Last night, I saw 'The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures' at the Public Theater. The play was much longer than the title - 3 hours and 50 minutes of not so good theater. My son wanted to leave after Act I and with hindsight, I should have jumped on the subway and gone home to catch Mildred Pierce on HBO. Much of the cast was not convincing and the script came off as not genuine. Staged shoves between characters looked like staged shoves. The background of union issues, longshoremen, etc. was not interesting to me. What was interesting is that the actor in the lead, Michael Cristofer, is a Pulitzer, Tony and Golden Globe winning writer for 'The Shadow Box.' I particularly did not like his performance. I did like the set in an old Brooklyn brownstone.

If anyone has seen this, I'd love to know what you thought.

CPG, I know this is off-topic re Braodway but since you brought it up -- I'm sorry you sat through the rest after Act I, because Mildred Pierce was amazing. And the previews of parts 3,4, and 5 look like it is going to get even better. Stay home on next few Sun. nights.

I am looking forward to all the upcoming theater reviews on this thread...lots of people are seeing new shows in the next few wks!

Thanks emd3 - I hope they air part 1 again. I will look for it. I am usually home on Sun. nights, but my son was in town and I thought we would like it - big mistake. He did love 'Arcadia.'

I have to say that while I certainly enjoyed How to Succeed much more than Ben Brantley, I agree with him on much of his criticisms, particularly those directed toward Daniel Radcliffe. He's ok in the role, but he tries too hard, and you can always see him trying really really hard.

I'm interested to hear some other opinions because the show for me was absolutely not a rave (though my partner, who had not seen it before in any incarnation, was much happier with everything that I was and, I believe, really enjoyed everything about it). I wouldn't recommend it for full price even though most people will have to pay that because of Harry Potter being in it.

Since I haven't seen How to Succeed yet, I can't say whether I'd agree with Ben Brantley's comments or not. (To be honest, I've never particularly liked the show to begin with and I find J. Pierpont Finch an unlikeable character for starters.) But I was really a bit taken back not so much by what Mr. Brantley said, but rather HOW he said it. It seems pretty well known that Ben Brantley is opposed to Hollywood or TV stars coming to Broadway, and his starting with a comparison to a tacky show like Dancing With the Stars was already a dead give away about how he felt about the show BEFORE he saw it.

Here are my comments from another message board.


"Regarding whether Mr. Brantley's review was cruel and nasty or just good writing, let me say that I realize many critics (Mr. Brantley included) love to come up with clever put downs -- it's part of what they do to set them apart.

But surely anyone here who is an actor would have to agree that some of his comments were just plain mean, and if actors weren't required to have very thick skin, such comments should be enough to make most people give up their career.

He could have said, "Daniel came to the show untrained." But instead comparing him to Dancing with the Stars, he chose to say, ". . .teaching some unlikely non dancing celebrity. . . to star in a big Broadway musical." It's one thing to call the guy untrained, but quite another to dismiss him as "unlikely" to start with. Can we say "mind was made up"?

He could have commented that Mr. Radcliffe was stiff in the role and wasn't sure of himself. But any actor would cringe at being told "you can almost hear an unseen coach's voice whispering. . .telling him when to do what."

It's one thing to say that an actor was uninspiring in the role, or even dull or bland. But "the prevailing blankness of Mr. Radcliffe's face" is probably the biggest insult to an actor since the famous Dorothy Parker insult of Katherine Hepburn "She ran the whole gamut of emotions from A to B."

Of course, as a critic Mr. Brantley has the right to say those things, but I can't help wonder if he didn't jump to hyperbole for the sake of being clever. After all, he did give Mr. Radcliffe a 6 out of 10 -- but these comments seem more aimed at a 1 or 2 out of 10."

And Doug, what I really don't understand is that whole "prevailing blankness" line. That doesn't sound at all like your "you can always see him trying really really hard" -- one doesn't do that with a blank and expressionless face. Your comment more closely matches many others I've read. Even those who didn't particularly like him seemed to all say he really put everything into it, whether it worked or not. I honestly get the impression that Ben Brantley was busier "grinding a few axes" regarding his feelings for big budget shows built around celebrities that he was about honestly reviewing the particular production. But this review of course wouldn't be the first time for that.

Doug, your comments about the different reactions of you and your partner illustrates one of the obvious trusims of theatergoing, namely, one's experience as a theatergoer is the leading, if not only, determinant of how much a person likes (or enjoys) or dislikes a show.
Before I go any farther, please, please, don't attack me. I'm NOT saying that experience makes you a better judge of what's good and what's not good. In fact, we experienced folks are often at a disadvantage. We often seem to compare what we just saw with what we've seen in the past. You know...."Oh, xxx was good, but not as good as yyy." Too often, it's just because of that attitude that perhaps the 2-to-3-hour theatrical experience wasn't the joy that it could have been.
Doug's less-enthusiastic reaction to the show, compared to his partner's is quite understandable. He's saying that he enjoyed a previous production of the show more. But, at the same time, he is NOT saying, "Don't see this show" and he's telling us that the person with him at the show thoroughly enjoyed it. Now, chances are that a very small percentage of the current theatergoing public saw the original show 50 years ago or the revival in the intervening years.
So, there you have it. I've previously seen the show, and based on Doug's comments I probably won't see the show. However, the vast majority of you reading this have not seen show, so maybe you--as first-time viewer--should get tickets.
Anyway, perhaps I've gone on too long. I hope I've made my points clear. Maybe I just wanted to point out the value of Doug's comments!

Kristen's headed back to Broadway? I sure hope so -
http://broadwayworld.com/article/Kri...adway_20110328

signed,
starrs, one of "those" theatregoers who WILL choose a show if a favorite actor/actress is in it ;)

starrs, just be prepared for the possibility of seeing a favorite in a bad, bad show, such Patti Lupone in the recent Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Even she couldn't make it worth our time!

Yeah, I know HowardR. I went to see Cherry Jones and Swoosie Kurtz in Imaginary Friends...and well....was glad I got to see them on stage. The play? Not so much.

But, it's still a draw. A friend told me recently that he saw Katharine Hepburn on stage. When I asked about the play, he had to stop and think what the play was. But, he saw (my) Kate on stage. I'm envious. :-)

I couldn't imagine Promises, Promises making it after Kristen and Sean left the production. I just couldn't see the show making it without them. And, IMO it wasn't the right vehicle for Kristen - but I was glad I got to see her in it.

I received an e-mail regarding a new discount website that will go into effect this week. Not vouching for it but thought you might be interested.

Below is the copy from the e-mail:

"Love seeing shows but hate seeing how much your tickets cost? Then join MyBroadwayDeal.com and fear ticket prices no more!

MyBroadwayDeal is the revolutionary new way to see Broadway's best shows at the absolute lowest prices. It's like Groupon or LivingSocial but EXCLUSIVELY FOR THEATER TICKETS!

When you sign up at MyBroadwayDeal.com you'll receive a brand new ticket deal - usually 40 - 80% off - in your inbox every week!

SIGN UP TODAY and you could
WIN A $500 GIFT CERTIFICATE
good for tickets to any Broadway show!

Frank, I'm curious if this is like other "discount" clubs for Broadway I've gotten emails for. Usually you PAY a monthly or yearly fee to join, but there is no guarantee than any of the codes are any better than all the free ones at BroadwayBox, Playbill, Theatremania, or others.
I see it says you can sign up now for emails -- but there is no information about how you "join" or "get the deals" and no examples of what shows are currently available at what price. (Yes, I'm aware it says "coming soon". Why am I suspicious?

I am not sure if I should post this because it's not about an upcoming or ongoing theater event, but rather a one night tribute that I attended tonight - Angela Lansbury and Friends Salute Terrence McNally. It was so moving and intensely personal that I would like to share it. Almost everyone who participated had a personal story about Terrance and his influence on their life or career (Angela Lansbury, Edie Falco, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Raul Esparza, Alan Cumming, Emily Skinner, Marin Mazzie, John Glover, Tyne Daly and others). They spoke, sang and acted and the talent on the stage was huge. John Doyle (Director of Sweeney Todd, etc.) was the eloquent mc. There was a surprise guest at the end (chosen by McNally's partner) and it was the doctor who's operated on him many times for lung cancer (beginning a decade ago). She, too, spoke beautifully about his courageous and seemingly successful battle with cancer and how he continued to work through treatment and challenges. Everyone considers him their friend and cherishes that.

At the very end, McNally came on stage and spoke. He thanked his father for taking him to theater. He also thanked Angela Lansbury (who previously thanked him for bringing her back to Broadway in 'Deuce') for saving his life. He said that years ago, she calmly told him, 'Terrence, you drink too much.' He said that he went to AA the next day and probably wouldn't be here today without her.

Okay, enough said. Tonight was one of the best night's ever in theater for me.

Oh and coincidentally, there were two guys sitting next to me who were at "The Intelligent Homosexual, etc." last night as well. They left after Act I, but wanted to know the ending. How funny is that?

CPG, was the opera singer, Joyce DiDonato at the tribute? Did she sing?

Hey -- I was there (at the Terrence McNally tribute too) too and it was truly amazing. Yeah his doctor and Angela Lansbury and everyone else was amazing.

Here's my question:

One of the actors did a phenomenal speech from one of his plays about living in Manhattan and more specifically living in the Village. I need to get my hands on this play! THANKS

yk, yes. She was fabulous. McNally apparently is a huge opera fan and she was there to entertain him.

Sue - where were you sitting? Try 'Unusual Acts of Devotion.'

TDF - Mezzanine row H 108 - were you the person next to me?

No. I was in Mezz E 5,7 and then moved down to A 5, 7. The first two rows were empty and we got lucky. We could see McNally and friends at the little tables in front of the stage.

Along with "Priscilla" and a couple other things the Shubert office got for us this coming weekend, we are also scheduled for "The Divine Sister" and I'm never sure if these Busch things are going to turn out to be simply very amusing or uproaringly funny...but then again, it's New York.

Neo: "Why am I suspicious?"

I think it's legit since I received 2 e-mails, 1 from Ken Davenport, the Broadway producer, and 1 from Talkin' Broadway, a well respected theater website.

You don't have much to loose by signing up, I would doubt there will be any cost involved. I know I wouldn't pay for any discount program.