Is James Barbour ever going to be back on Broadway- Page 3

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 11:53am

maybe he'll do something autobiographical like lolita.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 11:55am

"I think this whole James Barbour thing is unfortunate, and as much as I would like to see him back on Broadway - I highly doubt that the producers are going to risk millions of dollars on him. I would be VERY surprised if he actually came to New York."

It is absolutely unfortunate. Just last night I was surfing the site that shall not be named and came across a vid of him singing "Let Her Be a Child". I was practically in tears because of how beautiful it is. He's such a talent and it's a shame he had to throw so much away.

This is a great show and I truly hate to see such a dark cloud hanging over it. I've actually been considering emailing the producers and saying that I think he ought to be recast. As great as he was in the show I think they might be better off without him. But if they recast James they may recast Derek and I enjoyed his performance. And I'd hate to see any innocent people pay the penalty for Barbour's idiocy. But I'm afraid that'll happen no matter what decision the producers make.

But here's a question . . . if not James then who? Who in the Broadway community do you guys think could carry the show as well as (or better than) Barbour did?

Updated On: 3/30/08 at 11:55 AM

[winston89]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 12:17pm

I thought that from back when the show was in Sarasota out of town. The producers of the show knew that the arraignment for Barbour was coming up, and they were taking the stand by your man approach to the situation. That whatever happens they were sticking by him.


It would suck for him to have producers who were willing to stand by him and support him prior to the arraignment. Even going so far as taking the come what may we are standing by our man approach. To have that happen would really suck.

And, it is going to be a big thing for the producers of any show he gets cast in to be the producers of his first broadway show that he is in after his time in jail.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 12:22pm

It would suck for him, yes, but the producers would almost be foolish to come to Broadway with him. It's just a disaster waiting to happen.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 12:27pm

By all published accounts the producers are still taking the "stand by your man" approach and while it's admirable it's going to hurt them in the long run. Have you ever heard of an "admirable" producer?

And this is going "suck" for Barbour for a very long time - if not forever. This is a black mark on his resume for the rest of his career.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 12:30pm

Yeah, it sucks, and as much as I wish it didn't happen, it's his fault. He put himself in this situation, put his career on the line, and risked his good name. While I have varying thoughts on the actual crime and the actual labeling of him as a sex offender, there's no one to blame but himself.

[Ladyofthe Lake]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 12:32pm

It is absolutely unfortunate. Just last night I was surfing the site that shall not be named and came across a vid of him singing "Let Her Be a Child".

Oh, the irony of that song title.

It's unfortunate he didn't keep it in mind when dealing with his underage fan. It would have saved everyone, including him, a great deal of grief.

[winston89]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 12:34pm

I don't see how this would be a foolish move on the producers of A Tail of Two Cities. Pretty much because they had said outright that they were going to support him and he would still be with the show if ( and of course it did) it got to Broadway. They knew when they were saying that that they were saying something pretty big. My guess is that they assumed the worst when they said that.

And keep in mind one major thing. I think that we are making the story bigger then it actually is. This isn't major news anywhere else but here. Sure, it may have been in papers in small articles or online but no one really got that into it. Or in some cases new about it. Then the people here on BBW got talking about it and started to treat the news of the event as if it was a big deal everywhere. I am not trying to downplay what Barobur did as good or acceptable. It's not. But, what I am trying to say is that maybe the story in and of itself isn't as big as we are making it out to be. Keep in mind that it feels like everyone who follows Broadway so closely posts here and it is a story relating to a Broadway actor so it might get more people here talking.

That is just my two cents on the whole thing.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 12:35pm

"Yeah, it sucks, and as much as I wish it didn't happen, it's his fault. He put himself in this situation, put his career on the line, and risked his good name. While I have varying thoughts on the actual crime and the actual labeling of him as a sex offender, there's no one to blame but himself."

This is exactly how I feel about the situation. I don't know all of the details of the crime but I do think the "predator" label is a little harsh. And I'm saying this on the assumption that there are no other young women waiting in the wings to speak out. I think "idiot", "moron", and "fool" would be better labels.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 12:40pm

i think they're betting that any media's good media, but they are wrong and the show will suffer for it. they need the kids to make this go and parents and group sales are going to avoid it like the plague.

but i'm sure enough underage girls will still want to see it to keep mr. barbour's dressing room warm.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 12:41pm

winston...

No, this particular crime didn't get a ton of press coverage outside of this area - and where it did, people aren't going to remember the name.

But you can bet that when the marquis goes up and the ball gets rolling, there will be people protesting, there will be people boycotting, there will be people threatening. It will make nationwide news, then.

It's a VERY delicate situation that has some potentially fatal (for the show, not Barbour) outcomes.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 1:00pm

If he's ever allowed back, this sign will be posted at the backstage door.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 1:24pm

TOTCSF1: You have NO way of knowing why the victim came forward at that time. And I don't care what her motives are; he admitted to having committed the act. Whether or not she agreed to it is irrelevant; she could not consent, and he knew that. I don't care if she is the world's worst gold-digger and career climber (not that I'm saying she is). It does not negate the fact that he committed a sexual offense.

I'll also remind you a coercive relationship: 5+ years age difference, power difference (she was relying on him to break into theatre). Coercive relationships are key factors in sexual abuse.

And you do realize that most victims take years to come forward, right?

Barbour isn't on the registry, but he should be. He also tried to break the Rape Shield Law, which is reprehensible.

Updated On: 3/30/08 at 01:24 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 1:27pm

Personally, I think the registry is corrupt and needs some major spring cleaning.

[whatever2]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 1:27pm

> I don't see how this would be a foolish move on the producers of A Tail of Two Cities.

winston: are you serious? you really don't see there's risk here? or you just don't think it's as serious a risk as some of us do?

to your point about theater people being "too" in the know: ironically, imho, i bet this topic is getting a more nuanced consideration here than the mainstream press ever gives it. there, it's 15 seconds and onto the next story ... where's the time for shades of grey in that?

and papalovesmambo's point about school groups and kids is spot on -- no suburban PTA in the entire metropolitan area is going to let its school send a group in to see the show once this hits fox news ...

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 1:33pm

A TALE OF TWO CITIES is a book that it read widely in high school. You can bet that there will be school trips to that show. But with Barbour? No high school would DARE go on a field trip to the show.

Not that they're afraid of him, but could you imagine how that permission slip would read? "Dear Parent/Legal Guardian: We would like to take your child on a trip to New York City to see the new Broadway musical A TALE OF TWO CITIES. It must be pointed out that the star of the show as confessed to and was imprisoned for having sex with a minor. We understand any hesitation in granting permission."

DUMB, DUMB, DUMB.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 1:34pm

I agree that some people are on the registry that shouldn't be on it, but I think that Barbour should be on it. If the stories are true, this girl wasn't his only victim.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 1:38pm

In Reidel's column last Friday it said the director of the show has been let go, and the original support to stand behind Barbout is now also waning.
Hmmmm.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 1:39pm

Sorry to derail this but - do you think he will EVER be able to return? I could see why it would be incredibly stupid for any producer to cast him in a show within the next three years. But what about the next fifteen years?
Updated On: 3/31/08 at 01:39 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 1:50pm

I don't know. I think it would depend on the project. He's a great talent, which is why this is such a shame, but I can't imagine a producer ever being comfortable with putting up millions of dollars around such a person. I'm not saying that he won't make a comeback, and I'm not saying that I don't want him to, but the risk is so high that it won't be an easy road for him.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 2:23pm

"But here's a question . . . if not James then who?"

What's Douglas Sills up to these days? Of course it's possible that he might feel that another French Revolution musical would be a little too much of a good thing. But still, I can't help thinking he'd be a stunning Carton.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 4:47pm

"In Reidel's column last Friday it said the director of the show has been let go, and the original support to stand behind Barbout is now also waning."

Funny, I'd read that they hadn't named a Broadway director but it was looking like they would go with either Edwards or Warren Carlyle.

"I don't know. I think it would depend on the project. He's a great talent, which is why this is such a shame, but I can't imagine a producer ever being comfortable with putting up millions of dollars around such a person. I'm not saying that he won't make a comeback, and I'm not saying that I don't want him to, but the risk is so high that it won't be an easy road for him."

I think that if he's going to work in the near future it'll be on the concert circuit. Small, one man shows that will only draw his fans who'll see him even if he were a double ax murderer.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 4:52pm

Lawsuit. Waiting. To. Happen.

An unscrupulous father takes his daughter/ward/kid's best friend to see the show and manages to get her backstyage for, what, ten minutes?

That's all it would take. Nothing has to happen. Lawsuit to follow.

If I were the producer, I'd never expose my investors to that risk.

And I hate myself for saying this, because I'm a very liberal guy, but in this day-and-age, anyone can and does sue.

Updated On: 3/31/08 at 04:52 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 5:21pm

"But here's a question . . . if not James then who?"

Robert Cuccioli.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 5:24pm

EH...

I think the Doug Sills idea is brilliant. He was so terrific in THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, it's really a crime that his talents aren't being showcased.