Ouch... that WAS bad.
I've taken a lot of the dissing of this production with a big grain of salt... figuring it to be the scapegoat show of the season.
But OUCH!
Seriously, it looks to be on the scale of a really good community theatre or really lacking regional theater level.
I've not followed the production closely, or read the reviews... so bear with me while I make a few comments or ask a few questions...
- The girl playing Kim seem far too.... umm... innocent. Obviously the part wasn't meant to be a sex kitten ala Ann M. However isn't the whole jist of the character that she is maturing into womanhood? I just don't think an actual juvenile can fittingly protray a maturity they have yet to experience themselves.
- John Stamos is, of course, lacking when compared to Dick Van Dyke... however, in the clips he didn't seem that out of place. Jason Alexander in the TV Movie was much more embarassing and mis-cast IMO.
- Gina... poor thing. I think she was dealt a horrible injustice by ever being allowed into a realm where she's obviously not meant to be. I blame those that cast her far more than I ever could her. I mean, c'mon... Chita originated this and the role was created around her talents and abilities. That's a big enough hurdle. But it's like Ms gershon is trying to pound a square peg into a round hole.
- I disagree with whomever said the sets, lights etc looked great. I think they look amateur and flat. For instance sooooo much could be done these days to make "Telephone Hour" a visual materpiece. Instead we are treated to children twirling aluminum frame flats on casters. Are they all supposed to be on payphones? Tsk tsk.
- Does Bill Irwin sing every song like Kermit? I don't know much about him, but that clip of "Ed Sullivan" sure sounded like the frog to me.
- Is there a new trend to cast overweight persons for comic relief? Harvey Johnson is, um, plump... ala Roger in the recent Grease revival. Quite honestly... overweight kids were a rarity in the days before the convenience of McDonalds. I think it's a turn off to watch them, and I don't enjoy the visual joke, as awful as that may sound.
Overall this production strikes me as juvenile... everything about it. It seems far beneath what I consider to be Broadway standards. But *sigh* I am sure it will sell tickets because, quite frankly, there isn't much to choose from on Broadway these days that isn't juvenile.
Updated On: 10/17/09 at 09:46 PM
