version. No additional songs, just a lot more talking. I remember asking an usher before I sat down how long the show was going to be, and she said, "Honestly, I'm not completely sure." My impression was that the show became longer over time as opposed to changing dramatically from one night to the next, and it was about the same length as she said it had been the night before. But I don't think I've ever gotten that response from an usher at a Broadway theater before! I thought he was mesmerizing all the way through, but I can see why the CD version might feel a little bloated. I think the visual helps. I was surprised what a good actor Springsteen is. He really made it seem like he is spontaneously making up the monologues (which he is not - they are written out on teleprompters). I think if he had been submitted for Leading Actor in a Musical at the Tonys, he would have won. (Tony Shalhoub won that year for The Band's Visit.) |
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