A Question re Mr Brantley — Page 2

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#26

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 4/30/07 at 11:14pm

I am so sick of the "Brantley hates everything!" argument.

Mr. Roxy clearly doesn't understand the function of a theatre critic. Such a tired, old argument.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#27

He doesn't hate everything, but the fact that he raved for Jill Paice and the only words he had for Debra Monk were "...Ms. Monk, is an appealing and polished veteran who never makes a technical misstep. But the original, star-defining wit that both actresses have shown on previous occasions never manifests itself here." is more proof that he's blinded by pretty blonde sopranos to the exclusion of great performances on the same stage.

Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

#28

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 4/30/07 at 11:35pm

i fell on the floor laughing @ his HIGH FIDELITY review.
compared to that, he was very kind to LEGALLY BLONDE.

#29

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 4/30/07 at 11:47pm

Rath, it's true, Paice certainly did not deserve praises from anyone. At least in L.A. she was definitely the weak link of the production...not bad, just so bland. After seeing GREY GARDENS way after CURTAINS (I've yet to see the latter on Broadway), I left wondering how great Erin Davie would be in Paice's role.
Yes, Brantley does have his faults, but he is a critic, he gets paid to express his "educated" opinion. Of course sometimes we'll disagree with him, but I've come to respect his reviews. After reading his review of LEGALLY BLONDE where he criticized the portrayal of the lesbian character, I respect him even more.

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#30

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 5/1/07 at 12:06am

In the back of the Playbill, where it has the listings of all the current shows, Spring Awakening's little box includes this:

"THE BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR!"
-Ben Brantley, New York Times

Anyone know where that came from?

"I just want a story and a few good songs that will take me away. I just want to be entertained. I mean, isn't that the point?"

#31

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 5/1/07 at 12:20am

I wonder where he got that. As far as I know, Brantley never reviewed Spring Awakening.

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#32

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 5/1/07 at 3:48am

He put it in his 2006 Top Ten list which included both straight plays and musicals. The article was in the New York Times and was entitled "THEATER; The Year Broadway Was Worth The Ovation." Printed Dec 24, 2006. His list was in alphabetical order, but in the article itself he said Spring Awakening was the best musical of the year.

I can't link or cut and paste the article, as it is archived, and I don't feel like paying $4.95 for it, but here's a link to the article in Playbill which included his list.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/104463.html

#33

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 5/1/07 at 9:40am

I don't think he hates everything. Didn't he give Hairspray a rave review when it opened? Some of his reviews are quite entertaining actually. While I can't say whether I agree because I haven't seen all the shows he reviews, some of them I find to be really funny (High Fidelity).

"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

#34

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 5/1/07 at 12:33pm

I always call him Miss Brantley, queenbee.

#35

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 5/1/07 at 12:43pm

He likes lots of things.

People just get mad when he doesn't rave about THEIR show.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#36

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 5/1/07 at 12:47pm

Exactly, Munk! It's so absurd.

#37

re: A Question re Mr Brantley

Posted: 5/1/07 at 1:24pm

Am I the only one that remembers his full out rave for Christine Ebersole?

NO-I remember it well and was shocked because I've known him to not like anyone aside from Ms. Chenoweth and Murphy.

The audio clip is even better-he flat out states she's giving the best performance he's ever seen, at least in recent memory.
Pretty high praise!

"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world." "Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.

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