#1
Posted: 7/2/15 at 6:54pm
can anyone refresh my memory about the drama with him?
i remember he was 'on vacation' then never came back....?
#3
Posted: 7/4/15 at 12:53am
He was never right for the version of the show that ultimately ended up on Broadway. Originally (back when Eric Idle was still involved), the Cat was conceived as a mischievous clown, which played to Shiner's talents. The role evolved into more of a song and dance emcee, however.
When the show got to Broadway and was struggling, he got sent on a "Weissler Vacation" to Germany when they had the opportunity to bring in Rosie for a month during the winter. Everyone tried to claim this was "always the plan" when it obviously wasn't. He returned for a brief period of time, until they were able to secure Cathy Rigby, at which point he left the production altogether. Rigby did the show for a few months before it closed and reprised her role on the (extensively revised) national tour.
The Weisslers also brought in Aaron Carter (who of the various celebrities they brought in, gave them the biggest bump) for awhile as JoJo and were actively trying to get Brooke Shields to come in and do Mayzie, to the point where Barry said in an interview, "If I can get Brooke Shields in as Mayzie, I'll buy out Michele Pawk in a heartbeat."
Shiner probably made out ok, since he was bought out, and got paid for doing nothing while on his "vacation."
Updated On: 7/4/15 at 12:53 AM
#4
Posted: 7/4/15 at 11:05am
If you like the talented David Shiner, you can see him in Old Hats at the Signature Theater (NYC) next winter.
#5
Posted: 7/4/15 at 11:11am
Sweet video of opening night: https://youtu.be/aFY3XubeJBo
Countdown til Jordan comes on raging about how much loves me! 3..2..1...
#6
Posted: 7/4/15 at 11:57am
Shiner had a lot of "schtick" that he did in Boston with the audience. I still remember him climbing over seats (and people) in the orchestra section. Eventually it all got cut for Broadway. Shiner never seemed quite comfortable in his role as song and dance man, as you can see by the video clips linked above. I eventually saw all of the Cats; Rosie was clueless and had an arrogant attitude that was very off-putting. Rigby was enjoying herself but did not seem quite right for the part. The best Cat I saw was the understudy, Bryan Batt.
I still remember a very young Andrew Keenan Bolger as Jojo in Boston. Unfortunately, he outgrew the role by the time the show moved to Broadway. I have always felt that the first 30 minutes or so of Act 1 in Boston were near perfect and that the show (which up to that point was about Horton and Jojo) fell apart after "Alone in the Universe" , when Jojo suddenly disappeared (not to be seen again until Act 2) and suddenly these two birds no one had really been aware of took over the plot. I was very surprised (and disappointed) when I saw it on Broadway and realized they'd "fixed" the first part of Act 1 (you know, the perfect part) and kept just about everything else (including the stuff that I felt needed to be fixed). To this day, every version of the show still has major book problems. If they wer to go back to some of what they had in Boston, they might be able to fix it again. But I think the creators are satisfied with what they've got, with all of it imperfections, and have moved on.
#7
Posted: 7/4/15 at 12:28pm
He stunk and didn't get one laugh the night I saw it. He faked "tripped" about 10 times trying to get a laugh. Bad casting.
#8
Posted: 7/4/15 at 1:02pm
I loved the tour with Rigby. I don't have too many issues with the version of the show they ended up with. "Alone in the Universe" is still a highlight.
It seems like Shiner was hired because the role was originally conceived a bit differently and as the show evolved, in hindsight, the creative team should have probably recast the part for Broadway. It's not so much that he was bad it's just that the role no longer suited his strengths as a performer.
#9
Posted: 7/4/15 at 1:28pm
Seussical was truly a train wreck of a show. Even as a 13 year old seeing it at the time, I wanted to leave at intermission.
Despite that, the show has its perks and I've grown to like it more in recent years...especially after they cut and condensed most of the show removing that annoying General Schmidt subplot.
I do like a good amount of the music so that was often a saving grace of the production not to mention the performances of Kevin Chamberlin and Janine LaManna, whom the latter I felt should've been nominated for and maybe even won the Tony.
I remember the "drama" over David Shiner being sent away but I never saw him in the role (I saw it with Cathy Rigby). It was just a very bizarre show that seemed to have so much potential and it just fell flat. Thankfully Ahrens and Flaherty rebounded with Man of No Importance right after this.
#10
Posted: 7/4/15 at 6:17pm
My biggest issue with the revised version is that the character of Jojo is not a part of the Seuss world. He "steps into" the world at the behest of the Cat in the Hat, but at times he "steps out" too. As a result, you never have the feeling that Jojo is ever in any jeopardy; you never fear for his safety or the outcome for his character because he can 'step out' of the story any time he wants.
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