Am I the only one who thinks DAMN YANKEES should NOT transfer?- Page 2

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 6:25pm

I'm not seeing it until July 19th, so I'm in no position to make a comment re: its transfer to Broadway per se. If it turns out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, obviously I would want to see it transfer so that it can reach more audiences.

However, HAVING SAID THAT, I've never felt that DY was a first tier musical that requires repeated viewings. It simply isn't in the same league as shows like Guys and Dolls, Carousel, Follies, My Fair Lady, Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, Pal Joey, Show Boat, Kiss Me, Kate, Anything Goes, Porgy and Bess, Brigadoon, Music Man, West Side Story, and the other truly classic American musicals. There's nothing WRONG with DY -- I've seen it from the original production and on down. But I'd say it belongs more in a class with, say, Pajama Game (obviously), Wonderful Town, Call Me Madam, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Mame, Camelot and many other truly worthy, but not 1st tier shows.

Just my opinion and no comment on this production.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 7:08pm

ALLOFMYLIFE:
Having just gotten back home after seeing Damn Yankees this afternoon, I have to say I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment. Even though I have huge sentiment for this show having seen it many times throughout my childhood, I went in with an open heart, only to sit there dumbfounded through most of it. The REASON for reviving this show HAS to be the Choreography, and it was just plain dead on arrival. I am ashamed to say that NONE of the dancers came even close to approximating "decent" Fosse choreo. You mean there's NO Fosse trained dancers in NYC? Yikes! (to hire, that is?) It was downright embarrassing to watch, especially Ms. Krakowski, who, IMHO was truly miscast. Can't dance anymore unfortunately, bad, bad, wig and costumes, and NO sex appeal. (Seemed very uncomfortable on stage?!)

The set design was awful, the sound was awful (echo-y)...even the conductor and musicians seemed oddly "tired" or something. There was a uniform lackadasical feeling to the whole thing.

Those great numbers like "Heart", "2 Lost Souls", "Who's Got the Pain" had no ZIP! those are PRODUCTION numbers!!

On the positive side, Cheyenne Jackson (whom I've never seen before) has an achingly beautiful voice (with those ballads), and can act, also (even though this particular role is very bland). He definitely is the Leading Man star of today and tomorrow.

Also, I'm one of the few who has never seen Sean Hayes (on TV or otherwise), and I was delightfully surprised at how good he was -- properly pixie enough; and his Act II number Those Were The Good Old Days" came off very, very well and was actually Creative! Some of the most hilarious, clever lyric writing ever!

Too bad the entire production wasn't this good.

I still love the show itself, the book, the ORiGINAL CHOREO, the mambo and baseball crazes of the mid 50's!, and will probably rent it on Netflix tonight.


Updated On: 7/13/08 at 07:08 PM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 7:57pm

This was my latest posting on the OTHER thread. I still stand behind this.


Make no mistake about this:

"Gypsy" was transferred because of Patti Lupone.

Nothing else mattered.

All the money was spent to get her version of "Gypsy" for an open run.

"Damn Yankees" will not be transferred because of Sean Hayes or Jane Krakowski or the regional-theater-level mounting it has received this summer.

AND a "transfer" costs a fortune and in this economy, it makes very little sense to try to transfer a show with mid-level talent and lukewarm if respectful reviews.

Lupone's reviews for "Gypsy" were red hot, if I remember correctly.

They transferred Patti Lupone to Broadway.

The rest was just the dressings.

[Patash]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 8:17pm

It seems this website is often a "no win" situation. I've seen over and over again where someone posts a positive comment about a show or performance, and then anyone who posts anything negative is raked over the coals for "not following what the post was meant to do". Now here is someone who starts a new thread for negative comments about the show rather than totally take over the other thread, and still he is raked over the coals for doing that. Yep -- no win.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 8:21pm

LuPone (At City Center) received two negative reviews from the big boys at the Times. And most said the show wouldn't transfer after those two reviews.

But Brantley did eat his hat once it came to Broadway, and rightfully so. She improved 100%.

Updated On: 7/13/08 at 08:21 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 8:33pm

Like many shows, it was recently not too long ago. Do something else.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:51pm

Without Lupone, it would never, ever, ever have transferred.

Nuf said.

[jeffrey1dog]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 12:51am

Thetinymagic2 - I do agree with most of what you said, but I think John Selya pulled off the Fosse dancing perfectly. Unfortunately Jane was always a step behind.

And Randy Graff deserves a mention on the positive side too because she & Cheyenne Jackson have wonderful chemistry in their scenes together.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 1:06am

yes, you're right, jeffrey1dog, Randy Graff and Cheyenne's scenes worked the best, and difficult, too, what with the "age" thing and everything. They were totally believable.

Mr. Selya...yes, was the ONLY dancer who had an inkling of the style, but seemed at times like he was dragging Jane around. Oh well....

oh how I long for the days of b.a. davis, cilento, mineo, korthaze, chadman, reinking.etc.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 1:07am

Wayne Cilento is an awful choreography though.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 4:27am

This is what we are reduced to? I'd rather discuss "Legally Blonde" understudies.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 5:01am

10 hours later, and you're still mad, ALLOFML? A bunch of us posted our comments, but you seem to HAVE to have the last word, so:
Reply
here:-------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, on Ray's thread, WTF? " SUX? " I'm sure Kelly 2 appreciates that!?
Reply
here:--------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope to see ya at HAIR!

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 5:10am

dupe Updated On: 7/14/08 at 05:10 AM

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 5:20am

After watching An American in Paris the other day on cable, no choreographer today (maybe Baryshnikov) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
can come close to that artistry, ljay, re (Fosse).

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 5:28am

allofmylife, I value your opinions and the pieces of history that you post once in a while.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 11:07am

tinymagig2, as per your request

1) I am not mad, just sad.

2) "sux" was a comment on the show, not in any way on anyone on this site. Further, it was my attempt to do the exact opposite of the original poster, who warned us in the heading that his comments would be very lengthy (which they were and I enjoyed them thoroughly by-the-way. The humor of "sux" was similar to the scene in the television series "Friends" where Rachael and Ross each relate to their buddies about their first kiss the night before. The girls (Monica and Phoebe) pepper her with questions about the experience, her feelings, her hopes and desires. The guys have exactly one question: "Tongue?" That was the comedy effect I was going for.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 12:50pm

For whatever it's worth, I appreciated the humor in allofmylife's comment on my thread.
And honestly, there's no reason for the show to transfer, none. Unless you consider Veanne Cox and Kathy Fitzgerald a reason for the show to transfer, and they wouldn't do those roles on Broadway.
It was a nice attempt by City Center, let's hope they give more thought to their next Summer Stars production.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 12:54pm

More thought = choosing a better show.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 1:05pm

I agree, Roscoe. They couldn't really do that well, because their choice wasn't that great in the first place. I was only familiar with the YANKEES score, didn't realize how terrible the book is.
Oh, and does anyone actually miss Wayne Cilento?!!!!!!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 3:50pm

or still wear a hat?

[LindaTNo1]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 4:29pm

City Center did an outstanding job of this years offering of Damn Yankees. Alot of very careful thought and wonderful performances by all the cast. Thank you Summer Encores and the City Center for a job well done!


WHEN EVERYONE THINKS ALIKE, NO ONE IS THINKING..............

[StageFan2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 4:55pm

I can't imagine this show transfering. It lacks so much. Nice effort, but, no. There are better shows out there.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 6:24pm

LindaTNo1

who are you, Sue Anne Nivens?

[LindaTNo1]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 7:11pm

Not a bad comparison since all the principals on The Golden Girls received Emmy's along with All In The Family cast and WILL AND GRACE. Fabulous actress is Betty White, an animal activist, still acting today, and sustaining a marvelous career. Sue Ann Nivens, I am not. I am a rebel with a cause, a mover and shaker, a difference maker on this planet called earth. You really have no idea on me at all. My Bio is really something out of a movie!

But no, I am far from Sue Ann Nivens. But a nice try from you anyways.

You have a wonderful evening on me!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 8:48pm

wow