I don't get Jackie Hoffman...help me understand her appeal

I have to admit that I have never seen her before, but I just don't get her. My wife positively hated her performance...'how much can I over mug'. I got sick of her shtick about half way through and wondered why John Rando did not reign her in or divide the role among several folks. Is there some role she was in that now allows her to mug to the point of annoyance?

In all other respects, I loved the show. I don't even think the theatre is an issue.

Updated On: 10/18/14 at 03:23 PM

Once again, not entitled to an opinion. I really thought she slowed things down. Sorry.

You are totally entitled to your opinion. I just don't believe you or your wife.

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Blow it out your ass.

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I apologize for the vulgarity but I believe that was indeed the only proper response.

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I thought she was perfectly suited for the show. She reminded me of a latter day Jerry Lewis which kind of fits the time period the show is set in. I enjoyed her for the very reason that she was over the top.

However I think starting a thread to denigrate a performer, ANY performer, is rudely ugly and insensitive.

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That is a fair point...I will not do it again...I can see that I could have done it differently

I thought Jackie Hoffman stole the show!

"That is a fair point...I will not do it again...I can see that I could have done it differently"

No worries, just know there's a thread for this

If you look at the live-television clip of Comden and Green performing "Carried Away" that I posted in the On the Town Reviews thread, you will get a sense of the kind of broad comedy that Betty Comden and Adolph Green enjoyed. They knew that musical comedy needed that as contrast to the tender and sentimental moments that came in the love songs.

It may surprise you, but Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins also enjoyed that kind of comedy and strove to attain it themselves in comic numbers like West Side's "Officer Krupke" or Wonderful Town's "Wrong Note Rag" and conga number or some of Robbins's comedic ballets.

John Rando let Jackie be inventive because it was the right thing to do.

Go watch the clip of Betty and Adolph--or some of the MGM movies they wrote screenplays for.

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I think people love Jackie because of her timeless beauty and sex appeal. Also, her glorious voice. Her graceful way of sashaying across the stage like an undulating river is in there too.

In Jarethan's defense, I definitely think this is a more Jackie Hoffman themed thread, and am glad that this conversation isn't driving the official ON THE TOWN thread horribly off-topic.

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Jackie Hoffman is arsenic-laced Borscht belt, and it's amazing.

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