Sweet Charity. So Bad....- Page 3

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:03pm

I didn't find the 1980s revival cheesy. It was too difficult to stay awake to see any cheese

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:04pm

Being in Ballet, I too prefer svelte, minimal costuming.
I just remember thinking it looked like not a lot was spent on the costuming back then. I might think it's very classic and pure if I looked at it now.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:11pm

"I don't understand why the producers think they will make money on a show that was never successful to begin with."

?

The original 1966 production ran for over a year and a half, and made money.

I have not yet checked the New York Times Database, but I am pretty confident that the show was received warmly by the critics.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:13pm

then there's the example of CHICAGO...that revival has made quite a bit of money.

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:15pm

Verdon was a STAR with enormous charisma.
She was so good a dancer even the toughest ballet critic would adore her. I need to get my Damn Yankees video out and watch the Lola number pronto!

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:19pm

Well, I was half right.


The New York Times LOVED Gwen Verdon and Fosse's work in the original production--but panned the Book and the Score.

[magruder]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:53pm

Couldn't agree less with you, Mary_Ethel, about the choreography for "Secretary is Not a Toy" in the movie. I think it's superb comic choreography. That bit where the chorus comes walking in with knees bent and body askance is quite a famous Fosse moment, actually.

Plus, the staging for "Brotherhood of Man" (along with Ruth Kobart's delicious performance) gets the joke of the song, something that the revival blew completely. It's a parody of a revivalist number, not an actual revivalist number. Yeah, it was great to hear Lillias White wail her way through it, but it's funnier when it is done by a square frumpy white woman.

Updated On: 3/5/05 at 12:53 PM

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:58pm

Well, guess that's why there's Chocoloate AND Vanilla, magruder...

To each his own...

[Marquise]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 3:13pm

I strongly disagree with IWISHIHADATONY's assessment of the 1986 revival. It was far from dreadful from what I remember. I was in awe watching Alison Williams, Bebe Neuwirth and Debbie Allen perform "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This".

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 5:40pm

Not to mention the dreamy (yes...I'm using that word) Michael Rupert.

GOD I LOVED HIM!!!!!

[LouieLovesTheater]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 6:14pm

Marquise, in EVERY SINGLE Sweet Charity thread "IWISHIHADATONY" posts the same blasts at Sweet Charity. Every time I open a new SC thread I take bets on how many posts there will be until he pops up with "I hate Sweet Charity"...I'm SO over it by now...and his freaky avatar.

Updated On: 3/5/05 at 06:14 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 6:21pm

Um...I believe the "freaky avatar" is he, a few years ago.

I think it's cute, not freaky.

Posted: 3/5/05 at 6:50pm

Namo, he can't do that!

Made me smile my tootless smile, orgre that I am.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 6:51pm

i too had wondered about that avatar. It does look cute, but somewhat twisted...like the president of the jock frat on the autopsy table in an episode of SVU.

[commasplice]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 9:19pm

I saw the matinee today. I went in really looking forward to it, but came out feeling pretty ambivalent, and I think a lot the audience did too. Sure, we laughed and clapped during the show and all that, but by the end, I think maybe 3 people in the balcony gave it an ovation (no idea about the orchestra, since I couldn't see it). I'm glad I got to see it, but I probably wouldn't go again. The most common comment I overheardheard was that the second act was better than the first. Definitely true.

I really enjoyed Denis O'Hare (though he got a little bit over the top at times during the elevator scene - still very funny, and I especially liked "A Good Impression"), Natascia Diaz, and Solange Sandy. Christina Applegate was good (nice, clear voice, and I liked her dancing), but I felt like she didn't fall into the role until the second act, and she needs more confidence onstage, because otherwise she's overshadowed by other parts of the show. Hopefully she gets a handle on that by the time the show hits NY. Right now, she's good, but not fantastic.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 9:28pm

Comma, my thoughts were similiar.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 11:10pm

I saw today's matinee too, and thought it was a very enjoyable show. I've never seen the original (only listened to the OBCR), and i did have a good time. Denis O'Hare was great in the role. He was a highlight of the show in my opinion. Natacia Diaz and Solange Sandy have fabulous voices. Their "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" was perfection. Christina Applegate is good as Charity. Nothing really outstanding but good. Her dancing is great but her acting got a little on the annoying side for me as the show went on. The choreography did nothing for me, but I'm not a big Wayne Cilento fan. Ernie Sabella is WAY underused in this show. He's barely on stage, and when he is he isn't doing much. Overall this is a good production of Sweet Charity, and I'm really glad I saw it. The best part of the show is the closet scene with Charity, Vittorio, and Ursula. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it Glebb.


On another note: Denis O'Hare is not only a great actor, but a really nice guy. Christina Applegate was surprisingly shy. She barely said a word when she came out of the stage door and she seemed really timid.

[cabarethed]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:09am

Aw chinkie, that's a great pic of you and O'Hare in your icon!! He is just a doll...such love here for that man.

[commasplice]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:24am

Chinkie, I had the opposite reaction to Christina's acting - she started out annoying, but grew on me. And I agree that Ernie Sabella is much too underused, which was disappointing. (Where were your seats, btw? I was towards the back of the balcony.)

That's an awesome picture of you and Denis O'Hare I had to catch my ride, or else I would have tried to go to the stage door to meet him.

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 8:56am

Thanks for your concern CAJ! What a sweetheart!!!!
At least I have the film on video. :)
If as you say the closet scene (in Act I) was your favorite part, I'm indeed glad I left at intermission. Audiences used to be blown away by ground breaking, amazing song and dance numbers and of course memories of a great stage star.
So cool that you got a pic with Denis.
Why don't I carry a camera around?

[wildcat]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 9:11am

The dancing has to be the whole reason you put on that show in the first place!!

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 11:56am

Sorry we were not at the same performance.
I would have given you my row P orchestra ticket.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:18pm

awww

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:20pm

But you got a pic with Denis, so I don't feel too bad. :)

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 10:55pm

I still have my doubts. But passing up an opporunity at a Charity would be unwise, I suppose...