| Really Excited by this! | |
| Posted by: | actor103 02:07 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | and total rave from the NY Observer - Glitter 12:02 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| This ought to be enough to bring this into NY. At least for a non-profit run. I think some additional sinister tone to the music would be great. I have to say, as he explains it, I understand where and why he has reservations about the tone. i think that more of a juxtaposition between the love story and the way it is musically represented with additional,components of the "sinister" nature would make this even more moving for me than it is already. I do not write musicals so I do not know where Kander would address this but I imagine he does. Though it is a mixed review overall and I think Brantley thinks this is as good as it will ever be, it nonetheless feels like a valid New York entry. Just reading all of the reviews, had I not seen it, I would say that this no longer feels like a show in need of major repair.,just tailoring perhaps. Here's hoping. This show will apparently always be flawed for many people and for others, I guess it will never work at all. But, many people seem to be as affected by it as I am. i think Brantley validates the enterprise and it will hopefully come in as a a Broadway show that people,debate and talk about. Have not done that with a musical in years. For me, that is exciting. | |
| reply to this message | | |
| Age Appropriateness? | |
| Posted by: | mamaleh 11:59 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | Really Excited by this! - actor103 02:07 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| I haven't seen this production--waiting for a NY transfer, of course. Much as I like Roger Rees, does he seem age appropriate? Chita Rivera is more than a decade older. Wouldn't the powerful, influential man who abandoned her character likely be older? I wonder if they thought of having John McMartin, three years older than Ms. Rivera, repeat his turn from the Goodman in 2001. I remember McMartin's excellent turn as Schill in a revival of the straight play in the '70s. I do wonder if he was approached for WTF. | |
| reply to this message | | |
| re: Age Appropriateness? | |
| Posted by: | stevemr 02:06 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | Age Appropriateness? - mamaleh 11:59 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| Rees is made-up to look older, and postures himself accordingly. This revised version eliminates Anton's two children, so there is even less reason to be concerned about his age. Chita may be ageless -- in makeup and costume she looks far younger than 81 -- just look at some of the production photos. In fact, when she makes her final entrance (spoiler alert) - she looks considerably older than she has earlier in the show -- so its clear she's not supposed to look old until then -- and after all, as the richest woman in the world, Claire can certainly can afford whatever it takes to maintain those looks. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Age Appropriateness? | |
| Posted by: | schauspieler 02:11 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Age Appropriateness? - stevemr 02:06 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| His two adult children are in this version | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Age Appropriateness? | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 12:38 pm EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | Age Appropriateness? - mamaleh 11:59 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| I would think Rees has it within his formidable skill set to convey that he is 10-15 years older than his chronological age. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Really Excited by this! | |
| Posted by: | chrismpls 02:13 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | Really Excited by this! - actor103 02:07 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| So Judy Kuhn might have some Linda Lavin-ish decisions to make? (Actually, based on her website, she may have made that decision already.) | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Really Excited by this! | |
| Posted by: | bwaydiva1 08:27 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Really Excited by this! - chrismpls 02:13 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| She's likely to stay with Fun Home. The actors have been pretty quiet-I'm assuming because contracts haven't been worked out yet. The role in "The Visit" is a glorified chorus role. (And she's been with Fun Home from the get go-I'd be shocked if she doesn't continue.) She's in The Visit right now so I'm guessing that is in the forefront of her mind. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Really Excited by this! | |
| Posted by: | stevemr 10:15 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Really Excited by this! - bwaydiva1 08:27 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| Although Kuhn brings a definite presence to her part, it is a small part with no solo of her own. It is luxury casting in Williamstown, but would certainly not justify abandoning Fun Home. (This assumes an overlap of the two productions) | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Really Excited by this! | |
| Posted by: | bwaydiva1 10:18 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Really Excited by this! - stevemr 10:15 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| Stevemr-That's how I see it, too. (Also, there is the possibility The Visit will wait until next season or be the fall tenant at the Beaumont.) | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Really Excited by this! | |
| Posted by: | stevemr 10:32 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Really Excited by this! - bwaydiva1 10:18 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| Chita is 81. Sooner rather than later is probably wise. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Really Excited by this! | |
| Posted by: | bwaydiva1 10:44 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Really Excited by this! - stevemr 10:32 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| We'll see. This is really much more non-profit material. I don't know what houses are open (I know MTC has a spring slot-but they don't do musicals very often (LoveMusik was a rare exception) and I have an inkling they may want to transfer either Fleming's play or if they can get Nina Arianda and Sam Rockwell to do Fool for Love those would be higher on the list.) | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| DARKEN IT | |
| Posted by: | sandcastle 05:55 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Really Excited by this! - chrismpls 02:13 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| Enough about diva-struck Brantley, but he does seem to reiterate what makes me squirm about this musical. That it isn't more sinister. This should be the most skin-crawling musical in the last few years, and from what I'm reading, they are shying away from that. Just saying. It's always fun to read something from Rex Reed that is devoid of snark. It's always blah to read Ben Brantley, who has sullied the city with his declaration that BOM is the best musi--- Well anyway. Happy for Chita, John and Fred and Roger too, that this will finally get here. But darken it. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: DARKEN IT | |
| Posted by: | schauspieler 11:07 am EDT 08/08/14 |
| In reply to: | DARKEN IT - sandcastle 05:55 am EDT 08/08/14 |
|
| |
| I disagree with you, Brantley and other reviewers who feel that the show pulls its punches and isn't dark enough, especially because it focuses more on the love between the two main characters. First of all, this is not the play Durrenmatt wrote, it's an adaptation with McNally's and Kander and Ebb's particular slant on the material. The show I saw was plenty dark, from the set and costume design, to the bitingly ironic songs by the townspeople, to Clare's retelling of her life story complete with eunuch chorus. If that wasn't sinister, I don't know what is. As for the denouement, and Clare's and Anton's last scene together - what could be darker than a woman who holds the life of a lover in her hands realizing that in spite of her lifelong quest for revenge, she still loves him, and a man who realizes that he threw away the only true love he would find in life for status and material comfort, and both of them accepting that she will follow through with her revenge in a twisted desire to possess him, and he will submit to it out of a sense of guilt and in the belief that his death is the only thing he has left to offer her. And all with heart stoppingly beautiful music. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
All That Chat is intended for the discussion of
theatre news and opinion
subject to the terms and conditions of the Terms of Service. (Please take all off-topic discussion to private email.)
Please direct technical questions/comments to webmaster@talkinbroadway.com and policy questions to TBAdmin@talkinbroadway.com.
[ Home | On the Rialto | The Siegel Column | Cabaret | Tony Awards | Book Reviews | Great White Wayback Machine ]
[ Broadway Reviews | Barbara and Scott: The Two of Clubs | Sound Advice | Restaurant Revue | Off Broadway | Funding Talkin' Broadway ]
[ Broadway 101 | Spotlight On | Talkin' Broadway | On the Boards | Regional | Talk to Us! | Search Talkin' Broadway ]
Terms of Service
[ © 1997 - 2014 www.TalkinBroadway.com, Inc. ]
Time to render: 0.097689 seconds.