Brooklyn OR When Bad Material Happens To Good Performers- Page 2

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:31am

Excellent, as always, Miss Margo.

What a pity, though. I was actually hoping a cheaply produced musical with an original book and music just might make it. Sigh.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 11:57am

Thanks, Miss Channing, I respect your opinion. I just have a couple of questions:

Do you think this show would be better if everyone was on skates?

Do you think this show would be better if there was an intermission?

Why would you wish this show on those of us here in Chicago?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 12:49pm

Not sure what the point of doing it as a concert would be, since that would imply the music and lyrics are strong enough to stand on their own, book or no book, and the score is nothing special, at best, and pretty awful at worst. I'd just as soon toss the whole thing out and have Keller, Espinosa and Derricks do a concert of the best songs from Broadway's rock musicals -- Hair, Dreamgirls, Godspell, Tommy, Rent, The Wiz et al. Now THAT would be worth $100.

Sueleen --

1) Yes, the show would be better if everyone was on skates.

2) Yes, I wish there had been an intermission -- I'd have gotten home 45 minutes sooner

3) Hey, you guys got the Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens -- you should get some of the bad stuff as well -- it's only fair.

[NStar21]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 12:50pm

Ustadance, you are entitled to your own opinion and not everyone is going to like the same show but to MOST people, if you put shows like Rent and Wicked in the same category as Brooklyn, they will laugh at you. Again, some fans and theatre critics didn't like Wicked but the box office speaks for itself and many people love the show and walk away raving about it. By NO means do I think the show is perfect or the BEST on Broadway but I can give credit when it's due and the show is a success because no matter how flashy a show is or how big the stars are, it can't save a show from tanking if it's bad. You say Wicked's only successful because it's a backstory to a popular known tale but if they had done such a crappy job with it, people wouldn't buy it or be interested it in the least. Have you read THe Wizard of Oz the book? The book is really different from the movie, so like what Wicked the musical did to Wicked the Book, the same thing happened with THe Wizard of Oz the movie and the book. But you knew that right? Because you know everything :rolls eyes::: I also think any show, movie, book and etc that can change your perspective on a well known tale is doing something right.

Rent, you dont have to like it but crappy shows don't win the Pulitzer Prize. Plain and simple. People don't have to like Hair or A Chorus Line but you can't deny what these shows did for Broadway. You quote one line, "We're not gonna pay" and think you're proving a point, a rather laughable one at that.

Your comment, "sorry kiddies," seriously get off your high horse because I don't even know what made you think YOU can even be on one. I'm not even going to get into Dracula but shows like Rent and Wicked didn't come to Broadway claiming to be the Best show ever in Broadway's history. Brooklyn created a lot of hype around itself and it wasn't deserving of it. Then you had the fans that completely ruined it for some people by hyping it up way too much espeically the story and the music, which seem to be the two main aspects being torn apart. If you really want to make your point, I wouldn't compare Brooklyn to the two shows that people said it was going to outdue. It was suppose to be the next Rent. It was going to be the next mega hit like Wicked... your post only proves the point that Brooklyn is failing to live up to all the hype that surrounded its opening.

And another thing, in a different thread you said:

"Dear Blueroses, rKrispyt and Eyemakeup 3 - not to diminsh your opinions by any means, because, after all, we're all entitled, and your opinions mean as much as anyone else's, I'm sure, but I was wondering: The names of the musicals you have written, choreographed, arranged, costumed, conducted, stood center stage and sang your faces off or starred in are called....? You seem to be so astute, I was just curious."

Words can't describe how ridiculous you sound there. How many musicals have critics written and yet, when they voice their opinions, they aren't asked how many musicals they've done, so why are you asking it here? Are you trying to sound intelligent? Because you don't. Oh, and since you're the genius about shows, enlighten us. You critized "we're not gonna pay" but please do tell us how to make it the better line? Since cleary in your opinion, to be able to trash shows, you would have written some yourself and are well known because of it. Updated On: 10/20/04 at 12:50 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 12:56pm

The "if you don't do it, don't criticize it" argument is the oldest kind of BS. But since it wasn't exactly brought up in this thread...whatever.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 12:59pm

True, Margo, but Mama Mia is back in town and Menopause the Musical is still here. So give Chicago a break.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 1:00pm

I'm reminded of the exchange from "Stage Door" where after Katharine Hepburn's character criticizes several lines in the script of a play she's been cast in, the playwright bristles, reminding her that his plays have won several awards including the Pulitzer Prize. He asks

"How many plays have you written?"

"None. But you don't have to be a chicken to judge a bad egg."

Updated On: 10/20/04 at 01:00 PM

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 1:20pm

does anyone find it strange that Tiny-Toon has yet to respond to this review?

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 1:24pm

"How many plays have you written?"

"None. But you don't have to be a chicken to judge a bad egg."

Kauffman. Brilliant.
I'm doing The Butter and Egg Man and tomorrow's the opening

as always Margo, thanks for your review

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 1:40pm

At least this guy liked the costumes...

'Brooklyn' is litter-perfect



By JOE DZIEMIANOWICZ
DAILY NEWS FEATURE WRITER


Title character Brooklyn's new finale dress, made of takeout bags.

Most Broadway designers would cringe if people said their creations look like junk.
But Ray Klausen and Tobin Ost smile when they hear that about what they did for "Brooklyn," opening tomorrow at the Plymouth.

(edited for copyright) Updated On: 10/20/04 at 01:40 PM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 1:40pm

I do, Joey.... but in fairness, Tiny's trigger finger is slowing down. Someone posted a gushing "Brooklyn" review on another thread, and it took Tiny an entire six minutes to respond with a "thanks for the review". Dont lose hope. There still might be time !!!

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 1:55pm

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 3:31pm

Thank you for sticking up for Chicago. We should suffer through mediocre productions? I think not. "The Producers," "Movin' Out," and the upcoming "Spamalot" all trust Chicago enough, and those first two are hits.

As for the subtitle of this thread, all I could think about is "Boy from Oz" and "Dracula." Horribly flat/underwriten material given to the talented likes of Hugh, Beth, Stephanie, Tom, Melissa, and Kelli. Apparently, that's what happening to "Brooklyn" and that makes my queer-musical-theatre-heart cry.

Updated On: 10/20/04 at 03:31 PM

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 3:39pm

I have to say (and believe me, I hate to say it)...I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that the reviews are gonna be amazing for this one.

Dunno why. Maybe it's my realization that so much of our entire society (and sadly, theatre as well) is run by so much of the people with the moolah...I wouldn't be surprised if it got rave reviews for no other purpose than to avoid pushing it towards an early closing and trying to keep Broadway alive.

Alright, so that whole reasoning is pretty far-fetched...but I've still just got this feeling, I dunno.

Maybe it's cause I'm from Cleveland and here I've read 1 negative review in all my years of participating in theatre. They're more of synopsis' (I know I spelled that wrong) than anything else - they'd rather shoot themselves in the foot than post an actual review and risk criticizing a show.

Someone be sure to post some links once those suckers come out. Til then...I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 3:41pm

poor Breaking The Circle

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 3:43pm

hey, now, according to one poster on these boards, you are NOT qualified to make any negative comments unless you are a BROADWAY SUCCESS!!! however, you can make a positive comment and have ABSOLUTELY no stage experience at all...

[insomniak]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 3:53pm

Thank you, Margo. I'm glad someone finally wrote a review that wasn't clearly full of ulterior motives. (Trying to get us to love it or hate it)

And I must say, that quoting one line from "Rent" and then calling the entire thing stupid isn't the most educated way to criticize.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 3:59pm

Of course, according to Rene, if you are over 37 you have no right to criticize this show, either.

[Plum]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 4:00pm

Right. Everyone knows the people on Broadway are the best judges of material. That's why every show on Broadway is a masterpiece for the ages.

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 4:13pm

Good review Margo. I never had a good feeling about this one.

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 4:42pm

BUMP!!

(Since is the *real* thread)

[Plum]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 4:47pm

Another bump, to make up for bumping the fake thread.

And I was looking forward to BKLYN until I heard the sample CD. Tholse songs occassionally make Celine Dion songs look like Sondheim.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 4:53pm

I'd love to hear Celine take on "Not Getting Married Today" with that crazy accent of hers!

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 5:00pm

LOL on Celine!!

"...Baaht Toomah-wroo aisle beeeee floooting in zeee Hoodsahn wiz zee ozereh garbezhhhh"

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/20/04 at 5:00pm

Oh, the Gall(ic)!