Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? ) — Page 2

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#26

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/8/14 at 7:01pm

What has happened to Bullets seems to me to happen to many shows which are not nominated for best musical. I believe there is a tendency for people to look at and discuss the shows that may appear more newsworthy.

What has happened to Gentleman's Guide is a perfect example. I saw it twice in San Diego and commented on the show months before it came to Broadway. I mentioned that I felt a very good show was heading your way. I never thought for a second that it would be the Tony winner. In fact, when it did open in previews many people here thought it was just so-so and I questioned my own judgment. Then it got all these rave reviews and I thought the critics were nuts. A good show, yes. A great musical, no way.

Now that it has had fabulous reviews and 10 nominations and is likely to win Best Musical, everyone has something nice to say about it. I still think it is a nice little musical of no consequence with a C plus score. In fact, I felt Rocky was far more interesting, more creative, more memorable, and more entertaining. But like Bullets, the bandwagon has left the building for those shows.

#27

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/8/14 at 7:09pm

I loved it. I have never laughed so hard in a theatre. Easily my favorite show of the season, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good time on Broadway.

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

#28

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/8/14 at 7:29pm

Woody has nothing to complain about. Incest survivors did not organize a boycott. A giant Mia did not appear over Broadway to terrorize opening night audiences. On the whole critics were fair and there were few out and out pans. He even got a Tony nom for his book, which was basically just a cut and paste of his twenty year-old movie script. It wasn't a "Producers" caliber hit, but wasn't a "Bridges of Madison County" level debacle either.

#29

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/8/14 at 7:30pm

I saw Gentlemen's Guide in previews in Oct.
It has been my favorite since then. I have seen it 4 times,(and I live on the west coast) and it had nothing to do w/ the nominations, as I had seen it 3 times, before they were announced. I love the music, and those voices. I feel it has an excellent chance of taking the Tony for the music, and I am hoping for Best New Musical.
Early on, on another thread, I commented that I hoped that both Bryce and Jefferson would be nominated, as they were both, excellent. I was very glad that happened. I feel the music get an A. I listen to the soundtrack, quite a bit.

#30

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/8/14 at 9:15pm

"I listen to the soundtrack, quite a bit."

There's already a movie of the Gentleman's musical?!

#31

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/8/14 at 9:19pm

Gosh some of you on here, are negative at each other!

#32

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/8/14 at 9:24pm

"There's already a movie of the Gentleman's musical?!"

Oh please. This kind of snark makes me want to say soundtrack whenever possible. And I do.

<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#33

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/8/14 at 11:27pm

"Did you see Blue Jasmine? Besides Cate Blanchett's amazing performance I thought the film itself was only slightly short of brilliant."

"Guess you didn't see Blue Jasmine or Midnight in Paris?!"

Ouch, already (and Patash beat you to it, haterobics). I should have been clearer. I meant Woody's time, in terms of comedy, has passed (in my opinion). It's too broad, almost Catskills-style out of fashion. A little tone-deaf.

I mean, seriously: John Smith rapes a turkey b/c Pocohantas turns him down? Irving Berlin has a negro boy in his closet?

"I loved Marin Mazzie, but her performance seemed so influenced by Baranski's mannerisms that I couldn't help picturing her in it and how amazing she would be! "

This may be a stupid question, but why would Mazzie be influenced by Baranski's mannerisms?

#34

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/9/14 at 1:55am

"Ouch, already (and Patash beat you to it, haterobics). I should have been clearer. I meant Woody's time, in terms of comedy, has passed (in my opinion). It's too broad, almost Catskills-style out of fashion. A little tone-deaf.

I mean, seriously: John Smith rapes a turkey b/c Pocohantas turns him down? Irving Berlin has a negro boy in his closet?"

But, it's a period piece set in 1929, so it is supposed to be of the time and out of the current fashion. And the Irving Berlin thing is an actual urban legend of that time, you can Google it. It was supposed said by one of Berlin's collaborators, so that isn't even anything Woody came up with....

#35

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/9/14 at 8:13am

"Irving Berlin thing is an actual urban legend of that time [bolding mine], you can Google it. It was supposed said by one of Berlin's collaborators, so that isn't even anything Woody came up with...."

No need for Google. I know the line comes from the legend - but it was Woody who chose to include it. Much of what was funny in 1929 isn't funny now, and in fact is offensive to many.

Given that Bullets has been criticized for its near nonexistence of people of color on the stage (which is something that was predictable since Woody has taken heat for it in his movies), I think using that line was an example of his tone deafness. There was actually a longish (if fairly ill-informed) segment on The Talk about Woody and his alleged racism. That can't be good for business.

The Talk

Updated On: 5/9/14 at 08:13 AM

#36

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/9/14 at 8:52am

This may be a stupid question, but why would Mazzie be influenced by Baranski's mannerisms?

It's not a stupid question at all, and I don't necessarily have an answer! Sitting in that audience, though, I couldn't help but see similarities that really made me picture Baranski in the role. Perhaps "influenced" was poor word choice, as she doesn't cite Baranski as one of the comediennes that informed the role.

I was just wondering if anyone else a) saw a similarity or b) thinks Baranski would be perfect in the role!

#37

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/9/14 at 10:07am

"Given that Bullets has been criticized for its near nonexistence of people of color on the stage..."

This isn't what happened, though. On the day it opened, a piece was written in the NY Daily News that said Allen wanted no African Americans in the show, despite many scenes taking place in the Cotton Club scenes set in Harlem.

As this board quickly determined in the thread on that day, there is an African-American actress in the ensemble but, more importantly, only one tiny scene up on the second level is set in the Cotton Club, whereas the rest take place at the gangster's club. So, the entire article was incorrect that the show had an all-white cast despite being set in the Cotton Club.

I don't think there is much connecting that fake controversy with the Irving Berlin joke, though. He used a reference from the period in his period musical featuring period music.

I don't think any of this affects the success of Bullets. The critics were mixed and the audience isn't flocking to see it, and many people on here who did see it didn't enjoy it. Several left at intermission. Personally, I enjoyed myself and didn't mind this or the Banana finale.

#38

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/9/14 at 1:34pm

"This isn't what happened, though."

Actually, that's exactly what happened. Criticism doesn't have to accurate to take root. A well-read tabloid released an article accusing Woody (and by association, the show) of being racist. I am fairly certain they issued no retractions. The denizens of this board may know that there is one (which is why I said "near nonexistence of people of color") African American woman in the show, and that all the club scenes except one were held in a nameless club other than The Cotton Club, but The Daily News and their readers don't - and more people read the Daily News than BWW.

And that misconception then jumped from a local tabloid to a national talk show.

....so, yes, that is exactly what happened. It isn't so big an issue that it will make or break the show, but you really can't say the issue doesn't exist, or that it doesn't matter. When a show isn't doing as well as it should, every little bit counts.

Thanks for the explanation, PianoMann. I'm not a fan of Baranski's (blasphemy, I know!) so I am the wrong person to ask. I thought Mazzie was fantastic and perfectly cast.

Updated On: 5/9/14 at 01:34 PM

#39

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/9/14 at 1:56pm

I was speaking to the larger point that the controversy took root and has affected the show, which seemingly didn't occur. So, one tabloid on April 10 and one TV show on April 11 discussed this issue... and nothing has appeared since then. Similar to earlier in the previews, or even beforehand, when people through the child abuse allegations would have an effect.

Anyone can speculate that these things may have affected the show, but the critics who attended the show were just mixed on whether it was successful in transferring the movie to the stage. None (save for one, as I recall) mentioned the casting issue, since that story did drop on opening day.

Ultimately, some people like the show, others don't. It's not like the critics declared it a runaway hit and audiences are staying away... there's no disconnect between the critics' take, the audience reactions, and the box office. All are telling the same story.

#40

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/9/14 at 3:36pm

I am not saying that the sole reason that Bullets isn't doing better. I will say from a purely anecdotal POV, when I mentioned I'd seen Bullets, every single person I spoke to referred to its "racism". Without that, the show would still be underperforming, but to say that it has zero or even negligible effect is naive.

I agree it would not have been a hit regardless, but after the tepid reviews, some of the people who were already on the fence about seeing it b/c of Woody"s personal family issues will be even more inclined to pick something else if they think he's a racist, too.

It can mean the difference between closing after the Tonys or limping along til fall.

Updated On: 5/9/14 at 03:36 PM

#41

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/9/14 at 3:48pm

It's not as if the show is failing at the box office (a la several others we don't need mention.) It's been doing over $900,000 per week, so I assume it's been profitable.

CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.

#42

Bullets Over Bway ( Why no talk ? )

Posted: 5/15/14 at 10:59pm

It's mordantly smart and funny. It's very well cast. The costumes and choreography are swell. It's commendably unafraid of bad taste.

But it doesn't work.

On screen the emotional hollowness of the story struck the right darkly comic note. But there just isn't enough tenderness or romance or anything else to provide the joy it would take to make it a satisfying musical. Midway through the second act when Ellen (Betsy Wolfe) sings of finding a new baby with Flender, there's a brief glimmer of heart which makes us realize what is missing from the rest of the evening.

Updated On: 5/16/14 at 10:59 PM

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