The Official Adam Pascal Love Thread, part ten- Page 111

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:10am

Hi, Lexi.

Or maybe Jason feels that he is mainly responsible for their divorce, and he was unable to keep that guilt from manifesting itself in Jamie's character? It's possible that it was more of a dual-fault situation. I agree with what you said about the dilemma of whether to make the character look bad or himself look bad. It could also just be a consequence of not being able to write as well from the female point of view.

It's interesting that we had the same thought about the songs, Chloe! I thought for the longest time that I only thought that because I prefer the male voice, but I think it's a pretty common sentiment.

I think that Adam's voice would be perfect for "Shiksa Goddess"! I hope that he does sing that sometime.

Edit: Hi, Sarah! I agree with you, actually... I'm not Julia Murney's biggest fan, but I don't mind her singing Cathy's songs. Updated On: 6/26/06 at 01:10 AM

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:15am

Or maybe Jason feels that he is mainly responsible for their divorce, and he was unable to keep that guilt from manifesting itself in Jamie's character?

Yes, that's what I was trying to get at with my last sentence, but probably failed. It's completely possible that perhaps Theresa (JRB's ex-wife) was pretty much the largely innocent victim in their marriage, while he was an egotistical jerk. It's entirely possible that I analyzed the situation (wow, WHAT a surprise, right?!) far too much, and the musical is simply a relatively accurate portrayal of their marriage. However, I still stand by the point that it would have made for a much better musical if their roles were a bit more even.

I agree that Jamie's songs are largely better than Cathy's songs, and I don't know if I'd want to see Adam perform Shiksa Goddess in a concert setting as much as actually in character.

Chloe, maybe I just have too much faith in Adam's acting ability, but I think that if he could pull off Freddie, he could pull off Jamie. Yes, they're different characters, but they have quite a few similarities as well, and I don't associate either character with Adam's personality by any means.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:16am

Heh. I love L5Y, but I'm too tired and headachy to get involved. Maybe tomorrow!

Chloe, I was referring to the Brilliant Mistake Benefit, when we took a picture, and Undi said maybe we should take another, just in case. Adam was like "oh, okay, sure!" and tugged me back over, because I had sort of flailed away. I don't even remember what I said, but he laughed, and Undi was like "she has LOTS of 'just in case' pictures"! Adam laughed more, and said something like "yeah, I know!" or "I bet!"

Love to Juuuulia.

[Chloe]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:16am

I did get the impression that he had trouble writing from a female point of view, or at least this particularly one's. It sounds like he wrote what his wife or girlfriends have expressed to him, without being able to go beyond that to understand what they were feeling underneath. Some women are reluctant to fully express themselves, and keep a lot of negative stuff inside.

[CanadianSnowbird]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:17am

I knew at least you'd be on my side Em.

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:19am

I like Julia in the role as well.

It sounds like he wrote what his wife or girlfriends have expressed to him, without being able to go beyond that to understand what they were feeling underneath.

That's a great observation, Chloe. I think I may have discussed something like that privately with someone at some point, but that's wonderfully succinct. Jamie's songs have a depth to them that Cathy's songs don't.

[CanadianSnowbird]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:22am

I've never really one to go in depth with shows/books/etc. But I do agree I did at first Cathy's songs to be a bit boring, although they've grown on me, and I've always loved Climbing Uphill.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:24am

No, Lexi, you made your point well. I meant that maybe Jason feels that he was more responsible when in reality it was more balanced than that. I don't think that I explained that clearly.

I definitely get that same impression from the female songs, Chloe.

[Chloe]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:31am

I love the word "succinct."

I don't think of it as matter of acting ability even, but sort of what Adam is at his core as opposed to this character. Not that I wouldn't love to see him try this - I'd love to see him try anything at the moment. I see the character as having a glib, smooth surface with a sort of emptiness behind it, while Adam seems to me to have a rough, unpolished surface with an amazing mixture of light and dark underneath.

It's late and I'm getting all poetical.
Updated On: 6/26/06 at 01:31 AM

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:33am

Oooh, okay. Well, suffice to say, there are a zillion explanations as to why the musical turned out the way it did. I often find myself looking for a more compilcated explanation when it's usually quite simple.

This isn't even remotely related to the topic at hand, but I'll forget to post it if I don't post it now. Another post from that same old message board I referenced mentioned that Cybele's favorite song from Model Prisoner was Rhyme and Reason, which I thought was kind of cool/interesting, especially considering I've never liked the song too much.

[Chloe]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:41am

I've always thought that song was about them deciding to get married, so it makes sense to me.

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:46am

I don't think of it as matter of acting ability even, but sort of what Adam is at his core as opposed to this character.

Do you mean that you feel Adam's personality is just so diametrically opposed to Jamie's character that you don't see him as ever truly succeeding in the role? I agree with your opinions of Adam and the character of Jamie, but I'm not sure I see your point.

Re: Rhyme and Reason -- you'd think that Adam could have written a better song about such an important event in his life!

Heh, sorry.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:47am

Ooh, I love that description, Chloe. I can certainly see where you're coming from, but Norbert Leo Butz was Jamie originally, and it seems that he generally has a sort of warm presence as an actor, although not to the extent that Adam does. I generally agree with your impression of Jamie, but I also think that the actor would ideally have some kind of quality that induces sympathy from the audience. Maybe it's because of his role as Freddie in Chess, where he was petulant and, well, kind of a jerk... but I can see Adam playing Jamie and having a very interesting take. I find it sort of hard to completely dislike Jamie, because although he's clearly at fault, he seems somehow powerless to stop himself from doing all the wrong things (even as he realizes it). The sort of presence that Adam has could make for a compelling Jamie.

which I thought was kind of cool/interesting, especially considering I've never liked the song too much.

I'm sure it's just because it's late, but this made me laugh.

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:54am

Chloe and Ashley, did I ever mention that I love both of you lately? Because I do...

I find it sort of hard to completely dislike Jamie, because although he's clearly at fault, he seems somehow powerless to stop himself from doing all the wrong things (even as he realizes it).

Completely agree. The actor who played Jamie in our local production was great at garnering sympathy from the audience, while the person playing Cathy came across as just a damaged soul, even in the parts like "I Can Do Better Than That." It could just be me, but I have a very hard time sympathizing with or even liking a character who is purely a "damaged soul." It's probably one of the reasons why I don't like "wimpy" Eponines.

I'm glad I made you laugh, Ash. I'm going to force Model Prisoner on you sometime soon, I think.

[Chloe]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:59am

Thanks, Lexi. Love you too.

As I said before, I'd love to see what he might do with this, despite all my reservations, and maybe he's just what the show needs to make it more sympathetic. I can imagine Julia making Cathy a bit more rounded too.

I really should go to bed now. It's been a fun evening.

Posted: 6/26/06 at 2:03am

Goodnight. I wish all of us were able to have these sort of chats more often!

I think Adam could certainly bring a warmness to the show that I haven't really experienced before (then again, I've only seen two productions of it -- one live). As someone alluded to earlier, the show is just awfully emotionally barren and distant to most people. No one can change that, but maybe Adam could make the show a little less distant for most people.

Not that any of this matters considering his choice of residence...

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 2:13am

Goodnight, Chloe! It's been so interesting.

Yeah, I agree that Adam could help the show be more sympathetic. You don't root for Jamie, but I think you should at least feel for him. It's sort of sad, because the relationship is sort of doomed from the off because he's so self-absorbed, and he wishes that he could right things but ultimately can't do anything. It's sort of a lesson in, "sometimes love isn't enough to keep a relationship together," which is always sad.

I'm going to force Model Prisoner on you sometime soon, I think.

I won't object!

I'm off for the night, too... goodnight, Lexi! (And anyone who's still around.) Updated On: 6/26/06 at 02:13 AM

[picturetaker9211]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:03pm

Hey everybody. Sounds like you guys had an interesting conversation, even though I know nothing about L5Y.

How's everybody doing today w/ this dreary weather?

[To The Stage!]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:20pm

I feel asleep on the couch last night in my jeans. I was watching Three's Company =P

I'm fine Angela, thanks for asking. The weather isn't looking too bad here anymore, the sun is actually out. Do you live in the city?

[picturetaker9211]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:27pm

I live in CT, 30 min away from the city. It's miserable here w/ all of the rain. Glad you guys don't have rain for Broadway Under the Stars. I'm introducing my cousin to Broadway, which is basically a foreign subject to her.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:28pm

Just caught up on the last couple pages.

"Heh, didn't Adam's mom mail a copy of his Mute CD to one of his fans that she met at a show or something?"

That would be me. Got talking to her outside after the 11/13/04 Joe's Pub concert, not knowing who she was at first.

"Anyway, I remember about Adam's mother mailing someone a Mute CD too, and that when she asked Adam to autograph it, he had the "Where did you get this?!" reaction. When she told him it was from his mother, he muttered "why am I not surprised?"

Close, Chloe. I had taken it with me to the Symphony Space Rent Movie screening. His exact words, nerd that I am, were, "why does that not surprise me?".

Updated On: 6/26/06 at 01:28 PM

[picturetaker9211]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:45pm

On Video Google, Charlie Rose videos are free to watch!! The only reason why I'm announcing this is because there are 2 videos featuring Adam, Anthony & Daphne! It's only free today, June 26. I'm really ahppy & excited because I've been wanting to watch these 2 videos! Enjoy it while you can!

[To The Stage!]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:54pm

Oh thanks Angela!

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 2:02pm

That's awesome! I'll definitely be watching the Rent one. On a tangentially related note, there's also a good episode where Charlie interviews Al Larson, Scott Schwartz, David Auburn and Raul Esparza about tick, tick... BOOM! and there are a few clips from the show and a cool one of Jonathan performing TTB (it's the second segment).

Posted: 6/26/06 at 2:06pm

Ashley, YOUR SIGNATURE.

"Why should I let someone check my yogurt?"
"It's STRAWBERRY yogurt. I can SEE it's strawberry."
"This is true."
"And before that, it was blueberry."

Seeing as I don't have work today, I'll definitely be watching both of them. Thanks for the heads-up, Angela.