Anybody going to watch the new Charles Busch show tonight 'Olive and the Bitter Herbs'?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 7:59pm

Would love to hear peoples thoughts on this if you are going to the first preview tonight.

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 6:59pm

I did attend the first preview, and I'm sorry to say it was just not up to par. With The Divine Sister, i thought that Charles Busch was back on the right track after a few misfires, but with this one, it's back to the doldrums.

A sour, crabby woman spends all her time being sour and crabby. That's about he essence of this play, which holds little in the way of humor or interest. It's a far cry indeed from vintage Busch.

It was a rough performance last night, with quite a few flubbed lines , but I did like David Garrison who was smooth and assured.

[WithoutATrace]

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

Unfortunately, I agree that it was sub-par. Busch is hit or miss for me, and this one just didn't work. Flubs aside, the play itself just didn't work...especially in Act 2 with the many coincidences (i don't want to give anything away) that occurred. Julie Halston gets one good speech in Act 2, but I wish she had better material to work with.

The two guys I went with hated it - I just thought it was mediocre. Still, some people were laughing their asses off, so go see it for yourself and form your own opinion.

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 7:30pm

Yes, I agree with you about Julie Halston's speech. That was Charles Busch at his best, but, alas, all too brief a moment. If only the rest of the play had been of that caliber!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/28/11 at 1:23am

I enjoyed. It needs tightening, of course and the cast needs to be a bit tighter on dialogue. several flubbed lines.. a slow and meandering start in act one, but enjoyable. There is a big revelation at the end of act one that they don't do enough with and the last 5 minutes of the show should be cut completely, but the one liners throughout the show are winners.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/30/11 at 11:18am

This is sad to hear

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/30/11 at 7:20pm

We saw it today and throughly enjoyed it.

I was a big improvement over The Divine Sister which was a major dissapointment.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 7:48am

lol Mr Roxy i love you, all your reviews seem to be the opposite to what everyone else thinks. However its those different opinions which make us all great. Glad you enjoyed it

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 10:31am

Muchas Gracias or thereabouts.

[John G2]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 10:30am

Uhm- do you think it's fair to judge a FIRST PREVIEW so harshly?

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 10:31am

Ah, this old question again.

If you really want an answer, I suggest you do a search. It's been discussed many times.

[John G2]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 12:24pm

I don't need an answer- the answer is NO. That people are so quick to post such things about a first preview shows that they really know very little about theatre.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 12:42pm

That's your opinion.

[gravity87]

Posted: 8/15/11 at 12:36am

Caught this last night. I had resisted reading any of the previous posts until now as I adore Charles Busch's work and wanted to go in blind. All I knew going in was that there was a Seder. Though some of the previous posters weren't really into the show in its early previews, I have say I really enjoyed myself. Though I do agree that it doesn't necessarily work as a piece of dramatic literature, I had a fabulous time! Hilarious performances all around. The cast seems to have really come together during their preview period. I laughed my head off and had a great time for two hours. Not Busch's best, but a really fun night at the theatre! Really glad that I saw this one. I was in need of a good laugh and this delivered, check it out.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/15/11 at 12:59am

What did you think of the ending? I enjoyed it up until the mass exodus in the final scene. At that point, we should have two lines, the mirror moment and blackout. I thought the phone calls and final entrance ruined it... it went against the entire build of the plot for me.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 8/15/11 at 1:15am

John, is it fair to judge a first preview positively? Or is it just inappropriate to judge it harshly? I ask because, according to you, I know very little about theatre.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/15/11 at 11:06am

Can you imagine having a conversation with a friend that goes like this?

A: What did you do last night?
B: I saw the first preview of ________________________.
A: Oh, really? What did you think of it?
B: I can't say. It's not fair to judge something based on the first preview.

I view BWW as operating under the same premise. No one here is a theatre critic. We're primarily people who pay our money to see a show and then give our opinion on what we've seen. If you don't approve, then don't click on the thread.