COMPANY and MARYPOPPINS Bashing on 13

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 12:40am

Theare talk

[C is for Company]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 12:48am

So thats what Linda Winer looks like.

[AshleyBrownFan123]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 12:48am

13 what?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 12:49am

Channel 13.

They're talking about Coast of Utopia now.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 12:57am

Interesting conversation about the marketing of SPRING AWAKENING.
But replacing Lea with Kathie Lee just wouldn't work.
(it was a joke. but sadly the wave of the future)

[blueroses]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 12:58am

Channel 13 is in NY.

Hmm. I'm curious now. What did Linda Winer have to say about Company? I am dying to see it and anticipate loving it, since I adore the score and enjoyed Doyle's treatment of Sweeney Todd. Plus, Raul is always a knockout.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 1:01am

Yeah, I missed whatever they said about Company. I think the press release for this episode said it was going to be Coast of Utopia, Spring Awakening and Mary Poppins, so Company's reference may have just been in passing. Le Sourd hated it though, if I remember correctly. The last thing that guy raved for was like, Brooklyn, so whatever people on here think of the Company revival, he clearly does have questionable taste.

Updated On: 1/6/07 at 01:01 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 1:06am

Well John Simon said basically John Doyle should be killed, none of them liked COMPANY at all.
They were split on Raul, but agreed his singing of BEING ALIVE was just too over the top and wrong.
And they said Ashley Brown (whose name they couldn't even think of) was cast only to be easily replaced. (ouch)

Do you guys get THEATRE TALK outside of NYC?
Whatever you think of Reidel this is always an interesting and Informative show.
Updated On: 1/6/07 at 01:06 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 1:11am

I don't think it's shown much outside of the tri-state/NYC area, is it?

They're not wrong about Ashley Brown. For a show like that, you need someone who's good enough that the average audience member will like her, but above all else, is easily replaced by another pretty, semi-talented young girl. Just like most of the Belle casting. They aren't bashing Ashley by saying that -- they're discussing the reality of the Disney business machine.

And, well, they should be killed? As much as I think the contention that it's too much is just utterly ridiculous, it is honestly a bit peculiar to me that all of these people in the critical minority on Being Alive were in one place, though. And for the record, Simon said that Esparza is the best Bobby he's ever seen. Did Riedel weigh in on Company? I know he's not too fond of Raúl...

Updated On: 1/6/07 at 01:11 AM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 1:16am

How could he not love Raúl?

BTW: I still haven't washed my shoulders.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 1:19am

Because he is a bitchy, bitchy man.

Kidding. I dunno. I just remember that he wrote something when Raúl was in Cabaret calling him like, a twerp who wished he could be Alan Cumming, or something along those lines.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 1:21am

I won't answer that cause luvthe.... would be all over that.
Not everyone loves Raul.

But they all loved Gavin Lee.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 1:25am

Didn't Simon rave over Raúl's performance in his review, even though he hated the show? Something along the lines of, "Best Bobby [he's] ever seen"? Odd that he would think that his "Being Alive" is over-the-top and wrong.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 1:27am

Well, go ahead. I'd be just as curious as the next person to know why Riedel dislikes him so much. Because I'm sure you know.

And yes, I could argue with you, but that doesn't mean I'm blind to the reasons that people don't like him. I'm perfectly capable of understanding how it's possible and why it happens. In fact, the things that people adore about his work are the exact things that turn dissenters off about it. He's a love-or-hate performer, and I'm well aware of that. You can't see the difference between having an opinion and being unable to see others.

I'll go off about it? Don't turn and lay this on me. If you want to say something, say it. I won't argue with you or try to change your mind, even if your dislike for him has to do with nothing professional; I'm not going to be your excuse. Just because often I argue doesn't mean I'm stupid enough to assume that everyone's going to like him or flat-out not comprehend how someone could disagree.

Updated On: 1/6/07 at 01:27 AM

[blueroses]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 11:47am

"He's a love-or-hate performer"

I am all about the lovin'...I find him to be tremendously talented and appealing.

Torn about wanting to see Mary Poppins. The bit I saw on The View left me disappointed. I didn't see what was so spectacular about Ashley. Maybe it's (in part!)because I'm a lover of all things Julie Andrews--and that in many instances I tend to enjoy movie musicals more than their stage couterparts--but she didn't strike me as anything special. I'm sure I'd enjoy it if I saw it, but I think I'll make it a point to see Company and Grey Gardens first.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 12:36pm

I thought you meant that the cast/crew of Company and Mary Poppins were bashing 13 The Musical. I'm all "Bzuh, how did they see it?" One track mind, I guess.

[teka21]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 2:43pm

Linda Winer didn't HATE Doyle's Company. she said she enjoyed this production- but doesn't like the script in general- just the songs. She said at least the staging with the instruments kept her entertained between the musical numbers. She LOVED his Sweeney- just felt that Company never really "works" because it's "just 4 minute songs strung together" with boring banter, and that she usually wants them to "shut up and sing."

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 4:06pm

http://www.cuny.tv/series/theatertalk/index.lasso

I believe you can watch or listen to past episodes online. I actually enjoy the show, and whenever the critics get together for a preview or review of the the season, it's pretty hysterical/infuriating.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 4:37pm

I don't care what any of these people have to say. Especially not that lady sidekick to Reidel.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 4:42pm

"They were split on Raul, but agreed his singing of BEING ALIVE was just too over the top and wrong."

Did they actually use the word "wrong"? As in his performance of the song was "wrong"? Because that's about as ridiculous as a critic could get...