Am I alone in my "Master Class" opinion?

[jdrye222]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:17pm

Am I the only person who thinks "Master Class" is an incredibly boring and pointless piece of theater??

I am referring to 3 different versions I've seen, and I've read it... (including this current version, and a benefit version a few years ago with multiple actresses)....

I am a big classical music fan too.... I just think it is one of the most boring, untheatrical things I've ever seen.... It is like watching a bland documentary.

Am I the only one?

To me, McNally is hit or miss ---- Sometimes brilliant (Love Valour Compassion, Full Monty, Frankie and Johnny), sometimes just awful (Master Class, Catch Me If You Can, The Rink)....

[Insider2]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:34pm

If you find it so incredibly boring and pointless, then why would you waste your time going to see three different versions of it and reading it? Why don't you spend your time on something you find interesting? Life's too short.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:45pm

Exactly what Insider2 just said.

I personally HATE all things LES MISRERABLES and keep away from anything and all things that involve that enormously boring (to me) musical.

I walked out of the original Broadway production shortly after Act 2 began and I've NEVER revisited the musical ever since. I've successfully avoided every tribute, touring production and anniversary incarnation of this musical.

You need to do the same with all things MASTER CLASS and yes... IT'S QUITE EASY!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:52pm

I find "Master Class" very entertaining and enjoyable, but I think it's pedigree rests on the actress playing Callas.

It's funny but I think "Looped" was very similar in style and structure (kinda copied IMHO) to "Master Class" and "Looped" was considered a dud and "Master Class" won Tonys. Granted "Looped" was very vulgar, but I saw similarities.

I don't think "Master Class" is particularly well written, but it never fails to entertain and move me.

I also understand seeing a play you don't like more than once, and I admire people able to do that, so I respect the poster challenging his strong dislike for the piece.

[Insider2]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:55pm

Whatever. Gotta love all that disposable income. "Boy, I sure do hate this play. I can't wait to drop another hundred and something bucks on it."

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 1:00pm

Insider, he may not have dropped a hundred bucks each pop-thats an assumption. I've seem Master Class regionally and at some local theatres for under $10 bucks.

I've also seen a few shows I didn't like several times and I didn't spend a lot of money.

[Lottery Addict]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 9:01pm

I posted in another thread that I consider it a comedy, although the humor is very high brow. I've had virtually no exposure to opera. If Maria Callas considers Joan Sutherland a lesser performer, I don't know if that's ego or because the talent gap really is that large. I laugh because I'm reacting to the audience's nervous laughter. I knew Maria Callas as the on-and-off girlfriend of Aristotle Onassis, but I was curious to know more. I could imagine if Maria Callas's personality rubbed you the wrong way, you might not enjoy the show.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 9:28pm

I know nothing about Callas and at times when she addressed the audience and told jokes the play struck me as "stand-up comedy" like or "schticky" and I do not know if Callas was that quick or witty. It was like those stretches in "Looped" where Tallulah would just be spitting one-liners.

Not great writing-cuts major corners.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 5:18pm

Has Mercedes Ruehl ever done a production of the play?

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 5:39pm

"Maria Callas considers Joan Sutherland a lesser performer"

Now that IS a joke!

[msgirlinnyc]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 5:47pm

It's most definitely a higher brow sort of comedy. I finally saw the show Friday night, and there were a few times where I was the only one laughing (or at least laughing loudly) at a couple of the jokes. They're pretty standard opera jokes ("God save us sopranos from you tenors!" etc) but as someone who studied opera in college, I loved it and found it to be very funny.

But I do think a lot of things that weren't meant to be jokes end up being funny because Tyne Daly plays Callas with a very dry and deadpan sort of humor, where the students (Tony, Sophie) are funny with their eagerness and confidence. Even Sharon has a few moments of humor in her first appearance.

PS: I've read early reviews that Sierra wasn't up to par with Tyne when the show opened, but she definitely had some bite to Sharon on Friday night. Sharon hurled her final lines at Maria like they were daggers, and she left the stage visibly shaken. It was great!
Updated On: 7/27/11 at 05:47 PM

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 6:36pm

I'm seeing it tonight and will comment after, but I also studied vocal performance in HS and college.
Re: Callas vs Sutherland, they were polar opposites- Callas was known for her acting and Sutherland for her vocal ability.

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 7:08pm

I saw the original production and found it entertaining, though the play didn't strike me as anything special.

This time around, I found it less entertaining.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/28/11 at 3:27pm

I loved it! Boggess and Sorenson were miscast, but they both gave very respectable performances. Boggess simply isn't a Verdi soprano and her outburst seemed to come from nowhere (I didn't sense a build-up of tension). Sorenson fared a little better, but doesn't have a "bella figura," at least by theatrical standards, so the numerous references to that were slightly off-putting. However, as I said, both did wonderful jobs. The rest of the cast was perfection, and the play hit really close to home for me. I want to see it again!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/28/11 at 4:02pm

I actually think Alexandra Silber is brilliant. She's the best of the lot of students and really stands out. She's exceptional and really holds her own on the stage.