BROADWAY SECRETS: Wherein we confess our controversial opinions- Page 2

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 11:03am

I think Broadway is too slick these days. The actors don't have the sparkle that actors years ago had. I don't think Mary Martin (who I always affectionately thought of as a warbler rather than a singer) could make it in a musical today.

I used to think Betty Buckley was a wonderful singer. But the more I listen to her, she has a metallic quality in her voice that I don't like.

I never "got" Bernadette Peters as being considered the chief interpreter of Sondheim. Cleo Laine's Sondheim album is superior to anything Bernadette attempted.

Neil Patrick Harris bores me.

Faith Prince never got her respect as a Broadway diva. Her performance of "Holding to the Ground" in Falsettos (albeit off-Broadway) was brilliant.

Joe Papp would be ashamed at what Shakespeare in the Park has turned into - selling the best seats to corporate sponsors.

Updated On: 6/14/13 at 11:03 AM

[all that jazz]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 11:03am

I adore Audra Mcdonald's voice, but I HATE, when she speaks lyrics with that annoying dumb accent, like at about 55 sec. into this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxP8cI1Lnf4

ALW is my favorite composer and I'm not afraid to say it.

I also love Elena's Evita.

I don't care much for R&H, although I love Carousel.

[BrerBear]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 11:27am

I think Jonathan Larson wrote some of the cheesiest lyrics of all time.

Too soon?

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 11:40am

I thought Tracey Letts was a woman for longer than I care to admit.

You’re not alone. I was so excited that a woman had written “August: Osage County.”

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 11:46am

I hate Matilda!!!
I think A Christmas Story was the best show of the season and deserved the Tony.

[John Adams]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 11:50am

Is there no way to merge or copy/paste this thread with the original?

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 11:50am

I enjoyed Stark Sands a lot more than Billy Porter in Kinky Boots

I LOVED Tarzan

[The Other One]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 11:54am

I never need to see another guy in a dress on Broadway. Bo-ring!

[lovebwy]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 11:54am

I despise Kristin Chenoweth and that giant vain in her forehead.

I just don't get Daphanie Rubin Vega.

I'd like to do watersports with Jeremy Jordan and then get hit by a bus.

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 12:03pm

^^^ I want to watch!!! LOL

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 12:08pm

Why oh why did I get demerits? I wasn't nasty in way!

[broadwaybabytn]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 12:09pm

Sometimes Bernadette Peters' self-indulgence is too much for me. I appreciated Catherine Zeta-Jones' performance in A Little Night Music more than Bernadette's, despite a brilliant "Send In the Clowns."

I thought Rachel Bay Jones gave a much more interesting performance than any featured actress this season except possibly Andrea Martin. In fact, Andrea Martin was the only nominee in the category I actually thought should have been nominated.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 12:10pm

Wishing Only Wounds... really? You loved Tarzan??? interesting - not judging you.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 12:14pm

I hate RENT with a passion.
The love story in CAROUSEL doesn't work for me and I'll never get into it, I find the character of Julie bland and boring.
I think Jane Krakowski is one of the most underrated performers in musical theatre. Donna Murphy is my all time favorite musical theatre actress, and I wanted her to win the Tony for LOVEMUSIK.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 12:53pm

Brian, I really did! I was shocked to read how much most people disliked it. I've always loved the movie, and it wasn't the best point in my life when the musical was around...maybe I needed a nostalgic pick me up. I'm not trying to make excuses for my enjoying it, as I'll stand by it, I just usually agree with the masses with opinions like that, but I thoroughly enjoyed Tarzan.

The Lion King though, is a different story. How that has stayed open and Beauty and The Beast and Mary Poppins have been axed will never cease to amaze me.

[DramaticSquirrel]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 1:21pm

Hi all! First post:

I like Neil Patrick Harris, but am sick of him hosting the Tonys.

I enjoyed "Lestat" and "Spiderman: Turn off the Dark" (I know, I know...)

I loved Megan Hilty in "Smash" but did not really enjoy her interpretation of Glinda in "Wicked" (granted it she was still the standby at the time I saw her so I'll give her a pass).

Alan Cumming should have been nominated for a Tony for "Macbeth"

[broadway guy]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 1:26pm

- FOLLIES sucks
- Seussical is a good show
-Laura Osnes has a shrill and unlikeable voice.
- Kinky Boots is a horrible and mediocre show
- No one can even compare to match the quality of Patti lupone in EVITA.
-Sweeney Todd isnt really good.
-The Les Mis movie was a messs and full of mediocrity and missifres except for Hatheway ( who was heaven)
-Sondheim's music is bland except for a few shows
- Andrew Lloyd webbeer hasnt done a good show since Phantom.

Updated On: 6/14/13 at 01:26 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 1:37pm

I dislike broadway guy. I know, "join the club."

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 1:42pm

I love Namo more and more every day.

And I'm a proud member of that club.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 1:44pm

Raul Esparza isn't a great singer to me.

I liked BROOKLYN.

Ahrens and Flaherty are the most underrated composing team on Broadway.

I don't think Jonathan Larson was a great lyricist, either.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 1:45pm

"Why oh why did I get demerits?"

You do not get demerits, you issue them! You're the Professor McGonnagall of BWW. And with that, I get two points taken from Gryffindor.

Updated On: 6/14/13 at 01:45 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 1:57pm

I had no idea people on this board had controversial opinions.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 2:01pm

- Matilda should have won best musical
- A little night music sucks
- Catherin Zeta Jones deserved her Tony award
- Sound of music is a horrible show
- Wicked deserved best musical over Avenue q
- In the heights isn't good.
- I liked Little Mermaid
- Sierra Boggess is one of the most talented ladies working in the industry right now.
- Patti Lupone deserved to win for Anything Goes
- The Into the Woods film will probably be a huge mess.
- Streep is all wrong to play the witch
- Cats is a great Musical
- Jane Lynch is better than Kate
- Ricky Martin was great in the Evita Revival
- GHOST sucks
- Spring awakening is mediocre
- Memphis sucks
- NPH is a bad singer.
- Lea Michelle is crazy talented and most of the haters are just jealous that they will never have her talent.
- Amy Adams wasn't good as the Baeker's wife
-Madonna was the worst Evita i have ever seen
- I like Urinetown

[dreaming]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 2:17pm

-Sierra Boggess is very talented
-Catherine Zeta-Jones deserved her Tony
-I totally concur with broadway guy regarding Meryl Streep as the Witch (I think Catherine Zeta-Jones might have been better)
-I didn't love In the Heights no matter how hard I tried
-Passion is a great musical

Updated On: 10/19/14 at 02:17 PM

[all that jazz]

Posted: 6/14/13 at 2:23pm

"Lea Michelle is crazy talented and most of the haters are just jealous that they will never have her talent."

^Amen!

"I think Broadway is too slick these days. The actors don't have the sparkle that actors years ago had. I don't think Mary Martin (who I always affectionately thought of as a warbler rather than a singer) could make it in a musical today."

I wholeheartedly agree, most of the new actors on Broadway feel like robots to me. Legends like Carol Channing, Ethel Merman, Dorothy Loudon, Elaine Stritch and Liza couldn't have made it on today's Broadway.