I saw Beauty and the Beast last night, and......- Page 2

[emo_geek]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 11:43pm

TALKED about miscasting...

Enough read...

[suzycat]

Posted: 1/21/07 at 11:50pm

I saw the show a few weeks ago, and agree for the most part. Steve Blanchard was a major disappointment. He sings rather poorly and he seems to put no effort into acting. Also, I love John Tartaglia, but completely agree about his accent. It's pretty god-awful. But he's cute in the part and his flirtations with Babette are adorable.

[bially082]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 3:11am

how can Blanchard stay in that role when his performance is that bad? Don't they have standards to keep up?

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 3:19am

And the younger kids in the audience probably still loved it; this is the sad part about Broadway today; heck, society even. Companies can do whatever they want, and eventually the current generation won't care about the quality or legacy. Same rings true for all musicals, not just Disney's. Compare this to the good ol' days of Broadway, aka the golden age.

[wonderful1]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 6:51am

This does sadden me - the fact that it has become this bad. However, it lost a lot of its allure when they moved it from the Palace and scaled it down. None of the 'big' numbers seemed that 'big' anymore. I saw Steve Blanchard when he first started on Broadway - in this role - but, first as Gaston and he was great in both roles. It seems like he should have left a while ago - too bad. I remember my first time seeing it was with Chuck Wagner (Beast), Kerry Butler (Belle), Marc Kudisch (Gaston)and Gary Beach (Lumiere). None of them were really 'known' at the time - but, they were wonderful, and quite memorable. I remember thinking there was so much energy on that stage! So, perhaps they should have brought in new blood long ago to keep it fresh - - changing 'Belle' and 'Lumiere' every so often I guess just wasn't enough....

[santaclaus123]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 4:30pm

The problem is not the performances, or that fact that you believe the performers "don't care", it's the fact that long running shows often loose a resident director years into the run. The resident director's job is to make sure the performances read and ring true while supporting the heart of the story. To make a blanket statement that performers are miscast or as you said "don't care" is simply your observation. If you were in the business or even backstage at the Lunt, you would find that many of these talented, hard working performers value their jobs greatly, and care about the show they are doing. Everyone is entitled to their opnion, but just keep in mind, especially in light of the recent closing notice, that the performers in Beauty actually DO care about their jobs and will be sad to see the show go come late July.

[Spacedog78]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 4:34pm

I disagree. The performers know what kind of performances they are giving and how much effort they put into each show. Maybe I saw a bad performance, BUT it doesnt sound like I alone in my observations. I am happy it is closing. Make room for newer shows with fresher casts. You would think that since they are closing, they would boost their performance levels and "rock" for the last few months, atleast that is what I was hoping.

[santaclaus123]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 4:43pm

Are you backstage at the theater? How could you possibly know this information.? Again, that is your opinion of the performance you attended. All I am saying is that, for the most part, the performers on stage are truly talented and care about their jobs. Every company (yes, EVERY company) has bitter people that are unhappy with their lives, and it leaks into their performance. But to make a blanket statement about an ENTIRE company is over the top. You can say you are happy a show is closing, but don't belittle the people at the theater, on stage and off, that care about their jobs, and will be out of work in a few months. That's kinda a nasty thing to say about any company whether you personally liked the show or not.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 5:32pm

^So...who in the company are you dating?

[santaclaus123]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 5:40pm

I'm dating someone, but they've got nothing to do with B and the B. Nice one, though.

[mikeyb16]

Posted: 1/22/07 at 5:47pm

"I can't believe they've let Steve Blanchard continue all of these years with his sub-par performance. Didn't his contract ever expire?"

From what I read on Playbill.com, Jeff Mccarthy reprised his role a while ago (about 3 years) for a limited engagement of 8 weeks or maybe longer while Steve Blanchard left to do something, though I don't exactly know what he left to do

[avab802]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 4:21pm

I've never seen Beauty and the Beast. I want to see it before it closes, regardless of the bad reviews here. Is the view from the mid-mezzanine ok, or should I spend the extra $10 for orchestra or front mezz? (Discount code. I realize the difference in reg price is more than $10.)

[FutureElphie]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 7:45pm

when I saw it like 7 years ago I thought it was gr8!!! lol

[EganFan2]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 7:50pm

This really is sad. Go out with a bang, not a whimper.

I hope that when the time comes for Phantom to close, it won't be this bad. I know there are people who probably think it is that bad right now. But I dearly love that show--it was my introduction to live theatre and I would hate to see it go the same way as Beauty.

Posted: 1/25/07 at 7:53pm

With Schumacer saying there will be many surprises, I think Steve will be replaced by the always aliva and currently underused Terrance Mann.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 9:32pm

Phantom is in better shape than it was 5 years ago. Hugh Panaro stepping in back in 2003 really revitalized the show.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 9:38pm

I saw Phantom twice (so far), the second time with Hugh Panaro, and I couldn't believe it was the same show. The energy level was higher and there was a lot more connection among the actors on stage than my first viewing. And yes, I know we have drifted away from topic...

[caitlinette]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 3:31am

Spacedog -- how was the applause, after songs and at the curtain call? Do you think the other audience members weren't enjoying it much either? Did you overhear any comments from people about what they thought of it?

Posted: 1/26/07 at 6:12am

I'm no big fan pbut I always thought people said Phantom often escaped from the probs of long runs because Hal prince still goes every 6 months to check up on the staging, the cast, etc...