The Official Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread, Part 3- Page 77

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 5:53pm

Heh. For me, it's not that I think liking the show isn't respectable -- I just wish he didn't go around acting like a teenaged girl over it, but could rather be sort of dignified in his admiration. There's no reason he can't be articulate about it. I mean, he is about everything else, yet SA seems to have turned his brain to mush.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 5:59pm

Exactly. My problem isn't the choice of show, but you'd think someone in his position wouldn't act like such a fangirl. "I'm in a Sondheim show, but OMG I LOOOOOVE SPRING AWAKENING! I wanna BE JONATHAN GROFF!!"

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:07pm

Hell, ADAM was more articulate about why he thought the show deserved success.

[Ariella]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:08pm

I'd be genuinely curious to hear him explain just why he holds SA in high regard. It would be nice if the attraction lay in something more cerebral than Jonathan Groff's physique, so I'll try to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:15pm

Me too! I'd love to hear a calm, clear explanation of what he loves about the show, because honestly, I'm sure it would be both eloquent and interesting... even if I'd likely disagree.

[fishdancer23]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:21pm

No doubt he'd like to be loooved like JG by the fangirls, and maybe he wishes he were able to do the scene on the swing, if nothing else, for the on stage attention.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:24pm

To be perfectly honest, I'd like to assume that an actor would prefer a reasonably intelligent, loyal fanbase than freakish attention from screaming teenagers who will move on to the next pretty face in no time. I mean, people like Groff because they get to see his ass on stage -- I know that if I were an actor, I'd want attention for reasons with more depth than that. And, I'd hope that Raúl is smarter than to envy an actor who gets the majority of his attention purely because he has a cute backside -- he's talented enough doesn't need to fall back on cheap tricks to get attention on stage. He can get it the legitimate way. That's far more valuable than screaming teenagers nipping at your heels.

Updated On: 7/17/07 at 06:24 PM

[Craww]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:32pm

I prefer the fangirly response to SA. A really earnest, detailed, genuine, scholarly explanation of why he loves the show would probably be much more of a turn off to me. I think it gives the show a little too much credit.

[fishdancer23]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:33pm

WE know he's talented enough, but you know how needy he like most actors can be. He knows he too old to play the part. Doesn't mean he wouldn't like to.

[Craww]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:36pm

I really didn't take the comment about him playing Groff's role in Spring Awakening so seriously and literally, that I'd interpret it as envy. Unless there was another interview/comment I missed out on.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:36pm

Frankly, I'm just curious! I don't GET how all of these smart, perceptive people who know and understand the art can be going so wild over a show that's ALREADY getting too much credit.

I believe that of the other roles this season, he might like to give it a try, but hopefully because he thinks it would be fun moreso than for the kind of shallow attention that... is merely that, not validation of your craft. Though I'm not really sure which is less respectable.

Updated On: 7/17/07 at 06:36 PM

[fishdancer23]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:43pm

I'm with you, craww.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:48pm

... so you're... agreeing with Craww, who was... disageeing with you? Just to be sure I have that straight. First you post that you think he wants that kind of attention, but then you agree with Craww about not taking it seriously enough to interpret envy? If you're talking about how needy he is and why he may wish he could do that scene -- what Groff has that he might want and all that -- seems like you took it pretty seriously to me.

I'm certainly not trying to pick a fight, but wishy-washy jumping to the complete opposite claim is one of my biggest pet peeves.

Updated On: 7/17/07 at 06:48 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:49pm

If Raul wanted more fangirl attention, he'd make more of an effort to not alienate the fans he already has, by actually showing up to all the events he's scheduled at and not blowing them all off at the stagedoor for months on end just because he's in a pissy mood. The stupid "Patti with a penis" remark is NOT a badge of honor- despite the efforts of people on this thread to make it happen- it's an insult.

And if he aspired to be nude for "stage attention", he'd work at Chippendale's, not on Broadway.

[Craww]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:50pm

I think it happens everywhere. Like a band you think is lousy becoming completely embraced by a community of artists that you love and respect.

I just think that SA is somehow really good at causing some sort of an emotional or visceral response, and they're responding to that feeling positively and elevating the artistry based on the rote issues and emotionally manipulative outline that the story provides. The combination of youth and button issues and a bit of pretension makes it easy to misinterpret it as so deep.

wishy-washy jumping to the complete opposite claim is one of my biggest pet peeves

I agree and disagree with everyone, for the sake of being constantly contradictory. Updated On: 7/17/07 at 06:50 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:54pm

I agree that it's probably an emotional thing with SA. I felt nothing for those characters, so maybe I just missed the boat, I don't know. Some friends of mine whose opinions I trust and very highly respect LOVED the show and were totally moved by it. But, at least they could talk about why without just being like, "OMGSPRINGAWAKENING!!!!"

Craww, so long as it's not both on the same issue.

Updated On: 7/17/07 at 06:54 PM

[Craww]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 7:02pm

I liked Spring Awakening. I'll admit I enjoy it more in an unintentional camp way, though. The only emotional response it got from me was (politely stifled) laughter and the occasional "oh, John Gallagher Jr. I love you and your adorable pathos!"

I like to play devil's advocate, so I often argue for and against the same issue without always realizing it. Spring Awakening is awful! Spring awakening is wonderful! Raul Esparza is a good person! Raul Ezparza is a bad person! Adam Pascal is hideous! Adam Pascal is beautiful! and so on.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 7:07pm

I want to give it another chance, because I'm not sure how I feel about it. I had a good time when I saw it. I think it has a lot going for it and does some really interesting stuff. The good stuff is quite good, but the bad is... awfully ridiculous. I really liked it when I was there, but I like it less as more time goes by since I saw it. I often think I dislike it more because I'm frustrated with the way the fanbase regards it as the second coming than because of the material itself, so I feel like I should try again. I saw an early preview, too, so maybe some of the changes were decent improvements.

Ah, people like you are the ones that make internet conversation so difficult to decipher, because no one ever knows what you actually mean.

[Ariella]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 7:18pm

Craww, your av is excellent. Mildly terrifying

I found Spring Awakening to be decently stimulating entertainment. I saw the show with a friend and didn't think it to be an evening wasted, but that was all. I found SA's greatest strengths to be in its potential - hence the things that were never actually developed. To me, it briefly touched on as many controversial issues as possible and then congratulated itself for daring. I appreciate what SA tried to do, but I don't think it altogether succeded - definitely not a bad show, but in my opinion not worthy of all the hype from fans and critics alike. In that sense, Raul is hardly alone with his inarticulate ecstasy for the show. His is just another case where I can't understand all the enthusiasm.

[Craww]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 7:36pm

Only mildly terrifying?

THIS is why Raul Esparza likes Spring Awakening.


(me too)

[fishdancer23]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 7:51pm

Sorry, I stepped away...

OK, what I meant was that we know he likes attention and he likes to show off. So that is certainly one aspect of the role that he might like. It doesn't mean he's envious, as in green with envy He may wish that he were young enough to play the role, but envy might seem a little strong. Regardless of the artistic merits of lack thereof of SA, it's not as though he were actually asking to play the role. I though it was meant as a fun, hypothetical question, not as a measure of worthiness. And that's what I thought craww's point was and that's what I was agreeing with. Maybe it wasn't even craww that said it. The phone rang, the door chimed, and a family member left for an audition, so maybe I missed something.

I like SA. I thought the score was beautiful, and the juxtaposition of the music and the book very very interesting. It's different, the people in it are attractive, they perform very well, and it's "the thing" this season, so I was glad I was able to see it.

No it didn't "speak to me" but I can understand how it might to some people. But fandom can take on a life of its own, dontcha think? And SA has been carrying a lot of promotional momentum. I'm just not sure the why of it's popularity can be explained through analysis. If it could be explained definitively, there would be a lot more big money shows.

Anyhow, what I said made perfect sense to me. But I'm not a lawyer.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:07pm

Okay, that even made me "aww."

Of course it was hypothetical. Of course he isn't actually asking to play the role. I fully understood that. But if your analysis of his intention yields the conclusion that he'd like to play the role because it's a good one for actors who like to show off... it's a role that's mediocre at best. There's little-to nothing daring or revolutionary about it. It's flat and boring. By making Melchior into some sort of twisted hero, personally, I think the show kills its own opportunity TO be daring, but that's another story. What's showy about Melchior? Getting to bare a little skin? I think that conclusion gives the show too much credit. If it were about his penchant for showing off, I think he might have picked Elle Woods or something.

[Craww]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:27pm

I would be okay with Raul playing Elle Woods, but I think that role was made for Adam, and I don't want any bitter rivalries forming.

Funny, because I think Laura Bell Bundy was the other person who said they'd want to play Melchior.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:40pm

Can they play Elphaba/Glinda first before going the Elle route please?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:42pm

Adam can play Warner.

She was. But I wasn't really any more annoyed than I usually am by her, being that I don't particularly associate intelligence with Laura Bell Bundy.