Guys and Dolls Review Posts go here!- Page 4

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 9:00am

Welcome Elisabeth Vincentelli. That was a wonderful first column.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 9:09am

I don't think this anything to do with a "rush" job. It's just a bad job.


Who would think that GUYS AND DOLLS would NEED an out of town run? They had a decent preview run here...seems like they weren't interested in changing anything.

I know people keep saying that since it's been selling well, that these bad reviews might not make a big difference....but I think it will hurt the upcoming sales. Folks are being so much more careful with the money they spend.

I have to admit, I was only minimally interested in this to begin with....and it never quite made it onto my "wanna-see" list. Now it's moved onto my "don't-wanna-see" list.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 9:15am

Everything mentioned in the reviews (the problems with Runyon, the sets that dwarf the actors; the marquees that dwarf the sets; Oliver Platt's lack of charisma; Lauren Graham's stilted line delivery; Mary Testa's inappropriate scene chewing) have been pointed out from the beginning, both here and on ATC.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 9:42am

Ouch Ouch ouch

Ive not seen the production so cant comment but i love Guys and Dolls, how the hell did they get it so wrong?

They should have just taken our UK production of the show over as planned.

[boyfromoz2]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 10:47am

Sadly the Donmar sets are down in Australia on what was billed as a "pre-Broadway" tour. Maybe if there wasn't so much pressure to bring the show back, this trainwreck wouldn't have happened and the Donmar production could've come in around Fall 2009. Oh well, opportunity missed

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 10:52am

What do you mean by "pressure" to bring the show back? (Not being snarky....just curious.)

[boyfromoz2]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 10:57am

I think that since the Donmar production opened in 2005, there has definitely been a renewed interest in reviving the show on Broadway. Would you agree?

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 10:59am

I don't know about that. When this revival was first announced, the first thing I thought was, "Why?"

Yeah, there were whisperings about getting the Donmar production transferred, but not anything more.

[boyfromoz2]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 11:04am

I think there was a definite renewed interest on these boards, eg:
1. https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=897292
2. https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=937496&dt=4
Also here: https://www.playbill.com/news/article/108587.html


Updated On: 3/2/09 at 11:04 AM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 11:06am

Thoughts on a closing date? Is the show's name big enough to keep it around at least until Tony season?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 11:10am

You know how much money this show's making in this economy? It's not going anywhere because Brantley didn't like it.

[EnWashingtonHeights]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:12pm

http://www.broadway.com/Guys-and-Dolls/broadway_reviews/5022338

word of m

videos of LBAL and sit down yrtb

[boyfromoz2]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:21pm

Wow ... who would think this show would get a rave? Yes it's broadway.com, but still ... how?

[jbdc]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:32pm

http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/exploreli/ny-etdoll026053569mar02,0,3776856.story

above from newsday

what's in the daily news? i'll tell you what's in the daily news...

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2009/03/02/2009-03-02_guys_and_dolls_tries_and_falls.html

[lull89]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:33pm

^^^^^^
Does anyone else think Barbara in that Word of Mouth video seems a little drunk?

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:35pm

I highly doubt GUYS & DOLLS will lose much, regardless of the terrible reviews.

It's still a household title. Tourists will eat it up (and then spit it out after they've seen it).

[jamoca5]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:43pm

"there's not a bad seat in the house" -Fred from WoM

I beg to differ. I sat in the right side of the orchestra and the view was terrible, at least for that production. I believe with the bright neon lights the only place to see this is from the mezzanine.

Personally, I wasn't really impressed with this, but like someone said, Guys & Dolls is still a popular show, so it most likely won't lose much money.

~Ash was here

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:46pm

Wow ... who would think this show would get a rave? Yes it's broadway.com, but still ... how?

Ahem...

it's broadway.com

[willep]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:54pm

Why can't anyone give us a clip of Lauren Graham singing??

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:55pm

Two comments. I was at the Saturday matinee, sitting next to a middle-aged woman. She was with her two sons (both adults) and told me this was the first Broadway show they'd ever seen, even though the sons live in NYC. I think we've lost two Broadway theatregoers for life.

Also, this is the first time that I can recall a show's bad review making the first page of the Post -- and in a screaming headlline. Does anyone know of any other show's having faced this humiliation?

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:55pm

Two comments. I was at the Saturday matinee, sitting next to a middle-aged woman. She was with her two sons (both adults) and told me this was the first Broadway show they'd ever seen, even though the sons live in NYC. I think we've lost two Broadway theatregoers for life.

Also, this is the first time that I can recall a show's bad review making the first page of the Post -- and in a screaming headlline. Does anyone know of any other show's having faced this humiliation?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 12:55pm

Channel Four News gave it an out and out rave. They said it was the best revival of GUYS AND DOLLS ever and loved, loved, loved both Graham and Platt.

Um...what show did they see and where can I get tickets for it?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 1:06pm

PS: Oh. My. God. Barbara is wasted in the WORD OF MOUTH review. HYSTERICAL!!

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 1:07pm

One of the comments that surprised me from the reviewers is the Bierko and Grant have little or no chemistry. I have heard people on this site who saw the show say the exact opposite....that Graham and Platt have no chemistry (shocking) but Bierko and Grant ooze chemistry. I guess to each his own!

I have never seen a professional production of this show (only a so so high school production.) But I am still excited to see this. I love the music and the book so I am going in optimistic.

I never agree with the critics anyway. Let's hope by April it has gotten stronger!!!!

[insertclevernamehere]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 1:59pm

Does anyone else think Barbara in that Word of Mouth video seems a little drunk?


YES. She seems totally wasted and I love it. World of Mouth always needs at least one mildly interesting person. Last year, it was the girl who ragged on Crybaby and Glory Days in the best way possible.