| I, too, felt A CATERED AFFAIR got unnecessarily bad reviews. Admittedly, I think the show itself is better than the production it received. Bucchino's score is beautiful. Unfortunately, Doyle did what he often does and removed nearly every button from every song, robbing the audience of the chance to release with their applause and be included in the experience. I also feel someone other than Feinstein should have been cast in his role. I know he is much loved among New York theatre audiences (and with good reason), but I felt his personality traits and trademark rasp called too much attention to his celebrity in what should have been a smaller role. Also, as the show's book writer (who ADDED the gay uncle character to his adaptation of the source material), I felt his onstage presence unfairly gave extra weight to this character's plight, making the venture seem preachy, when the struggle for gay inclusion expressed might otherwise feel more like an integrated part of the whole. I'd love to see this show in a more intimate setting where the expectations of "Broadway" would be eliminated and one could actually appreciate what's there. |
