Threaded Order Chronological Order
| re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks | |
| Posted by: carolinaguy 09:04 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks - Duke1979 07:23 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
|
|
|
| The stars were perfect. And I think THE GOODBYE GIRL is one instance where the book is let down by the score, when usually it's the other way around. I found most of Hamlisch's music very generic, as were Zippel's lyrics. The latter were a particularly disappointing follow-up to his solid work on CITY OF ANGELS. The song titles were very bald too--if for some reason you didn't know how the story was going to turn out, all you had to do was look ahead in the program and see that the last two songs were called "Jump for Joy" and "What a Guy". And that Richard III song--ugh. |
|
| reply to this message |
| re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 03:23 pm EDT 09/01/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks - carolinaguy 09:04 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
|
|
|
| I think it was just a bad idea. it's two characters who are not especially interesting. There aren't many real obstacles getting in their way of getting together. It's the kind of thing that can work on the screen if you've got the right actors, and it did, but there's very little real plot. There's local color, which works better onscreen, and two actors you like. Even with two actors you like onstage, it's not the same. There's not enough variety, not enough of interest to sing about. It's like The Baker's Wife — a movie that was never going to be a successful stage musical because the plot is too simple and too predictable. It works onscreen because of actors you love and local color but it can't be a full evening onstage. And although there are good and even great musicals with even less plot, those — like Follies and Assassins and A Chorus Line — either have huge themes or a large group of characters providing variety or both. Perhaps if they had made it one half of an evening of two one-act musicals and had come up with a contrasting new piece for the other half. |
|
| reply to this message |
| re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks | |
| Posted by: Billhaven 11:34 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks - carolinaguy 09:04 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
|
|
|
| I vigorously disagree about Zippel’s lyrics. “Elliot Garfield Grant” and “Paula, an improvisation” are perfect both for the character and Martin Short. The biggest problems were the truly hideous and distracting set and having Peters rage her way through the 11 o clock number 2 minutes into the show. I agree with Saks...her character was really unpleasant. Perhaps if she had started with a self deprecating funny-rueful number (called The Goodbye Girl, perhaps) the show would have gotten off to a better start. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 01:07 am EDT 09/01/18 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 01:05 am EDT 09/01/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks - Billhaven 11:34 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
|
|
|
| Martin Short was wonderful, as was his character. But there was something wrong with a musical where you were hoping Bernadette Peters didn't have another song to sing. Short's character would want to do something fun, and her character would be a stick in the mud and try to stifle it. Gene Saks was perfectly right to want to re-think Bernadette's role as written, since it's no fun watching someone be a drip (and not played for laughs either). | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 04:20 am EDT 09/01/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks - PlayWiz 01:05 am EDT 09/01/18 | |
|
|
|
| Strange because Marsha Mason did not have this problem in the movie. I loved the musical but it's too long ago for me to remember such details. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 07:24 pm EDT 08/31/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks - Billhaven 11:34 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
|
|
|
| I liked that the show began with what was a "Moment Before" 11 O Clock number. It's never been done before or since but it was cool. You get to see the end of the show that theoretically took place before the show we're about to see. Very clever. And it's a great song. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks | |
| Posted by: schlepper 11:46 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks - Billhaven 11:34 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
|
|
|
| Totally agree that Martin Short had the best numbers (I'd add to your list "I Think I Can Play This Part"). Peters was not well-served by the book or the score. Carol Woods had a sort of fun but forgettable song in Act II --- but it wasn't enough. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks | |
| Posted by: twocents 10:16 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Riedel on Neil Simon and Jerry Zaks - carolinaguy 09:04 am EDT 08/31/18 | |
|
|
|
| if for some reason you didn't know how the story turns out, look ahead in the program and see that the last two songs were called "Jump for Joy" and "What a Guy". Totally. The program is such a spoiler that I don't even touch it at musicals beforehand to be fully surprised. IDK if anyone else takes such drastic measures. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
Time to render: 0.018536 seconds.