Awards Season: Grim and Bear It — Page 2

Updated On: 10/29/14 at 04:58 PM

I'm probably near as old as After Eight (maybe 150, but we vampires don't show our age) and remember the golden age of Broadway. And loved it. And wouldn't trade today's Broadway (yes,sometimes too commercial) for anything. There is still fresh tent, fresh ideas and yes -future classics out there if you open your mind



Wasted post I know

Updated On: 10/29/14 at 07:07 PM

Damn I hate Autocorrect! Fresh TALENT (not tent, nor taint. Although the taint is fresh)

We all know After Eight is crazy, but isn’t GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE the counterexample that should, theoretically, destroy his whole worldview? He chalks the success of, say, ONCE, BoM, or any Sondheim show up to the public – who really want the happy-go-lucky, tuneful shows like those of his precious Golden Age – being hornswaggled and strong-armed by the intellectual elite who pass these dirgicals off as “real art.” (Word-of-mouth does not exist in this world view.) Sure, it’s an impressive, borderline-insane kind of self-validation he’s constructed, but that’s the theory.

So, along comes G’s GUIDE. Even After Eight liked it! It’s light! It’s tuneful! It’s both popular and critically acclaimed! (You’d think the critics’ cabal would be more careful, pushing a show like this, but I guess they have to make their machinations look legit.) In theory, this is the sort of show the public has been wanting all along, even if they didn’t know it -- a step back toward the old-fashioned form, a step away from the overwhelming dreariness and ugliness and Sondheimification of the American Musical Theater.

With none of his theorized factors working against it, this show should be a vacuum sucking in the public’s long-pent-up desires and should, in theory, snap theatergoers out of the stupor the intellectual elite has hypnotized them into and run for at least 50 years. And by the same logic, ON THE TOWN should be doing boffo box office! But it’s not, and G’s GUIDE, wonderful as it is, will eventually run out of steam, too, probably sooner rather than later.

I don’t know how he accounts for these anomalies. I mean, I do know how – he’s got a screw loose. And he has me blocked, so he won’t see this. I mean, he will because he’s too narcissistic not to read things about himself. But I’d love to hear him offer an explanation.

/allthewastedtime

---

Updated On: 10/30/14 at 09:07 AM

AfterEight, my comments were meant largely in your defense, despite being a bit tongue-in-cheek.

I would actually love to see a revival of MARY, MARY. Sounds like a lovely play.

---

When you live to be 317 years old the brain starts to calcify.

We must treat AE with patience and love. He's too old to really understand how hateful he is.

---

I just went back through the thread and I don't see any hate for Mary, Mary. Am I missing something?

You're not missing anything, Wilmington, just people trolling.

---

That show was cited because After Eight uses it as one of his favorites, I believe.

And regardless of my own opinion, I always appreciate and consider someone else's if they express it eloquently.

Just wait until you're on the receiving end of Afterbate's arrogance. Just remember, Afterbate never EVER appreciates or considers anyone's opinion unless it is identical to his own (which is as rare as it is relevant).

I laughed when I read the original post, as I think it was intended.

Afterbate is always hilarious, but unintentionally so.

---

Updated On: 10/30/14 at 03:03 PM

Yes, MARY, MARY was chosen because it's known to be one of the OP's all-time favorites. I have nothing against it either.

---

He answers this question at least once a month.

But, hell, let him do it again!

---