John Doyle is at it again!- Page 3

[PennybankBill]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 1:29am

Though I didn't see it, the way he did MACK UND MABEL with the actors also being the musicians seems like a very comedic idea and could definitely work.

Don't forget he'll be invading the film world now. I suppose there the actors will also be the scenery.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 8:00am

I'm not really a John Doyle fan.

I loved his Sweeney but the concept has grown tired.

I thought the work he did on "Catered Affair" was for the most part pretty boring.

Worse was his Peter Grimes at the Metropolitan Opera. He took one of the most dramtic and intense operas and "conceptualized" it to death.

[DeNada]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 8:25am

I look forward to you all despising Craig Revel Horwood's CHESS in Toronto at the end of the year.

Actor-muso shows won't be going away any time soon, particularly in the UK where these production are originating as the MU is so fiendishly strong here.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 8:47am

I hate actor/musician shows but have to say that i thought Chess was briliant on its recent UK tour, it was so alive and vibarant.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 9:33am

>> "I don't think 3 productions is a gimmick."

No, ONE production is a gimmick.

THREE productions is pathological.

Marry me.

Updated On: 7/25/11 at 09:33 AM

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 12:25pm

I thought his production of Mack and Mabel (which did use actor/musicians) made the best case for that show that has ever been made.

And I thought his direction of A Catered Affair (which did not use actor/musicians) was superb, whatever your opinion of the show itself.

Whichever approach he takes he's an excellent director who gets consistently great performances from his casts. Or does that not count?

[SoCuteIHurtz88]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 12:36pm

"Whichever approach he takes he's an excellent director who gets consistently great performances from his casts. Or does that not count?"

That, of course, could be argued. At length. In fact, the actor/muso (is that really a phrase???) concept is the least of my problems with John Doyle as a director.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 5:50pm

"I thought his production of Mack and Mabel (which did use actor/musicians) made the best case for that show that has ever been made."

I totally agree with you.

His production of Anyone Can Whistle (with the orchestra in the pit) made the worst possible case for that show. Oh, actually, maybe not - perhaps that was the original Broadway production?!

Updated On: 7/25/11 at 05:50 PM

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 6:40pm

"I thought his production of Mack and Mabel (which did use actor/musicians) made the best case for that show that has ever been made."

I didn't see it, so perhaps it did. How many other productions of the show are you comparing it to?

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 8:58pm

I've seen two other productions so you're right - I should have said "probably".

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/25/11 at 11:12pm

Not Doyles but an actor/muso show the really really did work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avTNh6BcJ78

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:43am

And see, I would posit that one of the reasons this works is because the actor/musicians are all chorus/orchestra, not the leads. Makes a big difference in the presentation.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 1:16am

The phrase "actor/muso show" makes me want to vomit into the nearest tuba.

[Nick Murphy]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 6:17am

what was the casting fiasco of BARNUM?

[DeNada]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 7:07am

If I remember correctly, BARNUM had Equity calls asking for people who could act, sing, play musical instruments AND had circus skills.

Basically, no-one showed up, because no-one could do everything required. So the production was cancelled.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:01pm

That clip from the actor-muso (still makes me giggle) makes me long for assisted suicide.

But again...the actor/musician concept isn't my problem. It's the way too high concept of it all. I mean...that ARBITER. I mean...

But they all seem very talented!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:05pm

Actually, IIRC, they had three people show up for the casting call of BARNUM, and Doyle spent hours trying to figure out how to do a three-person version of the show.

No, you were right: no one came, because Doyle just went way too far. There were even jokes around here about people playing tubas while swinging from a trapeze.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:18pm

I saw a production of Anyone Can Whistle while in London last year that I thought very effectively used the actor as musician concept. Granted, it was only the ensemble that played and none of the principle roles, and the production was unmistakeably taking a Brechtian approach to the show, but it was wonderful.

[billyboyA]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:55pm

I have as much interest in watching musical theater actors play their own instruments as I do in watching them iron their own clothes. Unless it's specifically ABOUT a musician who plays an instrument in the script, I wish this "concept" would die a quick death and just GO AWAY!!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 12:57pm

An all-clothes-ironing production of GYPSY! Love it! Matty, get me casting: we got work to do! NOW, dammit!!!

[newintown]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 1:00pm

I was MDing actor/musician shows back in 1980 (and it wasn't new then). Sometimes it's interesting, sometimes not, but to keep returning to that schtick over and over again shows a real lack of imagination.

[CurtainCall]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 3:44pm

Given that line in logic, one could argue that returning to more traditional forms of presentation displays a a real lack of imagination. However, that wouldn't really be a sensible argument.

I've appeared in actor-musician productions, off and on, for over 30 years and my first taste of theatre was actor-musician, so, perhaps, I don't appreciate the controversy it seems to cause, it's just a way of presenting a show.

BTW, I'm surprised that Barnum didn't work out, I've seen a couple of very good a/m productions.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 4:05pm

Kad: I saw and was impressed with that production too, though what sticks in my mind is the Brechtian concept rather than the actor/musician thing.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:06pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=262665

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 8:29pm

Okay, if this doesnt prove the man is a one-trick pony, nothing will.