Jerry Springer The Opera

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/23/03 at 5:38pm

I have been hearing a lot about this. It sounds like it would be a ton of fun. Hopefully it will make it across the pond & I eagerly await a recording of the london cast

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 1:35am

By the title, Jerry Springer the Opera, sounds ridiculous enough to have been included as one of Max Bialystocks famous flops from The Producers, including:

Death of a Salesman on Ice
When Cousins Marry
A Streetcar Named Murray
Jerry Springer - The Opera

Although this ones no joke! I have a hunch it will be on Broadway within a year and may become a surprise hit with a future cult following.

[KB]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 2:55pm

More trash.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 3:57pm

if you thought audience quality was going downhill before, wait untill all of the trash that watched/were on that show start showing up at a broadway theatre. OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!

you will have members of the kkk and members of the black panthers throwig chairs during the eleven o'clock number while drag queen midgets bite the legs of a man cheating on his transexual wife with his brother who is sleeping it his mother and son.

[Butch2]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 6:01pm

Hi, um, "the black panthers?" What century are you living in, exactly?

[CJR]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 6:09pm

You know it's bad enough that Springer is on Tv.... I really cant stand to watch white trash duke it out with their uneducated cousins.... Cripes

[King Stevos]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 6:11pm

I think that this opera, from the reviews I have read of it, is perfecct for America, its just what we need to shove in our face our hypocritical notions of whats right and wrong in our world- It throughs in our face exacctly what we want in our media and such, and basically steal the shroud of ignorance we hide behind when we want violence and sex.

STEVOS

[JakeB]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 6:18pm

I've seen the show and seriously, I have to say, don't judge the show until you have done so yourself. I went in there without knowing a single thing about it (it was in previews so no reviews or anything) and I absolutely loved it, will be returning in August hopefully. It's selling very well here too.

What's more, everyone who likes musical theater also loves it and hardly anyone has a bad word to say about it.

Give it a chance!

Jake.

[Hank]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 6:37pm

Sounds like fun to me too, and I'm not exactly a Springer fan or anything, I watched parts of his show a few times and it's good for a laugh. Maybe even funnier than South Passaic, hey I grew up in Passaic, and it's really a funny town, or at least it used to be. Actually I'm fom East Passaic, the old Polish neighborhood. The Southside (we called it uptown, or better known as the 3rd ward is the Jewish neighborhood) is home to Zero and Milton Mostel and Michael J Pollard. What's this have to do with Springer? Nothing, but I just felt like adding some thing, Alvin got me started.

Posted: 5/24/03 at 10:28pm

I guess there's an audience for eveything and anything. This one will surely have your typical " kinky-sick- humored-garbage" cult following. Exactly like those who follow Springer's show. Because that's what some people call freedom on stage. Have at it!
Do your thing! Enjoy! It's a free world! Pay $90 to laugh at a trashy news paper tabloid brought to life on stage , if that's your thing. And there's plenty of these people to enjoy this. Then internet porn is a huge draw too. Maybe some brilliant European producer will find a theater market for that too.

Sad part is that in only took about 10 years to clean up Broadway's hookers, X rated smut and drugs areas. Sure! let's bring this element back on Bd'w because a bunch of " liberal minded" people think it's good "for a change" from the box office standards. You know those boring shows like Phantom, Les Mis, Lion King, Beauty & the Beast that have been keeping Bd'w in business for years. Right! Let's sneak this one in for the kinkos to laugh at.

I'm all for "new material" and jobs for all actors....but this one will will really cross all the boundaries of decency and resonable entertainment. Are there no limits to what can be presented...or is the mighty dollar and most eccentric taking over the stage here.

[Butch2]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 10:38pm

Do you even KNOW what you are talking about? Are you just assuming that it is a reenactment of the television show? Good god, you are doing the exact opposite of the "liberal minded" view you are putting down. You are condemning something sight unseen based on your assumptions. You don't get ANY more "conservative minded" than that, Jackal.

Posted: 5/24/03 at 10:52pm

I have spoken to a few people who have seen it. And although they thought it was really outrageously funny and compelling, they admitted it was totally "off the wall" and the content was pretty shocking. I was given pretty much blow-by blow description of the show.

Other articles describe the material and subject matter in depth.
Have I seen it ? No. Am I allowed to pass judgement on the "subject matter" as my personal opinion. Why not? Is my opinion on this matter not permitted?

Does a person need to visit a whorehouse to have an idea what is likely to take place?

If it comes to Bd'w everyone can make their choice....including the critics. LET IN COME! Wait and see what happens! That's about as liberal as I can get about this.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 11:06pm

i doesn't matter if it is a reenactment of the show or not. the words 'jerry springer' automatically attract the white trash crowd.

[Butch2]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 11:19pm

First, the classism in a phrase like "white trash" is repellant. Second, you don't think the the second half of the title, "The Opera" would put off the people you feel so comfortable stereotyping?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 11:41pm

First of all, the opera supposedly satirizes that kind of tv--not supports or necessarily condones it. It's not as if they are bringing Jerry Springer to Broadway to do his show!

Secondly, do you really think "white trash" are going to pay $90 to see a show?

Thirdly, what does it matter if the show DID bring new people of any kind to the theatre?

I just second the opinion that folks need to wait until they see something before they trash it.

"And that's all I have to say about that." =)

Updated On: 5/24/03 at 11:41 PM

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 5/24/03 at 11:45pm

[King Stevos]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 1:48am

Hey Jack,

Look at my post again, relize the depth of the show you are trashing. The Show is meant to Satire american media ideals... It's a social semi political satire, that in no means, Downs the necessity of "good" theater. Because it is good theater, if seen understanding and open- one sees the truth behind the show, and understands that it is not about bringing hookers into the theater, or burning crosses, but more or less about speaking out against that way of life you condem. The best way to condem something is to bring it out and show it for what it is.

STEVOS

Posted: 5/25/03 at 3:16pm

Stevos~ I understand where you are coming from. I just don't honestly feel, and please allow me to have my one opinion here, that most theater goers want or care to "see beyond the meaning" or "read between the lines" or "delve into the American media ideals " or whatever this musical is attempting to convey through this outrageous subject matter and morally questionable material. "Social semi political satire". What are theatergoers supposed to do with that? Analize it? Write their psychology thesis? Ok, I'm being a bit of a smart ass.

I'm not trashing it. I'm questioning why would people pay $90+ to watch people explore the world of hookers, gays, sexual perversion and racism IN ANY STAGED forum? Maybe it would be better suited for A Saturday Night Live episode.

Sure, we've had our share of Disney and fluff. And who doesn't want to be challanged with an intriguing plot or drama that stirs the soul? But Jerry Springer-The Opera? That's a bit of a stretch. What's next, Howard Stern- The Musical?

OK it will have a cult following, so did DOTV. If it's making money in Europe, like DOVT, it may well appear on Bd'w (after all, the bucks do like to travel accross the pond). I'm sure there will be a Jim Steinem? (brainfreeze) who thinks this is a great vehicle to blow some minds and make some bucks. AND THAT IT WILL!

But I don't "personally" agree that it will bring anything but a controversial, brief , fart-in-the wind, flash in the pan reaction to the masses of people looking for something to see on stage worth $90.

If this is the caliber of writing and producing we can look forward to, I think we'd better visit the archived shows in the vaults to see what people raved about at one time.

[King Stevos]

Posted: 5/26/03 at 5:56am

Im not trying to take you opinion away from you, I am just voicing mine, and through the fundamentals of debate am trying to justify my opinion, in such a way as to make it stronger than yours... Alas, I really don't care, I just like to argue. Mummy always said I should be a lawyer. But many shows are mind intriguing beyond the glitz and glam, and when the opera makes it here count me in line as a person to see it, I am just tired of the face value productions that are nothing more than a falling chandelier or a show all about costumes or a show that needs a working elevator on stage to keep peoples attention when the star vehicle isnt on stage. *can't remember if they actually use the elevator when shes not, but it sounded good in my head.* So I personally am exccited at writing such as this and hope that broadway IS in deed heading in the direction of Smart writing, bring back the culture of going to the theater, make things more than a pretty movie on stage, thats what I want to see, things that attack who we are, our ideals and challenge us to see these things in the light that they are.

STEVOS

Posted: 5/26/03 at 10:31am

Stevos- No worries! It's decent of you to offer respect for varying views. Though I may not be as liberal as some, I truly see the value in many stage offerings. I'm just haviing doubts about this one on many levels. No big deal!

Your mum is right! You debate well!

I have enjoyed a variety of shows and plays over years that are about as 'unfluffy' as it gets. I recently saw two brilliant regional production of " The Dresser" and "Wait Until Dark". I'm also very partial to Neil Simon and especially enjoyed "Jake's Women". Simon is an extrodinarly creative and versitle writer.

Enough of my rantings. There's something out there for everyone. I just shudder at some it!

[JakeB]

Posted: 5/26/03 at 1:27pm

All in all, it's not supposed to be taken seriously.

Jackal, I hope you enjoy it.

Check out what the press have to say:
www.jerryspringertheopera.com