#1
Posted: 7/18/17 at 9:35am
#3
Posted: 7/18/17 at 9:53am
Jeff Whitty has stated that he is no longer connected to this project; I wonder why this article still identifies him as the writer.
#6
Posted: 7/18/17 at 1:34pm
Who said there wasn't any interest? From what I heard, the lab this past winter was fantastic. Some people are just waiting until there is more info to pass their judgments. What is your issue with the show exactly? "Ugh" doesn't give too many clues.
#7
Posted: 7/18/17 at 3:18pm
As someone who has sat thru this show at the Oregon Shakespeare's Festival, I am begging that this show dies. This show was the worst thing I have ever seen. It was long, boring, and did not make sense. It was also very Homophobic, Transophoic, and racist.
#8
Posted: 7/18/17 at 3:19pm
That is a legitimate stance. I respect that. They have supposedly rewritten the show, for what it is worth.
#9
Posted: 7/18/17 at 3:40pm
Yeowch! It managed to hit all three of the biggies...
Glad you liked the GIF, Deena Jones. For the record, I hope you weren't blamed too much for Effie getting kicked out of the Dreams.
https://newplayexchange.org/users/99643/amanda-delalla
#10
Posted: 7/18/17 at 6:15pm
Another issue I had with the show was none of the song made sense. They were focusing the songs to work. They never did. The book was trying way to hard to be good. Also, it was 4 HOURS when I saw it. It was so long. I remember being glad I was a student at the university in town cause we got free tickets to the show. It did not sell well in Ashland. Everyone hated it
#11
Posted: 7/18/17 at 9:03pm
Just to clarify, the OSF production was never 4 hours long, it did clock in at 3 hours, but never 4. I should know, I was there. It was indeed racist, homophobic and transphobic and that was confusing as OSF seems to pride itself on diversity or what they consider diversity. The book was absolutely atrocious and the songs were indeed just shoehorned in. The design of that original production was also odd and not remotely cohesive. They seemed to think it would have life immediately afterwards but alas it hasn't until now. I did notice that this season OSF is doing a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor that uses A LOT of the same costumes, that odd mix of Elizabethan and 1980's. If it ever does make it to Broadway it will die a quick death even with a new book.
#12
Posted: 7/18/17 at 10:43pm
I didn't hate the musical, but the Go Go's deserve better. Wish this was a bio-musical. Their story as a band is ripe for a musical adaptation and frankly, they deserve more recognition as a band.
#13
Posted: 7/18/17 at 11:06pm
two ladies tickets said: "Just to clarify, the OSF production was never 4 hours long, it did clock in at 3 hours, but never 4. I should know, I was there. It was indeed racist, homophobic and transphobic and that was confusing as OSF seems to pride itself on diversity or what they consider diversity. The book was absolutely atrocious and the songs were indeed just shoehorned in. The design of that original production was also odd and not remotely cohesive. They seemed to think it would have life immediately afterwards but alas it hasn't until now. I did notice that this season OSF is doing a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor that uses A LOT of the same costumes, that odd mix of Elizabethan and 1980's. If it ever does make it to Broadway it will die a quick death even with a new book.
"
Thinking about it, it was over 3 but not 4. You are right. I am glad that we do agree about everything else about this horrible show.
#14
Posted: 7/18/17 at 11:40pm
I saw Head Over Heels at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015. It was a hoot, lots of fun and I had a wonderful time. Here's a video of Jeff Whitty talking about the production. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9hp4DKoAgc
A few points:
*The Go-Go's did not want a bio-musical.
*At one time, the show did run 4 hours. The director, who is listed in the program, refused to make any cuts or changes. He was fired. During the two week preview period, Bill Rauch, the OSF Artistic Director took over the show. He was also directing his production of Antony and Cleopatra. When I saw Head Over Heels, the show ran a little over 3 hours including the intermission.
*I did not feel the songs were shoehorned in. Some of the songs helped tell the story and others expressed what the characters were feeling at the moment.
*I did find the show to be racist, homophobic and transphobic. For those who say it is, please give specific examples.. I can't see Jeff Whitty writing a racist, homophobic and transphobic show on purpose, Perhaps some of the characters are homophobic and transphobic. At the end of the show, a lesbian relationship is celebrated.
*The design for the OSF was cohesive. The costumes for the current season's The Merry Wives of Windsor is a mash-up of Elizabethan and 1980s, BUT costumes from Head Over Heels were not repurposed for the production.
*The script could be clarified. I hope Jeff Whitty is still a part of the show.
*Casting will be a challenge. In addition to being able to act, sing and dance, the actors must know how to use heightened language. This was not a problem for the actors at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
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