Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim — Page 4

#76

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 12:53pm

"you're invited by someone who wrote the show--you could at least focus on a few things you did like."

Yeah, like that would have cut it.

You lie, you bow, you scrape.

Politeness demands grace and gratitude, but more than mere politeness is required here.

#77

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 1:20pm

"If something isn't working, they already know that."

I don't think that's necessarily always true.

Nevertheless, soft sell is usually a better approach when talking to people involved with a project that's not working. Most artists generally really don't want to hear anything other than praise, and would rather shield themselves from reproach than hear anything negative that others might actually think (whether the opinions of those others are insightful or idiotic).

#78

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 1:27pm

Brown says that he was there on the "very same night that the Times came to review the show," so the show was frozen and it was too late to give constructive feedback.

I think there is a distinction between giving feedback at a point it could be helpful and giving feedback at a point when it's too late. It may be worthwhile to give feedback on a novel when it's in the rough draft phase, but there's not as much of a point in giving that feedback once it's been published. Or pointing out problems with a potential wedding reception venue vs pointing out those same problems after the reception is over.

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"What was the name of that cheese that I like?" "you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start" "well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"

#79

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 1:35pm

I have always lived by Sondheim's rule. There are only 3 people in the business who want to hear the truth and I've never met any of them. My response is always "I loved it!" Now, if you ask 3 times what I *really* thought, and you put your hand on my shoulder the third time, then I'l share. But that rarely happens.

#80

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:07pm

bk said:"Why is this "blog" entry new news? This same thing appeared in The Sondheim Review, what, a year ago? "

Exactly, as I said, it appeared even before that. But JRB has editorialized it each time, so...

#81

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:07pm

People on this board might be surprised at what I said to Tracie Bennetts when I met her after that disgusting and despicable show.

I considered it the only honorable thing to say.

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#82

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:08pm

"I'm sorry about that hermajesty person"?

#83

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:09pm

A8 said: "Yeah, like that would have cut it.

You lie, you bow, you scrape.

Politeness demands grace and gratitude, but more than mere politeness is required here."

Since you were replying to me, how would you have gone about it? I don't obviously know you, but I know that you do care about personal manners, politeness and kindness. Would you have just said "it stinks", ordered the lobster and champagne and left?

#84

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:11pm

"Brown says that he was there on the "very same night that the Times came to review the show," so the show was frozen and it was too late to give constructive feedback. "

This is what irks me about Brown. He now says it was NOT Passion--and yet he also says it was a new Sondheim show and was in 1993... None of the changes to his story add up, whatsoever. If he wants to keep telling the story, and changing it, why doesn't he just go full throttle and tell all the details?

#85

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:21pm

I said "You were magnificent."

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#86

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:22pm

"Ugh. JRB's "lesson" portion of the post is now going around my Facebook News Feed as an real quote attributed to Stephen Sondheim."

Sigh, mine too...

#87

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:32pm

"It wasn’t “Passion”!
Comment by Jason Robert Brown on November 1, 2012 at 8:48 pm

EDIT: Frank Rich's Times review of PUTTING IT TOGETHER appeared April 2, 1993."

Oh! *slaps head* For some reason that seems even more odd. It was not a great show by any means, but I wouldn't call it a new show. And why wouldn't JRB say "We were treated to a new version of an old revue of his songs!" (Probably because that would negate the point he was trying to make...)

#88

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:35pm

And it's a show that Sondheim had to be persuaded to give his blessing to by Cameron Mackintosh.

I don't know. The story as a whole just sounds suspect- especially considering its details have altered at each telling, apparently.

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"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#89

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:42pm

If it was Putting It Together, the story becomes a bit melodramatic.

If it was Putting it Together, the story becomes hilarious.

#90

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 2:42pm

Exactly. I get the feeling JRB wanted to get a reaction, and in this small community--he has. Why else title it the way he has? Why not title his blog post "A valuable lesson I learned..." or something.

#91

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 3:00pm

I sorta kinda think it was Merrily, and he was fudging the year to protect the identity of the other composer.

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#92

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 3:11pm

But then he would have been 11.

#93

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 3:13pm

There was also a revival in '93.

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"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#94

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 3:23pm

1994, but I don't think Frank Rich reviewed it.

#95

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 3:25pm

He didn't.

David Richards did.

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CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES

#96

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 3:25pm

Maybe Sondheim sprung for a free airline ticket to get them out to see Merrily in London, too? Since he's just givin' stuff away to strangers.

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"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#97

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 3:25pm

Also, who would go to an off-Broadway revival of Merrily expecting Sweeney Todd?

#98

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 3:29pm

Well, if they went into Putting It Together expecting Sweeney Todd, they would've at least gotten a little of it.

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"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#99

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 3:30pm

...and how is it a new show... Increasingly I wonder if JRB thinks his readers just won't care about things like, well, dates?

#100

Jason Robert Brown on How (Not) to Insult Sondheim

Posted: 11/2/12 at 4:26pm

So who do we think "Franz Liszt" is? The composer Brown describes as "understandably reluctant" to "demonstrate and recount" his own stupidity:

Franz is not as sheepish as I. He’s a little older, but he’s also devastatingly charming, impossibly talented, and confident that he can guide any conversation safely to shore. I occasionally refer to him as “The Waring Blender” because he is so smooth.

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