Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review- Page 2
Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
#25re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 8:19amVery nice review. I very much enjoyed the show too. Just a question....can Bob Martin still get a nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for the Tony Awards, even if he only sings a little at the end?
#26re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 9:44am
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.
#27re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 10:01am
Right. But I *like* songs like Everyone's a Little Bit Racist, and yet found "Aldolfo" ridiculously offensive. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that sterotypical Latin lover characters are still trotted out on a fairly regular basis. I don't think we've reached a point where we can laugh at the absurdity of racist characters in musical theater history. I appreciate the joke about musical theater, but was made uncomfortable that some audience members were laughing, not because of the statement being made, but at the character itself.
You raise an interesting point, though, about the performances. It's a very, very fine line. How much can you appreciate a performance that's purposely, ridiculously over the top? How can you accurately critique acting that's SUPPOSED to be "bad"? It'll be interesting to see who, if anyone, is singled out by the Tony Awards.
#28re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 10:07am
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.
#29re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 10:18am
Yes, exactly. There's always a degree of subjectivity that taints our ability to appreciate any racially tainted "joke". I have no problem with Christmas Eve, but completely understand why your roomate does. Yet I always, ALWAYS feel offended by over the top, ridiculous latin characters. It's simply impossible to distance yourself.
And yes, Noah Rancey's "bad" dancing was fantastic. But there's a hindrance in playing 2 dimensional characters like these. It's tempting to take the "easy" road. To fully succeed at "bad" acting or dancing you need talented performers. But in the end, it is always, always, more challenging to do a nuanced performance. As talented as Danny Burnstein is, it's just a little too easy to go all out, and over the top. Should he be rewarded for that? Or should he be overlooked BECAUSE it's so over the top? Again..fine line.
#30re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 11:01am
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!!
#31re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 12:16pm
But there's a hindrance in playing 2 dimensional characters like these.
I totally agree; it takes a lot of talent to do that and still make it good and convincing, but it doesn't give the actors the opportunity to shine and be appreciated in the same ways as a role where they really have to go for... well, showing off.
The thing about Danny Burstein kind of makes me feel a little torn, though. By going over the top, he's doing what he's supposed to do; yet, it's not exactly pleasurable all the time, or to everyone. So it's hard to praise that unless you can either not be offended or distance yourself and take it all objectively. Both of those things are hard to do.
#32re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 12:38pm
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?
#33re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 12:40pm
Definitely. The other example would be Sutton, who has to play a flat character and do it subtly. That's probably way harder.
Burstein's performance, for me, walked the fine line between funny and grating -- you know, the part where he tells you ALL the million different ways he can say his name. But, the thing is.... do you blame the actor's performance, or do you blame the role itself?
#34re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:05pmVery well written, nice job!
To Kill A Mockingbird
#35re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:34pm
I have been considering this "Adolpho" question since I saw that some people are supporting him for awards.
I just don't see it. As Chica and Emcee have said, he is over the top and annoying, and while it is intentional it is still not "good" in any way.
The character is badly written, and the jokes are lame, overused, and in many ways offensive. I think the actors performance and the role are linked in ways that can not be seperated. You can only do as well as you can within the material, and his material does not merit the attention.
Sutton's subtle take on the vapidity of her character, and Bob Martin's performance are both quite excellent. I think Beth Leavel is closest to the issue with Burstein, her character is underwritten and in many ways obnoxious, but I felt that she carried it better, I got a better since of why she made the choices she did.
#36re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:39pmIt'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.
#37re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:42pm
Yes, the do a great job of playing "bad actors" which is why I love the show. That particular character is not compelling or nuanced at all though.
Yet the material is what it is, and I don't think you can award the actor for excelling in that material.
#38re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:45pmI 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.
#39re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:51pm
I think it does deliver that all in the words and actions of Man in Chair though, not through the show within the show.
It is the idea that of familiarity, of possibility and of a happy ending that he is in love with.
He loves it because it fails in so much but can keep going.
I also like the idea that all of these performances, and staging elements are all in his head. He never saw the show, this is just what he has pieced together from his study. None of it represtents anything other than his fears and hopes.
I do agree that in some essential ways the show fails to relate all those ideas, but I think in the one way of why he likes the show it really succeeds.
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#40re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:51pmnice review. I WANT to see this show- so bad.
#41re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:55pm
Right, exactly. I think I said in my review that the concept, by nature, is far better than the execution could probably ever be.
I partially agree with the assessment that it didn't deliver, in that the show the guy loves so much wasn't as magic *to me* as it is to him. I think there's inherent magic (this is so cheesy!) in the glitz and glamour, and big dance numbers, but I do think it delivers in making its point in concept -- I can totally tap into what he feels, and I think that's why for me, it worked.
#42re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:00pm
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.
#43re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:02pm
I do agree in part with your second paragraph.
Funnily, I'm one of the only people who apparantly missed the boat on Altar Boyz. The songs are catchy, but overall, I thought they went way too far with the same joke. It stopped being funny way before it was over, for me.
#44re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:05pmYeah, 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.
#45re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:07pmOh, no, I totally agree; they could've made the *exact* same point and still written memorable songs. The one that goes "wedding bells will ring" is like any other big, full company number, and the monkey on the pedestal thing is *hysterical,* but they could've done a better job with the score.
#46re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:09pm
"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.
#47re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:11pmLike I said, I didn't love his characterized delivery, but Bob Martin's commentary itself was my favorite part of the show.
#48re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:14pm
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.
#49re: Emcee's THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Review
Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:15pm
His commentary really makes the show.
I enjoyed his characterized delivery throughout though. It seemed appropriately resigned to the pains of the world, yet hopefull.
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