FONDLY, COLLETTE RICHLAND at NYTW

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 9/16/15 at 4:02pm

I’m always interested in what those wacky folks over at Elevator Repair Service have gotten themselves into next.  Has anyone seen this yet?

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 9/18/15 at 8:27am

Bumpity-bump-bump

Bumpity-bump-bump

Look at Frosty go

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 9/18/15 at 1:33pm

Seeing it on Sunday so I'll let you know. My first ERS show. 

[macnyc]

Posted: 9/20/15 at 9:10pm

Wow, and not in a good way. My friend and I escaped at intermission. The first act was incoherent. I could not figure out what this play was about, what it was supposed to be saying. I fell asleep at one point. I wanted to escape into the little door on stage with the weirdness.

 

I've come to the conclusion that to enjoy this work, you need to be totally high. So pick your favorite recreational drug, and go see this. You will find it hilarious. 

 

Clyde, what do you think? Did you make it all the way through? If so, you're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!

Updated On: 9/20/15 at 09:10 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/20/15 at 9:57pm

mac, did you have a track record with ERS before this?

[macnyc]

Posted: 9/20/15 at 10:04pm

No, not to my knowledge. My theater partner has, though.

Updated On: 9/20/15 at 10:04 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/20/15 at 10:37pm

did he or she like previous work? No question ERS is not for everyone, but it doesn't mean a lot if someone is not likely to like what they do.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 8:02am

 

My only experiences with EST have been GATZ and THE SELECT, both of which, from what I've read about FCR and its development, seem to bear little similarity to it.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 8:06am

I spoke with a friend who saw the first act (all he could bear) and said it was horrible and incomprehensible. The first act was 90 minutes; normally I like to make my own decisions, but this time I think I'll save myself the time and money and stay home. 

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 9:22am

 

Gosh, another walkout.  I guess we’ll have to wait for After Eight, that consummate masochist, to report.  Though he’ll never see this thread

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 11:59am

macnyc said: "Clyde, what do you think? Did you make it all the way through? If so, you're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!"

 

Due to unforeseen circumstances I was unable to attend but it sounds like it was probably for the best anyway.

[macnyc]

Posted: 9/21/15 at 12:10pm

You dodged a bullet! In my humble opinion, of course.

I am very open to hearing what others say about it. Plus, I am interested to learn if the second act made good on the first in a way I didn't think could happen and that I am judging it harshly based on seeing only half the show. Because in general I think audiences should stay for the whole thing. But in this case I didn't think I would make it another hour.

 

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 2:06am

saw this last night, it was ****ing bonkers and probably the most insane thing I've ever seen onstage but i loved pretty much every minute of it, I'm in the minority but man if anything give NYTW and ERS credit for attempting such lunacy 

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/12/15 at 10:08am

I should have taken your advice and skipped this one completely, macnyc. I ended up seeing the show and hated every second of it. I, too, left at intermission because I didn't feel the need to suffer anymore.

 

There was no discernible plot. The dialogue was so annoying. An example being one character pronounces all words with a C like they have a CH, choffee instead of coffee. I found everything to be incredibly pretentious like when a character comes on stage saying "I have no idea what's even happening" and someone in the audience yells back "that makes two of us!" All the actors stop, the house lights come up and two of the actors come out and escort a man in the audience with a mustache out of the theatre. I'm sure the creative team thought it was so original but I couldn't help but roll my eyes the entire time. I also hated the acting of every person on stage. 

 

This was my first exposure to ERS and maybe their previous efforts succeeded because they were adapting great works. This piece, however, had nothing good going for it. I don't think I'll ever choose to suffer through another one of their shows.

[macnyc]

Posted: 10/12/15 at 10:26am

Yes, I envied the guy who was escorted out of the theater! The rest of us had to wait for intermission.

 

I can't believe the favorable reviews this has gotten from outlets like the New York Times and Time Out New York. Sorry you had to suffer through it, Clyde! 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/12/15 at 10:43am

Is the design even worth going for?

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/12/15 at 10:48am

RippedMan said: "Is the design even worth going for?"

 

Not in the least. There are just a couple of rolling panels that they use to serve as walls for the house or Alpine resort and some tables.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/12/15 at 10:59am

Oh okay. Never been to NYTW and wanted to check it out. But this show sounds pretty awful.

[bekk99]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 4:35pm

I actually loved the show... I interpreted it as a sort of dream world and just sat back and let it all soak in. Some great acting and visuals along the way. 15-20 minutes too long, perhaps.

[Buddy Plummer2]

Posted: 10/13/15 at 6:22pm

Add me to the list of people who loved it. It takes a while to get into it (it's a dreamscape where not everything is going to make sense), but those who stayed for the second half were greatly rewarded.

i may actually go back again to try and catch all the details . Certainly not for everyone, but if you can embrace something different, it's not to be missed