Anybody go to The Opposite of Sex reading last night?

[BoxFive]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:08am

The show featuring a score by Douglas J. Cohen which premiered this past fall at San Francisco's Magic Theatre had a wonderful reading last night. Kerry Butler, a recent victim of some bad miscasting was in fine shape in the role she played in the SF run..Jeff McCarthy had the right comic touch and sounded perfect. Karen Ziemba was the standout in my mind, a true star turn! Robert Jess Roth, who co-wrote the musical's book (based on Don Roos' screenplay) with Cohen, directed. This show is a hoot, finally something to be excited about...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:47am

I was there, and I know of at least two other BWWers who were as well...

I loved it. Kerry is fantastic, the whole cast is great (with the one exception of the presence-less David Burtka). The book and music stay perfectly true to the movie, which I rented a couple of weeks ago so it would be fresh in my mind last night.

And what you said about Karen - well, of course.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 12:02pm

It's terrific. It should absolutely be produced here. If I had the money, I'd definitely invest in it. It's solid.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 12:54pm

I saw it in SF. The cast was great (especially Keri Butler), but I didn't think the show as a whole worked. It has it's moments, but it fell into the "every new scene gets a song" mode, which becomes very tiresome. And I didn't feel the music and lyrics were well-integrated with the book. Many songs just "felt" out of place, and the way characters spoke didn't match the way they sang.

It has promise, but it definitely needs some tweaking...and about 1/3 of the songs cut. Updated On: 1/27/05 at 12:54 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 1:03pm

Wasn't there, but saw the show in SF. It's great. If it goes to Broadway with the cast intact, it will be a big smash.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 2:47pm

Kerry Butler is amazing. Thoroughly captivating with her presence and her voice. I will definitely have to see this when it comes to Broadway. You think she's big enough to be billed above the title? Hopefully, she'll garner a Tony nomination for this, after not receiving a nomination for HAIRSPRAY.

I just saw the film version of THE OPPOSITE OF SEX on the Sundance Channel last week. Cute film! Christina Ricci is great and Lisa Kudrow is hilarious!

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 4:36pm

She and Hunter were both above the title with "Little Shop", and neither of them are very well known outside of the theatre.

[musicgal04]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 4:37pm

Will there be anymore readings?

[Craig]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 4:50pm

The show is technically "beyond" readings. This was an invited rehearsal (for friends and family) in preparation for a backers audition.

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:38pm

Saw it, thought it was alright. Should NEVER transfer to Broadway. Much better suited for off-broadway. Only if they recast Dede Truit.


edit: Saw the Magic Theatre production...NOT this reading. Updated On: 1/27/05 at 05:38 PM

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:50pm

When is this show supposed to open? This season or next?

[Craig]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:53pm

Theaterguy2 - curious when in the run you saw the show (as it underwent changes throughout and even at this event)

That being said, and bias aside or not - I have to heartily disagree with your about recasting

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:13pm

I saw it the day after opening night in SF. I did hear that things had changed, but from what I saw, this was no Broadway show. I thought Kerry Butler gave a very flat performance.Im starting to think shes a one hit wonder. (hairspray) There was just somthing off about her. I would like to see someone in the role with more energy? I think thats the word im looking for.

[sipos]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 7:11pm

If it wasn't that one night's performance of hers, i really think it may have been the character. If they're going close with the movie version, Ricci was very VERY dry, flat-like. Which is what Dede Truitt is all about.

I watched it last night on IFC or SUNDANCE. Middle of the night. Didn't sleep a wink, but it was great to see it again after it came out in 1998. It is a brilliant screenplay and I'm looking forward to a very Kerry possible New York mounting.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 7:17pm

Theaterguy2, after last night (and I'm a big fan of the movie), I can't imagine anyone else in the role of Dedee. Kerry is perfection - and I've never seen her in anything before, so I didn't come in with any ideas.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 7:47pm

I have to back up Rath here. Kerry is perfection as Deedee, one of the best characters to grace both film and stage in a very long time.

[Craig]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 8:25pm

From opening until closing a LOT changed. Three new songs, dialogue, etc. It's not a BIG Broadway show - and would fare well off-broadway, but I can tell you they are planning on keeping the show small and in an intimate house.

What shows have you seen Kerry in that you would say a one hit wonder? Just curious. Kerry certainly doesn't lack energy though. Interesting comment.

In defense of everyone on that stage at the Magic - the rehearsal period for OOS was extremely brief and by comparison, some current Broadway shows has a longer rehearsal to previews than they did.

To each their own. I think it's a solid piece and think that overall, they had a stellar cast.

[Up In Won]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 9:08pm

Craig, how come there wasn't anything on her website about it? Not that I could have gone, but still! Lol. Anyway, haven't seen her as Dede, so can't comment. Aw. I miss New York.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 9:14pm

Kerry is surely not a one hit wonder.

Beauty and the Beast- Belle
Bat Boy the Musical- Shelley
Hairspray- Penny
LSOH- Audrey
Opposite of Sex- Dede Truitt

Is "Rub a Little Lotion" still in the show? I love that song!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 9:21pm

Up in Won, as was mentioned earlier, this was a closed, invitation-only reading.

And yes, Rub a Little Lotion is still in.

[FOCI]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 10:15pm

Meh.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 10:23pm

I was there and I really liked it a lot. Very edgy and spunky. It was great to see Kerry in a different kind of role and I think she did wonderfully. The entire cast was really very good. John Bolton gave a great performance. Karen Ziemba was a standout, almost bringing me to tears in her second act number. There is some tweaking to be done but I think it's in good shape. The crowd last night seemed to really enjoy it. Craig, I thought what we saw last night was for backers as well as friends and family.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:12pm

Mattio - the backers' presentations are tomorrow. Last night was just friends and family of the company.

[bbroadwaybb]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:14pm

Kerry was brilliant in BAT BOY and brilliant in HAIRSPRAY. That was twice for me. Just because people had qualms with her as Audrey does not make her a one hit wonder. AND as far as I understand, she was under constraint by the director of Little Shop and didn't get a chance to do what she wanted with the role.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:41pm

Got it Rath. Well I hope tomorrow's show goes as well as yesterday's. I forgot to mention, the show managed to be both hillarious and heartwarming at times. I really enjoyed it. Was anyone else there?