Comments on: Elden Street Players tick, tick…Boom!

By: Laura & Mike Clark

Laura & Mike Clark — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:31:30 +0000

Brad Hathaway of Potomac Stages has reviewed Tick, Tick… BOOM!. And at this point, comments are closed on this production. Feel free to contact ShowBizRadio if you have thoughts about the show, playing for one more weekend.

By: Greg Mitchell

Greg Mitchell — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:40:07 +0000

Wow. I’m amazed at how rude people are. I saw the production for a second time this weekend….INCREDIBLE. To the cast and crew…you are all to be commended for one of the best productions (community and professional) I have EVER seen. It’s not all perfect–what show is–but people are plainly being rude on this forum. It’s very disappointing. Cast, you’ve got a lot of fans out there…

By: Laura & Mike Clark

Laura & Mike Clark — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:29:15 +0000

Michael Toscano of the Washington Post has reviewed Tick, Tick… BOOM!. The article is not available on the Post's web site, but Elden Street has reprinted the review : Tick, Tick… BOOM! Puts Focus On the Biological Clock of a Man.

By: Robert A Spiegel

Robert A Spiegel — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:54:33 +0000

Native New Yorker with many friends in theater (i.e. restaurants), as well as a tin ear, I know what it means to “rent.” I liked the plot and found each of the characters played by the actors endearing in their own way. However, finding my own auditory system in pain during much of the play says something must be very wrong with the singing!

By: Ted Ying

Ted Ying — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:31:55 +0000

We just attended the performance last Saturday night, August 9. As a frequent performer, director, producer and more in community theater (over 25 productions in last 10 years) and a regular theater subscriber and patron, I do have to commend Eldon Street Players for a good community theater production. I do know how difficult it can be to stage productions on shoe-string budgets and I really admire some of the solutions they found to what could be cost-challenging situations. I was impressed with the talent of the three individuals, but there is room for improvement. Both my wife and I (she is a veteran in community theater with more experience than I) felt that the cast was strong vocally, but some of the acting left some room for improvement. We, too, felt that the chemistry between the threesome felt cold and distant at the beginning (it was appropriate for the end, but you shouldn’t play the end of the play at the beginning). I loved the lead’s voice when singing, but thought he was a little flat on his line-readings. He had moments where he shone, but was inconsistent. My wife found that the girlfriend’s singing and acting took too much time to “warm up” and she lost interest in the character by 1/3 of the way through. Once she no longer felt strongly about the character, she didn’t care about the ending. All of these things are ones that really require the director to fix. These are issues that the actors cannot always see from inside the play and the director has to recognize and fix. There were also a number of costume errors that were distracting. For example, the jeans that the lead wore are quite appropriate for a 29-30 year old born after 1975, but definitely not appropriate for one born in 1960 (I know…I’m old). Just one example.

Overall a good community theater production and I commend the company for the many things that were good, but, there is still room for improvement.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:26:34 +0000

I saw the show last Saturday and I agree that some of the harmonies were at times so off key and flat that I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. John gave the role of Jon all he had and deserved an A for effort. I had heard that there were some cast changes and musical director changes, and I can only imagine what Josh and John and Kristen went through. I have seen better productions at ESP, and expect better from this great theatre company. The MetroStage production was terrific, but comparing the two productions is unfair. I will say, that it’s always nice to hear that wonderful score. I thought the set distracted me from hearing the lyrics, while the cast was singing while walking up and down that set. The show would have been better on a bare stage with a piano and a couple of chairs. That’s why I go to ESP-for their “in your face” productions. I couldn;t get lost in the emotions of this production, because . I jgot lost in the set.

By: Mark Baker

Mark Baker — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:23:53 +0000

Debating theater– and art in general– is healthy so I certainly welcome a differing opinion. But to respond to Eileen’s question– I assure you I was not late. And if you wanted to hear “beautiful” harmonies– you should buy the original cast recording– or hopefully you caught the recent stellar production at MetroStage. Otherwise, I guess we have differing views on what is considered beautiful. Or you have a lower threshold for what good community theater is.

By: eileen shropshire

eileen shropshire — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:08:50 +0000

I was there the same night as you were, Saturday the 2nd. I am mystified that you did not feel a “spark” between Susan and Jon. Did you come in late? Goodness. I enjoyed it to the max. I intend to see it again before it closes. The beautiful three-part-harmonies were among the things I want to experience again.

By: Josh Doyle

Josh Doyle — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:11:19 +0000

All,

I’m pretty sure I speak for the rest of the cast when I say we very much appreciate everyone’s input and are glad that you were able to make it to the show. Part of ESP’s mission is to mount difficult and often rarely seen productions. The result of which can either truly impress or not (both evidenced here.) Though, from my experience, it usually impresses. I can say that regardless of the response (though we truly hope that everyone enjoys the show), we love putting it in front of you. Thanks for bringing attention to the show and, above all, coming to see it. You’re helping make what we do possible. If you’re reading this and haven’t seen Tick,Tick BOOM!, aren’t you curious? Don’t miss what everyone’s talking about! Tickets are selling fast!

http://www.eldenstreetplayers.org/

We promise to do our best 🙂

Josh Doyle

The views expressed are solely those of the blogger and do not reflect the views of Elden Street Players or any other party

By: Mark Baker

Mark Baker — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:35:53 +0000

I agree with Laura on this one and would ask what show Mary was watching. I respect the actors for taking on a difficult piece, especially the lead for what is certainly an exhausting 90 minutes. That said, “A” for effort doesn’t apply here. The vocals here were often times sloppy, if not flat out wrong. Perhaps most of you are not familiar with the score. If not, I assure you that there are some beautiful harmonies and incredible rock-pop moments. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much evidence of that on the Saturday night I was there. The two gentlemen’s voices were just not suited for that music– I have seen them in other productions where there talents were on better display. As for the female, while her big number was the vocal highlight of the show, she too was ill-suited to her role. There was no chemistry between her and the lead– and any drama or tension that was supposed to be there amongst the cast was simply lacking. Was this a decent community theater production? Absolutely. But I agree with Laura– it’s not up to the things I have seen at Elden Street. It could have been MUCH better.