| Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | allineedisthegirl 11:40 am EDT 03/19/14 |
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| I attended a preview of Threepenny Opera last night. It’s not an outrage like the Robert Wilson production brought to BAM a couple of years ago by the Berliner Ensemble, or a jaw-dropper like Roundabout’s 10 years ago. Rather it reminded me of a straightforward college production, and not a great one either. Laura Osnes sings beautifully as well as bringing a sly knowingness to Polly. She comes out on top of this cast. Mary Beth Piel is also very good as Mrs. Peachum, although the choice to play her as a slattern was the first clue that the director was missing the main point of the play. F. Murray Abraham (Peachum), Michael Park (Macheath) and Rick Holmes (Tiger Brown) seem to be inching toward standard (stock) interpretations of these roles, but all three seem severely tranquilized. Lilli Cooper (Lucy Brown) is worst in this regard, nearly sleepwalking through the play, even in the “Jealousy Duet.” Sally Murphy gives the cliched “angry” Jenny, and has an accent that comes and goes. The ensemble wanders around aimlessly, pulling focus from the scenes and songs; much nudity and simulated sex, just in case you need to be told what goes on in a whorehouse or in an alley, thank you very much. Yes it was a preview, so, who knows? Maybe they’ll give the cast some pep pills, and maybe Jenny will figure out what part of Europe she comes from. What I don’t see them fixing however, is the sound. It’s a small theatre, 250 seats. Nevertheless, the actors wear face mikes and the band is miked and the whole thing sounds like it’s coming out of a boom-box. Just ridiculous. db | |
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| re: we've had worse - but barely. interpolated song | |
| Posted by: | NewtonUK 12:09 am EDT 03/20/14 |
| In reply to: | Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 11:40 am EDT 03/19/14 |
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| Except for Ms Osnes, a woeful evening. At the end of the Wedding Scene in Act 1, instead of the Liebeslied, some unknown character sings a song I have never heard before sitting in a window/ What was it? The show is SO SLOW, the tempi are SO SLOW, the show has no sense of style, and many of the supporting actors the gang, the whores) are also woeful. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | StageDoorEddie 11:49 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 11:40 am EDT 03/19/14 |
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| With this cast, there was so much promise. I thought Romeo stole the show. It's sad when the most interesting things on stage are the dog and a swinging lightbulb. | |
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| Brilliant Directorial Touch | |
| Posted by: | Genealley 12:56 am EDT 03/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - StageDoorEddie 11:49 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| Forgot about the lightbulb. And what about the slow tempi and the orchestra lack of attack. And that woman warbling in the window. And Abraham forgetting his lines. And the Las Vegas magician's "prison" set. And the humping in the corner...with 2 men!!!!! And the chorus tiptoeing all over the place. And the ugly, defeated set design. And the tortured Sally Murphy (AGAIN!!!). And the clean, recedingly grey haired, non-threatening Macheath. And on and on and on... | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | stan 01:39 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 11:40 am EDT 03/19/14 |
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| I think Brecht (in 21st Century America, at least) is impossible to present. Look at the recent (in my opinion) horrible "Mother Courage" productions, the "Mahogany" operas, as well as those of "3 Penny". Even the Lincoln Center Production with Raul Julia was not very good. "Umberto Ui" with John Tuturro was. however, good. Actually, the plays still read very well. I'm going Sun Matinee. | |
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| Good Person of Szechwan | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 12:16 am EDT 03/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - stan 01:39 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| was done brilliantly at la mama and then the public so obviously brecht can be done in america in the 21st century . | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | schauspieler 04:45 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - stan 01:39 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| I don't know if it was 'Brechtian' but I thought that the Kushner adaptation of Mother Courage at the Delacorte with Meryl Streep and songs by Jeanine Tesori was one of the greatest things I've ever seen. I take it you didn't? | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 03:45 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - stan 01:39 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| "I think Brecht (in 21st Century America, at least) is impossible to present." Interesting theory. Would you care to expound as to why? | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | singleticket 02:34 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - stan 01:39 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| Even the Lincoln Center Production with Raul Julia was not very good. The Richard Foreman production? Could you describe it a bit? I'm curious what it was like. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | allineedisthegirl 01:58 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - stan 01:39 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| I think "impossible" is over-stating it. Great plays are, almost by definition, difficult to get right. And by "right" I don't mean faithfulness to one or another orthodoxy, I mean getting the play to "happen." For every ten Shakespeare productions i see, maybe one or two are good. But those one or two I woulnd't want to miss. Last week I saw Kathleen Turner do Mother Courage. It was a production full of "creative" embelishments (flying by Foy again, ala the Merryl Streep production). But thanks to a combination of felicitous casting and directoral point of view that wasn't at odds with the play, Mother Courage proved to remain very stage-worthy. db | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | stan 02:08 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 01:58 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| that's good to hear. I think K. Turner is an absolutely fabulous actress. And it's "Mahagonny" (damn that spell check!) | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | allineedisthegirl 02:16 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - stan 02:08 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| And Manhattan School of Music did a credible production of Mahagonny last spring. Glad I saw that too. db | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | elmore3003 04:43 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 02:16 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| If you like the stupid conceit - I don't - of presenting the dialogue in English and lyrics in German. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | allineedisthegirl 05:17 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - elmore3003 04:43 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| No I didn't love that aspect of it, but it wasn't a deal breaker. db | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 01:03 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 11:40 am EDT 03/19/14 |
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| i really wanted this to be good. oh well, it's not like we'll never see another one. | |
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| Agree - there's so much "off" about this production | |
| Posted by: | Genealley 12:03 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 11:40 am EDT 03/19/14 |
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| that it's hard to believe there was a Director involved. | |
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| re: Agree - there's so much "off" about this production | |
| Posted by: | falcon15 03:42 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | Agree - there's so much "off" about this production - Genealley 12:03 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| I know Martha Clarke has directed many plays, but this production seemed like it was directed by a choreographer who doesn't know how to talk to actors. Thus, all the actors are doing their own thing. I actually still liked it though, since I thought it was very well-cast and most of the actors are doing very good jobs. | |
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| re: Agree - there's so much "off" about this production | |
| Posted by: | elmore3003 04:45 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Agree - there's so much "off" about this production - falcon15 03:42 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| I think it's an insult to choreographers and directors to call Martha Clarke one or the other. Her work for City Opera was pathetic. | |
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| re: Agree - there's so much "off" about this production | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 05:18 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Agree - there's so much "off" about this production - elmore3003 04:45 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| there are, of course, both choreographers and directors who are honored to have her as either and both. And I guess you are not. I hope BB is having a good laugh at all of us. I think he would be pleased. | |
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| Atlantic Quality | |
| Posted by: | Jackson 11:56 am EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 11:40 am EDT 03/19/14 |
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| I find that the quality of the Atlantic's productions has gone down the past few years. I believe it started when they were doing productions in different theaters while their MainStage was being renovated. J | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 11:56 am EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 11:40 am EDT 03/19/14 |
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| I haven't but will see this production, but Wilson's production (with which I had plenty of issues) was hardly an "outrage" and, if the Cumming/Lauper one (also not without issues) was a "jaw dropper," is that supposed to be a bad thing? Based on your description of two productions I would have been very pissed to miss, I don't know what to make of your thoughts on this one. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | allineedisthegirl 12:13 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - ryhog 11:56 am EDT 03/19/14 |
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| Whether or not you think "jaw dropper" is a bad thing rather depends on how you feel about lyrics that neither scan nor rhyme and directoral choices that seemed to be made without reference to the script (Brown felating Macheath, Lucy exposing her penis, etc.) If you like those things, I suppose your jaw could drop out of sheer surprise and delight. db | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 12:30 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 12:13 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| well I guess I just don't find "jaw-dropping" an apt description. It's true I don't have the same allergy to creative changes that you have, but I just find it hard to imagine any of the things you seem exercised about being a source of shock or amazement when you obviously knew you are dealing with a Scott Elliott/Wally Shawn collaboration. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | Circlevet 01:45 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - ryhog 12:30 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| It was "jaw dropping" awful. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 01:57 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - Circlevet 01:45 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| Now that's a useful contribution. What am I supposed to make of it? | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 01:10 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - ryhog 12:30 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| >> you seem exercised about being a source of shock or amazement when you obviously knew you are dealing with a Scott Elliott/Wally Shawn collaboration. yes but it wasn't a good scott elliot/wally shawn collaboration. it was boring. i don't think "jaw dropping" is an apt description - i'd have been fine with that, more like mind numbing. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 01:14 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - enoch10 01:10 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| I don't disagree the production layed an egg. I just couldn't figure out the jaw dropping part. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 12:09 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - ryhog 11:56 am EDT 03/19/14 |
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| "If the Cumming/Lauper one (also not without issues) was a 'jaw dropper,' is that supposed to be a bad thing?" It was a bad thing (in my opinion) because it wasn't a jaw dropper in a good way, not even bearing in mind (of course) what Brecht wanted in terms of the "alienation" or "strange-making" effect. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | Billhaven 12:36 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - Michael_Portantiere 12:09 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| There were glowing dildos in that one weren't there? And Alan Cumming seemed to think stuffing a salami in his pants would take care of his characterization (ok, maybe it wasn't a salami). I thought Nellie McKay came off the best, quirky and acting to some strange music that was paying in her head. Poor Cyndi Lauper was hung out to dry and didn't know what she was playing in her few scenes. Even the divine Jim Dale, I found unintelligible because he danced and did bits while he was singing instead of before or after. I didn't understand one word and since it was a new translation for me, that was a shame. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 01:11 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - Billhaven 12:36 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| >>I thought Nellie McKay came off the best, yes. | |
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| re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse | |
| Posted by: | allineedisthegirl 01:23 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - enoch10 01:11 pm EDT 03/19/14 |
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| I thought Nellie McCay, Jim Dale, Anna Gasteyer and Cindy Lauper all had their moments. Would love to have seen what they did with another director. db | |
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