Groundhog Day
April 17, 2017 8:49 AM Subscribe
NPR is hosting a First Listen of the Original Cast Recording of Groundhog Day: The Musical. Music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
I'm pretty sure I've heard this already.
posted by yhbc at 8:54 AM on April 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by yhbc at 8:54 AM on April 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
Hm. Last time I listened to an original cast recording hosted by NPR, it turned me into Hamiltrash. I don't know if I can handle something like that right now.
posted by ChuraChura at 8:58 AM on April 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 8:58 AM on April 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
It's a pretty clever score that sort of slides sideways away from expectations and then back into them again. If you want to only listen to one song, I'd recommend Playing Nancy, a second act ballad. It's not representative of the musical as a whole, but it's clever and full of adult insights in a way you don't often find in show tunes.
posted by hippybear at 9:01 AM on April 17, 2017
posted by hippybear at 9:01 AM on April 17, 2017
It it going to be broadcast all day long, repeating over and over?
posted by Melismata at 9:10 AM on April 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 9:10 AM on April 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
If it doesn't start with "I Got You Babe", I'll be very disappointed.
posted by Optamystic at 9:29 AM on April 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Optamystic at 9:29 AM on April 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Alas, Optamystic, they couldn't/didn't license it, and replaced it with a bespoke radio jingle for the holiday.
I just saw the play last Thursday in previews (it technically opens today). It was a great show; it was clear how much fun the cast was having with it, and there's some really spectacular stagecraft, including a really fascinating scene where they used stage-magic tricks to great effect.
I don't know if the soundtrack has quite the deep replayability for me that Minchin's last—Matilda—had. (Let alone Hamilton, but that's hardly a fair standard to hold it up to.)
posted by bluemilker at 9:57 AM on April 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just saw the play last Thursday in previews (it technically opens today). It was a great show; it was clear how much fun the cast was having with it, and there's some really spectacular stagecraft, including a really fascinating scene where they used stage-magic tricks to great effect.
I don't know if the soundtrack has quite the deep replayability for me that Minchin's last—Matilda—had. (Let alone Hamilton, but that's hardly a fair standard to hold it up to.)
posted by bluemilker at 9:57 AM on April 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Haven't heard any of it yet, but I would think that the whole premise has to REQUIRE certain themes to have "deep replayability".
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:08 AM on April 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:08 AM on April 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Playing Nancy was sort of the only self aware note in a mixed up mash of multiple producers, visions, and sensibilities. There were a few other moments of satisfying dark comedy but most were rendered just plain shitty and mean spirited through iI can only imagine the same kind of committee approach.
In short, this is pretty far from the cogent (if classic) vision of Hamilton. And not close enough to the subtle existentialism of the film to offer a viable alternative.
There were some excellently executed stagecraft and effects bits, but the pacing was so inconsistent and tone so cynical I wouldn't recommend this even to my immediate theatre... enthusiast friends.
posted by abulafa at 11:21 AM on April 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
In short, this is pretty far from the cogent (if classic) vision of Hamilton. And not close enough to the subtle existentialism of the film to offer a viable alternative.
There were some excellently executed stagecraft and effects bits, but the pacing was so inconsistent and tone so cynical I wouldn't recommend this even to my immediate theatre... enthusiast friends.
posted by abulafa at 11:21 AM on April 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm so, so excited that Andy Karl is well enough to open the show tonight. Can't wait to see this later this week.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:26 PM on April 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:26 PM on April 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I saw the first night of previews and we got through perhaps the first fifteen minutes when the show was stopped for technical difficulties. The wait was so long that the house offered free drinks for all - but they were never able to get it working again. They performed the rest of the show in concert and then offered us all free tickets for another preview.
Two weeks ago I went to the makeup show and right after intermission, the show was stopped for technical difficulties. At least they were able to resume after about ten minutes.
And then the other night Andy Karl injured his knee during the show and the next show was canceled.
Tonight is opening night - I'm so curious to hear if the show was able to escape the curse of previews and make it straight through.
posted by Neely O'Hara at 6:39 PM on April 17, 2017
Two weeks ago I went to the makeup show and right after intermission, the show was stopped for technical difficulties. At least they were able to resume after about ten minutes.
And then the other night Andy Karl injured his knee during the show and the next show was canceled.
Tonight is opening night - I'm so curious to hear if the show was able to escape the curse of previews and make it straight through.
posted by Neely O'Hara at 6:39 PM on April 17, 2017
"Hm. Last time I listened to an original cast recording hosted by NPR, it turned me into Hamiltrash. I don't know if I can handle something like that right now."
Hahahahahah, between Hamilton and Come From Away....
My thoughts:
* I think I prefer it to Matilda, though there's some weird bits involving genitalia and other gross out bits.
* I actually like the terrible groundhog jingle better than "I Got You Babe" because it would really make you want to off yourself if you had to hear it that often.
* "Pointless erection." Sounds like Phil. "Who doesn't dig a crocheted pillow like this?" Har.
* Lyrics I relate to: small towns, dating, nobody cares, my prince may come but it doesn't seem likely.
* "Playing Nancy" sounds like a very deep and profound song but also one that doesn't sound like it goes with the rest of the show. No idea how it works in play execution, of course.
* I didn't realize the Ned Ryerson song was Ned Ryerson until the end of it.
* "Seeing You" sounds very sweet, but it's not the bombastic typical musical ending there.
Anyone who goes to the show, please come back and report? And uh...makes it through the show, apparently?
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:07 PM on April 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hahahahahah, between Hamilton and Come From Away....
My thoughts:
* I think I prefer it to Matilda, though there's some weird bits involving genitalia and other gross out bits.
* I actually like the terrible groundhog jingle better than "I Got You Babe" because it would really make you want to off yourself if you had to hear it that often.
* "Pointless erection." Sounds like Phil. "Who doesn't dig a crocheted pillow like this?" Har.
* Lyrics I relate to: small towns, dating, nobody cares, my prince may come but it doesn't seem likely.
* "Playing Nancy" sounds like a very deep and profound song but also one that doesn't sound like it goes with the rest of the show. No idea how it works in play execution, of course.
* I didn't realize the Ned Ryerson song was Ned Ryerson until the end of it.
* "Seeing You" sounds very sweet, but it's not the bombastic typical musical ending there.
Anyone who goes to the show, please come back and report? And uh...makes it through the show, apparently?
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:07 PM on April 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm one of the dozens of Americans who saw this show without anyone getting hurt or anything breaking down!
Saw it a few weeks ago and thought it was really funny. I have not seen the movie.
Andy is great and is running, getting slapped, getting hit, making poor life decisions, or committing suicide for almost the entire thing. Imagine a sleazy Wile E. Coyote that can sing.
"Playing Nancy": I assume this is the "Mr. Cellophane" of this musical- a nice break for the leads to drink some water or just sit the hell down. It's not bad, but the Nancy character is just strangely quiet after this big moment.
Speaking of Hamilton-- if you like turntable-based choreography, this is for you. I think there are a couple of turntables in use at once.
posted by Freecola at 8:17 PM on April 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Saw it a few weeks ago and thought it was really funny. I have not seen the movie.
Andy is great and is running, getting slapped, getting hit, making poor life decisions, or committing suicide for almost the entire thing. Imagine a sleazy Wile E. Coyote that can sing.
"Playing Nancy": I assume this is the "Mr. Cellophane" of this musical- a nice break for the leads to drink some water or just sit the hell down. It's not bad, but the Nancy character is just strangely quiet after this big moment.
Speaking of Hamilton-- if you like turntable-based choreography, this is for you. I think there are a couple of turntables in use at once.
posted by Freecola at 8:17 PM on April 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I saw this live (and all the way through!) about three weeks ago while visiting a friend. I thought the show was so much more funny and sweet than I was expecting, and honestly found the love story in the musical more convincing than in the movie. I really enjoyed this and would totally recommend it!
posted by augustimagination at 8:56 PM on April 17, 2017
posted by augustimagination at 8:56 PM on April 17, 2017
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