Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review — Page 2

How do you think it fit the theater? There was a thread a while back about how they were going to switch theaters. Do you think it got swallowed up? Or does it fit?

I didn't really see an issue with it, but since you brought it up, I'm trying to reconsider. The Marquis is a weird house, I think. It looks bigger than it actually is, and the mezzanine overhang is surprisingly low. I'm trying to visualize how you might get the impression that it's not a good fit for the house one way or the other, but I think maybe the fact that I was sitting in the front row takes away my perspective in that aspect.

wickedobsessed, I was wondering the same thing. Or, rather, I assumed that he could and was going to, and that it was sort of unfair because he barely sings. However, he's not going to win anyway; not with Cerveris and Young to compete with.

I'm glad I validated you, Chica. I must say, though, the "annoyance" for me may have been *more* with the over-the-top acting he had to put out, rather than the absurd racial stereotypes. I laughed some, but I also felt like rolling my eyes some, too. I think it's kind of like "Everyone's a Little bit Racist" in Avenue Q -- offensive, yet disturbingly funny. I think the laughter comes not from the fact that someone is up there being racist, but that the idea that "real" characters just like this is something all over musical comedy. Look at Ali Hakim in Oklahoma! I think, for me, I was laughing more at the joke on musical comedy than on his racist jokes.

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Updated On: 5/13/06 at 09:44 AM

Right, I understand. That's valid. My Chinese roommate was pissed off when she heard Christmas Eve's part in Everyone's a Little bit Racist; crude Asian stereotype.

I think that's my trouble with the acting; I feel like I couldn't accurately critique is because they, in many cases, had to purposely suck. But that's like... okay, in Never Gonna Dance, the scenes where Noah Racey had to dance like he was a terrible dancer -- but he's *amazing*. That happens a lot with dance, though; you need a good dancer to accurately look like a bad one. I guess it's kind of the same theory.

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That;s funny, Chica, i'm Latina as well but I laughed at Adolpho with no problem!! I never get worked up about stereotypes though. I can see how you would feel that way, but I couldnt help laughing!!

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Right. And it's also "easier" to pull off an over the top performance. Even though he does exactly what the role requires him to do (regardless of what I think of the character, he is indeed a fine performer), it's still, like you say, grating and annoying at times, and not just because I found the character offensive. It's a one joke premise that gets old fast. As a result, it's almost impossible to give an honest critique. How DO you judge acting that's just meant to be annoying?

Very well written, nice job!

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It's such a mixup, though. The character is badly written, but on purpose. So, the writers have done a good job of writing a stereotypically crappy character, which they presumably, if they're good, had to work at. And then the actor is fulfilling his duties by making the performance annoying, possibly offensive, yet still kind of funny. It's a really fine line of how much judgement is fair, because the layers are so melded together. The whole show is a joke at the expense of musical theatre cliché, so some of it *is* inherently not good to watch, but funny no less.

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I think inherently the IDEA behind the show is better than the execution. So, yes, the acting is supposed to be over the top, and the characters are supposed to be two dimensional, and the story predictable. But at some point, you HAVE to make some kind of distinction between what is funny BECAUSE it's supposed to be "bad", or what is simply an underwritten, bland, and obnoxious role. Or, in terms of the show itself, even though it IS a parody, and it's supposed to be over the top and ludicrous, there has to be at least some semblance of some...magic. Something to make us believe why Man in Chair is so in love with this show and its characters, despite their obvious flaws. And I feel that, in that sense, Drowsy Chaperone just doesn't deliver.

nice review. I WANT to see this show- so bad.

No, I get it. I do. I understand the motivations behind the character, and the idea of falling in love with a show. Bob Martin does pull it off, and the ending is oddly touching.

I just think that there's something lacking in the show within a show, that detracts from the overall message of what it is to be a TRUE musical theater fan. Too much parody, and too little of the love letter to musical theater aspect. It's a delicate balance, and I think they didn't quite pull it off.

As a random example, I was thinking of a show like "Altar Boyz", which is a parody of the pop music scene, and as such, the songs are supposed to be ridiculous, and campy. But the show actually provides catchy, memorable songs (which is part of its appeal). In contrast, the score for "Drowsy Chaperone" is weak, and hardly memorable. And I think it IS possible to do a "bad" show, or a "bad" score that's still memorable and good... Know what I mean? It just felt...mediocre, and forgettable. Which is a shame, because I think to be truly effective, this show needed to provide some memorable music, so that we too can rediscover our love of old fashioned musical theater.

Yeah, I know. But I mean, the songs itself, despite being "parodies", are actually catchy and well executed. I feel that Drowsy Chaperone could've and should've done the same. I don't think "this is supposed to be bad" should excuse a poor score.

"I just think that there's something lacking in the show within a show, that detracts from the overall message of what it is to be a TRUE musical theater fan. Too much parody, and too little of the love letter to musical theater aspect. It's a delicate balance, and I think they didn't quite pull it off."

I agree with that. I think it would have been better served with less parody, and more heart. I just think that Bob Martin pulls it off so well despite this that there may actually be MORE power in the fact that the show is pretty bad and forgetable.

I despise the Altar Boyz though, so I can not get behind that at all.

I totally agree about the score to Drowsy though, it is in most places bad, and "intentionally bad" or not, it is hard to listen to.

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Updated On: 5/13/06 at 02:09 PM

Right. I still LOVE this show. I just feel like it could've been so much better. It had the potential of being a truly great, classic piece of musical theater. And yet, it's just...a good, fun show, but not the masterpiece it had the potential to be.

And my point about the Altar Boyz has nothing to do with the quality of that show (which, I admit, I enjoyed, even though I agree with emcee; the premise gets old). Just the idea that it's possible to do parody songs that are memorable, and well executed.