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MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: jesse21 06:57 am EDT 03/14/14

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In today’s New York Post, Michael Riedel writes about the new Woody Allen-Susan Stroman musical, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY:


“That machine-gun fire you hear coming from the St. James Theatre is the sound of a hit.

“Bullets Over Broadway” has been in previews just three days, and already those in the know — that would be me! — are sensing it’s the show to beat this season.”






Click here to read Michael Riedel’s “On Broadway” column.





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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: perfectlyfrank 02:33 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - jesse21 06:57 am EDT 03/14/14

>>>I’ve already written about “T’aint Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do,” which features a line of tap-dancing, gun-toting mobsters. It was the highlight of a “Bullets” press preview last month.

Is this really original? Didn't SUGAR do this back in the early 70s?


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: theatreman 03:03 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - perfectlyfrank 02:33 pm EDT 03/14/14

we have seen this before and nothing new or wonderful is happening here.


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: Ann 02:38 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - perfectlyfrank 02:33 pm EDT 03/14/14

In the tour a few years ago of Some Like It Hot, the tapping sound was supposedly masking the sound of gunfire, but I don't remember if it was the mobsters tapping.


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: perfectlyfrank 03:12 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - Ann 02:38 pm EDT 03/14/14

Yes, I remember now - it was the mobsters. The number is called "Tear This Whole Damn Town Apart".


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Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: John_Patti 11:58 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - jesse21 06:57 am EDT 03/14/14

His columns get sadder and sadder, this isn't gossip or reportage. Interesting that it appears the same day a good review for Rocky appears in his paper.

I haven't heard anyone on either board rave about Bullets. Every other show has had its fans and detractors but this one is getting a real ... meh.


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re: Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: FrankF 12:24 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: Bullets must be in trouble - John_Patti 11:58 am EDT 03/14/14

That was my thought. Why was he writing a love letter to BULLETS... on the day the ROCKY reviews came out? This is awfully generous of the normally snippy Mr. Riedel. Hmmm.


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re: Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: MikeR 12:48 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: Bullets must be in trouble - FrankF 12:24 pm EDT 03/14/14

I imagine that by the time he had his deadline for his column, the Rocky reviews had not yet been published.


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re: Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: WaymanWong 02:00 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: Bullets must be in trouble - MikeR 12:48 pm EDT 03/14/14

True. But I imagine Riedel keeps in touch with his friends in the theater press; it couldn't be that hard for him to know the gist of what some of their ''Rocky'' reviews would be (let alone that of his Post colleague, Elisabeth Vincentelli).

(P.S. While nearly every set malfunction of ''Spider-Man'' was covered, the press largely gave a free pass to ''Rocky.'')


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re: Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: Chromolume 06:10 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: Bullets must be in trouble - WaymanWong 02:00 pm EDT 03/14/14

(P.S. While nearly every set malfunction of ''Spider-Man'' was covered, the press largely gave a free pass to ''Rocky.'')

Did any of the Rocky malfunctions put actors in danger? (I don't remember hearing that - if so, pardon my intrusion.) Seems to me all of the Spider-Man malfunctions were potentially (if not actually) dangerous to the actors. I think that's a big difference. Any show can have technical issues - that's nothing new. Issues that are causing injuries and putting people in direct (and frequent) danger - that's a different story altogether.


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re: Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: ryhog 03:16 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: Bullets must be in trouble - WaymanWong 02:00 pm EDT 03/14/14

I am quite surprised you think Riedel gets advance scoop on reviews from "friends." I also don't think your "rooting" characterization of the press on Spider-Man is accurate. Yes it was covered heavily-as one would expect for the most expensive show ever-but had it run like a Swiss watch THAT is what would have been covered. The bottom line on Riedel is that he does what gossip columnists have always done. It's not really that difficult a concept.


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re: Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: John_Patti 02:16 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: Bullets must be in trouble - WaymanWong 02:00 pm EDT 03/14/14

But there was more to the Spiderman story, director run amok actors sent to the hospital. Wouldn't doubt if their own press agent spurred half of that on.


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re: Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: WaymanWong 02:33 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: Bullets must be in trouble - John_Patti 02:16 pm EDT 03/14/14

Yes, and ''Spider-Man'' had a bazillion previews. But the press started covering that musical from the very first night.

I don't think ''Rocky'' faced the same intense glare. Nor do I think there were press rooting for its demise from Day 1.


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re: Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: enoch10 03:00 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: Bullets must be in trouble - WaymanWong 02:33 pm EDT 03/14/14

the press started covering the story because there were stories to tell. ROCKY didn't have set malfunctions holding up performances for 30 minutes at a time or actors dangling from the sky and falling off the stage.

my sense is he's just telling the truth. he's hearing raves from friends. those quotes look pretty genuine to me, something i can't always say for reidel. he has to write about something. his bread and butter are shows in trouble. well, there's no blood in the water for him to smell right now.

clearly his attempt to generate a problem with his "is the woody allan controversy going to hurt ticket sales" piece didn't gain any traction (new york is still too smart for some things) so he's reduced to writing fluff pieces.

he'll be back to old self as soon as someone does something stupid which, luckily for him, occurs with alarming frequency.


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re: Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: Ann 02:43 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: Bullets must be in trouble - WaymanWong 02:33 pm EDT 03/14/14

You're not saying the press killed Spider-Man the musical, are you? To me, it kept the show alive.

A few set malfunctions that happen during a one-month preview period, for a set-heavy show don't need to be focused on in reviews.


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re: Bullets must be in trouble

Posted by: John_Patti 01:12 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: Bullets must be in trouble - MikeR 12:48 pm EDT 03/14/14

Not that I would be looking for a column on Rocky reviews I just think this reeks of favoritism, publishing what is actually a scene by scene review, something he claims he doesn't do,on the day its competition's legitimate review appears.

The Rocky story would be next week where he would talk about the box office response to the reviews that's where he would add his snarky reviewer like comments.


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ABSURD! Won't even be nominated;"Rocky" & "Bullets" 2 of the worst in 10 years! nm

Posted by: MichaelAS 10:15 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - jesse21 06:57 am EDT 03/14/14

nm


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this is early preview for a show that didn't have a tryout

Posted by: dramedy 03:00 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: ABSURD! Won't even be nominated;"Rocky" & "Bullets" 2 of the worst in 10 years! ... - MichaelAS 10:15 am EDT 03/14/14

Rocky, Aladdin, If/Then all had pre-broadway tryouts. Bullets did not. So they have a month of previews to make changes and if it is really just inserting more jokes and dropping some songs, that can be easily done in previews. it's changing sets and lighting etc that can be problematic in previews.


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Won't even be nominated- yeah right sure.

Posted by: ShowGoer 12:56 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: ABSURD! Won't even be nominated;"Rocky" & "Bullets" 2 of the worst in 10 years! ... - MichaelAS 10:15 am EDT 03/14/14

That right there is the ABSURD comment especially in a season when there are (likely) going to be 5 nominees. But if Nice Work if You Can Get It can get 10 nominations (winning two) My One and Only 9 nominations (winning three) and Crazy For You 9 nominations (winning 3, including the big one), it's impossible to even consider that this tired-businessman's throwback, created by well-respected Broadway professionals, won't clean up big time on Tony nomination morning.

And I'd have to say, having now seen all the other new musicals this season EXCEPT for Bullets, regardless of how good/bad/mediocre/great it turns out to be, it's not at all difficult for me to imagine it winning Best Musical.


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After Mid, Aladin, Beautiful, Gentlemen's Guide & If/Then...DONE! Easy! nm

Posted by: MichaelAS 03:40 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: Won't even be nominated- yeah right sure. - ShowGoer 12:56 pm EDT 03/14/14

nm


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re: After Mid, Aladin, Beautiful, Gentlemen's Guide & If/Then...DONE! Easy! nm

Posted by: ShowGoer 04:04 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: After Mid, Aladin, Beautiful, Gentlemen's Guide & If/Then...DONE! Easy! nm - MichaelAS 03:40 pm EDT 03/14/14

Yes, easy - except you're wrong.
Even if you're right that Bullets (and, slightly more likely, Rocky) go home with no nomination for Best Musical, Bridges will be nominated ahead of Aladdin.
If/Then is the real wild card here, since it hasn't opened yet, but as the only new original musical I think they'll want to (and that it deserves to) be recognized.
If Bridges is still running in early May, the nominations will be Beautiful, Bullets, Gentleman's Guide, If/Then, and either Bridges, After Midnight, or Rocky. If Bridges has posted notice, the 5th slot will go to either Rocky or the revue.
I don't think Aladdin sincerely has a shot either way - it's been a long time, Newsies score aside, since Disney's gotten any Tony love for just throwing their musicals onstage.


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re: After Mid, Aladin, Beautiful, Gentlemen's Guide & If/Then...DONE! Easy! nm

Posted by: AlanScott 05:56 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: After Mid, Aladin, Beautiful, Gentlemen's Guide & If/Then...DONE! Easy! nm - ShowGoer 04:04 pm EDT 03/14/14

Especially with five nominating slots, the folks on the nominating committee who liked Bridges won't hesitate to vote for it. The nominating committee, even as the folks comprising it change over time, pretty consistently seem to vote what they feel.

Closed shows being nominated, not so unusual. Closed shows winning for best musical: happened once 46 years ago, won't happen again. But nominated, sure.


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re: Won't even be nominated- yeah right sure.

Posted by: mikem 03:33 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: Won't even be nominated- yeah right sure. - ShowGoer 12:56 pm EDT 03/14/14

Given how many new musicals there are this season, the season seems weak-ish. Based on current buzz, I would say the Best Musical nominees will be Gentlemen's Guide, After Midnight, If/Then, Bullets, and either Aladdin or Rocky, with Bridges having an outside chance.

But there's no musical so far that is both a critical AND commercial smash. Either If/Then or Bullets may end up hitting that combination and become the front-runner.


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Good analysis.

Posted by: ShowGoer 04:07 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: Won't even be nominated- yeah right sure. - mikem 03:33 pm EDT 03/14/14

I think you're underestimating Beautiful's chances, but other than that I think you're spot on.

"But there's no musical so far that is both a critical AND commercial smash. Either If/Then or Bullets may end up hitting that combination and become the front-runner."

And that's exactly what will happen, is that one of those two will be.


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re: Good analysis.

Posted by: tpdc 12:44 pm EDT 03/15/14
In reply to: Good analysis. - ShowGoer 04:07 pm EDT 03/14/14

The nominating committee is usually tough and Beautiful though a hit is not even a barely passable jukebox show. Without Mueller it would be hard to sit through. In a season with so many new musicals with original books and scores, I don't think the nominators will fill three slots for best musical with shows without new scores. And If/Then and Bridges are much better shows than Beautiful.


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Yeah, I felt like I was in a parallel universe reading the column.

Posted by: robert_j 12:05 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: ABSURD! Won't even be nominated;"Rocky" & "Bullets" 2 of the worst in 10 years! ... - MichaelAS 10:15 am EDT 03/14/14

That was not the show I saw last night. Others may disagree about particular performances, etc., but I have a hard time believing that anyone would come away thinking that this was the next Producers.

Still, the biggest problems are with pacing and energy, and those issues actually can be fixed during previews.


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: AlanScott 07:10 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - jesse21 06:57 am EDT 03/14/14

Riedel writes, "Marin Mazzie, as Broadway diva Helen Sinclair, makes her first appearance singing a little known but catchy ditty from the ’20s called 'They Go Wild, Simply Wild, Over Me,' by Joe McCarthy and Fred Fisher."

Not little known to fans of I Love Lucy. Or to folks who know the 1973 version of Irene. It's not "The Man I Love," but it's also not especially obscure, as a simple google search on the title would quickly reveal.


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: mamaleh 12:03 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - AlanScott 07:10 am EDT 03/14/14

As a very young child, I remember Jerry Lewis singing that song.

Link http://www.allmusic.com/song/they-go-wild-simply-wild-over-me-mt0006035561

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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: PlayWiz 11:00 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - AlanScott 07:10 am EDT 03/14/14

They could still get George S. Irving (whose Tony-winning performance in "Irene" included singing that song) to do a duet with Mazzie if they were so inclined. He's probably still available.


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: LegitOnce 08:33 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - AlanScott 07:10 am EDT 03/14/14

Well, to be fair, he doesn't say "unknown," he says "little known." I honestly didn't remember that song in the "Mertz and Kurtz" episode of I Love Lucy (which featured Charles Winninger!) and it took a bit of prodding to recall its appearance i Irene -- which, after all, was 40 years ago.


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: houselightsout 08:12 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - AlanScott 07:10 am EDT 03/14/14

Hmmm, I'm an I Love Lucy fan and I don't recall this song at all. I googled it and found it was part of the Boardwalk in Atlantic City medley they sang with Fred's old vaudeville partner. As much as I watch Lucy, I admit I haven't seen that particular episode pop up very frequently. And I've never seen (or heard) Irene so I'd agree it's a pretty obscure song.


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: AlanScott 08:19 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - houselightsout 08:12 am EDT 03/14/14

It's very memorable to some of us because Desi flexes his pecs in time to the music. It's for comic effect, but it's still memorable. Surprising for TV in the '50s.

I agree it's not one of the best known episodes, and I did say that it wasn't a famous song, but for me obscure means a good deal more obscure than this song.


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OBSCURE and LITTLE KNOWN. Not synonyms. nm

Posted by: frankm 10:11 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - AlanScott 08:19 am EDT 03/14/14

nm


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re: OBSCURE and LITTLE KNOWN. Not synonyms. nm

Posted by: AlanScott 04:56 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: OBSCURE and LITTLE KNOWN. Not synonyms. nm - frankm 10:11 am EDT 03/14/14

Well, the first definition at the Merriam-Webster site is "not well-known : not known to most people." I think that's close enough to little-known to count.

Link obscure according to merriam-webster

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And yet Dictionary.com doesn't seem to agree....

Posted by: frankm 08:33 am EDT 03/15/14
In reply to: re: OBSCURE and LITTLE KNOWN. Not synonyms. nm - AlanScott 04:56 pm EDT 03/14/14

5 Meanings for OBSCURE, none of which is a synonym for LITTLE KNOWN

ob·scure
[uhb-skyoor] Show IPA
adjective, ob·scur·er, ob·scur·est.
1.
(of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain: an obscure sentence in the contract.
2.
not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive: obscure motivations.
3.
(of language, style, a speaker, etc.) not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly.
4.
indistinct to the sight or any other sense; not readily seen, heard, etc.; faint.
5.
inconspicuous or unnoticeable: the obscure beginnings of a great movement.


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re: And yet Dictionary.com doesn't seem to agree....

Posted by: AlanScott 05:54 pm EDT 03/16/14
In reply to: And yet Dictionary.com doesn't seem to agree.... - frankm 08:33 am EDT 03/15/14

We've got what I think even both Merriam-Webster and dictionary.com might describe as a disagreement. ;)

I mean, between them. Not us.


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: houselightsout 09:48 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - AlanScott 08:19 am EDT 03/14/14

Huh. I don't remember Desi flexing his pecs. Now I'll have to go back and watch again. ;-)


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: LegitOnce 08:37 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - AlanScott 08:19 am EDT 03/14/14

I remember that episode best for the line flub in which Vivian Vance calls Lucille Ball "Lucy" instead of "Bessie," the name she's adopted when posing as the Mertzes' maid. (That's the sorrowful précis.)


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: AlanScott 08:38 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - LegitOnce 08:37 am EDT 03/14/14

Oh, I completely forgot about that moment.


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George S. Irving sang it in IRENE

Posted by: seeseveryshow 10:00 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - AlanScott 08:38 am EDT 03/14/14

Irving played Madame Lucy and led the ensemble "Debutantes" in this fun number in IRENE.

Glad to hear the song is being revived in BULLETS.


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re: George S. Irving sang it in IRENE

Posted by: mamaleh 11:29 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: George S. Irving sang it in IRENE - seeseveryshow 10:00 am EDT 03/14/14

Too bad they can't interpolate Mr. Irving's unforgettable "The Butler's Song."


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re: George S. Irving sang it in IRENE

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 10:07 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: George S. Irving sang it in IRENE - seeseveryshow 10:00 am EDT 03/14/14

I played Mme. Lucy in a high school production of IRENE. One day I had the cast album playing at home while my grandfather was visiting, and when "They Go Wild, Simply Wild, Over Me" came on, he really brightened up and began singing the original lyrics. I'll never forget that.


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re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys

Posted by: lowwriter 08:06 am EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: MICHAEL RIEDEL TODAY: ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ on target to kill at Tonys - AlanScott 07:10 am EDT 03/14/14

Some posters elsewhere are comparing this to Nice Work If You Can Get It. Which sound apt.


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