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re: Washington DC Bad Jews and Gigi

Posted by: Delvino 11:23 pm EST 01/20/15
In reply to: re: Washington DC Bad Jews and Gigi - Ann 11:06 pm EST 01/20/15

It's more on the other board. An entire thread, loaded with shill-ery. But I'm done with GIGI comments until it's reviewed and comes to NYC. This is all speculation. I leave this to those who count: the ticket buyers.


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re: Washington DC Bad Jews and Gigi

Posted by: Ann 07:48 am EST 01/21/15
In reply to: re: Washington DC Bad Jews and Gigi - Delvino 11:23 pm EST 01/20/15

Do you really think they're all shills?


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re: Washington DC Bad Jews and Gigi

Posted by: Delvino 08:58 am EST 01/21/15
In reply to: re: Washington DC Bad Jews and Gigi - Ann 07:48 am EST 01/21/15

I don't, and I try never use that term. I was perhaps trying a bit of irony. I have found the debate about this show -- yes, we've had a bit here, because I've posted twice -- divides people into two camps, those who don't understand its relevance and question the work needed for a revisal, like me, and those who think it's a terrific idea with a young viable star.

I have tried to frame my own comments in the context of the challenges of this season ("Side Show" and "Last Ship," and to a certain extent, "...Vegas"). But I haven't seen the show, and I am breaking my own rule in commenting extensively about material I haven't personally appraised. My guesswork on the viability of the show in 2015 is based on knowledge of the film and the prior production. I will herewith cease commenting negatively and wait until the show is with us, and under the inevitable scrutiny the board invites. If the show has this many die-hard fans rooting for it, perhaps I've already been unfair to its chances.

Maybe my confusion bordering on exasperation that such effort has gone into this particular piece is a comment on my demographic and its tastes rather than any of the artistic elements assembled to make the show fly. Again, sometimes subjectivity in taste steers posts away from fairness, never more so than when all advance criticism is at best speculative.


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re: Washington DC Bad Jews and Gigi

Posted by: jmill 03:01 pm EST 01/21/15
In reply to: re: Washington DC Bad Jews and Gigi - Delvino 08:58 am EST 01/21/15

I saw the original Broadway production of GIGI near the end of its run and remember it fondly. I was twenty-five years old at the time. It seemed old fashioned even then, but it was a sumptuous production, had those wonderful songs, and there was some genuine enchantment. Also, it was the only time I ever saw the great Alfred Drake onstage. Years later, saw a lovely production at Paper Mill, which was, I believe, a little over ten years ago.

But, while I have good feelings about the show itself, I have always questioned the commercial viability of the revival since the first time I read about it. I'm happy for the chance to see it again when it comes to NY, but it's hard to envision it appealing to a wide audience. Maybe the casting of Vanessa Hudgins will bring in a young audience that might not normally be attracted to GIGI. I certainly wish the show well, and I hope I'm wrong about its box office prospects.


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re: Washington DC Bad Jews and Gigi

Posted by: Ann 10:29 am EST 01/21/15
In reply to: re: Washington DC Bad Jews and Gigi - Delvino 08:58 am EST 01/21/15

I don't know, I think there are more than two camps on the show. I'm not fully in either one of those. And I think people can praise this production of it without predicting it's Broadway-commercial viable.

I don't have a problem with comments and discussion before seeing a show (pronouncements about unseen shows would be different). We all have opinions going in, and I find it all very interesting.


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