Brooklyn — Page 3

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#51

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 8:34am

I'm sure it must be impossible for two different critics in different cities to have different opinions. Oh wait. Actually, two different critics in the same city give opposite reviews of the same show. It happens in NYC. So, what's your point, Tuttle?

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#52

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 12:13pm

Having lived in Denver for 13 years now and being active as a chairman at the Tony Award winning DCTC (Denver Center Theatre Company) for the past 6 years, I think I know a bit about Denver audiences. Denver has become a bit of a National melting pot. I ask, Tuttle and grownup, do you live here and attend the theatre here? There are a lot of people from both coasts living here in Denver. AS well as other parts of the country. I am originally from Philly. The Denver Center for the Performing arts, now DPAC but we still call it DCPA, pulls in more revenue than all of our sports teams combined. We were chosen by Andrew Lloyd Weber to start the national tour of Sunset Blvd because of our facilities. It enabled them to build the set here. To say nothing ever comes to Denver is not true. Since I have lived here, 13 years, we have gotten just about every major show on tour. Disney picked us to start the US "Lion King" tour. grownup, the Dean of Education for the NTC is a very close friend of mine and you are correct. We also have a very well respected vocal facility used by people in all areas of the arts. The DCTC is the only theatre company in the world to have done all of August Wilson's play cycle in order and and all were directed by the same director. (He will no doubt direct the remaining plays) Denver used to be known as a town that would give anything a standing ovation. That has not been the case for years now. I applaud our audiences because they know the shows and they know when they have seen something good or something bad. I think Denver audiences embraced Brooklyn because they were able to go into it knowing it was a small show, so to speak, and that they were not getting major special effects but that we were getting a nice feel good show. And there is nothing wrong with that. Calling it a piece of crap is your opinion. As I have stated numerous times on these boards, I have seen the show twice and enjoyed it. Would I pay 100 bucks to see it again? Probably not. As much as I liked it, and I would see it again, I just wouldn't pay 100 bucks. Our top price here, at the Buell, runs around 55 to 65 dollars. So 100 bucks seems like a lot. Brooklyn, however, did not play the Buell. It was at the Denver Civic Theatre and the prices were lower. If you live in Denver and/or attend theatre here then fine, you are entitled to your opinion of our audiences. If you don't, then don't bash us. Trust me, we are not the cowtown a lot of people think we are!

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#53

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 1:22pm

And other Broadway bound musicals that have started in Denver are.....

Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever. Watch out BWW... HE'S BACK.

#54

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 1:24pm

Actually, Denver has just started producing new shows in the past few years. 2 are planned to head to Broadway.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#55

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 1:24pm

MisterMatt....you ask "what's the point"?

Funny..thats the same thing I say after reading your idiotic posts.

Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever. Watch out BWW... HE'S BACK.

#56

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 1:27pm

You're right Mr. Tuttle. Denver press gave this junk raves. I find it very odd that all the press (not just a couple of critics) loved it.

That's too weird. It's like a standing ovation after every show..it's fake.

#57

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 1:30pm

Rocky, are you implying that there were no standing O's after each performance? Just asking.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#58

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 2:22pm

I think, may be wrong, that Rocky was comparing the reviews to the way that Standing O's are given today. Its almost become procedure to give one after everyshow despite quality.

I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!

#59

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 4:16pm

Gotcha! The show did get standing O's and the performers deserved it in my opinion. I have said how much I enjoyed this show. I have also said that it has it's flaws. And Denver audiences know that also. But from everyone I talked to here that saw the show, they felt that the idea of the show within a show was a nice idea and let themselves go with it. Finding it to turn out to be an enjoyable evening at the theatre. Yes there are cheesy lines, and the book is not the strongest but I have seen worse and so has Denver. We have two main critics here and trust me, they can be rough on a show. When Dorian - The Musical world preiered here, which I think we had a bit of a stake in if I remember correctly, the critics were not too kind. I personally loved it and saw it 3 times. It was not very well attended and got a standing O by maybe 1/2 of the theatre 2 times I saw it. A full standing O on opening night though. It's funny because right around the time NY started experiencing the standing O's at every performance (I can't remember when I read the Times article on it. A few years back I think)Denver was backing off of them from what I could see. And it was a joke around here for awhile that we would give one for any show. My thought is that for years Denver probably did not get all of the big shows. So when one came through town it was a major event. Since the opening of the Buell in 1991, we have gotten most of the major touring shows. I noticed standing o's all the time for awhile. And I think it was all part of the excitement of a new state of the art theatre and the excitement of having huge shows come to town. This, I think, also got more people into the theatre and also had people going to see a lot more than just Phantom or Le Miz. (Which have been through several times over the years) My theory is that our audiences have become more educated (I guess for lack of a better term)in the theatre and no longer feel that they have to jump to their feet at the end of a show. People still stand for sure but if the show is not up to par, you see people moving for the door. I have attended some performances where a lot of people left at intermission. And Denver went to see The Producers last year but they surely didn't gush over it. I don't know if any of the two posters I addressed live in Denver. But if they don't, I just don't think it fair to come down on our audiences when you don't live here or see theatre here. And if you don't like a show, fine. There are others who may like it. And in this case Denver did. It just comes down to that I guess.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

Updated On: 10/23/04 at 04:16 PM

#60

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 4:29pm

Mr. Tuttle, you sound like a provincial jerk. If you're really one of those asses who thinks there's no such thing as good theater or good taste outside of NYC, you're the one lacking in sophistication.

#61

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 4:36pm

I wonder if the biggest problem wasn't venue: from what I've read, this sounds more like something better suited for off-Broadway than on-, just like CELEBRATION a few decades ago (which I saw not too long ago and seems to be holding its age quite nicely, actually). If BROOKLYN had started off-B, do you think its chances might have been better, since expectations (rightly or wrongly) seem to be lower there?

Just from a design standpoint, it looked amazing, frankly. And I mean that in a good, inventive way. But it certainly wasn't a "Broadway" look, and I'm seriously wondering if it isnt factors like that that so hopelessly murdered this show?

"That duck was a sexual toy, and it was on display!" -- an unknown Nashville town leader

#62

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 4:43pm

Plenty of people don't think Avenue Q has a "Broadway" look either- and I can see where they're coming from. Difference is, that musical has witty lyrics and a book that makes a modicum of sense.

#63

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 5:31pm

And Plum, you sound just like a plain old jerk.

Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever. Watch out BWW... HE'S BACK.

#64

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 5:38pm

Mr. Tuttle, I agree with you. Having been from San Francisco, we've seen enough previews. Wicked was good at that point but not exactly rave worthy as the SF audiences were doing (thank god the press didn't go that crazy). When High Society started here, it got raves in the press and audiences loved it. And then....

Denver was just on a mile high that they got a new show before anyone. That accounts for the raves this trash earned.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

#65

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 5:44pm

*bows*

Unless you're of the "takes one to know one" school of thought, you're in no position to speak, Mr. Tuttle. Have a nice day.

#66

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 5:54pm

WayWicked. I must disagree with you. We get a number of new shows in a number of venues. We don't rave about every new show we get. If you lived here, you would know that and you would not have made that statement. It just slays me how people can make statements as if they actually know what goes on in our theatre community! And reading reviews from Denver is not the only way to know how our audiences like a show. Our main facility houses 8 stages ehich includes the opera and symphony. We are actually one seat short of being larger than the Lincoln Center (Yes, that is a fact). On any given night when all 8 stages are up, the entire venue is sold out. So we don't just go to the new stuff and rave about it. We are a theatre loving community. You make us sound grateful or stupid. You don't like Brooklyn, fine. That's your opinion. But don't come down on others as some all knowing being because you don't like the show. I do take slight offense to that.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

Updated On: 10/23/04 at 05:54 PM

#67

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 6:30pm

Bear in mind the enormous changes that shows sometimes go through en route to Broadway, and usually not for the better. URBAN COWBOY (which really is my favourite flop of the past five years) went through a whole new scenic design because the producers thought it needed it -- turns out it was a huge mistake. Numbers get slotted in and out, and sometimes those choices aren't the best ones either. I wonder how drastic the changes to BROOOKLYN were en route to NY: audiences in Denver and NY aren't *that* different...

"That duck was a sexual toy, and it was on display!" -- an unknown Nashville town leader

#68

re: Brooklyn

Posted: 10/23/04 at 6:38pm

This is true Sean. I just read the following on Playbill.com from the show's opening night coverage. I saw the song list for New York and it looks pretty close to what we saw. And my friend associated with the show said that only a few changes were made. So I am taking it that he is talking about the show before it opened in Denver......

Composer Schoenfeld confessed to goosebumps on opening night. "The reason was the way this fabulous cast performed. You can tickle yourself, but you can't give yourself goosebumps. Our work can't do it for us, but if someone else puts a vibe to it, they can."

He and lyricist McPherson have been on this case for 14 years. "When I originally performed the show for Jeff, the script itself was about 135 pages—it's probably 70 now. There are 17 songs in the show now, but we had to eliminate a good ten to get this many."

That "good ten" didn't go gentle into that good night, according to McPherson. "The hardest thing about this show was figuring out what songs we loved would have to go. We had songs that really meant a lot to us, and we realized they just had to come out."

If two main messages come through to the audience, McPherson would count this as a victory. "One is that when you change someone's life, you change your life. The other is when you leave the show we hope that you look at homeless people with a different eye."

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

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