I'm being tongue-in-cheek with that subject title… but seriously! Can producers stop hiring him for a bit please.
I'm sorry, but The Sound of Music Live confirmed further what I've been thinking for years… Rob Ashford is not a good director or choreographer. That isn't to say he is untalented or incapable of good work… but I have sat through many of his misdirected and over choreographed (and misguidedly choreographed -- meaning not that the steps themselves are "bad" but that they feel wrong for the piece or worse the moment in the play or the character or the flow) productions, and I just don't get it. Why does he keep getting such high profile work?
For the record I am basing this feeling on his work on the aforementioned SOM Live, Evita, How to Succeed…, Promises Promises and Curtains. I didn't see Cry-Baby or The Wedding Singer except for the Tonys, and I thought he did a good job with Thoroughly Modern Millie (a show that doesn't need organic choreography) and I thought half of what he did with Parade was great and half of it was not.
I think it might be a question of theatrical intelligence and taste even… especially as a choreographer, he doesn't seem to know what is required at any given time. So he may devise something that is dynamic or impressive or whatever, but it feels wrong for the material or the moment, and he doesn't see that. And of course, he would clearly disagree with me on those moments and material… I'm just giving my opinion.
At best he is talented and hardworking but inconsistent. At worst, his work is actually, in my opinion, damaging in shows like Evita and How to Succeed and SOM. I mean sincerely that I think his direction of the material and actors and his choreography of those productions (at least) failed (failed the material and cast) and damaged what should have been better productions.
I know not everyone will agree with my opinions… I can't help thinking this.
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