FORBIDDEN BROADWAY is slipping

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:08pm

I celebrated New Year's Eve by seeing FORBIDDEN BROADWAY's 20th Anniversary Edition. I'm sad to say that this was the weakest performance of the show that I've seen. The material, especially in the first act, is lame. Is Gerard Alessandrini running out of steam? The skit about Harvey Fierstein playing other "diva" roles falls flatter than a pancake, and how many references to the GYPSY revival do we need? The Hugh Jackman/Liza segment goes absolutely nowhere.

The cast in uneven. When the show first opened the four performers were excellent in every impersonation they gave. Now the cast shines here and there but isn't consistent. I must say, though, that Valerie Fagan is terrific as Ethel Merman, and Leisa Mather's version of Bernadette Peters doing "Rose's Turn" is right on target (it's also side-splittingly funny!) Unfortunately Eric Gutman is the weakest link in the cast--nothing he does is really exceptional, but Michael West has a magnificent torso and it gets great exposure throughout the evening; especially in the Hugh Jackman segment.

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY used to be a searing and hilarious evening in the theater. It's current incarnation is only mildly entertaining.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:13pm

That's sad to hear, DP. When I last went, the theater was half-empty. Which new segments have they added since you last saw it? I thought the Mel Brooks segment needed to be removed.
It seems to me that the show was more successful underneath the Starlight. It's lost something in the Fairbanks, don't you think?

Yes, Michael West has a rather drool-inducing body. Updated On: 1/1/04 at 09:13 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:26pm

The PRODUCERS/Nathan Lane segment is weak.

The PHANTOM segment is poor.

The Dainty June sement should definitely be deleted.

Julie Andrews in MAMMA MIA is a bore

Oddly enough, the LES MIS segment holds up well.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:33pm

I last saw it in 2000 and found it wanting as well. Sorry to see it was part of a trend.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:43pm

Still, Corine "adores" this show. Go figure.

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:46pm

Ok
The Harvey number makes me laugh so hard I almost cry.
The Melanie number is classic.
The Les Miz number is great but I still prefer the older version 4 months more.
Come on how about the Sarah Brightman number it always kills me.

I love the Gypsy number it is clever with the Mendes stuff.
Forbidden Broadway is not slipping and i have seen it 12 times.
I say 40 years more to FB.
I want them to bring back the Chita Rita number. (Gerard's favorite and mine) Updated On: 1/1/04 at 09:46 PM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:47pm

I'd be curious to see if they add a Wonderful Town, Avenue Q, or Wicked segment before it closes. They could probably have a really funny parody with Val Fagan doing Idina. That woman can belt! I think she and Michael West are really the only saving graces right now. I had forgotten about Eric Gutman by the curtain call. Updated On: 1/1/04 at 09:47 PM

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:48pm

They do a parody on puppets.
Dolly the new skits (aka Hugh Jackman is weak but it is new.)
It takes time for them to get comfortable and campy with the material.
Yes I LOVE this show.
Give Eric Gutman time to get into the roles. He is very new.
You did not like the Rocky Horror bit about Times Square? Updated On: 1/1/04 at 09:48 PM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:50pm

Please explain.

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:56pm

Let's ruin Times Square again!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:57pm

I couldn't understand a word of the ROCKY HORROR skit.

The Harvey skit was so bad other people in the audience (including former Mayor Koch--I think he likes me) were commenting about it during intermission.

The puppets were cute, but the material was bleak.

Corine, had you seen this show in its original production at the Starlight Theater, you would have seen a different--and better--show.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:57pm

Gutman's actually been around for quite awhile. I'd think he would have gotten into it by now.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:00pm

Corine, you ruin Times Square every time you come within 30 feet of it!

Updated On: 1/1/04 at 10:00 PM

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:06pm

I have seen this show for the past 21 years.
I saw it at Paulsons, the Triad, the Stardust.
(Near Bloomies)
My favorite numbers are:
The Annie number
Le Miz
Sarah Brightman
The Chicago skit(Glossy Fosse them)
Can You Feel The Pain Tonight- Disney
Beauty's been Decreased!
Gypsy
They still have Dainty I thought they took that out with the horse number.

Updated On: 1/1/04 at 10:06 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:10pm

My gosh, you've spent an incredible amount of time seeing this show! That explains why you don't have time to find yourself a husband.

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:15pm

Rolls eyes.
In my opinion Gerard and his cast are genius. I remember when John Friedson and Gerard were starring in it.
Now that was classic FB!
Dolly it was a typo for god's sake you spelled Shakespeare wrong in an old thread.
Get a clue. He is bad mouthing Forbidden Broadway because I love it. Really Doll get a life. Updated On: 1/1/04 at 10:15 PM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:17pm

Sometimes I think it's more productive to see Forbidden Broadway rather than look for a husband.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:19pm

Corine (or should I call you "Little Miss Flunk English Again"?):

You don't use an apostrophe when you're forming the plural of a noun. Therefore it's "eyes", not "eye's".

The only thing worse than your taste is your ken of grammar.

Updated On: 1/1/04 at 10:19 PM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:29pm

DP, not to offend, but nor do you use the word "your" the way you did when YOU'RE forming a correction of someone's grammar.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:36pm

ShbrtAlley,

I'm not offended at all. I'm thankful for people like you who call these flaws to my attention. Nothing is worse than bad grammar--unless it's paying top price for a Broadway show and finding that you're seated next to Corine.

You'll notice that I've gone back to the offensive posting and corrected it.

Thanks again.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:38pm

You're very welcome. My mother being an ESL teacher, I have a tendency to zero in on mistakes.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:40pm

ESL teachers are living saints--and so is your mother.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 10:49pm

She'd appreciate the sentiment. I'd tell her, but she's asleep. Anyway, back to discussing the torso of Michael West...

[itstheM]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 11:51pm

Arguments here really wear thin...they all end up talking about grammar. Shbrt-didn't see M. West, but the understudy had a nice torso as well. However I don't know who he is b/c he was not listed in the playbill.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 11:55pm

Damn. We'll have to find out who this guy is.