Just to add to the list of problems;
GoH is way too similar to Deck the Halls. And DtH is much better.
Gift of Harmony
- Thread starter Alf33
- Start date
GoH is way too similar to Deck the Halls. And DtH is much better.
On the flip side, I always found Miracles to feel contrived and to take itself too seriously. The high energy and uniqueness of Gift of Harmony drew me to Il Teatro di San Marco several times last season, whereas I never saw Miracles more than once a year because it struck me as too slow and overly sentimental.
I miss Miracles. It literally made me cry more than once, it was so beautiful. I know it's too cold for ballet, but I really do feel like that is missing at Christmas Town right now.
I agree with you. At least the 2015-2016 versions of Miracles made one feel emotions with the beauty of the vocalists and the dancers. Last year, I felt Christmastown was incomplete and didn't attend as much as the previous years. The elimination of Miracles with this poor replacement was a big factor in that. The other factor is that Busch is MISERABLE when its crowded with its narrow walkways. I just found myself not enjoying the event as much last year overall.
All 5 of us miss Miracles. We always saw it 3-5 times per season. We saw GoH once last year, on our first trip, and not one of us asked to see it again, even when passing by a few minutes prior to show time, with no where in particular to get to, and plenty of empty prime seats.
It’s not exactly high energy this year. It may have been last year, but there’s a video up of this on YouTube and it’s just boring. And as far as the performers, as someone else said above, maybe the monitors weren’t working or something but the harmonies were not tight at all.
I don’t think miracles is a much better show. And it was time for it to be retired, but I wouldn’t at all be offended if this show disappeared as quickly as it came on. The park could do much better than this.
Can they really though?
When was the last time a great new show debuted? Scrooge No More? As far as I remember, we've just had various degrees of mediocrity since then. I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Sadly I know nothing of the inner workings of the park. Why, in general, does the Scrooge theater get the best shows (and other theaters suffer from not just less good, but mediocre shows)? Do they have a different writer for that theater than the rest? Seems like if they can do good things there they could elsewhere with new shows too.
I don't think it's fair to generalize the Globe Theater as having the best shows. I thought the various versions of London Rocks and Britmania ranged from average to awful, and the most redeeming parts of Monster Stomp on Ripper Row, in my opinion, are derived from previous incarnations of Monster Stomp.
There's also something to be said for the venue. There are a lot more possibilities for direction in a high-tech indoor theater than on a cold outdoor stage. I'm not sure what else reasonably could have replaced Miracles besides another singing-focused show.
There's also something to be said for the venue. There are a lot more possibilities for direction in a high-tech indoor theater than on a cold outdoor stage. I'm not sure what else reasonably could have replaced Miracles besides another singing-focused show.
Something I've been thinking about is whether or not a local theme park needs amazing shows. Don't get me wrong, if the park puts on a great show then that's great and there's always going to be a small vocal minority who cares deeply for good park entertainment (and there's nothing wrong with that). However, if a show does it's job and brings in guests from the lines and keeps them in the park, what insentive does the park have to make it an amazing production?
Additionally, and I'm going to sound extremely cynical by saying this, but should the park invest in an amazing production for a show involving the same dozen songs that have been playing ad nauseum everywhere for a month already by the time the event starts? All the park has to do is put on something passable with talented performers and guests are probably going to be happy with a magical Xmas experience.
I mean, what was the last objectively good Xmas movie? Any poorly animated direct to DVD movie with voice actors they found on the street can become an instant holiday classic these days. People seem to want to indulge in the experience of Xmas more than seeking out quality entertainment.
And with that, my PMs are going to be open for complaints and I'll go back to my basement where I listen to Linkin Park.
Additionally, and I'm going to sound extremely cynical by saying this, but should the park invest in an amazing production for a show involving the same dozen songs that have been playing ad nauseum everywhere for a month already by the time the event starts? All the park has to do is put on something passable with talented performers and guests are probably going to be happy with a magical Xmas experience.
I mean, what was the last objectively good Xmas movie? Any poorly animated direct to DVD movie with voice actors they found on the street can become an instant holiday classic these days. People seem to want to indulge in the experience of Xmas more than seeking out quality entertainment.
And with that, my PMs are going to be open for complaints and I'll go back to my basement where I listen to Linkin Park.
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Well, I both agree and disagree. From a business perspective, you’re probably spot on. From a guest experience perspective, maybe not quite as much. To add to your point, I think the quality of shows that are in dining areas (like Gift of Harmony and Deck the Halls) is probably *less* important than shows you are going into a venue specifically to watch. But that doesn’t mean we should be blissfully happy with whatever they give us, no matter what it is. And for what it’s worth, I think Deck The Halls is a pretty decent show. I’ll come back to GOH in just a moment.
Because I also want to comment on the other thing you said about the same songs we’ve already heard ad nauseum. I think we all just somewhat came to a consensus a few posts back that Scrooge is the best show in the park for Christmas, and unless I’m mistaken that has all original music. It’s not undoable.
Perhaps a compromise, to sum all that up. Maybe Busch Gardens best solution would be to keep Deck the Halls where it is, move Gloria (or a Gloria-like show with the religious hymns) over to San Marco, use more secular Christmas music at ‘Twas that Night, and keep the actual show venues (in England and Ireland) having original shows. You’d get your Santa, your Jesus, your secular, and some original theater.
But I’m well aware that’s speaking from an idealist standpoint from someone who loves the entertainment part of the park.
And a quick side note on that: this is a message board about the parks. If we aren’t going to cherish the shows we like, and gripe about the shows we don’t, and just accept it as “Busch doing its job by corralling crowds” what’s even the point of this board existing? Lol
Back to GOH. I went to the show just a few minutes ago (3pm) and the show is just kinda bad. I’m glad the park has made some efforts this year. They got rid of the beyond-cringey beat box battle section and they brought in a fantastic veteran like Gabe. But it doesn’t really save the show. A lot of the harmonies (particularly from the women) are just... rough to listen to. Kudos to the park for attempting to improve it, but I think I’ll skip this one from now on.
Thanks for sticking through my ramblings lol
Stick around, trust me they (the people who like shows as a rule) will... Gripe that is. And well they should!
Based on recent discussion:
Gift of Harmony would be amazing indoors at the Globe Theater. The difference in acoustics alone would do the shows wonder.
As someone who has performed, singing and playing in the cold, is quite possible the most taxing thing you can do. I’ve had countless mouthpieces freeze to my mouth, so many splinters from reeds, and shot vocal cords from trying to project.
I think a Scrooge based or Grinch (if they are allowed to) based show outside where it’s acting and talking rather than singing and basic dancing is a better fit.
I’ll keep contending too that GoH’s issue isn’t the show itself it’s the venue of the show.
Gift of Harmony would be amazing indoors at the Globe Theater. The difference in acoustics alone would do the shows wonder.
As someone who has performed, singing and playing in the cold, is quite possible the most taxing thing you can do. I’ve had countless mouthpieces freeze to my mouth, so many splinters from reeds, and shot vocal cords from trying to project.
I think a Scrooge based or Grinch (if they are allowed to) based show outside where it’s acting and talking rather than singing and basic dancing is a better fit.
I’ll keep contending too that GoH’s issue isn’t the show itself it’s the venue of the show.
I think they should just stick to the standard of what usually happens in that space during other seasons and just have some music be played live. Give brass people plastic mouthpieces so the cold doesn't affect it much, maybe some space heaters for the stage to help any potential percussion or woodwinds, and just make sure people use the outdoor versions of their instruments. Like as much plastic as possible. I find it easier to play music in the cold with plastic gear than it is to be playing in scorching heat when you tire so much quicker, but that's just my opinion. Most musicians who are used to outdoor season will have no issue playing a 30 minute set every couple hours if there is even a little heat put to the stage.