BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

#1

BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 9:15am

Post 'em here!

Tonight, with a cast touting Nolan Gerard Funk, Gina Gershon, Jayne Houdyshell, Bill Irwin, John Stamos and Allie Trimm, the first Broadway revival of BYE BYE BIRDIE opens at the newly-refurbished Henry Miller Theater on 43rd. Preview performances had begun at the venue on September 10th. Robert Longbotton directs and musically stages this mounting.

As in 1960, the Tony Award-winning musical by Michael Stewart (book), Lee Adams (lyrics) and Charles Strouse (music) pokes fun at Elvis-like pop stars and embraces the pre-Kennedy innocence and conformity of American family life.

The absolute to all involved.

Best,
- Mike

#2

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 5:21pm

Knives out.

#3

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 5:23pm

On the Today Show today Kathie-Lee and Hoda held up a color playbill. Have they switched to color? My playbill from the first weekend of previews was black and white

#4

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 5:59pm

Wall Street Journal

Liked it, but said it's the worst sung musical they've ever seen on Broadway.

Vast amounts of money and energy have been poured into this production, for the most part to winning effect. Robert Longbottom's brisk staging and clever choreography flow together seamlessly.

So what's the catch? Just this: Only one of the stars can sing.

Roundabout's revival of "Bye Bye Birdie" is the worst-sung musical I've ever seen on Broadway.

Mr. Longbottom is an immensely gifted director-choreographer, and there's plenty to like about this production. I only wish it had been overdubbed.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204574469510499857016.html

Updated On: 10/15/09 at 05:59 PM

#5

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:07pm

"Mr. Stamos couldn't carry a tune in a bucket with the lid welded on, and Gina Gershon, who plays his sexy secretary, isn't much closer to the mark. Mr. Funk is said to have been battling tonsillitis at the preview I saw, so I can't say whether he sounds better under normal circumstances, but what I heard last Sunday afternoon was far below Broadway standards. As for Bill Irwin, who plays Miss Trimm's father, his performance is impenetrably bizarre—I never did figure out what he thought he was doing up there—and he can't sing at all."

Ouch.

#6

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:16pm

Is there a bigger idiot alive than Terry Teachout?

#7

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:16pm

Couldn't agree more re Bill Irwin, but have to disagree on Stamos whom I thought wasn't nearly as terrible as I expected him to be.

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"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#8

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:26pm

Terry Teachout is dead on. Especially about Irwin.

#9

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:49pm

Robert Feldberg likes many aspects of it, but has issues with Stamos, Gershon, and Irwin.

The 1960 musical, cherished by all high school drama teachers, is more than slightly familiar. But director-choreographer Robert Longbottom has given it a fresh and shiny production that, while uneven, is pleasingly fast on its feet.

Nolan Gerard Funk, meanwhile, adds a bit of spice to Birdie, whoâ??s usually a remote, vaguely drawn rock-and-roll menace to decent society.
Funk makes him distinctly unappetizing â?? wearing only Jockey shorts, he guzzles beer that runs slobbily down his body â?? heightening the joke of the mindless adoration of his young fans.

The Albert-Rosie love story, never convincing, is particularly feeble here.




http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/birdie1015.html

Updated On: 10/15/09 at 06:49 PM

#10

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:55pm

2 dead-on reviews.

#11

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:58pm

Variety (I don't know if this is MIXED or MIXED-TO-NEGATIVE)

Funk is making out very well so far.

Casting Funk, who's closer to Zac Efron/Jonas Brothers wholesomeness than the original Elvis model, doesn't do much to amp up the sense of subversive danger. But the performer and his pelvis at least are having a good time, and his infectious rockabilly intro, "Honestly Sincere," is one of the few numbers cooking on more than a low flame.


http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117941386.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

#12

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:03pm

I'd say Variety is plain negative. Every statement seems to end with a "but, it didn't work out" feeling.

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Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

#13

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:12pm

ASSOCIATED PRESS

another positive review for Funk

The younger folk improve matters. Allie Trimm is a sweet, vulnerable Kim. Vancouver's Nolan Gerard Funk may not look much like Elvis; he's more a precursor to the Backstreet Boys, but he sings well and swivels his hips with just the right amount of lewdness.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jHwG3GWOxgbbUwl6sCY__8VJtDXg

#14

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:14pm

Variety on Irwin, "Plus, he should never be encouraged to sing in public again. Ever."

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Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward. Carol Channing

#15

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:17pm

So I would say it's mostly positive to rave with the expected love letters to Gina Gershon.

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Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

#16

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:24pm

Namo, do you mean all of the reviews? Because most of them are pretty negative so far.

Does anyone know if Brantley reviewed this for the Times? Or did Isherwood get it?

#17

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:26pm

Brantley does the big stuff. Isherwood does the lesser known stuff

#18

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:27pm

Yes, all of them, sorry I wasn't clear.

My favorite pull quote has to to be the alliterative: "Big Big Broadway Bravos for Birdie! The Hottest Ticket in Town!"

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Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

#19

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:28pm

Brantley was there last Saturday night for the Times.

Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/bye-bye-birdie-theater-review-1004022911.story

Pretty much hated everything except Allie: Bottom Line: This "Birdie" should say bye-bye.

#20

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:35pm

Yeah, wow.

To quote Edward Rutledge, "What is that ah smell floatin' down from the north?"

Why, it's reviews from Buh-bye, Birdie. The "worst sung musical in Broadway history!"

Yowzah! Boink!

But I agree, totally, Namo. These are flat-out RAVES. They range from BRILLIANT to SECOND COMING. Warm's my heart, it does.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#21

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:36pm

Wow, it's sad that Irwin who's an otherwise accomplished (and Tony-winning) performers is associated with this mess.
I'm glad the critics are being kind to Gershon, even as miscast as she is in the part, she manages to create a character and I missed her when she wasn't on stage.

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"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#22

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:40pm

Irwin is getting the worst reviews out of all of them, ray.

From Tony to terrible in 6 seconds!

I know he'll survive. He has always been an acquired taste for me, but I've seen him shine in other things. Okay, one or two things. Fortunately for him, I'd say this revival won't be around long enough to cause any permanent damage. But I hope he's not reading these anytime soon! Yeeeeeesh.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#23

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:44pm

Aw, I liked Irwin. He made the show entertaining for me.

#24

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:47pm

I'm really glad this production is getting across the board raves. I'm especially happy that the singing of Irwin and Stamos is being praised. I guess that talked about open run is definitely happening now.

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"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"

#25

re: BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews

Posted: 10/15/09 at 7:48pm

I commend Irwin for at least doing something and making a choice. Whether or not it's good is up to you, but at least he's doing SOMETHING remotely interesting.