A CATERED AFFAIR Reviews- Page 6

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:28pm

I'm truly saddened by these reviews - especially Ben Brantley's - I don't understand why they're coming from. This, by all accounts, is a show with heart, substance, truth, a sense of realism that TUGS at the heartstrings. (Yes, I can lay claim to KNOWING that and UNDERSTANDING that even without seeing the damn thing yet!) I find it horrendous how there hasn't been one, single solitary 'rave' review for this piece of theatrical eplendor. With a book by Mr. Fierstein and poignant and emotionally-satisfying score by Mr. Bucchino, along with the keen direction of one, Mr. Doyle, I am truly, truly shocked that this show wasn't received better... Nevertheless, I WILL be reviewing this piece Monday evening/Tuesday morning, so fear not! I, for one, will go in there without any preconceived notions about 'the silences', 'the lack of emotions', blah, blah, blah. It's a 'new approach' to 'old times' - I'm knowingly and willingly taking that journey to 1950's Bronx apartment complex, and I'll happily live amongst Aggie, Tom and the rest of the Hurley clan, I'll go for the ride and experience the ups-and-downs ... It's a rollercoaster ride of emtoions, surely, and I am 'ready' to open up my eyes this time aound.

Are you f'ing kidding me? Is this post a JOKE?
I am so glad you "can lay claim to KNOWING that and UNDERSTANDING that even without seeing the damn thing yet!" and that you "will go in there without any preconceived notions about (it)"

The fact that you "find it horrendous how there hasn't been one, single solitary 'rave' review for this piece of theatrical eplendor. With a book by Mr. Fierstein and poignant and emotionally-satisfying score by Mr. Bucchino, along with the keen direction of one, Mr. Doyle, I am truly, truly shocked that this show wasn't received better... " is so understandable, considering YOU HAVN'T EVEN SEEN IT.

Lots and lots of credibility there, Mike. Jesus.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:30pm

Hm. Well, I just wanted to get some positive buzz going for this show. For everything it is, and for everything *some* expected it to be, it deserves 'something'.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:31pm

Y'know what ... I'm sorry for being optimistic. Goodness.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:31pm

Yes, I agree with PJ. Can't you just post your review NOW?
No need to see it. Even if deep down you are disappointed in the show, there is no chance in hell you would ever write a BAD review now.
I mean AFTER you ACTUALLY SEE IT.

[Maurice]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:34pm

USA Today gives it 3 out of 4 stars.

USA Today

Updated On: 4/17/08 at 11:34 PM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:34pm

*laughs* Point taken.

Push comes to shove, I'll scrap these thoughts ... Bring pen and paper like as I do ... and jot down the pros AND cons - to please everyone involved. With my history, I rave about ... mostly everything I see. I pinpoint flaws, yes, but I don't make it my business to point them out.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:37pm

I loved the ReNT movie before I saw it. Then I saw it.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:38pm

You're not just being "optimistic." Optimistic would be saying, "I think I will like this show."

You're already basically telling us that you are going to love the show. You've already formed an opinion.

If someone had posted the way you did, without having seen the show, about how awful it was, you would be all over them. It goes both ways.

[stephen3]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:43pm

ANYBODY NOW CARE TO RETHINK THE GLORY DAYS FACTOR at the TONYs this year?
Not being a smarty, just wondering.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:48pm

For whatever it's worth, I can admit to spewing a whole buncha crap with that post, adam, and I apologize if I came off too strongly there. Before a show, I get VERY excited for it - to the point where I can't sleep, y'know? - Having studied and read-up on this one specifically for MONTHS and MONTHS, I've come to know the show fairly well, and I guess ... I let *that* outweigh my 'real opinion' which SHOULD be formed this coming Monday evening, upon actually seeing the finished product, live and in-person. In light of all that, I still plan on penning a review (for all who care to read it, that is), and I'll be more than happy to come clean and call myself out if there are evident flaws in the piece that I ... can't grasp and/or care to make into something positive. I can spin a rhyme so many times before it's broken ... I can't do that with this show, try as I might. Here's to Monday!

Best,
- Mike
Updated On: 4/18/08 at 11:48 PM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:49pm

Anybody know if BROADWAY.com's WORD OF MOUTH peeps were there tonight? Updated On: 4/17/08 at 11:49 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:53pm

Those are shills, Mike. Besides, it sounds like you have built the show up so much in your mind that there is NO WAY it will ever be as good as you imagine.

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:56pm

an idea...let's not take frustration about reviews out on Mike?

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 4/17/08 at 11:59pm

and in response to the USA review, I'm particularly enjoying the antithesis to Mama Rose comment (which has been reiterated on the board)!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 12:20am

I think Brantley's review is fairly accurate. Granted, I went into the show rather ill-informed and with friends who, once it started, seemed determined not to enjoy it. I thought that the story was engaging and I did care about the characters-- but I also thought that the score was rather monotonous and that the pacing was incredibly slow for a show that only lasts ninety minutes.

It doesn't need to have flash and spectacle, but I feel that breaking the glacial movement with at least one or two numbers that made it feel as though one were at a musical would have made it easier to digest. I understand that great theatre often makes the viewer feel less than comfortable, but until Tom's "I Stayed," there isn't even something that really pushes you to the edge of your seat. However, both Faith Prince and Tom Wopat were fantastic; Leslie Kritzer was quite charming; and Harvey was very endearing. I loved the ensemble. The show was solid and the performances well approached. I just don't think it's going to be most people's cup of tea.

I know that the intellectual theatre fans get angry when the rest of us need a little movement. We're tasteless spectacle whores, I know. However, just because it wasn't my favorite doesn't mean that it didn't have it's enjoyable aspects or make it less of an innovative piece of art.

[Brick]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 12:37am

Oh, come on people!

It's sad enough that A CATERED AFFAIR hasn't received the all-out raves it needed tonight. Let's not drag LuPone into this, especially not to claim she's happy with this.

I, for one, hope this touching show finds an audience.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 12:39am

Why on EARTH are you so bitter, A Director?

[Are_you_kidding?]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 12:41am

Updated On: 4/18/08 at 12:41 AM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 1:01am

I would say the Variety review was pretty positive.

Did anyone actually think that Brantley was going to like the show?

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 3:44am

Didn't Brantley hate Caroline, or Change? Enough said, IMO.

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 6:11am

Well, Barnes review (NY Post) is an all out rave - 4 stars.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04182008/entertainment/theater/an_affair_to_remember__a_musical_of_note_106945.htm

Updated On: 4/18/08 at 06:11 AM

[Maurice]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 7:00am

Wall Street Journal is negative. Still no Word of Mouth review on Broadway.com.

Wall Street Journal

Updated On: 4/18/08 at 07:00 AM

[MarkK]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 7:27am

Jacques le Sourd - Journal News is Negative

This 'Affair' is just no fun

"A Catered Affair," which opened last night at the Walter Kerr Theatre, was to have been the big musical of the second half of the Broadway season.

What happened?

What we have instead is a wan, ceaselessly grim little show that barely registers as a musical.


JN

[fflagg]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 7:55am

When all is said and done, the show is an overwrought bore. Maybe if the director were American and from the Bronx [like me :)]? And maybe if Harvey were not in the show? Sorry guys I am not a fan of his. He is as subtle as sandpaper as an actor and writer. As for the score. . . it does not have to be Jerry Herman but damn it has to be tuneful to some extent and to advance the plot and characters. And poor Matt has nothing to do.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/18/08 at 7:59am

Can that stupid, ignornat oaf Jacques le Sourd stop reviewing? Please. He was the man that liked the Reality Show Grease, by the way.
And surprise of the season- Clive Barnes' rave.