Comments for Turning-30 Rock: "tick... tick... BOOM!", at the Harrison Hilltop Theatre through July 26 at http://www.rcreader.com , comment 1 to 20 out of 20 comments http://www.rcreader.com Sat, 25 May 2013 01:24:44 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1427 ONE LAST CHANCE TO SEE THE SHOW! 2:30 P.M. ONLY $14 Come check it out! We realize some of you haven't seen the show... so please join us in celebrating our first anniversary! Ditto... Psych... About Time... HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! www.harrisonhilltop.com 309-235-1654 - HARRISON HILLTOP THEATRE Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:58:05 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1426 It seems as though most people up in arms over this article have missed the point. This isn't review that's bashing Lewis it's calling for better direction. He's up there taking risks and it's up to the director to be his eyes and let him know when he's gone to far. This review is clearly meant as a call for Tapscott and Walljasper to step it up. Good job guys, now before we get too proud of ourselves, could we take it up a notch. You've relied on actors like Staver, Lewis, and Bleeker who are good enough to show up on any show and rock the house. But even guys like that can only get so far without real guidance. They've put on good shows but not great ones and what's been holding them back is a lack of direction and artistic vision. I hope their response to this review is not just "Mikes wrong!" Hopefully, it sparks a re-evaluation of their process and priorities and strong desire to improve. These two have done a lot for Quad City theatre by starting this company and they have worked their asses off in the process. They deserve a tremendous amount over applause for that. But they're both still young and have a great deal they can improve upon. This will only happen if they listen to the real critics. - ditto Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:17:18 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1425 No Thanks, et al, Considering these are (as mentioned in the piece) among Mike's very good, long-time friends, it would seem unlikely that he would just "trash" them without any rationale (ie: what he saw/heard really happened that way). That premise alone belies your basic thesis. I think it speaks to his integrity that he wrote the review at all, considering that. And I agree and applaud those who see the value of not having sunshine blown up their asses. I'm sure it broke his heart a little, considering how much he loves the QC theatre community and the people in it, to both have a performance come off this poorly, as well as to have to write about it. As in so many things, a little empathy, even for things/people you disagree with (maybe especially for) can go a long way toward expanding understanding. To wit, if you don't think Mike empathized with the actors/director, etc, then I don't think you're reading very carefully. I can literally HEAR him trying to get these people SOME credit. Obviously the off elements were so off for Mike, that they dominate the review. But he gave out what props he could, I'm sure. Mike wrote a reasoned, impartial (other than to his own opinion/perception/interpretation) review. All you're doing is basically bitching about that. Your cause would be much better served by writing an as-well-reasoned, positive (or however you saw it) review, including citations and examples, as in the original. anything else is just the lazy way out. - Psych Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:08:10 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1423 I have to applaud Mike for giving an honest review that isn't full of fluff and sunshine. Most every review that I've read of theater in the Quad Cities has been unrealistically and ,often times, disturbingly positive. I appreciate reviewers that have high expectations and aren't willing to compromise on those expectations, even if this is NYC, as some of you have pointed out. Even the few reviews that I've seen that have contained a critical note or two have been ridiculously vague and apologetic as if they didn't want to hurt the feelings of a dear friend. Feelings get hurt in theater, it's inevitable. It is their jobs to be critics, not to be a preschool teacher and tell everyone how amazing they are. - About Time Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:27:19 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1422 I totally agree and as a performer or director I would want the same things as well. I guess the debate is how "harsh" a critic when they don't like a show. I think it is possible and necessary for the writer to be critical and give one's honest opinion. That doesn't mean they give false praise (which happens too frequently in this area IMHO), it just means they choose their words carefully. - Louis J. Hare Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:32:36 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1420 Louis, I do understand the difference between QC theater and NYC theater (although there are reviews in the NYT for smaller theaters that are Off Broadway or Off Off Broadway which do not pay big bucks nor charge it); I also understand the impulse to be less overly critical because of that. However, speaking as a performer, I personally would rather that a reviewer be brutally honest instead of giving false praise or sugar-coating his/her experience. How else can we learn and grow as actors, directors, etc if our shortfalls are not pointed out? A reviewer should be fair and feel free to tell it like he/she sees it without being accused of personal bias. - Alaina Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:00:50 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1419 Saw the show tonight and thought it was WAY better than what Mike describes. I particularly thought that Adam Lewis was as good as I've ever seen him. Congrats to all involved! Alania- While I 100 percent agree with you that a reviewer should give their honest opinion, even if it is negative, there is a world of difference between QC theatre and NYC theatre. Most reviews you would read in the NYT are of professional theatres, where people are paid big bucks and charge big bucks for their productions. Most of the QC theatres are community theatres, involving people who do this for the sheer fun or love of it. That's not to say that a reviewer shouldn't be honest, but maybe there are a few more things to consider when wording one's review. - Louis J. Hare Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:23:22 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1417 Two comments have been posted under our name "Harrison Hilltop Theatre". This person, thinking in the best interests of the theatre, posted reviews of Tick, Tick... BOOM! from other press outlets. We have spoken with Mike and requested that the comments be removed from the site as they do not reflect how we intend to represent our selves or engage the press. Thank You- now go get some free breakfast at Chick-Fil-A, Steve Quartell Harrison Hilltop Theatre/Director of Marketing and Development - Steve- Director of Marketing for Harrison Hilltop Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:49:26 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1416 Emotional Larson musical is a precursor to 'Rent' By Jonathan Turner / Dispatch In roughly 377,280 minutes, Jonathan Larson's hugely popular musical "Rent" will make its local community-theater debut – at Harrison Hilltop Theatre, Davenport. For a tantalizing preview in the meantime, check out Mr. Larson's frenetic, touching and tuneful "tick, tick ... BOOM!" at the Hilltop. Adam Lewis is terrific as Jon – the neurotic, frantic, intelligent and endearing composer telling his own dreams of being Broadway-bound, idealistic and cynical at the same time. The tale behind "tick" is even more jarringly dramatic than what's on stage in this three-person show – the Hilltop's 14th production already in a busy first year, and its first musical. "Tick'' was conceived as a one-man show performed by Mr. Larson in 1990. The title and its opening number ("30/90") refer to the mounting anxiety he feels as his 30th birthday approaches. The musical did not take its current form until after the dazzling success of "Rent," the ambitious, sprawling work that took inspiration from the opera "La Boheme." On Jan. 25, 1996, the night before the first New York Theater Workshop preview of "Rent," Mr. Larson died of an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm at 35. The success he desperately longs for in "tick" -- revitalizing Broadway with real rock, and literate, real-life stories of New York's gritty urban dwellers and artists – only came posthumously. "Rent" moved to Broadway in April 1996, won a Pulitzer Prize and three Tony Awards, including best musical, and became the eighth-longest-running show in Broadway history. A 2005 film starring many of the original cast. After Mr. Larson's death, David Auburn, author of the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning ''Proof,'' restructured "tick, tick...BOOM" as a work for three performers – Jon, his best friend Michael, and girlfriend Susan. It was produced off-Broadway in 2001. Its 11 songs (arranged by Stephen Oremus) display the wit, bite, pulsing urgency and open-hearted compassion that became trademarks of "Rent." Its second-act showstopper, "Come to Your Senses," is from Mr. Larson's "Superbia" -- a futuristic rock retelling of "1984." Tracy Pelzer-Timm, who plays several roles in the Hilltop production, tears the roof off with this very powerful, earthy and sensual song. Much of "Tick"'s plot concerns plans for the "Superbia" workshop, which is attended by Mr. Larson's idol, composer Stephen Sondheim. Jon is so in awe of the master's talents that he can't speak his name aloud. A highlight comes in a restaurant scene where Jon waits tables during a Sunday brunch. The clever "Sunday" is a spot-on homage to Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park With George" ("... in a small SoHo cafe, on an island in two rivers ..."). Mr. Lewis captures the frustration and panic of his role. At times, he's like a playful puppy, with tireless energy. Mostly, he's confused, nervous, perceptive, loud, and scared of being alone. He clearly has a love/hate relationship with Broadway. He's trying to create something new and revolutionary at a time when spectacular London musicals ruled and the country was "stodgy, complacent and unimaginative." Jon calls Broadway a "raging commercial whore " that he views with a mix of disgust and envy. Is he too good for it? As the more serene, stable Michael, Michael Crowe provides an oasis of calm and a sympathetic ear for Jon. It's a sweet, warm performance as a former actor who has a successful, well-paying job in market research, a BMW and a large, upscale apartment. Ms. Pelzer-Timm is an alluring muse for her composer boyfriend, but they argue over where their life is headed. She is strong in each character, including the boisterous agent Rosa and the flirtatious actress Karessa, effortlessly and quickly switching among them. Director Tristan Tapscott wisely has expanded the blocking possibilities of the intimate space and opens it up in a big way. There are two rows of steps leading up to a second level, just below the 14-foot-high ceiling. That gives plenty of space for the actors to roam. The musical accompaniment (piano, drums, guitar and bass) was prerecorded by Sound & Vision Studios, Moline, and works well. Mr. Tapscott said he plans to use live musicians when Hilltop does "Rent" next April. The moving birthday scene at the close of "tick, tick ... BOOM!" is given special poignancy by the real-life tragedy. What Mr. Larson could have accomplished after "Rent" is something we can only dream of. -- If you go -- What: "tick, tick ... BOOM!" -- When: 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. -- Where: Harrison Hilltop Theatre, 1601 Harrison St., Davenport. -- Tickets: $16; call (309) 235-1654 or visit www.harrisonhilltop.com for reservations. - Harrison Hilltop Theatre Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:03:15 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1415 Adam Lewis powers Harrison's Tick QC Times - David Burke Harrison Hilltop Theatre's "Tick, Tick ... Boom!" is perhaps more of a tour de force for Adam Lewis than his own autobiographical one-man show at the same location last winter. Lewis is a natural with the smart-mouthed, acidic humor of composer Jonathan Larson, this rock musical's author and hero, but Lewis adds to that the anguish of a stalled career, the heartbreak of love lost and found, and the despair of turning 30, circa 1990 in New York City. Larson, of course, went onto success with the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "Rent," and Harrison Hilltop - which is staging "Rent" in April - is serving this up as a theatrical appetizer. Larson died the night before "Rent's" off-Broadway premiere, and that sense of mortal foreboding seeps its way into "Tick," which tells of his life prior to "Rent." Lewis' Jon is a frustrated Broadway composer, wanting not just to get a show produced, but also to have, in his words, "a musical that will galvanize a generation." Tracy Pelzer-Timm and Michael Crowe play various other characters in Larson's life, most notably his girlfriend and longtime best friend, respectively. Pelzer-Timm is strong and beguiling as Susan, a dance teacher who gives Jon an ultimatum to grow up. Crowe - who recently graduated from high school - shows maturity as a fellow 30-year-old who gave up a life in theater for a job in market research (something that Jon fails at hilariously). Director Tristan Tapscott and musical director Chris Walljasper create a show that's both intimate and expansive. A two-level representational set allows the three actors to run at sometimes-breakneck paces with a piano keyboard as the only constant on the set. "Tick, Tick ... Boom!" which Jon says represents the internal countdown in his mind, is a smart, enjoyable evening of theater. - Harrison Hilltop Theatre Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:02:27 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1413 To No Thanks- Just curious when the last time you read a review that was not published in a local paper. I do understand that this isn't NYC, but theater reviews in the New York Times are, at times, way more vicious than this review was. A review should be a critical analysis of the production that the reviewer saw. I'm glad that you enjoyed the show and disagreed with some of his analysis, but the review is only one man's opinion. Sometimes those opinions are harsh. - Alaina Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:46:47 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1409 I saw the show Sunday afternoon, and while I agree with Mike that there were some pitch issues and character choices that didn't work for me, I still enjoyed the show very much. Tick Tick Boom is one of my favorite musicals, and I was very excited to see it performed locally. - Emily Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:36:25 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1408 I agree! Come see a quad cities premiere at the Harrison Hilltop Theatre! Show's July 23-26 and a special discount closing matinee on the 26th! Come check it out and write your very own review on this page! - James Effing Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:05:34 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1407 Come see for yourself! We are proud of the production and invite you to make your own opinions! Let's stop the trash-talk... (Mike did enough!)... and let's move on! Hope to see you this weekend! www.harrisonhilltop.com. - Tristan Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:11:13 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1406 To Alaina Pascarella- I agree with you that it is a reviewer's job to give his or her opinion on a show. However, I think there is an extreme difference between giving one's opinion, and making a personal attack. He didn't have to like the show, that's not my issue, my issue is that this review is extremely offensive. While yes I did give my thoughts on Lewis and the production as a whole, I'm not trying to force those ideas on him. However, I do think his lengthy dissection of Lewis's work, and neglect of the other two actors was a little ridiculous. I'm not saying that the reviewer had to like the show, but he could have written a more tasteful piece. He could have found a way to put down the production while leaving out his shrewd and asinine comments. There are many other ways to state what was said in a much more professional manner, especially during the last paragraph. To me this does not seem like any ordinary negative review. If you think it's perfectly fine to publicly and professional write this way, then I am sorry. - No thanks Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:06:06 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1405 I have yet to see tick, tick...BOOM; however, I felt it necessary to defend the job of a reviewer in general. To No Thanks, a reviewer should give an honest and sometimes critical review of a production. It's true that you may not always like what the reviewer has to say, but to be critical of a production and what the reviewer saw as its flaws is not unprofessional; it's part of the job. When things go wrong in a production or if actors are making choices that seem out of place to the reviewer, he/she should comment on it. It's not about a personal vendetta. Not to mention, that with any production, the buck stops with the director. As I have not been able to see the production myself, I cannot comment specifically on the actors' performances. Lewis and Pelzer-Timm are actors who I have enjoyed seeing in productions previously and probably will again. The reviewer is stating his opinion. It is great that you have your own opinion on the production, but you should also respect that the reviewer has a right to his own opinion. It has been my experience that this particular reviewer has been fair in the past in his reviews of shows, even shows that he may not have an appreciation for going into them(i.e. Neil Simon plays, his review of The Odd Couple for Harrison Hilltop was a good one). To me, it seems asinine to accuse a reviewer of bias because of a bad review. - Alaina Pascarella Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:15:41 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1404 I haven't seen the production yet... but I'll be going this Thursday. To "THEATRE FAN #2"- Your snide comment about "being another Green Room" is irrelevant and rude. No matter how dreadful this particular musical (I'm hoping it was just opening night willies) may have been... it should be applauded that people like Tapscott, Walljasper, Quartell, and Bleecker are willing to completely write off our nation's economic state and produce what is usually high quality theater and to keep offering it to a hungry community of theater lovers. Props to them. - Adam Peters Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:02:43 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1402 So, they have lasted one year... and their production is in that kind of shape? How long before one of those guys runs off with the theatres money and THEY get evicted? Another Green Room Theatre perhaps? - Theatre Fan #2 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:08:54 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1401 First of all, I would like to say that I saw the show, and it was not as bad as this reviewer so shrewdly claims it to be. I had friends, who are professional theatre actors, who actually quite enjoyed the show. Secondly, why he only tears apart the performance of Lewis, who I and many others believed to be the best part of the show, really confuses me. Everyone I have spoken with agrees that this was a wonderful role for Lewis, and he seemed very natural playing it. It's shocking how inappropriate the reviewer feels Lewis's performance was when I thought he nailed it. Why he was whiny, broke out into outraged fits, and for one second bounced around like Tigger simply because he was happy, was because THE CHARACTER CALLS FOR IT. It's about a man who is about to turn thirty and is freaking out because he hasn't accomplished anything he's wanted to in his life. His best friend is now moving out into an amazing apartment and leaving him alone to live in his sad little Soho apartment and to deal with his dreams slipping away. Of course the character is going to be written very whiny with extreme mood swings. In other words the character is any other normal person freaking out about turning thirty. And Lewis did nothing less than embody the character to it's fullest extent, by doing the role justice. Why the reviewer doesn't feel the need to focus on the other two actors nearly at all, but rips apart the strongest point in the show appalls me. What also appalls me was the reviewer's extremely personal attack on the producers, who just happened to be the director and musical director. I can understand questioning that some pitch problems or acting problems may have been a result of their directing, but to solely blame them for problems that maybe the actors should have fixed themselves is asinine. Does this reviewer have some sort of grudge toward the Hilltop Theatre? I can only assume that this may be the case for such a respected reviewer to write something so unprofessional. I can see not liking the show, but this review significantly crosses a line. I'll admit it wasn't the greatest show I've ever seen, but I thought it was quite enjoyable. This show definitely does not deserve this intense scrutiny, at least not in the areas it was given. I'd like to know what in the world the reviewer was thinking when he decided to write such an offensive piece that clearly crossed the line of professionalism. - No thanks Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:57:54 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/theatre/turning-30-rock-tick-tick/#comment-1400 Hello, We invite those of you who have yet to see our first musical to reserve your tickets today! Come check us out! Best wishes, Harrison Hilltop Theatre - Hilltop Production Team Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:12:55 +0100