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Canadian Lumberjack Show to open at Epcot's Canada Pavilion in early October
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
New low. Just a really, really, REALLY bad idea.
Gabe1
Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
This is really painful to watch in it's current state. .
I can't anything wiser.....
ThemeParkJunkee
Well-Known Member
Oh so painful to watch. WDW needs to actually build a proper stage and put in a lumberjack show that is, well, a real lumberjack show.
This is what I can see any given summer.... http://www.lumberjackworldchampionships.com/
This is what I can see any given summer.... http://www.lumberjackworldchampionships.com/
Mealtrip
Member
Oh well... if Off Kilter really is gone, just raise the stage and drop in a counter-service Cheese Soup, Poutine, and Moosehead window with couple of maple leaf covered tables. Moosehead's more Canadian than guys in flannel shirts, the company turns profit in 20'x30' that used to cost money, and we get soup and beer. It's win-win-win, since there's no going back.
THEMEPARKPIONEER
Well-Known Member
It was so lame not to mention it was on a stage, this is a real lumberjack show
lentesta
Premium Member
Agree that this was painful to watch. A couple of points:
There seems to be a lot more standing around and talking than I expected, too. Maybe 3 or 4 minutes out of a 15-minute show. That seems like a lot.
I think this show was probably developed for, you know, regional fairs and exhibits, where the performers are on ground level and surrounded by the crowd. Having them up on a stage takes away a lot of the viewing angles.
That said, it looks like this show is going to require some work to make it viable. If they're doing multiple performances every day, that may give them enough time to re-tool, depending on how much approval they have to get from Disney for show changes.
1) Axe throwing should not start off the show. It takes too long and there isn't enough action. There's a reason why darts hasn't caught on as a spectator sport. Start off with chopping something. If you're going to keep the axe throwing, maybe do it side-by-side, so it goes faster?
2) The dialog is stilted, especially during the cross-cutting competition. Was probably just nerves, but the emcee's delivery needs to get better.
3) Also, the angle of the cross-cutting log needs to be adjusted so that the audience's view isn't blocked by the guy that's got his back to the crowd.
4) Same thing with the chopping competition. When the guys have to switch sides, they block the audience's view of the action. I think I'd open the show with this segment, though, and see if I could move it a little closer to the audience.
5) In the chainsaw competition, the safety screens reflect the sunlight, making it difficult to see exactly what's happening. Also, you can't see the "top of the wood" joke that Lyle's doing, because of the screen.
6) The tree conservation message sounds like pandering. Yeah, you might plant 3 trees for every one you use, but it takes 50 years for those 3 trees to grow, and like 8 seconds to cut one up. If you're going to have this message, either do it before or after the show.
7) It's obvious that the emcee isn't Canadian. His reference to "the northern province" would be like an American referring to "the state of New England." That can't happen in Epcot, because it ruins the illusion that you're in Canada. Practice may help here.
2) The dialog is stilted, especially during the cross-cutting competition. Was probably just nerves, but the emcee's delivery needs to get better.
3) Also, the angle of the cross-cutting log needs to be adjusted so that the audience's view isn't blocked by the guy that's got his back to the crowd.
4) Same thing with the chopping competition. When the guys have to switch sides, they block the audience's view of the action. I think I'd open the show with this segment, though, and see if I could move it a little closer to the audience.
5) In the chainsaw competition, the safety screens reflect the sunlight, making it difficult to see exactly what's happening. Also, you can't see the "top of the wood" joke that Lyle's doing, because of the screen.
6) The tree conservation message sounds like pandering. Yeah, you might plant 3 trees for every one you use, but it takes 50 years for those 3 trees to grow, and like 8 seconds to cut one up. If you're going to have this message, either do it before or after the show.
7) It's obvious that the emcee isn't Canadian. His reference to "the northern province" would be like an American referring to "the state of New England." That can't happen in Epcot, because it ruins the illusion that you're in Canada. Practice may help here.
There seems to be a lot more standing around and talking than I expected, too. Maybe 3 or 4 minutes out of a 15-minute show. That seems like a lot.
I think this show was probably developed for, you know, regional fairs and exhibits, where the performers are on ground level and surrounded by the crowd. Having them up on a stage takes away a lot of the viewing angles.
That said, it looks like this show is going to require some work to make it viable. If they're doing multiple performances every day, that may give them enough time to re-tool, depending on how much approval they have to get from Disney for show changes.
Last edited:
Zummi Gummi
Pioneering the Universe Within!
Most people appeared to stop and watch for a minute or two and then moved on. There was a smattering of people that seemed to get into it. The majority of people seemed bewildered.
xdan0920
Think for yourselfer
Sooo, that just happened.
I am hastily retreating from my previous wait and see, lumberjacks seem cool, stance. That was a train wreck.
As far as "conservation" goes, zip it. Compared to the amount of napkins(unprinted non land specific) used, it's like screaming at your neighbor for using a gas lawn mower.
I am hastily retreating from my previous wait and see, lumberjacks seem cool, stance. That was a train wreck.
As far as "conservation" goes, zip it. Compared to the amount of napkins(unprinted non land specific) used, it's like screaming at your neighbor for using a gas lawn mower.
JERiv
Active Member
... Well, just skipped through the video. That show totally sucks.I guess out of 100 people it might be interesting for the 3 folk out there interested in lumberjacks and/or chainsaws. And totally turn off the other 97 folk who don't care about lumberjacks, hate the sound of chainsaws (that hopefully won't be audible throughout the parks), or just don't like to see an obviously American show run by Americans in the Canadian pavilion.
I thought at least there'd be chainsaw wood carving or something like that. But nope. Just VERY lame jokes, no Canadian accents, and some wood being chopped. And the MC? Yeesh...
mm121
Well-Known Member
not a bad idea at all, way better than this train wreck
this proves just how NON-CANADIA this show is, this show has nothing to do with cananada
I guess out of 100 people it might be interesting for the 3 folk out there interested in lumberjacks and/or chainsaws. And totally turn off the other 97 folk who don't care about lumberjacks, hate the sound of chainsaws (that hopefully won't be audible throughout the parks), or just don't like to see an obviously American show run by Americans in the Canadian pavilion.
I thought at least there'd be chainsaw wood carving or something like that. But nope. Just VERY lame jokes, no Canadian accents, and some wood being chopped. And the MC? Yeesh...
agreed, these guys aren't canadian at all
bhg469
Well-Known Member
Ok apologists... Explain this one. Please tell me with a straight face that THIS is progress. Please tell me THIS is somehow improving the park for the guests.
EPCOT was far from the park that needed the most love but they sure are trying very hard to make it everyone's least favorite.
EPCOT was far from the park that needed the most love but they sure are trying very hard to make it everyone's least favorite.
Tigger1988
Well-Known Member
Weren't the majority of Off Kilter from places other than Canada?
There's plenty of complaints to have but try not to make ones that could easily apply to the previous act.
sgtmgd
Well-Known Member
Fair assessment, Id like to be open minded here and it is in soft openings but that show seems to need ALOT of work from narration to execution. I just dont see my self wasting 20-25 minutes to watch this show if it stays in the current format.
216bruce
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I never stopped to listen to or watch OffKilter and the tradition will continue with the "jacks". Not my cup(s) of tea, but I'll take music - even bagpipes, which I don't care for- over this. These guys are the "New Coke" of Epcot acts.
Any possibility after this flames out that management would consider bringing back OffKilter? Inquiring minds...
Any possibility after this flames out that management would consider bringing back OffKilter? Inquiring minds...
And like New Coke, one has to wonder how long they'll be around for if they don't improve their act....
ExTourGuide
New Member
Disney's bread and butter for revenue isn't the first time visitor, it's the guest that comes back every year or two. Or more than once per year. So I don't think this logic applies exactly. They need acts that keep bringing people back.
Now in reality, I doubt anyone really went to EPCOT specifically to see Off Kilter, but its something most folks fondly remember and when it's taken away and replaced with something that's...well, poorly executed... there's an emotional response.
The show is bad right now, but there's a reason they do soft openings. It has some potential. The MC has to go, and the chainsaws should be replaced, but with a better MC and some education of the performers as to how to connect with the audience, it has some potential.
dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
I still say they look like they are for the springboard chop. You can see the notches in the sides where the boards would go. Not sure why the notches are pre cut unless they are just going to show you how lumberjacks could get up trees. Not to mention flying wood chips, and axe heads going out towards the crowd (from the chopping motion) Maybe they are planning on doing different events in different shows to rotate through the performers to give them a break and there are other events planned that we didn't see in this video.