Ashford and Longoria axed from SHPEEL

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 5:00pm

Rewrites to Cirque du Soleil's new show BANANA SHPEEL have left Annaleigh Ashford and Michael Longoria on the cutting room floor.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/134093-Longoria_and_Ashford_Slip_Out_of_Banana_Shpeel_the_Victims_of_Rewrites

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 5:01pm

Ouch. That's showbiz, kids.

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 5:14pm

Wasn't Longoria's character the protagonist? Exactly how much rewriting did they DO?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 5:26pm

I feel for Longoria - he's quite talented - but Annaleigh Ashford should never work again.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 5:39pm

This isn't the first Cirque show to get a major overhaul, even going so far as cutting characters.

Posted: 10/23/09 at 5:56pm

Ouch is right. I'm a huge fan of Ashford's. She booked the show back in April! Hope she can find other work. Gingy on the Shrek tour? Ha

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 6:54pm

I can understand they wanted to add more vaudeville and less singing/dancing, but why did they cut Michael Longoria? He sounded like a major part of the show from the synopsis.

I would assume Katie (Annaleigh Ashford) was a major part of the show as well, especially since she was supposed to be Emmett's (Longoria) love interest. I can see them maybe reworking the love interest story, but cutting one of the main characters?

Posted: 10/23/09 at 9:33pm

As I understood the show, they WERE the main characters. I guess I don't really understand how you ax both stars and still have a show.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 9:42pm

How sad. I really liked Ashford in Legally Blonde and Wicked. I was looking forward to seeing her again.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 10:10pm

I hope their agents have solid contracts.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 1:41am

I was at the sneak peek at the Beacon, David Shriner described the plot to us, and quite honestly, the plot made no sense at all, and at times felt borderline offensive. Ashford and Longoria being axed is probably the best thing that ever happened to them.

In the words of the late Best Week Ever - UPGRADE!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 1:55am

Well it sounds like Cirque was trying for something new but will probably go back to being a bunch of little Asian girls balancing themselves while generic Middle-Eastern sounding music is playing.

[winston89]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 4:36am

I was actually looking forward to seeing them in the show. To be honest I was looking forward to the show period. I do think that this is a show that, no matter how obscure the description of it is, is something that you have to see to fully understand. At least that is the impression I got based upon the PR materials they released. I mean, I can understand if for some reason the two didn't work out in the roles and they were letting them go due to that. But, I do have trouble figuring out how they are going to tell the story that they have planed out without the two main characters period.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 8:59am

Well, I think they are going to change the story.

[winston89]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 11:41am

They would almost have to do that if they are not only cutting out the two performers who are playing the leads but also cutting out their characters as well.

[Kev]

Posted: 10/24/09 at 11:43am

I feel for Longoria - he's quite talented - but Annaleigh Ashford should never work again.

Excellent delivery, my friend. I just bellowed with laughter.

Posted: 10/24/09 at 2:32pm

Annaleigh is pretty much gone from all marketing of the show now. : ( Updated On: 11/4/09 at 02:32 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 1:44pm

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2009/11/banana-shpeel-cirque-du-soleil-slides-into-world-of-legitimate-theater-.html

[B3TA07]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 3:01pm

^I love that photo. When was the last time a Broadway show had a set like that?!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 3:14pm

Cirque shows always start as an organic creative process. Even in there "circus" shows acts are cut left and right, sometimes very close to opening. I am sure both actors were aware of the process and I am sure it is written into the contract.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 3:25pm

I've heard nothing but negative things from people who've seen it. It wouldn't have been my cup of tea with Annabelle Andrews and Eva Longoria, either. Anything with Cirque in it makes me want to claw out my eyeballs.

[logan0215]

Posted: 11/23/09 at 2:21pm

I've linked below a thread about Shpeel on the biggest Cirque forum on the internet. You can see where I posted a link about their dismissal and subsequent discussion.

Also, I find it kind of flippant to reduce Cirque du Soleil's music down to "generic Middle-Eastern sounding" when they have some gorgeous, fully-fleshed out scores for their varying shows that include cultural influences from across the globe and some extremely accomplished singers and instrumental performers.
link

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 12:13am

I can't help but wonder if the two were "written out of the show" to cover the fact that Cirque never reached an agreement for this show with any of the unions that form the 4As. Equity does have the show listed in their "Do Not Work" notices.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 12:44am

Equity does have the show listed in their "Do Not Work" notices.

Wow. Why is that?

[winston89]

Posted: 12/1/09 at 2:57am

My guess would be that when Cirque said that they had zero experience at doing a stage show vs a typical circus, then they were right. That that included working with the unions as well.