There's an article in the latest Sondheim Review that quotes Hal Prince at the (1971) Follies opening night party castigating "a morning newspaper drama critic who should go back to England."
Imagine the eternal shame of being Clive Barnes and having written "The cinematic music is a mixture of this and that, chiefly that. I doubt whether anyone will be parodying it in 30 or 40 years' time."
Clive ("After HAIR all Broadway musicals will have rock scores.") Barnes wrote so many stupid things during his career, I think he has his own rung in Hell. There his stupid predictions play endlessly on a loop.
It amazes me how different people's opinions of Bernadette's performance is. Some think she's playing it too mad and some think not crazy enough. It's truly interesting how people can see two different things.
The thing I've always struggled to comprehend with Sally is that both in Bernadette's and Victoria Clark's portrayals Sally seems like this sweet middle-aged woman just longing for the past until Buddy starts telling Phyllis about how horrible she is at home and how combative she is with their children. It's a little jarring considering how waif-like and meager she seems during the opening scenes and her first act songs.
I feel Bernadette's was a little more manic and desperate throughout whereas Clark was more successful in creating layers by being sweet and naive with Ben then sharp and cutting with Buddy.
Five stars from Hadley Freeman in the Guardian (though why she's reviewing is anyone's guess - possibly because she just happened to by in NYC at the time).
*be prepared for word vomit, I'm not feeling very articulate*
I just saw it tonight. Not gonna lie, had a little bit of a rocky start. Just felt a little discombobulated. Bernadette was sniffling, Ron's mike came up a second late, there was 1 trumpet squeak in the pit. The applause for everyone entering (even Bernie and Elaine) was polite but hesitant, no applause for many ppl).
"Beautiful Girls" was great.
Things seemed 'ok' from there. Just OK.
Then came the Montage...and from then on, it was smooth sailing.
Sans the first 15 minutes, the show was truly one of the best things I've seen on stage. I loved the DC production, there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. But this was at a completely different level. Absolutely sublime. Bernadette's voice sounded perfect after "Girls Upstairs". Ron Raines's performance beautiful - close to tears on Road You Didn't Take (and then for Buddy's Eyes). And his breakdown at the end!! Supporting cast is superb - wow, Elaine Paige rocks it! Really new, interesting, fresh take on Carlotta.
If I had no preconceived notions about Maxwell and her dancing ability before this, I would have said she is a great dancer. Really, the number WORKS. I don't know what it is, but it was smooth and energetic -- everything that number should be.
The only thing that was really better in DC was the sound quality. The Marquis is just a dead space. Marvin Laird was also on as conductor tonight.
I like the differences in the set (the stairs moving) and the dialogue that they added.
Overall great night. "I'm so glad I came."
Note: Elaine also changed the line before I'm Still Here tonight - has she done this before? She said "and 1800 people laughed their a**es off" as opposed to "and 1800 people fell apart."
On Friday night, right before the big finish for "I'm Still Here," the spotlight completely went out on Elaine Paige as did her mic for about 10 seconds or so. They were both restored just in time for the number to finish. Tech fail big time!
"If you want to complain about missed pickups or something that was actually preventable human error, fine. But don't assume you know what happened and who caused it."
Do you work on the show? Because you are taking my "Tech fail big time!" comment a little too seriously and personally, so just chillax, ravnquest1. I enjoyed the show even with the power surge. But now that you bring that up, I wonder if such power surge affected Bernadette Peters's singing voice...
What do you think of the current state of BP's voice :P? (And have you heard her sing recently in this show or another? - only because I think there are some people who find it unpleasant even when it is 'strong' I think).
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
qolbinau, her voice seemed off in the beginning (both speaking and singing). Overly shrill and squeaky. However, once it got to Buddy's Eyes all was good. It was really beautiful from then on. I personally hated her "Losing My Mind" in D.C. but last night it was absolutely wonderful. Now, maybe this was an acquired taste and I'm just used to it, but I think she did some things differently that I really really loved. It worked. And the audience loved it.
