Threaded Order Chronological Order
| Mark Evans | |
| Posted by: reed23 09:31 am EDT 05/14/18 | |
| In reply to: re: ME AND MY GIRL Sunday afternoon (Correction) re: Mark Evans - showbuzz 10:45 pm EDT 05/13/18 | |
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| I'm a little surprised that people were enthused about his performance. He sings OK, he grimaces as if he were in pain OK, but it was the most mincing performance I've ever seen on any stage, and in the off-chance that were intentional, it was a grave misfire, unfortunately enhanced by the girliest choreography ever inflicted on a supposed suitor. It's hard to believe that Nick Ullitt, who originated that role on Broadway in the 1986 original revisal, is now 77 years old. This means he was a distinguished 45 when he played his role of the thwarted fop in ME AND MY GIRL. But other than that, I loved virtually every last little thing about the Encores production. While Christian Borle is more of a coarse, baggy-pants comedian than the exquisitely accurate and sophisticated Robert Lindsay, I bought it hook, line, and sinker anyway. Lisa O'Hare was smashing and perfect in every way, and Laura Michelle Kelly towered above the already sky-high proceedings with a masterful command of voice, dialogue and dance so rare on today's boppy Broadway. All the stuffy foils were a hoot, led by the master of them all, Harriet Harris. And Warren Carlyle did about the best work I've ever seen from him. Twelve thumbs up. And I'm quite amazed that the New York Times's latest dreary dolt found it all ho-hum and "not worth the trouble" (paraphrasing his last line.) |
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| re: Mark Evans and his characterization | |
| Posted by: showbuzz 11:20 am EDT 05/14/18 | |
| In reply to: Mark Evans - reed23 09:31 am EDT 05/14/18 | |
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| There was (and still is) an affected British type that isn't necessarily gay and was "effete".....in the 1980's and 90's they were called 'Sloan Rangers". His character says things like "bally well" instead of "bloody hell" etc.It was a performance that cleverly accurate to a style of the 20's and 30's.....I never looked at his performance as being Bi or confused....he was a privileged upper crust party boy who was pretty and needed to marry well....again...Thanks Mr Evans for a sweet and unbridled performance .....a highlight of the supporting cast! | |
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| re: Mark Evans | |
| Posted by: wisebear 11:00 am EDT 05/14/18 | |
| In reply to: Mark Evans - reed23 09:31 am EDT 05/14/18 | |
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| Wow, I’m reading lots of internalized homophobia in your comments. The performance was obviously a choice, one that I was delighted with as a gay man. Why is an effeminate man so offensive to you? Do you think he was playing a type that doesn’t exist in real life? Do you think gay men came out and lived out in the shows time setting? I thought the performance was brave and true and very funny. I think your comment about “girly” choreography is offensive and outdated. And your “mince”-shaming is as wrong as fat-shaming, ageism, et al. Time to get “woke”, Reed. | |
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| what you are missing is shortsighted......noy necessary gay! | |
| Posted by: showbuzz 02:42 am EDT 05/17/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Mark Evans - wisebear 11:00 am EDT 05/14/18 | |
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| Geez,please read what I wrote......it is an effete characterization prominent onstage and in films in the 30s especially! Twit boys often danced w/the girls and did silly things.......they grew up to be Edward Everret Horton types! The quickness to call Homophobia is like lawyers yelling about Spanish spoken in NYC! Quelle suprise,Bucko! | |
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| re: Mark Evans | |
| Posted by: reed23 08:08 pm EDT 05/14/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Mark Evans - wisebear 11:00 am EDT 05/14/18 | |
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| I'm happy that this wildly gay stereotype performance delighted you "as a gay man." My reaction had nothing to do with my being gay, although I know "internalized homophobia is a popular, unanswerable catch-phrase. Why is an effeminate man "so offensive" to me? Actually, androgyny is my "type" – but enough about me. The stereotype is offensive to me when I feel it's theatrically inappropriate or gratuitous. I was appalled by the over-the-top gay thing going on in the latest ON THE TOWN, and I've always thought it interesting that extravagant gay stereotypes are still considered hilarious and acceptable, unlike other minority stereotypes that are not. "Playing a type that doesn't exist in real life?" Well, there we find a difference of opinion as to whether ME AND MY GIRL has anything to do with "real life." "Do you think gay men came out in the show's time setting?" Mostly not, of course; but you're assuming this character is actually and specifically gay and in the closet, and I like ME AND MY GIRL free of that assumption and extraneous baggage. I'm not sure I'd put this portrayal in the category of "in the closet" to begin with, which begs your question. "Girly choreography" – those moves got a big laugh, sure enough (see above: wild "gay" stereotype is still considered acceptable and hilarious.) But I don't find my "girly" term for it offensive and outdated at all – two adjectives I would direct towards the choreography itself in that moment. "Mince-shaming" – got me there! I do not subscribe to about 75% of the Political Correctness Executive Board's agenda, particularly concerning the stage. I'm very old-fashioned. I don't want to see an obese person playing a thin person; I don't want to see an 80-year-old playing a 25-year-old. And I don't want to see a wildly gay portrayal of a character I don't believe is supposed to be wildly gay. And if that means I'm a "fat-shamer" and an ageist and a sexist, well, I accept the condemnations with (gay) pride. |
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| re: Mark Evans | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 09:15 pm EDT 05/14/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Mark Evans - reed23 08:08 pm EDT 05/14/18 | |
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| I was appalled by the over-the-top gay thing going on in the latest ON THE TOWN Where? I don't remember seeing anything I'd classify that way. |
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| On The Town | |
| Posted by: reed23 09:29 am EDT 05/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Mark Evans - Chromolume 09:15 pm EDT 05/14/18 | |
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| Two instances come to mind: After a brilliant, rich, perfect rendition of "I Feel Like I'm Not Out Of Bed Yet," the outstanding actor/singer Philip Boykin returned to the stage after "New York, New York" and played the "Miss Turnstiles" announcer as an extravagantly gay stereotype. Later when Gabey was looking for Ivy at Carnegie Hall, doors opened to reveal one or two gay stereotypical canoodling couples, ho-ho-ho. Then again, I felt the whole production was rendered as a cartoon, top-to-bottom, completely at odds with the powerful and frequently serious score and story implications. My father saw the original and loved it; I saw all three Broadway revivals, and only the first one (Bernadette Peters, Phyllis Newman, Ron Hussmann, Marilyn Cooper et al., directed and choreographed by Ron Field) was true to the show, alternately hilarious and powerful. | |
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