BYE BYE BIRDIE Revival Questions

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 10:27pm

How was the show, in general?

Were reviews mixed-to-negative?

If the show played at over 90% every week during its run, why did it close so early (even after extending); could they not find replacements?

Who would have been good replacements for Gershon and Stamos?

Did Roundabout recoup their investment?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 10:31pm

It received pretty negative reviews if I remember correctly. The set in particular sticks in my head as being pretty darn ugly. Even though the show was good attendance wise, it never surpassed 80% gross potential.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 10:39pm

"Did Roundabout recoup their investment?"

Because Roundabout operates as a non-profit organization speaking in terms of recoupment is different than your normal commercial production. Their shows are budgeted and accounted for as part of their annual operating expenses, and those operating expenses are covered by grants and donations, in addition to ticket sales. Now when they have a show that gets an extended run (such as Cabaret and Anything Goes) profits from those shows get folded into their budgets for upcoming seasons.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 10:42pm

I don't think I could ever not enjoy a performance of this show. It was the first professional production I ever saw (Tommy Tune tour). So, it has a special in my heart.

The Roundabout production had its high and low points. I didn't mind Stamos but Gershon - egads. I like her but she cannot sing a "Broadway score". She attempted inflections to cover not being able to hit notes. The first time I had seen it I disliked Nolan Funk but he definitely became more comfortable on stage.

I revisited when $10 tickets were offered and I liked the show a lot better. Especially since Natalie Hill was on as Rosie. Having a competent Rosie really changed the dynamics.

But the best part both times were the kids. They were so happy to be there. So much energy and joy.

Updated On: 5/6/13 at 10:42 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 10:52pm

It was pretty much an all around trainwreck, in my mind. It got sh*t on by the critics, and every pan was deserved. http://stagegrade.com/productions/52

Stamos and Gershon were pretty painful. Gershon more than Stamos, but both were totally devoid of any charm, joy, or warmth. That, to me, was the biggest missing link in the production overall. Even the young ensemble was too mechanical and joyless. The physical production was hideous. I just remember the stage being so incredibly cavernous and empty at times...and then it would be completely taken over by bulky eyesores of sets in the next scene.

Frankly, the only thing I remember liking about the production was Bill Irwin, but he had ratcheted up the energy in his performance to compensate for the lack of energy in everyone elses. It was almost off-putting, but certainly admirable. I love this show, love the score, and like a lot of the cast members, but for some reason, this production just flatlined from the second the curtain rose.

At least, that's my take on it. Updated On: 5/7/13 at 10:52 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 10:52pm

The reviews were disastrous. The main problem was the leads. They were miscast. Stamos was better than Gershon, but they just couldn't carry the show. Many people complained about the design and direction. I enjoyed several parts of the production as the show is a childhood favorite of mine.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 10:54pm

The show in general is nice for a musical from 1960.

The revival certainly recieved unanimous negative reviews when it opened in 2009.

The reason why it closed so early despite extending was that the show couldn't overcome the bad reviews, had to close because it never reached the gross potential despite good attendance and John Stamos and Gina Gershon's contracts were to expire.

I know it maybe my opinion but Caroline O'Connor and Danny Burstein would've made a good Rose and Albert.

As what AEA said above.

Updated On: 5/6/13 at 10:54 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 10:56pm

"Many people complained about the design and direction."

Including the miscast leads. Gershon, as I recall, was pretty vocal about the lack of support she received from Mr. Longbottom. From her accounts she knew she was in over her head and was willing to put in the work to try to improve, but the director pretty much refused to do what was needed to help her out.

ETA - found the link to at least the Riedel article about Gershon's unhappiness. I seem to remember her speaking about it somewhere else, but can't find it at the moment. As it was from Riedel make of it what you will.
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/item_dUrI8gaspysxRVgKtDOSrJ Updated On: 5/6/13 at 10:56 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 11:42pm

I remembered seeing Irwin in a video of the performance and thinking that his characterization as Mr. McAfee was eerily similar to Jim Carrey's Grinch- ironic, since legendary clown Irwin played the straight man in that film.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 12:20am

It all boiled down to having poor direction. If rumors were true, there was so much animosity between John Stamos and Bobby Flatbottom that Stamos had him banned from his dressing room. Gershon felt the same way about the director and blew up with him in front of the cast--using language that was inappropriate for 'tweens to hear.

With such acrimony backstage, nothing could be accomplished on stage.

[PlainMushroomWit']

Posted: 5/7/13 at 1:05am

This sums it all up --

http://stagegrade.com/productions/52#

Grade average: D-. Ouch! It was skewered, and rightfully so. Just about everyone was miscast. A Rosie who couldn't dance? Check. An Albert devoid of personality traits other than to wear glasses to show he's nerdy? ChecK. A Birdie who seemed unaware that he's a comic character...etc... Wrong casting, then badly directed.

It was the first revival of the show on B'way EVER, but they ended up dropping plans to do a new cast album. That says a lot!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:06am

One of the all time worst.

Lousy casting. One reviewer even singled out the casting people by name for chastisement. Stamos was okay, but only okay and needed support from his leading lady who in this case, couldn't sing, dance or be funny. Bill Irwin was lethal. He couldn't sing, period and Harry's songs have quite a range. (I know because I played the role and was very surprised.) Conrad was okay, but just wrong with no threat to anyone. Hugo & Kim were harmless and forgettable. This leaves us with Jane Houdyshell, technically the 'villain' of the show, but we ended up loving her for breathing some kind of life into it.

Each of these great songs took off and then crashed after a minute or so. Not a single one scored.

This is a show that I thought was actor-proof. Every production from tours to junior high schools have been audience-proof as well. That is until Roundabout demonstrated that it is possible to kill something that is immortal.

When it wasn't bad, it was dull.

I ceased my Roundabout subscription after this one. Of course The Philanthropist and Hedda Gabler helped push me out the door, but they're other stories.

[newintown]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:19am

Lord, I can't remember a single good thing about this production - it was ur-Roundabout awfulness.

Stamos was playing his usual lazy-charming-aging boy, Gershon was totally lost in a role for which she had no absolutely no affinity (she doesn't dance, she's a generic singer, and she's Jewish, not Latin), Conrad was more bland Ricky Nelson than dangerous Elvis, the teen chorus looked 12 years old and performed like the worst over-actors from Stagedoor Manor, the reduced orchestrations sounded like 5 synths and toy drums, the set was plastic and generic...

I thought Irwin was interesting, but only because he was so over-the-top-wrong, rather than just boring-wrong, like everything else in the show.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:28am

BYE BYE BIRDIE just sucks in general so the revival was always going to be a ****ty mess.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:52am

Bye Bye Birdie does not suck. It has a deft, funny book (despite a few dated references), and a great score with a particularly superb set of orchestrations. I've seen it work well in high schools, colleges, summer stock, and even the somewhat low wattage Encores production was vastly better than Roundabout's revival, which did a major disservice to the show's reputation in New York.

[BroadwayGirl3]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 10:53am

Especially since Natalie Hill was on as Rosie. Having a competent Rosie really changed the dynamics

Natalie, is that you?


Updated On: 5/7/13 at 10:53 AM

[Eris0303]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 12:35pm

Now, now - you have to have at least five posts to be snarky.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 12:39pm

"Bye Bye Birdie does not suck. It has a deft, funny book (despite a few dated references), and a great score with a particularly superb set of orchestrations. I've seen it work well in high schools, colleges, summer stock, and even the somewhat low wattage Encores production was vastly better than Roundabout's revival, which did a major disservice to the show's reputation in New York."


It's completely mediocre and should never have been on Broadway in the first place. The best place for BYE BYE BIRDIE is at high school theaters when they are doing a "rebuilding" year and need a musical that doesn't require much taste and talent

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 12:41pm

broadway guy, YOU are the HOT ASS SH*TTY MESS.

STFU and go sit in the corner.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 12:42pm

I saw it twice- it wasn't anything to phone home about, but I didn't mind it. Had it been cast differently, it might have stuck around longer.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 12:54pm

CarlosAlberto: WHaT? You don't like my opinion? GET OVER IT.

[vampire killer 91]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 1:31pm

"It's completely mediocre and should never have been on Broadway in the first place."

Yet the songs in this show have become standards... Just because you don't like something does not mean it should not be on Broadway. You make yourself sound incredibly childish when you make statements like that.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 1:37pm

It does have some good songs."telephone hour" and "put on a happy face" are obvious standards and a few others but i still find the show incredibly mediocre. I have more of a problem with the book and not so much with songs but i still stick by my statement. It's fine if you don't agree

[lovebwy]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 2:32pm

I loved the Tommy Tune version. The school boys in it were so hot and butch. And Ann Reinking was simply wonderful.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 5/7/13 at 2:32pm

I think the reason the show gets a bad rep is the terrible movie version (the original). Despite a few good moments, the movie is pretty terrible.

When done right the show can be good (witness the Tommy Tune version) Updated On: 5/7/13 at 02:32 PM