>> CPK, I too read Ben Brantley's reviews with a huge grain of salt <<

NP - I just noticed this - 2nd time for you - and believe it or not, I ate at California Pizza Kitchen tonight!!!

Wait a minute Howard - on one hand you haven't seen TOTC and you're certain that it won't last long - yet, you feel audiences have 'dumbed down.' That's what I'm talking about - there are many people who will love that show and that's exactly why.

btw - I saw 'Wicked' at the very beginning and my reaction was that it was entertaining but I was glad I had a discounted ticket. And I'm a HUGE 'Wizard of Oz' fan. And if you read these boards, every visitor to NY who is seeing one or two plays wants to see 'Wicked.'

As so much has changed culturally (like TV for instance), haven't audience expectations and experiences changed too?

"Do you think Brantley tries to create more of a shock value with his reviews to create more of a buzz for himself?"

Well, let's be honest here. Isn't that essentially what ALL reviewers do? I'm not saying they don't say what they really believe, but of course they want to add some "shock" value or clever lines -- and of course every critic's main goal is self-preservation or self promotion. They want to be known and remembered, right along with their reviews. It's no fun to just say a show needs a lot of work -- one looks for a "shocker" of an insult that people will remember and that really makes your point. That's just the way it is. But I honestly don't think any of that is a BAD thing.

On the other hand, I think it would be hard to find any critic in New York who has a greater LOVE for the New York theatre than Brantley. It really is his life.

I knew you would have a good answer CP.

Centralparkgirl, why don't you just change your name to Centralparkkid and then I won't be wrong with my CPK?

Oh, cpg, you are breakin' my heart!
Howard broke it the first time - a long time ago

No!!! Never, starrs!! I was afraid you would read that before bedtime. I should have waited until the morning!

Seriously, you are a different situation. Every now and then all of us have something that for whatever reason we are just connected to. And 'Wicked' is yours. There are a few movies that I could watch every week on cable and I'm not sure why - they just appeal to me - over and over.

My arguments about theater and audiences are in general - sorry for holding up your beloved.

Am I forgiven?

Of course!
I'm so glad you understand.
I'm seeing it 3 times when it's here next month.
The first time, solo, so I can get immersed and not completely embarrass myself.
The second time, really really good seats.
The third time, on Halloween. Someone asked if I wanted to go. How could I say "no"?

I have mocked Trekkies throughout my life.
I am chagrined to realize I'm the Wicked version of a Trekkie.

'We are all Trekkies in some way.'
CPG 9/24/08

That's my new mantra.

I just thought about a very close cousin of mine. I think she saw the movie 'West Side Story' over 25 times. She knows every lyric with its correct intonation. I still love her.

Guess who has to get the tickets and go with her when it hits B'way?

Yes, we are all Trekkies in some way.

Ah! WSS! I love it too.
I saw Chita's shoes on exhibit - during the intermission of Wicked in NYC.

See how twisted this all is?!?!?!

When is West Side Story expected to open?

andrew8 - previews begin around Feb 23rd.

starrs - wasn't Rita Moreno in WSS?

Previews to start Feb. 23, 2009. Official opening the end of March. I'm guessing it will be at The Palace where Legally Blonde is now, but is closing in October.

cpg, correct me if I'm wrong (and I've already been wrong today) but wasn't Chita on Broadway and Rita in the movie?

Oh, CPG (see I got it right that time), you need to see Forbidden Broadway -- "My name is Chita and Not Rita" done to "I Like to Live in America". It's about the supposed feud between Chita who did the Broadway version and Rita who got the movie!

I'd better start typing faster. Everytime I post something tonight, someone has beat me to it!

Hey, Neo. I just have the bare foundation. You make it interesting.

yes, yes, yes to the above.

I think I was still on my cousin and her WSS movie obsession.

I like Chita, but I'm a big Rita fan.
Remember Alan Alda's movie 'The Four Seasons?'

Chita, not Rita
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FnzrxKtR0A

Thanks, Neo!

Steelygirl and I have decided that were going to see August: Osage County around the holiday's. We were going to take my father in law to see Gypsy but he decided he doesn't want to see anything at this time.
Here's another legroom question for you all. How is the legroom at the Music Box theater?
Also, I read on the website that the cast is changing on November 11th. Is this the original cast or close to it?

andrew, I saw August/Osage in June and already the two actresses who had won the Tonys had left -- Deanna Dunagan and Rondi Reed. But Estelle Parsons took over the role of the mother and she was FANTASTIC -- some have said even more layered that Deanna Dunagan was in the role. I was blown away by Amy Morton who has the other lead, and she is still in the show now, but I'm not sure she will be by November -- I forget when the show is opening in London with most of the original cast.

But I can assure you the whole cast will be wonderful.