A half assed FULL MONTY in Ogunquit!

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 11:23am

What were they thinking?

Hunter Foster has a great voice, but they might have wanted to audition him for the role as he could not sing this show. Not to mention he had none of the lovable loser charm needed to pull off the role.

Sally Struthers was great as Jeanette. I was not fond of her Dolly last year, but this one was a good role for her.

Nick Dalton as Ethan was excellent. So much so it felt like he was in another show. The guy playing Malcolm was good too. Beautiful voice.

I have seen Milton Craig Neely play Horse in a few other productions and be GREAT, but it just did not land here.. though ‘Big Black Man’ was a hit... he was utterly forgettable and detached in the rest of the show.

Dave and Harold were just OK. Other than Jeanette and Ethan, the performances were utterly lackluster.

The director/choreographer has staged the national tour (I assume the non equity one), and it was 3rd generation O’Brien. Nothing new at all attempted here. The choreography was sorely unexciting. The set was OK but the staff was clueless at how to move it seamlessly. The stage hands were visible in scenes, did not bother to wear blacks, nor were some changes attempted in the dark.

The crappy sound, noise, unmonitored levels and missed cues and broken mikes was just abysmal. It defeated any moment in the show that was bordering on being good. It is really inexcusable.

The completely armature technical aspects of the show is reminiscent of when community theatre rents professional sets. OP just can not handle shows like this and it makes me wonder how thy will manage the upcoming CRAZY FOR YOU, LA CAGE, KING AND I and HAIRSPRAY.

Fortunately the Playhouse got the audience tanked before the show so they were a rowdy crowd, but the show still only got ¼ the laughs it usually gets.

Unfortunately the playhouse got its audience tanked before the show, so there were more bathroom breakers, people on cell phones, and others trying to have full on conversations with Sally from the audience.

I would have left at intermission, but the Playhouse is smart enough to park the cars in a big block, god forbid someone have an emergency and have to go.

The lights went down at 8:20 for the show to begin, but we were then treated to a rambling curtain speech from the Artistic Director. We learned it is the 75th season, their biggest and longest yet, including a 3rd return of MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL and a second Run of FULL MONTY (how fortunate). We also learned that Lorenzo Lamas would be The King in THE KING AND I, Rue McClanahan will be MOTHER in CRAZY FOR YOU along with the geriatric Beverly Ward as Polly, and Hairspray will star Eddie Mecca as Wilbur and Ryan Landry as Edna. Ryan Landry? He is such a bitter boring drag act in Boston. He was so awful in last year’s Cinderella! He needs to learn to be funny.. no just rely on people thinking a man in a dress is funny.. because this is not Vadeville! He will make Travolta’s film performance seem layered, nuanced and real. I guess Bucks County is being reborn in Ogunquit!
Updated On: 6/13/07 at 11:23 AM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 11:37am

Meow, Mrs. Linclon.


Tell us how you really feel?


How were Sally's wigs?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 11:38am

aren't you working on the show?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 11:41am

Thanks for the review. The only time I ever saw anything at Ogunquit Playhouse was in 1987 and a production of Biloxi Blues starring Robert Sean Leonard.

Diva, you crack me up!!

From what I hear the wigs were fab and were not purchased at Party City.

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 11:43am

Am I supposed to pretend I liked it for some reason?

Sally's silver wig was a little heavy and artificial/cheap looking.. it might have been more successful if it had been more white and pulled into a bun. She has a very round face so a long curly thick silver wig overwhelmed her a bit.
Updated On: 6/13/07 at 11:43 AM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:09pm

Who's the artistic director there this season? Same guy that used to be at Foothills?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:40pm

I'm not there yet. I'll be flying out there on the 2nd of July.

I never actually got to see Sally in her wigs before I shipped them out there, so I'm playing it by ear. I spent more money on that wig because of the salt and pepper in in, than her red wig. I thought they were giving her a trim. I'll have to call them and see what's up.

The AD is Brad Kinney. Last summer was his first.

[Albin]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:45pm

but did you get to see Hunter's peepee?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:57pm

I've asked for pictures.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:00pm

I hope she has a cellphone cam!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:12pm

Well I'm glad I didn't trek all the way out to Maine to see this production. I was seriously considering it. Did the guys have good bodies?

[Aaron27]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 1:20pm

Love your comment about Landry....he's talented at writing his spoofs of shows...Silent Night of the Lambs was brilliant...but as for your personal opinions about him...I share them :) He should stick to writing

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 2:02pm

The show is not about men with nice bods.. it was physically cast correctly. Everyone had similar bodies to the original Broadway casts.. hunter is a bit skinnier than Wilson and Horse and Ethan were more muscular than their broadway counterparts.

As for people's twig and berry.. if that is all you want to see then go. Great chance there will be a tech disaster at that moment and all will be brought to light!

[bially082]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 2:31pm

lol

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 2:40pm

Lorenzo Lamas would be The King in THE KING AND I

**dies laughing**

[i_heart_roger_bart]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 2:59pm

"As for people's twig and berry.. if that is all you want to see then go. Great chance there will be a tech disaster at that moment and all will be brought to light! "

Perfect. That's the only reason I'm going.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:54pm

aww man. I wish I could see this. Seeing Hunter Foster live would be a dream come true let alone live AND naked. I'd need some ice. Who gives a sh*t about technical issues? That's one time where I wouldn't care. Updated On: 6/13/07 at 03:54 PM

[i_heart_roger_bart]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 5:36pm

AMEN!

[Albin]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 5:42pm

Get off your high horse, flaunt it.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 5:45pm

Well, not to make excuses for them, but the entire crew is new this year and they are still working out the bugs. The schedule over there is VERY tough. They usually have a 24 to 48 hours turn over, and if you've never teched the show before, then it can be difficult.

The reason some folks weren't in black was a design choice. They are supposed to blend in as towns people, etc.





Hi Kim.

Updated On: 6/13/07 at 05:45 PM

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 5:55pm

I really want to see this. I dont care how bad it is.

Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it, Flaunt It.

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 6:20pm

Isn't this the second show of their season? If a show is too big to tech in the time you have to do it... why do that show? Why not program shows that fit into your schedule/budget/ability? Is it fair to charge an audience full price to see a show that is not ready/safe?

I am not on a high horse. I have seen Ogunquit shine in the past. This was not one of those times. It is a surprising stumble for them.
Updated On: 6/14/07 at 06:20 PM

[Scotto]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 2:02am

I happen to know Ryan Landry personally. He is my friend.
Not only is he talented, funny and intelligent but he is something you are not and that is kind.
While you attempt to insult him you not only make yourself look "bitter and boring" but strangely sad.
How a "bitter boring drag act" manages to act in and write his own shows, all of them remarkably successful, for more than a decade is a stone cold fact you seem afraid to share with your three readers.
I'd love to see you say these things to his face as he doesn't suffer creeps like you lightly! Now THAT would be comedy! LOL!

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:39am

So why did he fail miserably in his attempt to take his lame act out to the west coast?

[amoni]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 10:46am

"So why did he fail miserably in his attempt to take his lame act out to the west coast?"

Wow, I don't even know who the Hell you are talking about but according to you, people are not allowed the luxury of having ups in downs in their career? Well, smell you. What exactly do you do YOU do, beside bitch and moan about other people's work on anonymous boards?

and Wanna Be A Foster, you say "Well I'm glad I didn't trek all the way out to Maine to see this production. I was seriously considering it." Now you're not because someone says they didn't like it? What is that about? You want to see it, go. Why would you ever let someone else to think for you?