BYE BYE BIRDIE first preview...- Page 9

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:04pm

don't know or care what kind of shill LoL is, but it is obvious that s/he is.

The teens were "extravagant"? Really? In what way? And they are prodigous? Good lord....someone is playing with their thesaurus.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:24pm

I really don't, RetroBoy. And it's always nice when you pop in to wag your finger and admonish us heartless folks.

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:40pm

I don't understand reviews that "praise" a show and then go on to point out that three of the actors who have major roles in it are not up to par and that the choreography is "serviceable" at best.

Are we that willing to accept mediocrity thrown at us? Whatever happened to the good old days of casting someone who can actually sing and dance the part as written as opposed to casting the latest "flavor of the month" or a household name just to make a quick buck?

This isn't a movie where you can hire a voice or a dance double. This is live theater dammit.

The producers are doing the show and the audience a disservice by continuing to cast people in roles that are way out of their capable range.

I don't want to hear "oh she'll/he'll grow into the role after x amount of previews"... BULLSH!T!!!! the performer hired should be one that already has the capability of doing the role and only build on that and make it stronger. That's what rehearsals are for. The performer should already have some sense of what how they are going to play the character BEFORE they hit that stage and perform previews not go out their blindly trying to find their way through their character, the script, the songs and the dances aimlessly and painfully.

It's sad that in this day and age the standards and the bar have been lowered.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:51pm

I mean, how much rehearsal time to they have? A month, at least? Like eight hours a day? Crap, community theatre actors can produce nuanced performances by opening nights without the benefit of previews.

Isn't Ugly Betty doing a short season this year? Vanessa Williams should take over for Gershon.

[April Saul]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 12:27am

Great post, Marquise! And as the bar gets lower, the ticket prices sure don't.

[LoLsmileyFace]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 12:51am

Yeah me and my thesaurus..? This isnt a blog about how people spell or write im pretty sure its about the musical. and you really shouldn't be criticizing my writing ability until you mature...calling me LOLsmileyTwat..time to grow up.

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 1:02am

Well, you got the part about this not being a blog right. That's an improvement.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 1:08am

Blah blah blah. A bunch of people judging a production they haven't seen.

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 9:41am

I saw it ljay889.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 10:06am

did they ever at least consider Mathew broadrick in the role of Albert he would of been perfect except was probaly busy at the time.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 10:31am

Matthew Broderick hasn't acted in a long, long time.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 10:34am

And he's no more appropriate for Albert than John Stamos is. I would like to see Sarah Jessica Parker as Rosie, though.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 10:37am

Quite frankly, if Roundabout were to recast the show, I'd give Rosie to understudy Natalie Hill (the best part of GREASE) and Albert to Hunter Foster. Danny Burstein would be play Harry McAfee.

[BwayBuff2]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 10:51am

I've heard they offered the roles of Albert and Rosie to others like: Catherine Zeta Jones, Karin Olivo, Eric McCormack, and Bradley Cooper. But, I'm not too sure how legit that is.

A part of me wishes Eric McCormack would have accepted because I think he would have been great! But, John Stamos wasn't horrible. He had some very charming moments.

Gina on the other hand...ouch! What a bad performance.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 12:57pm

^ I don't think that's true. It was said on here before that Stamos and Gershon were their first choices. I am sure one of the Roundabout employees on here may know more.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 1:45pm

[Scripps2]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 1:55pm

I think this revival would work better if they put Gee, Officer Krupke where it was in the film version.

[dramadude]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 2:35pm

I love that picture, but I only wish the show did this picture justice.

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 4:12pm

Hugo is hotter than Birdie. Bad casting, bad!

[Scripps2]

Posted: 9/14/09 at 4:25pm

I hope they don't bring over Hannah Waddingham for this - I think she's too young for the role.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/17/09 at 11:45pm

Revisited the production tonight! A full week later.

The production is much tighter now! John, Gina, and Funk are MUCH more comfortable in their roles now. Gina's singing has improved a bit, not majorly. She flubbed a lyric in "An English Teacher." She's finally comfortable with holding notes now, but her voice can still be grating at times. I DO really enjoy her acting now. She has the character down, and I really enjoy her interpretation. Her dancing (what's left of it) is slightly better, but still a bit sloppy, she has a nice kick or two in Spanish Rose.

Stamos is not as stiff anymore, he is good, but doesn't blow me away or anything. And Funk was surprisingly A LOT better. He really let loose in Honestly Sincere, and it was great.

The biggest surprise of the night was the re-staging of the act 2 opener (What Did I Ever See In Him?) At the first preview, the number was strangely staged in a beauty salon, with Rosie singing to/and with a beautician, then she sang the second half in Kim's bedroom. I wasn't a fan of it. Now the first part is back to Kim's bedroom, where it belongs! Much better now.

I definitely enjoy the production a lot. And I'm not afraid to say it.
I have a feeling the critics are going to like this one!
Updated On: 9/17/09 at 11:45 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/17/09 at 11:55pm

I saw it tonight as well and had a very good time. Not a brilliant production, but it certainly isn't the debacle some people wanted it to be. It's fun and enjoyable.

I liked Stamos a lot, thought he was charming, endearing, and gave a well-acted performance. I didn't like Gershon in act 1 at all, but enjoyed her in act 2. I think she'll definitely continue to improve in the role. Her singing was passable, her acting very good, and her dancing incredibly sloppy. Irwin was very good, though I thought at times he laid it on a little too thick. A little bit less would have been ideal. I also liked Funk, who I thought was quite good. He was a little stiff in the early scenes, but certainly settled in. As ljay said, he appeared to let loose in Honestly Sincere. I enjoyed his performance.

The best performance of the evening, however, comes from the always wonderful Jayne Houdyshell, who manages to walk away with the entire production. She gives an absolutely fabulous comedic performance, and has the audience in the palm of her hand the entire evening. Honestly, I laughed the hardest at her lines.

The kids are all fine, if unextraordinary.

I thought the set was great. The choreography, which should probably sizzle, unfortunately is never anything more than pedestrian. That was my biggest disappointment for the evening. I think there are a few pacing issues, particularly at the top of act 2, but they have almost a month to get them worked out.

Overall, I enjoyed myself a great deal, and wouldn't mind going back later in the run.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/17/09 at 11:59pm

Ps. I just realized tonight, not only did they switch the Kids (Reprise) with the regular version, they switched the number with "A Lot of Livin To Do." Most of the changes are in act 2. They are minor changes though.
Updated On: 9/17/09 at 11:59 PM

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/18/09 at 1:48am

Gina's singing has improved a bit, not majorly. She flubbed a lyric in "An English Teacher."

...her voice can still be grating at times

Her dancing (what's left of it) is slightly better, but still a bit sloppy...

I won't be wasting my time or money on this Birdie TURKEY again.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/18/09 at 5:46am

Thanks Ljay! Good news to hear. I'm not seeing this until October (with my kids) but I hope you are right with the improvement trend!


To LOLsmiley: I'M the one that criticized your poor thesaurus skills since the words you choose are ridiculous...and I didn't call you any names whatsoever. This is a COMMUNICATION board, so your grammar AND word choice DO matter. They always matter.