Fosse's BIG DEAL

[maybethistime]

Fosse's BIG DEAL#1

Posted: 3/21/08 at 12:54am

Did anyone see it? Thoughts?
There's not much out there about it...
"Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar" on the Tony's looks incredible.

[thetinymagic2]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#2

Posted: 3/21/08 at 1:56am

Yes. I worked there as a bartender and liked the show very much, even though the critics, as I remember it, skewered the show and said very nasty things about the genius Mr. Fosse. The saddest thing I ever saw was Mr. Fosse, sitting alone on the Broadway Theater interior staircase before a Sat. evening show after the reviews came out. I said hello, introduced myself, and he asked me, a nobody, "Why do they hate me so much?" I felt like crying, but tried to say something nice. It wasn't long after the show closed that he died...I believe in D.C
The show was based on the old Italian movie "Big Deal on Madonna Street"(?) and used old, great vintage music. At the time, some of my fave performers were in this show, including the fabulous Bruce Anthony Davis, John Mineo, Wayne Cilento, Cleavant Derricks, Loetta Devine, (and basically all of the great "fosse" dancers of that time.). It honestly wasn't Mr. Fosse's best work, but it was an effort at something a little bit different. Somewhere in Act I, I think there was a dancer who slid down an invisible wire from the first row mezz. to the stage, which always looked quite dangerous.

[WestVillage]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#2

Posted: 3/21/08 at 10:28am

I saw it, and "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar" was phenomenal!!! The rest of the show is kind of a blur to me, but that number was just amazing. And of course, some of the best Broadway dancers were in it, so no matter what, the audience was treated to incredible dancing and choreography. I agree, it was not Fosse's best work ... but I'll take Fosse's weakest work over some of today's choreography any day.

[BrodyFosse123]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#3

Posted: 3/21/08 at 11:22am

I was fortunate to see BIG DEAL about 5 times. The now-legendary "Beat Me Daddy..." number was just one of the many great numbers seen in this show, but it wasn't the be-all-to-end-all numbers IN the show. The "Me and My Shadow" number was equally good (and used in FOSSE) plus several others as well. The staging (and set design) was what made it an interesing evening in the theatre as Bob Fosse re-invented old standards (ala CRAZY FOR YOU) in both interpretation and choreography. There was a CHICAGO-esque tone to it (sorta commentary on society), which I believe is why most didn't 'get it'. Once again... Bob Fosse was touching on topics ahead of its time.

[WonderBoy]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#4

Posted: 3/21/08 at 3:48pm

saw it - loved it - think it would do much better today than it did then

"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds." ~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns

[Trish2]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#5

Posted: 3/21/08 at 5:27pm

True, "Beat me daddy" was a fantastic piece, but the dancers certainly contributed to it's strengths. Wayne Cilento and Bruce Anthony Davis alone "stole" that number. Such style and panache, and both attacked the Fosse style like no other male dancer. We're talking of the days when dancers weren't body builders, where they relied on their talent and uniqueness. Ah, the good old days......

[nitsua]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#6

Posted: 3/21/08 at 5:33pm

These kinda threads are what makes BWW so great.

"Writing is like prostitution. First, you do it for love, then you do it for a few friends, and finally you do it for money." ~ Moliere

[thetinymagic2]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#7

Posted: 3/21/08 at 5:46pm

Trish, does anyone know what has happened to Bruce Anthony Davis? I saw him about 7 yrs ago in Shubert Alley, and heard "rumors" regarding health, job difficulty, etc. Not sayin' it's anything to believe, but do any of you dancers know?

[WonderBoy]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#8

Posted: 3/21/08 at 6:06pm

I haven't seen him in years! I'll ask around and see what I can come up with too.

"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds." ~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns

[bertandrew2]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#9

Posted: 3/21/08 at 7:46pm

I saw BIG DEAL in previews in Boston. I am a huge Fosse fan, and though the productions numbers were all top notch and classic Fosse, I don't think the book worked. I'd seen BIG DEAL ON MADONNA STREET and just don't think the book did the story justice. I decided not to see the show when it moved to NY. (I did see Dancin' twice in Boston and four times on Broadway and am glad its coming back next year!!)

Oh and the BEAT ME DADDY number from BIG DEAL has a lot to do with the SING SING SING number from DANCIN--SING SING SING being the better of the two, in my opinion.

[thetinymagic2]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#10

Posted: 3/21/08 at 9:13pm

BertAndrew, can you ever forget Ann Reinking's "solo" in the Sing, Sing, Sing number (in DANCIN'), with those legs kicking straight back over her head!! Never equalled since! Absolutely amazing, technically and artistically!

[maybethistime]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#11

Posted: 3/22/08 at 1:59am

I can understand why it wasn't a commercial success in its time, but could it be revived, possibly with a re-worked book? Seems like CHICAGO had better luck the second time around, although the original production was far more successful than BIG DEAL...

How the book function exactly? It was a book-musical, not a revue, but it seems very "song-and-dance."

I was surprise not more of it was featured in FOSSE, particularly "Beat Me..."

And with this upcoming re-staging of DANCIN' in the works, is BIG DEAL not more ripe for revival, and more deserving of today's audiences? Something about it just fascinates me, and these stories are incredible.

[bertandrew2]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#12

Posted: 3/22/08 at 9:31am

Of course I remember Ann Reinkings SING SING SING solo! She was amazing. The last time I saw it, it was Sandahl Bergmen doing the solo (Ok, do you remember her from the movie ALL THAT JAZZ and also she was a muse in the film Xanadu).

[BrodyFosse123]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#13

Posted: 3/22/08 at 10:26am

maybethistime - I would love to respond to your PM, but you have PMs blocked.

[maybethistime]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#14

Posted: 3/22/08 at 3:02pm

So sorry! I had no idea! *fixed*

[thetinymagic2]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#15

Posted: 3/22/08 at 3:22pm

Personally I would love some sort of revival for this show. It should never have gone into the HUGE Broadway Theater. The scenic design was interesting, but on a totally black background, which was discussed by the critics ad nauseum. I think it would work in a much smaller venue, because it's all about the innuendos in Fosse's choreography. I know there's good dancers out there today, but not like the extremely nuanced artists of tap and soft shoe like "in the old days". I believe the entire score was Fosse's faves (in a good way!). I don't know exactly why, but every NY performance and show that Bruce Anthony Davis was in (even very small roles), I remember like it was yesterday! A tiny guy in person, and a million dollars on stage. Uniqueness personified.
Updated On: 3/23/08 at 03:22 PM

[maybethistime]

re: Fosse's BIG DEAL#16

Posted: 3/22/08 at 8:57pm

"A tiny guy in person"

That's another thing I find interesting about the "Beat Me" number. I know Wayne Cilento considers himself short--What is he? 5'6"? 5'7"?--and he and Bruce Anthony Davis are close to the same height, but they come alive and put so much energy into it, you'd never notice. They fill up the entire stage. Ah-mazing!