Can The Adults Please Smoke? Chapter 32: A dirty, sturdy crew!- Page 191

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 8:22am

Good Morning peeps!

Addy, I am so glad that you felt the same as me, although I did not see the Lansbury/CJZ production. I never had a desire to see this show...I don't know if I was dreaming or what, but I remember seeing it on PBS with Liz Taylor years ago....was I dreaming or did I really see it? Anyway, I thought it was horrible..totally boring and so I never had a desire to see this show on stage. Of course with my bff in it I had to see it. I absolutley adored the show. I am hoping they release a CD with Stritch/Peters otherwise I will stay with the OCR.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 8:43am

Hilo, kids!

If I could have the same or similar seats, I'd maybe see it again. Not sure if I want to take away from the performance I saw.

I need to get to some other things...Promises, Promises being one. And La Cage, too.

Updated On: 8/12/10 at 08:43 AM

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 9:13am

Good morning peeps! I'm back from my whirlwind tour of North Carolina. So much fun to go home! I'm seeing Promises on Saturday, Girly. Meet and greet with Kristin, after. Woo hoo!!!!

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 9:17am

Poddie.....sounds like fun! Both going home and seeing Kristin.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 9:26am

my dad just got back from North Carolina too..... interesting!


Morning all. I do hope to see Night Music (mainly because of D2's love of it!) but there are others on my list before it.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 9:29am

Moony, I know you really didn't like it the night we saw it, but I have to tell you... it's a transformed show.

I still don't love Ramona Mallory's portrayal of Anne. In my opinion, she creates a character who is just not appealing, and doesn't capture the innocent youth that captivates Fredrik. (By the way, Hanson comes alive playing opposite Peters!). But, the show has a new energy and I just loved it!

I hope they do a new recording with Peters and Stritch, also!

Moony, careful without power!
Have I mentioned that I am thoroughly over this summer heat and humidity? Bring on the Fall!

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 9:34am

Tinky, you must see ALNM...it's a beautiful show.

Addy, I agree...Ramona was the only annoyance I found...very whiny...although I guess there are 18 year old girls who act that way...heck I know some well into their 30s who still act that way.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 9:44am

Boobs, I read through the ALNM thread on the main board last night, and there was a comment that captured my feelings about Ramona's performance of Anne. I'll have to try to find it. Agree it was overly whiny.

I really should dive into all the stuff I have to do today. Really. I should. Yep. But...

Updated On: 8/12/10 at 09:44 AM

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 9:56am

Addy, sometimes you need to play...life is too short to just work, work, work!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 10:00am

You can say that again!

But, if I want to take my vacation in just under 2 weeks, I should probably get cracking!

And, next week I have another theatre date that I am looking forward to very much...

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 10:09am

Morning Adults!

Here's some motivation for Addy:

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 10:10am

I am seeing my friend's Fringe show next week.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 10:16am

Well, you don't want to go on vacation with a lot still on your plate. So get cracking!

Funny, I have a date for a B'way show too next week that I am so looking forward to!

[shira467]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 10:54am

G'morning. No playtime, off to work!

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 11:01am

Boobs - I've never seen the ALNM movie, but it's supposed to be horrible.

Years ago I saw a regional production with Hailey Mills and I did not like it at all. Then I got to choreograph the show in a small, intimate theatre, and absolutely loved it. I would love to see the current production.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 11:29am

DD, it was HORRIBLE and because of it I never wanted to see a production of it. After seeing this production I get it and now am a fan of this show. I hope you get a chance to see this production.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 12:48pm

It's one of those shows on my "to direct when I have a lot more experience" list.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 12:50pm

And we're back online!

I'm really encouraged by the delight the three of you found in this production. what are you guys seeing next week? There are a number of shows opening later this year that intrigue me, but at curremnt prices, I need more an a passing interest to get me to actually buy a ticket. I do know that I could see La Cage over and over again.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 12:54pm

Moony, next week I will be in the audience as they film "South Pacific" for PBS.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 1:00pm

Assuming the freelance god comes through, I think I would like to see some of the fringe/smaller theater in New York this time around. None of the shows on B'way make me feel like shelling out the big bucks.

[D2]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 1:09pm

As Tink alluded, I love A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - it's one of my all time favorites for many, many reasons.

As you all know, Henrik was my favorite role. I just loved playing that part, and I loved being in the show - it was an absolute joy to go to the theater every night and be a part of that world. I hadn't seen the original B'way production so I was able to create my own interpretation, unencumbered by any cherished memories of a previous performance. the role is still in my blood - I still know every line, every harmony, the timing and the counts required for the trio - everything except the fingering for the cello. I forgot that as quickly as possible. It was the one thing that was difficult for me to learn and I always felt defeated by it.

After the run ended, I rented the movie. Godawful.

The first time I ever saw a professional stage production was at Equity Library Theater a couple of years later. Eddie Korbich was Henrik, and I hated him because he was better than I was. Judy Blazer was Anne, and she remains my favorite of any that I've seen.

In 1989 there was a revival in London with Dorothy Tutin as Desiree, Lila Kedrova as Madame Armfeldt and Alexander Hanson (yes, the same AH) as Henrik. It was quite wonderful. (Hanson was quite good, he certainly sang it better than I did, but he didn't nail the laughs the way I did.) Tutin and Kedrova were a great match - they really made sense as mother and daughter (although Kedrova's accent was so thick if I didn't already know the lines I would have been lost. But she was a delightful, if lightweight, Madame A.)

I've seen the City Opera production a couple of times (and I have it on tape somewhere) - Susan Stroman did some of her best work with this production, and Maureen Moore remains the best Charlotte I've ever seen. The theater, however, is so large that the show got lost in all that space.

And then I saw the Trevor Nunn production last year in London, and while his direction has provoked many, many disparaging remarks, I was quite moved by it. I love that Nunn exploits the autumnal feel of the piece and captures the spirit of the original Ingmar Bergman movie. (If you watch Bergman's film, the subtitles are almost word for word matches to the dialogue in the musical.)

Although I liked Hannah Waddingham in London far better, I did like CZJ. She gave a star turn in a star role. I also thought Angela Lansbury was terrific, but I peferred Maureen Lippman's Madame Armfeldt - she had a dry quality that suited the role, and her "wooden ring" speech was as moving as Lansbury's. I agree about Ramona Mallory, but the girl who played it in London, Jessie Buckley, was FAR worse. Screechy, whiny, and rather unattractive. (Think Sarah Brightman without the charm.) As for Hunter Ryan Herdlika, I couldn't help but like him. Our voices are similar and his take on the role is similar to mine (I was a little more wry in some places, he's A LOT better looking and plays the cello better than I did). We both hit that high note in "Later" like the bomb dropping on Hiroshima, but I was directed to make it sound like "an ugly cry of anguish." So that's what I did (except for one matinee when my mother was in the audience. She had told me that she thought I couldn't sing the role, and I had to prove to her that I had that note. The director understood. His mother had bitchy qualities, too.)

And now I'm seeing it with Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch in September and I can't wait. I've always thought Peters would be a perfect Desiree and I'm thrilled she's getting such good reviews.

So there you have it - a long post but brief history of Deet's feelings about A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. ALNM is to Deet what FOLLIES is to Pal Joey.

Updated On: 8/12/10 at 01:09 PM

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 1:21pm

Thanks for that Deet! It was a lovely read and very insightful. I can't wait to read your review on Bernadette and Stritch.

[harris007]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 1:33pm

*the cows in big floppy sun hats and chess shirts bring lemonade*


And I must say I do love when there is comedy on the off topic board

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 1:43pm

harris, which thread?

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 1:46pm

There's comedy on the board and I'm missing it? Busy day here today.


CHHHHEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!