"'FOSSE/VERDON' COMING TO FX"- Page 15

[Kad]

Posted: 5/15/19 at 10:16am

I actually thought this was perhaps the weakest episode thus far! I appreciated the conceit of framing this episode with the Fosse-as-Lenny bits, but, for me, it sort of made the episode rather inert. 

I thought Margaret Qualley was excellent as Reinking, though! The sex scene and the subsequent hospital hallway scene were devastating. 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/15/19 at 12:21pm

Kad said: "I actually thought this was perhaps the weakest episode thus far! I appreciated the conceit of framing this episode with the Fosse-as-Lenny bits, but, for me, it sort of made the episode rather inert.

I thought Margaret Qualley was excellent as Reinking, though! The sex scene and the subsequent hospital hallway scene were devastating."

I agree with you about the actress playing Reinking. She is luminous and nurturing. 

 

[FosseTharp]

Posted: 5/15/19 at 1:00pm

SmoothLover said: "Did Gwen really have a boyfriend named Ron?"

 

 

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Ron is supposed to be based on Jerry Lanning. 

 

 

The  past two weeks episodes have been the best of the whole mini series.  Special shout outs to Minkie Spiro for Directing and Ike Holter for writing the episode— the best written and directed episode to date.  

 

 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 5/15/19 at 5:55pm

Margaret Qualley and, of course, Michelle Williams are my favorite things about this. They’re both luminous and dead on playing women who I already loved anyway.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/15/19 at 10:08pm

What's with all the navel gazing these last two episodes? While Williams continues to delight with new layers each week, Rockwell hasn't given us much new to devour, the whole will he/won't he of last week got old quickly, and the Fosse and Lenny did nothing for me. I did like "Toung Fosse"and Uranowitz, but where's the conflict? What's driving this thing, especially with only two more episodes left? 

Updated On: 5/15/19 at 10:08 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/15/19 at 10:23pm

Ann Reinking in Gwen Verdon's dressing room before taking over the role of "Roxie" in the original Broadway production of "Chicago"



 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/15/19 at 10:53pm

Margaret and Michelle look fabulous in the Roxie get-up. 

[PerforMeg2]

Posted: 5/15/19 at 11:00pm

Wowza! What a picture! I recall from the preview of the entire season that Williams as Gwen is at some point throwing things at Bob and screaming "A chorus girl in my show!" I assume she was referring to Reinking taking over in Chicago...though this makes it look like she was okay with it. I'm learning that Gwen was probably pretty good at putting on a happy face. Someone may know better than I do what that's about. 

Margaret Qualley-enjoy her as an actress but am not buying her in particular as Ann Reinking, probably because we've seen so little of her performing, and that's what we have to go off of since obviously, I don't know Reinking personally.  I hope we get to see Margaret perform something more so we can see if she can recreate Ann's incredible magnetism. She has done some lovely work so far but it seems she's been relegated to "supportive, confused young girlfriend" and I'd love to see more. 

BTW a very fun PBS documentary on YouTube from the early '90s about Bob, showing him dancing early in his career, with Verdon commenting...forgive me if others have posted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wnSGs33JK4.) 

FINALLY looks like we'll get some Chicago recreation next week...I've been waiting with bated breath! 

Updated On: 5/15/19 at 11:00 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 8:47am

BTW a very fun PBS documentary on YouTube from the early '90s about Bob, showing him dancing early in his career, with Verdon commenting...forgive me if others have posted.

This 1990 documentary titled STEAM HEAT was part of PBS’ Dance in America series.   Gwen Verdon won an Emmy Award for producing it.  

[kofler22]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 11:49am

I hope next week´s episode will show more show footage! The All that jazz sequence was way too short! haha

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 12:03pm

kofler22 said: "I hope next week´s episode will show more show footage! The All that jazz sequence was way too short! haha"

Well, of course.  Episode 7 (titled "Nowadays" -- directed by Thomas Kail) will show the "Nowadays" number from CHICAGO.  The original set designer Tony Walton helped recreating his original 1975 Broadway production's 2-tier/neon set for FOSSE/VERDON.  

The reason we only saw in Episode 6 the rehearsal of "All That Jazz" was because Bob Fosse suffered his first heart attack while CHICAGO was in rehearsal.  CHICAGO resumed rehearsals once he recovered. 









The real Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon: 



 

[kofler22]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 2:38pm

Wow, that looks awesome! Can´t wait!!

I was rooting to see Michelle recreating some of Charuty´s stage numbers, If my friends could see me now, perhaps...but due to the fact that we only have one episode to go with a lot of story to develop (after the Nowadays one) I don+t see it coming...

[NJGUY]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 3:35pm

When I saw FOSSE on Broadway, Gwen Verdon and Anne Reinking were right behind us in the audience and they were chatting it up like two best friends. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 3:41pm

I was rooting to see Michelle recreating some of Charity´s stage numbers, If my friends could see me now, perhaps...but due to the fact that we only have one episode to go with a lot of story to develop (after the Nowadays one) I don+t see it coming...

Don’t rule anything out just yet.  I do know the 1986 revival of SWEET CHARITY is being dealt with in the series so who’s to say they might not have a flashback to the original 1966 Broadway production?   There could be at least some flashes of it as they’ve done in some episodes.  There’s 2 episodes left, by the way.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 3:43pm

NJGUY said: "When I saw FOSSE on Broadway, Gwen Verdon and Anne Reinking were right behind us in the audience and they were chatting it up like two best friends."

FOSSE was created by both women and Ann Reinking is one of the show’s directors.  

 

[ARTc3]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 5:06pm

I am so disappointed with this series. Many of the performances are wonderful, but the writing, direction, choreography and dancing are all subpar and at times sloppy. Bob Fosse was anything but sloppy.

I also take objection to how Gwen Verdon is being portrayed. Not Ms. Williams' performance, but the writing.

I really wanted this to be brilliant. It's not.

[bk]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 6:08pm

ARTc3 said: "I am so disappointed with this series. Many of the performances are wonderful, but the writing, direction, choreography and dancing are all subpar and at times sloppy. Bob Fosse was anything but sloppy.

I also take objection to how Gwen Verdon is being portrayed. Not Ms. Williams' performance, but the writing.

I really wanted this to be brilliant. It's not."

Shhh.  They don't like this sort of thing around here :)  I learned that weeks ago.

 

[artscallion]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 6:26pm

PerforMeg2 said: "BTW a very fun PBS documentary on YouTube from the early '90s about Bob, showing him dancing early in his career, with Verdon commenting...forgive me if others have posted.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wnSGs33JK4.)!"

 

I thought this documentary was far more entertaining than Fosse/Verdon is. I find it a ploddingly depressive exercise with editing that constantly reminds me of All That Jazz, another version of this story that was far more entertaining.

 

[bk]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 10:27pm

artscallion said: "PerforMeg2 said: "BTW a very fun PBS documentary on YouTube from the early '90s about Bob, showing him dancing early in his career, with Verdon commenting...forgive me if others have posted.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wnSGs33JK4.)!"



I thought this documentary was far more entertaining than Fosse/Verdon is. I find it a ploddingly depressive exercise with editing that constantly reminds me of All That Jazz, another version of this story that was far more entertaining.

"

That's been my problem with this series from the start - it's dreary.  Where is the joy of creation?  I've talked to enough folks involved in some of his shows to know there was joy in the rehearsal room.  All we get is dreary, week in and week out - some weeks more than others.  Yes, it's occasionally fun to see partial numbers recreated, but then we're right back to the soap opera.  

And snarky response coming in five, four, three, two, one...

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 11:02pm

I think my favorite moment thus far was Michelle singing Where Am I Going at the piano  in the beach house. The beach house episode was the best by far.

The series is far from perfect but if you love the theatre you can't help but look forward to watching it. I found once I took off my critic's hat I was able to enjoy it even more so.

The Stephen Schwartz article on this web site was fun to read. Interesting that he referred to Fosse as nasty and a bully but how he had the utmost respect for his artistry. 

Updated On: 5/16/19 at 11:02 PM

[mc1227]

Posted: 5/17/19 at 12:23am

I think I’ve lost interest in this because I’ve come to the realization that I don’t like either of them.  I love their talent and have enjoyed many collaborations but what awful people and parents they were.  The sex scene in the hospital bed was enough for me to bail.  

[morosco]

Posted: 5/17/19 at 1:14am

From a "tab" version (one act, 90 min.) of "Chicago," 1985, Harrah's Marina, Atlantic City, with Chita Rivera (Roxie), Kirsten Childs (Velma), Harry Guardino (Billy), and Marsha Bagwell (Mama Morton). The sets (Tony Walton) and choreography (Bob Fosse) are based on the '75 Broadway originals.

CHICAGO

Updated On: 5/17/19 at 01:14 AM

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/17/19 at 2:58am

mc1227 said: "I think I’ve lost interest in this because I’ve come to the realization that I don’t like either of them. I love their talent and have enjoyed many collaborations but what awful people and parents they were. The sex scene in the hospital bed was enough for me to bail."

I think the sex scene could have been more implied. It did not need to go as far as it did so I have to agree with you. We would have gotten the idea just as we got the idea that he was raped by the strippers as a child performer. I am not a prude by any means, but I did not find it necessary and it was a bit incongruent to the rest of the series. On a lighter note I was a bit worried that Fosse was going to have another heart attack by testing his manhood so early after surgery.

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/17/19 at 11:15am

I’m not easily disturbed, but the sex scene in the hospital bed made me sick to my stomach.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/17/19 at 11:29am

Yes, I found that to be extraordinarily uncomfortable to watch. I think simply showing the lead-up and then cutting to Reinking in the hall would have been more effective.