Broadway Banter
Dec 14th, 2009, 07:10 AM
#141
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I saw God of Carnage w/the new cast on Fri. night, 12/11. It was ok, just ok. I was hoping to really enjoy Christine Lahti but with her, Annie Potts, and Jimmy Smits, well, I knew they were acting every minute- they never slipped into the role. Ken Stott, who originated the role og Michel on London's West End, was great, totally became Michel and was very entertaining. But one actor out of 4 can't carry the ball in this drama for me.
The 3 sixteen yr old girls LOVED Hair ! One of them said she cried at one point during the play. They totally got it re the culture of the time, the war, etc. They also liked Altar Boyz, said it was like going to a concert, but Hair blew them away.
The 3 sixteen yr old girls LOVED Hair ! One of them said she cried at one point during the play. They totally got it re the culture of the time, the war, etc. They also liked Altar Boyz, said it was like going to a concert, but Hair blew them away.
Dec 14th, 2009, 07:18 AM
#142
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BTW, here is an interesting article about "talk backs" after Broadway plays. I attended one after seeing Oleanna in October. Apparently this is becoming a trend.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/th...0talkback.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/th...0talkback.html
Dec 14th, 2009, 01:35 PM
#143
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emd3 - I know exactly what you mean when you can 'see' the acting. It's a shame because the first cast was so good together.
Did anyone read the review today for 'A Little Night Music?'
It wasn't stellar, but not a bad review either and of course, Angela Lansbury got accolades. I'm still looking forward to it.
http://theater.nytimes.com/2009/12/1...20music&st=cse
Did anyone read the review today for 'A Little Night Music?'
It wasn't stellar, but not a bad review either and of course, Angela Lansbury got accolades. I'm still looking forward to it.
http://theater.nytimes.com/2009/12/1...20music&st=cse
Dec 14th, 2009, 06:52 PM
#146
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Great thread!
I just started planning a NYC theater weekend for the end of March and bought tickets for Promises Promises. With all the raves about Finian's Rainbow that will be my next ticket purchase.
I just started planning a NYC theater weekend for the end of March and bought tickets for Promises Promises. With all the raves about Finian's Rainbow that will be my next ticket purchase.
Dec 15th, 2009, 03:56 AM
#147
cpg, I'm losing my mind. Someone sent two emails yesterday. One was a presale of Harvey Fierstein in Fiddler here and the other was the BBC review of Night Music. Yesterday was a sick day and I muddled the two in my mind.
Here's the review - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8411963.stm
Here's the review - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8411963.stm
Dec 15th, 2009, 04:18 AM
#148
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LCI - Don't pay full price for Finian - it's been discounted all along and should be for then too.
starrs - Harvey could be a good Tevye if he doesn't get overly campy. It's a wonderful show with great music. You should see it.
starrs - Harvey could be a good Tevye if he doesn't get overly campy. It's a wonderful show with great music. You should see it.
Dec 15th, 2009, 04:41 AM
#150
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>
This is a really interesting thought. I completely agree. But it's also interesting that this thought is used as a selling point of sorts for SP, but I see it as a selling point for NtoN! I find myself drawn to musicals where the music is a part of the story, rather than the story stopping for the music. Don't get me wrong -- I love a great big song and dance number as much as the next person, but sometimes I do find they can take me out of the moment of the story.
Little disclaimer: I haven't seen NtoN yet! It hasn't come to London and I haven't been to NY. But I love the music. I also came to love Spring Awakening the same way: first through the music and then by seeing it on stage. I wonder if experiencing it that way changes my impressions.
This is a really interesting thought. I completely agree. But it's also interesting that this thought is used as a selling point of sorts for SP, but I see it as a selling point for NtoN! I find myself drawn to musicals where the music is a part of the story, rather than the story stopping for the music. Don't get me wrong -- I love a great big song and dance number as much as the next person, but sometimes I do find they can take me out of the moment of the story.
Little disclaimer: I haven't seen NtoN yet! It hasn't come to London and I haven't been to NY. But I love the music. I also came to love Spring Awakening the same way: first through the music and then by seeing it on stage. I wonder if experiencing it that way changes my impressions.
Dec 15th, 2009, 04:44 AM
#151
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I'm rethinking what I said. I did see him last year in 'A Catered Affair' and I didn't care for his performance, but I didn't love the play either so maybe that had something to do with it. Topol would have been a better choice and I agree, the music is so good.
Dec 15th, 2009, 04:54 AM
#152
Re South Pacific
I've ALWAYS loved the musical, and adored Mitzi Gaynor. I didn't expect to enjoy the revivial as much as I did but adored the show at Lincoln Center this year. The tour is coming to town and I have tickets...but I'm giving them away. The show was SO good at Lincoln Center I just don't want to see it again so soon and be disappointed. Our musical director loves the show and I'd rather her enjoy it when it's here than go and not enjoy it as much at what I just saw. Now, that's a first for me
I've ALWAYS loved the musical, and adored Mitzi Gaynor. I didn't expect to enjoy the revivial as much as I did but adored the show at Lincoln Center this year. The tour is coming to town and I have tickets...but I'm giving them away. The show was SO good at Lincoln Center I just don't want to see it again so soon and be disappointed. Our musical director loves the show and I'd rather her enjoy it when it's here than go and not enjoy it as much at what I just saw. Now, that's a first for me
Dec 15th, 2009, 05:55 AM
#154
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BTW, when we were in NYC last Fri-Sun they were passing out flyers on the street re discount tickets for Finian's Rainbow those nights, so they were still trying to fill seats at the last minute.
Dec 15th, 2009, 08:29 AM
#155
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One more thing about God of Carnage. You know the saying, "You can never be too rich or too thin." Well, I disagree, you can be too thin, and it is called Christine Lahti. She is now a waif, just reed skinny, like her bones are going to break if she falls over the coffee table on the set. I couldn't watch her act without thinking this. My husband leaned towards me about 5 min. into the play and said, "Man, that woman is incredibly skinny, is she sick?"
I am not sure why she is so thin now, she used to not be that extremely thin. We both found it very distracting to try and watch her act in her current body. I've never thought this or had such a distraction about any other actor or actress I've seen act onstage; that is how extreme it was.
http://tinyurl.com/ycqx8el
I am not sure why she is so thin now, she used to not be that extremely thin. We both found it very distracting to try and watch her act in her current body. I've never thought this or had such a distraction about any other actor or actress I've seen act onstage; that is how extreme it was.
http://tinyurl.com/ycqx8el
Dec 17th, 2009, 05:38 AM
#156
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I absolutely ADORED "Superior Donuts." I think it's a tragedy this show hasn't gotten more good word of mouth. It closes on Jan. 3. so anyone who's not seen it should run to get tickets! And if you didn't like August Osage (as I didn't) and worry that you won't like this, think again. Where August Osage was populated with despicable characters you'd never want to know who were beyond redemption, Superior Donuts is filled with a motley crew of ordinary folks you get to know, root for and care about. This is a feel good play with wonderful subtle acting--the kind you're not aware of. Michael McKean in the leading role is outstanding. Go. Discounts are available all over-at the TKTS booth, http://www.broadwaybox.com/shows/sup...c_tickets.aspx etc.
Dec 17th, 2009, 06:58 AM
#157
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McLaurie...
I was glad to see you say you didn't care for August Osage...I thought I was the only person who didn't care for that show! Unfotunately I'm not in the NYC area and won't be able to get to Superior Donuts before it closes. I'll be in NYC in March, but no chance of seeing it then...oh well.
I was glad to see you say you didn't care for August Osage...I thought I was the only person who didn't care for that show! Unfotunately I'm not in the NYC area and won't be able to get to Superior Donuts before it closes. I'll be in NYC in March, but no chance of seeing it then...oh well.
Dec 17th, 2009, 02:23 PM
#158
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Most straight plays on Broadway today like 'Superior Donuts' do not have longevity because the average Broadway goer/visitor/tourist, IMO, wants to see 'Mama Mia' and the like. Unless of course there is a very big name appearing in the play. This is sad and that's why there are discount tix for those plays most of the time. Even a wonderful musical like 'Finian's Rainbow' with a great review will have discount tix because it doesn't have the glitz and bells and whistles of plays like 'Billy Elliot' or 'Wicked' for example. So many people miss out on very good theater simply because it's not an extravaganza.
Dec 18th, 2009, 09:34 AM
#159
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Link to WSJ's critic Terry Teachout's "Year in Review in Theatre": http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...007231140.html
From the first paragraph, I qoute:
But no matter how good the script or strong the production may be, it's now all but impossible to keep a straight play open on Broadway for more than a limited run without a name-above-the-title movie or TV actor in the cast—and neither Bill Pullman nor Julia Stiles, the stars of "Oleanna," was big enough to fill the bill.
CPG, are you related to Terry Teachout?
He didn't like A litte Night Music. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...043091572.html
From the first paragraph, I qoute:
But no matter how good the script or strong the production may be, it's now all but impossible to keep a straight play open on Broadway for more than a limited run without a name-above-the-title movie or TV actor in the cast—and neither Bill Pullman nor Julia Stiles, the stars of "Oleanna," was big enough to fill the bill.
CPG, are you related to Terry Teachout?
He didn't like A litte Night Music. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...043091572.html
Dec 18th, 2009, 12:41 PM
#160
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That comment is interesting regarding Oleanna. I was in NYC and saw Oleanna w/Stiles and Pullman in the fall. I am not so sure it was not having a bigger name that closed that show. It is an odd play, written at the time of Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearings, and Mamet's script for the female lead, Carol (Stiles here) was so strange IMO. If Carol is his "most fully realized female character" then I am not interested in seeing his other female roles. She was bumbling and couldn't understand concepts and precepts, and was very wooden. At first I was just really disappointed in Stiles. But the more I've thought about it and read about Mamet, I think it was the script, not Stiles.
I was on 43rd St. last weekend to attend God of Carnage and saw that Oleanna had closed as I walked by that theater. I was not at all surprised. There are just too many other good things to see, and I was really glad I had gotten a deeply discounted preview ticket to see Oleanna.
I was on 43rd St. last weekend to attend God of Carnage and saw that Oleanna had closed as I walked by that theater. I was not at all surprised. There are just too many other good things to see, and I was really glad I had gotten a deeply discounted preview ticket to see Oleanna.
