CRY-BABY: I'm Still Crying - 3/24/08- Page 8

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:57pm

Glad to see the shills are back in this thread.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 12:59pm

I believe WAT said, "from where he was sitting" the audience reaction was tepid and there was no standing ovation. Could be the two of you were in completely different sections of the theatre.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 1:21pm

I was sitting in the rear mezz all the way to the right of the house. There were rows and rows of empty seats up there so I settled in on one of the side aisles so I could have tons of leg room. From where I was sitting, I could see the entire mezz and a small part of the front center and front left orchestra. Absolutely no one stood up in the mezz. I saw maybe three or four people in the front orchestra stand up. After most of the musical numbers, the people in the mezz gave polite applause (and some of them didn't applaud at all). I did not see the mid or rear orchestra and have no idea what went on down there.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 1:21pm

In my message, I did not disrespect anyone for citing his or her opinion. I would hope for the same treatment. I'm writing because I do think the show is being misrepresented here. Yes, WAT may have been in a part of the house that wasn't responding the way the orchestra level was. But I have a right to explain how it looked and sounded from where I was. That said, I do think the sensibility of this show limits its broad commercial appeal. I also think the leads and the composer could be improved. Such criticisms would make me a very bad shill, but I guess anything's possible.
Updated On: 3/25/08 at 01:21 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 1:23pm

chrisampm2, my comment wasn't in response to you, but to Noel&Cole.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 1:48pm

Why on earth would anybody stand for Cry-Baby? I know everything gets a standing ovation nowadays, but honestly, even if you liked Cry-Baby, it is so not worthy of a standing ovation. What ever happened to just exuberant applause from your seat if you like something. I reserve my standing ovations for truly exceptional work, and many times find myself one of the few people who refuse to stand, but I guess I am really in the minority ... people will stand for anything and everything. I guess "worthy of a standing ovation" means absolutely nothing anymore. I remember seeing the original production of Fiddler on the Roof, and even that didn't get a standing ovation. Stand for Cry-Baby ... not a chance, and only to get out of the theatre faster.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 2:28pm

West Village, do you know Kalimba? She said the exact same thing regarding standing to get out of the theatre!!

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 2:32pm

James Snyder has gotten worse (if that's possible)...he should be replaced.

James Snyder said there will be many changes implemented this Friday...

You spoke to him after having such contempt for his performance? That's just kind of rude.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 2:43pm

Thanks Dottie, and my comment was actually a response to Adam Greer's shill snipe. Glad we're good.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 3:15pm

shesamarshmallow: I love meeting the performers after I see a show regardless of what I thoguht of the show and/or the performers. I was very kind to James...I told him it was my second time seeing the show and that I'm looking forward to seeing what changes they are going to make. Then he chimed in with some of the changes. Really sweet guy. Totally miscast.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 3:21pm

Dottie .. no, I don't know Kalimba ... but I like the way she thinks!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 3:42pm

I thought the Gas Mask Ballet was one of the few things actually in the spirit of the John Waters' movie.

I don't even remember the song you said was getting cut.

I guess that's why it's getting cut.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 3:48pm

So everyone knows, MAJOR changes are being made to the show starting this week. They have already made several (including new orchestrations and dialogue). A large portion of Act One is being rewritten for improvement. This is a good sign

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 3:57pm

Glad to hear the pie is still in the show. She made me feel better, knowing that I was not the only one to be bored to death by that show...

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 4:08pm

Midnight Radio, the pie is one of the pivotal characters in the show and the finale would just not be the same without her.

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 4:12pm

I hope you are joking.
Updated On: 3/25/08 at 04:12 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 4:15pm

By all means, yes!!

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 4:19pm

Oh thank god! :P

But yes, she is indeed very important in setting the mood for the piece.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 4:42pm

As there were no bows the first night of previews, did the pie get a bow last night?

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 5:51pm

You can't judge a show by how many people stood up in a given section on a given night. Come on! That doesn't mean a thing.

The best shows have nights when no one stands. The worst shows have people standing almost every night.

And we all know that standing ovations have lost their significance anyway.

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 9:14pm

i just saw the movie, you have to admit the play is much better

[winter_sky]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 10:54pm

I like the movie better than the musical.

[FIERCEY516]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 11:12pm

okay. there seems to be some disagreement here...

I think there's a neutral position. before I give my critique (saw the show last week), let me say this...

"Cry-Baby", in MY opinion, has the POTENTIAL to be an excellent blockbuster music.

Before the production team got a hold of this musical, the Creative Team failed to hand over something sufficient to work with.

While the premise/character development is weak, the comedy and 50's stylings could be played out SOO much more. I know people tend to comapre this to "Hairspray" so let's... shall we?

"Hairspray" executes its late 50's/early 60's motown feeling on a much more pinpoint target. The score, specifically, was genius. Why? Not because of the actual music on the page, which is fun but rather fluffy, BUT their ability to take a styling (Motown + late 50's in this case) and make it ORIGINAL.

This was "Cry-Baby's" demise in my opinion. Nothing was original. The score was a sophisticated "All Shook Up"... and that's saying a lot. These two Broadway NEWBIES had the chance to make it their own, like Shaiman and others did with "Hairspray". They didn't.

The production itself was rather bland and disconnected. I had high hopes for James Snyder. Sorry folks... mediocre at best. Elizabeth Stanley --- I loved her minor role in "Company" but she just doesn't strike me as a young hot belting teeny bopper. Oh wait, she ISN'T. Bad choice.

Harriet Harris? loved her in "Millie". Where did her comedic stage charm go? Maybe she was sick or tired when I saw her... but she didn't give the audience anything. SO bland and unoriginal.

Again, the show has potential. Can the writers and production team come together to create a more effective approach to the 'Rebel & Good Girl Gone Bad' stuff? Only time will tell.

I CAN tell you this... "C-B" producers are extremely dissapointed with advanced ticket sales for April and May. While, on the other hand, "A Catered Affair" producers are shocked at the extremely positive advanced ticket sales for their Broadway run. Morale is high at "ACA" right now.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 12:20am

Is 'the pie' played by Laura Jordan? I thought so, but couldn't tell from where I was sitting.

(Wow. What a ridiculous thing to ask. But I do want to know...)

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 12:23am

The pie is normally played by Joanna Glushak and the cigarette box by Torry Ross.

The creative team of Cry Baby worked the same way out of town. They would make a ton of changes and implement them all at once, typically towards the end of a week. Updated On: 3/26/08 at 12:23 AM