HOW TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES by Marc Shaiman — Page 2

Kander and Ebb should have plenty of money saved up from their previous successes, Chicago and Carabet among them. I definitely see the philosophy regarding not putting your own money into a show, but if you've reached a level of success and are truely confident in your material than that's a rule worth breaking.

Reading Ebb's comments though about Hairspray, and about Marc Shaiman, he's obviously out of touch with reality.

they just added a link to it (The Fred Ebb attack) in the article...last paragraph

What does this even mean?

"Nobody has any right to intrude his private life on a mass audience," [Ebb] grumbles. "It is intrusive. "

I don't think a person can intrude his own private life on a mass audience. I think a mass audience can intrude on a person's private life. I would have previously assumed somebody like Ebb would understand what that word means.

So, basically, he thinks Marc and Scott are what one poster on the off-topic board considers to be "hard core gay fanatics?" Because THEY KISSED? He sounds very Arthur Laurents vs. Harvey Fierstein circa La Cage.

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Updated On: 12/28/03 at 01:44 AM

Oh. Sorry. Was he sitting behind you? My bad.

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Back on the soapbox, guys.

Best (Beast?) of Broadway-

You wrote:

"MrsB- Wow! Me? Fred Ebb!!?? What a compliment!"

If you think being mistaken or compared to a marginally talented, self-laothing gnome is a complement- have at it.

It is ironic that a man who made a lot of money from gay themed shows (SPIDERWOMAN, CABARET) should be cowering in the closet, next to his Depends and Liza memorabilia. Is he afraid his mother will find out? Who can't tell he's gay? And in the theater, shouldn't it be a non-issue?

I wonder if he found COUPLING offensive (God knows I was offended- but by how BAD it was)? But it is only homosexuals showing they are capable of love and not just sex terrifies Ebb. Molind and Valentin can kiss for "art" (and his bank account) but men who kiss in reality and are not ashamed threaten a man who makes Strom Thurmond look enlightened.

And it cracks me up Ebb praised Terrence McNally for "classy work" when most hetero Joe and Joan Average would consider CORPUS CHRSTIE scariligous. What's sacreligous to me is the man who helped create LIZA MINELLI is afraid to acknowledge who he is- no wonder his lyrics are pedestrian and lack heart and depth.

You decry HAIRSPRAY for being commercial- I guess that does not apply to bringing in tv stars (a la the Weisslers) to keep CABARET going.

You trash shows that are not written yet- doubtless because you will never be in them. I don't find the idea of LEGALLY BLONDE an exciting one but who knows what it might turn out to be? And maybe it will inspire someone to perform or write or follow a dream. I LOVED CATS when I was in jr. high and it came out (I know! I know!) but it opened the door to Broadway for me- it made me want to see more and learn. You think they are lousy ideas- then don't see them. Put your ticket money toward therapy or for an operation to remove your head from a part of you lower anatomy. That is if you ever even GO to shows- something tells me you are part of the bitteratti- people who write first hand accounts of things they have never seen.

And as for you B.O.B.- when Bacall was in WOMAN OF THE YEAR (another hacky piece of Shlock from Ebb) she was known as BOB- bitch of broadway. I think we should pass the moniker BOB to you- only for Bitter on Boards.

She had me at

"Best" of Broadway

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I was trying to protect your confidentiality! But Ebb IS arguing from the same line of logic as you.

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there is one thing in disagreeing on something, bitchofbroadway, however, you do do not disagree.. you go waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy out there and spend NO time doing anything but trashing ONE show.. so obviuosly you must have SOME motive other than not liking the show or its creators and stars....

Okay, hi, this thread isn't about you. It's about Marc's essay, and reactionary queens. Oh, wait.

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Who said that Shaiman did? Mrs.B does.

Have fun dancing to Cooties. I hope you have loads of fun.

Updated On: 12/28/03 at 11:57 AM

?

What I find amusing is B.O.B's comparison and then quoting lyrics to Cooties proving his point. Has no one bothered to tell B.O.B that Marc Shaiman writes the MUSIC, not the lyrics?

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