Broadway.com's interesting Stage Notes, and more

[Jack42]

Posted: 6/28/04 at 12:02pm

I am always amused and entertained by the column Stage Notes over at Broadway.com. Paul Wontorek has a certain flair for writing and I thought I would disect some if it for those who might not get his clever style.

"FOR THE (OTHER) BOYS"
This is a very funny headline which plays on the notion that straight men are the outsiders when it comes to musical theater. Very witty!

"The ladies in question are Tony nominee Melissa Errico (who dropped trou for her acclaimed turn in Sunday in the Park with George at the Kennedy Center a few years back)"

Here, Paul is equating Melissa's nude scene in Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George with that of a frat boy at a party, or appearing in a Girls Gone Wild video. "Dropped Trou" is the pinnacle of class. One should use that expression next time when discussing "DAVID" or "The Thinker"

"maybe they'll both wind up clothed by the time previews start at the Belasco on July 26--I'm just telling you what I've heard!"
Now this is very interesting because what Paul hears is sometimes put as a news story that is tagged "a production spokesperson could not be reached." I guess "Errico Drops Trou" isn't a good headline for the front page.


"At this point, I've completely lost track of how many times I've seen all or part of Hairspray: The gypsy runthrough... critics' night... opening night bows... terrif Tracy understudy Katy Grenfell's first time on... Marissa Jaret Winokur's teary final show... final dress of the national tour... last bow for Kathy Brier and the great Harvey Fierstein... You get the idea!"
Yes. We do indeed get the idea. You both love the show and want to explain to the reader, in case they did not know, that you are an insider. I was excited to read this because I wasn't sure.


One of McKean's biggest fans is the newly-eyebrowed Fierstein himself....he joked before picking up a waffle off the plate of a passing waitress and shoving it in my mouth (literally!)"
I'd like to think Harvey was being funny. I'd hate for people to think by reading this that Harvey was trying to stop someone from talking or end their conversation. I would hate for Harvey to get that reputation. I would also hate to think that Harvey just dismissed Paul as if he were not important.

And finally, the most revealing comment of all:

"I don't care what anyone says about Millie--for me, it will go down in history as one of the smartest and, yes, funniest musical comedies I've ever seen"
Well that explains everything kids, now doesn't it?

-Jack

p.s. I read this morning that despite a media blackout, Broadway.com published a story featuring a list of League requests for the AE negotiations. "Broadway.com has obtained a list of League requests from early on in negotiations. (Calls to a League representative seeking comment were not returned.)

Really? You mean a League representative honoring the media blackout didn't respond? That's shocking. Personally, I find the publishing of items up for discussion a bit classless. While it might be entertaining to read (ala Smoking Gun), I wonder at Broadway.com's motivation.

Updated On: 6/28/04 at 12:02 PM

[Dawg]

Posted: 6/28/04 at 12:28pm

Dawg likes Jack42...

Dawg also agrees that Stage Notes is perhaps the most self-aggrandizing piece of crap ever published on the internet. Not that the writing should reflect the personality of the author at all times, but knowing that writer rather well, I can't say that his egomaniacal writing style is all that surprising.

[JeffG]

Posted: 6/28/04 at 5:25pm

Pretty funny

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/28/04 at 5:27pm

where is there a nude scene in sunday in the park with george?