HOW TO SUCCEED... Reviews- Page 2

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:40pm

LOL

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:44pm

Someone thinks this is better than Mormon? Seriously?

Nonetheless, I did actually enjoy How to Succeed, and even enjoyed Radcliffe's performance. Brantley seems to be particularly cruel in this review

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:51pm

PalJoey he does have positive things to say about Radcliffe and Ellen Harvey, and doesn't seem to HATE the production like he hated THE ADDAMS FAMILY or THE LITTLE MERMAID, he just finds it bland.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:54pm

April,

Pay no attention to fflagg. She hates everything after 1967.


The general feel I'm getting from the reviews is that Mr. Radcliff is okay-to-good in the role, and not great. Which is too bad, since the entire production is hinging on him.

[Sauja]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:56pm

I didn't find Brantley cruel, largely because I agreed with him, I admit. Like him, I really WANTED to like Radcliffe in this. I thought he was wonderful in Equus, and in interviews I find him grounded, charming, and thoughtful. I think he's a very talented actor, and his effort and commitment are visible on the Hirschfeld stage. That said, I just found very little to enjoy about his performance or the production itself. I lay the blame most heavily at Rob Ashford's feet since nothing seems to come together and none of the very talented cast members seem to be delivering at full potential--nt because they aren't trying but because nothing about the direction sticks. This is nowhere near the worst show of the season, but for me it was one of the most disappointing because my hopes were so high. Ah well. Not everything can be great.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:56pm

Judging by the audience reactions to Radcliffe both times I've seen the show, the show will have no problems selling tickets as long as Radcliffe is in it. The audiences love him.

While I agree with a lot of what Brantley says about the production, particularly Ashford's busy choreography (though I loved the staging of Brotherhood of Man), I thought he missed the mark on Radcliffe, who I thought was outstanding.
Updated On: 3/27/11 at 10:56 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:58pm

As much as I like Aaron Tveit and as fantastic as his voice sounded the other night at CATCH ME, he brought a fraction of the charm, energy, and gusto that Radcliffe brought to his role. I'm still hoping the Tony would go to Radcliffe (and I don't think it's out of the question at this point). I would love to see him win. Without him, this production would have been a complete and total misfire. Even when nothing around him works, Radcliffe nails it. Is he perfect? No! But he's charming as hell, he gives 160%, and he is just flat out genuinely very, very good. Granted, I have yet to see PRISCILLA and can't comment on Tony Sheldon.

[tkts]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 11:24pm

Shockingly I agree with WiCkEDrOcKS as I hate Wicked. lol

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 11:46pm

I remember when Tony awards went to outstanding performances, not just ones that were 'good' or 'energetic'.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 11:55pm

TheatreDiva: It's theatre. It's all subjective. Patti Lupone - who I think was incredible in "Gypsy" - won, but I know many who hated her performance. You're never going to find a person that everyone agrees 100% on. I've heard Radcliffe is really great in the role, not just "energetic." I thought he was great in "Equus."

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 12:05am

Please don't compare Daniel Radcliff to Patti LuPone.

[DCROCKS]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 12:37am

I honestly don't know what show Ben Brantly saw!!! Thank god other reviewers are giving it the the accolades it deserves!

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 12:44am

Hey Sauja--Even if I agreed with Brantley that Radcliffe didn't fit the bill here, I'd still say his review was cruel because he uses this really insulting, seemingly endless metaphor of a Dancing with the Stars reality show, with Radcliffe getting a 6 out of 10. Even though I agree with Brantley most of the time, I sometimes find his tone really offensive...and pretty much the opposite of constructive.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 12:49am

You missed my point.

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 1:56am

"I sometimes find [Brantley's] tone really offensive...and pretty much the opposite of constructive."

Sorry to get all "real world" on you, but constructive criticism is for parents to give their kids, for friends to give their friends, and for teachers to give their students.
This is the big leagues. When a show opens, "construction" is complete, the show is frozen and it's time to call a spade a spade.
I think honest critique seems cruel to some because Radcliffe is only a kid. Guess what. This kid's set for life financially, and he'll probably find work in movies and/or television for the rest of his life based on Harry Potter. He'll get over not being a musical theater star.

And let's please be honest, he was not cast because he's "The Next Great Musical Theater Star!".
He was cast because he is a drawing card.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 1:58am

I see your point RippedMan. For every person who voted for LuPone to win, I'm sure there were a few others who were pulling for O'Hara for example. It's all subjective.

[Almira]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:14am

I think honest critique seems cruel to some because Radcliffe is only a kid.

I think people have to stop thinking of him as a kid. 21 years old is an adult. Granted a young adult, but an adult.

Ben Brantley isn't the mean ol' sandbox bully bent on making some some little kid's life miserable. He is critiquing an adult male who has been working most of his life in a business that is based on being publicly judged.

Radcliffe doesn't need his classmates to come to his defense. He left the playground long time ago and can handle the real world.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:16am

I think Brantley's not so subtle DANCING WITH THE... comparision is a reference to the way Broadway Musicals have to be cast these days (though MORMAN is the glorious exception) that you need to shoe horn a Star to the role and show if it fits or not. It is also a nod to the fact that in this case audiences will flock (as they do to the TV show) and not give a crap as to what he says.
He just says it in a snarky way.
The interesting thing will be to see if these producers can turn a profit which (I believe) they failed to do with PROMISES even though it took in over a million most weeks of it run.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:19am

I thought PROMISES, PROMISES was a hit due to it's extension?

EDIT: False, I just searched playbill and came up with nothing.

Updated On: 3/28/11 at 02:19 AM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:29am

"Please don't compare Daniel Radcliff to Patti LuPone."

Why the hell not? Both are professional actors. Both have a huge fan base. Both have delivered adequate, and sub par performances in their time. Patti has quite the collection of nasty reviews, she can and has done plenty wrong.

There is nothing wrong with the comparison that was made, and it was a good point. Not everyone cared for Patti in Gypsy, some believe she was downright terrible, and the same will go for Radcliffe here. Seems like a perfectly logical and acceptable comparison to me.

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:29am

You're right, Almira.
At 21 he's not a kid.
I was trying to make the point that even if Radcliffe were a 12-year-old, this is professional show biz, and if you are on that stage, name on the marquee, and cashing a nice paycheck, (not to mention eligible for a Tony nomination) it is in no way "cruel" that you should be judged by professional standards.

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:44am

...and at this point in my life, Almira, anyone under 25 seems like a kid to me.
(That's no slight to young people, just my current perspective from the vantage point of middle age!)

[allofmylife]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:51am

Fred Astaire, Bill Robinson, Gene Kelly, Alfred Drake, John Raitt, Howard Keele, Bob Fosse, Richard Kiley, Tommy Tune, Joel Gray, Greggory Hines.

Those are real....

Oh, what's the point? Fran and Barry win. Stunt casting is here to stay.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:52am

I'm surprised at Brantley's review. I guess his hate for Rob Ashford made him lose his hard on for Radcliffe.

[Almira]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:55am

I hear you, TimeSquared.

I was really addressing my comment to the group referenced here:

His effortful performance is sure to stir maternal instincts among women of all ages (and probably some men too) and comradely protectiveness among his fans.