Just back from END OF THE RAINBOW — Page 6

Everyone keeps saying its about Judy's decline. Maybe so. But hudy's decline was SAD. It wasn't funny. It was devastating. And here, this little man who wrote this little play seems to think her decline is funny. A comedy!

It doesn't get more tasteless than this. I lingered near members of the creative team last night during the encore and considered saying that they should be ashamed of themselves. But chickened out.

And to the poster who said the youngins will like it because it's like seeing Judy live? NOPE. Wrong. I'm 25 and I sat there getting angrier and angrier as the night went on.

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https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoembed.php?colid=364548

From the little I've seen of Bennett, she's obviously very talented, but I have to agree that the wonderful Tommy Femia is a more compelling and truer Judy Garland.

Yes, that is the official party line and it has been repeated ad nauseum. Now, in your own words, can you describe the essential differences between what a performer doing a characterization and what an impersonator is attempting to do?

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"This is where everyone is going wrong, Miss Bennett is not an impersonator,and has never claimed to be one. She is a characterization......"

I agree, but while Femia is an impersonator he transcends it. And when I said that judging by what I've seen of Bennett, Femia is truer and more compelling, I met artistically truer not literally truer; literally in the sense of how an impersonation might be judged (although of course the latter is true as well, that was not my concern because, as you said, I don't expect Bennett to be offering an immpersonation but rather her interpretation).

If one goes to the theater with spite and contempt for what they are about to see, they will pick out all the flaws they imagine and will be in a totally negative mood. Go with an open mind and be entertained. Those walking out at intermission miss the best half, it shows her problems/fears about going on stage, now that she's in her late 40s and no longer the youngster.
This is about the real Judy, the side of her that none of us/fans saw. It is not about how we saw her in public or the icon we adored. When someone is hooked on drugs too, they are unable to function rationally and that comes across too. I think none of you wish to admit that this is how Judy was. Some say they prefer the drag queen impersonators but Bennett says herself in one interview that she couldn't be as good as them. Consider also that this role is acting too, not just singing; no mean feat.
Quilter researched and met people that knew her and witnessed her manner/behaviour behind the 'scenes,' particularly when she appeared at the London Palladium and though you may not wish to believe it because you have the lovely/sweet image in your mind; that is not how she was in reality.....in her dressing room. She was very difficult to deal with, apparently.
She also had a great sense of humour which the script embraces.
I understand any production will be liked or not liked, but some criticism on here is venomous rather than constructive IMO
Don't we all behave differently in public than we do at home? I guess none of you swear/fart/belch/pick your nose or scratch your genitals when out and about.........or do you?

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Updated On: 4/8/12 at 12:39 PM

I went to see End of the Rainbow with wonder, excitement and anticipation. I mean a play about Judy Garland..... how wonderful. I had heard such wonderful things about it from London, I didn't go with contempt or spite or malice. I went with an open mind. My open mind became bothered and bewildered. (to borrow a phrase)

I was just let down by the play, the performance and the mean spiritedness of the whole evening. I don't want to remember Judy that way. Judy may have had problems but she was a class act. Tommy Femia portrays her with love and class but still with a sense of humor and still with a sense of being knocked about. This play and its portrayal of Judy was tacky and malicious.

Yes Tracy Bennett is a hard working actress as Judy. She didn't capture Judy Garland for me.

Lest you think I am an awful curmudgeon there was one thing I loved about the show.... I loved the set.

So let's agree to disagree and not fault people for their opinions.

Updated On: 4/8/12 at 12:55 PM

Reginald
I loved the play and found it very funny/sad...as did the whole of London. The only flaw I could pick out was at one point it was a bit repetitive when she searches for drugs/drink etc but maybe the playwrite wished it to be like that. When a writer can make one both laugh and cry, he/she has done an extremely good job, end of.
I wonder too is it the difference between UK/USA humour??
In the dog scene, [I don't find that crude,] I found it so funny and it gave me a better insight to Judy's humour and how she'd react like that when drunk. I loved Judy more at that point if that's possible because of how funny she was, even in her dire straits of being penniless she still 'fooled' around.
Some of the lines were taken from the book 'Weep No More My Lady.' I don't know,but it maybe the script has been changed for NYC

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Updated On: 4/9/12 at 01:07 PM

sorry best12bars, I didn't realise this forum was a writers' club or lessons on terminology. Not only is there criticism about the flaws in a production on here, there's criticism about the posts. Amazing......so friendly. I don't know of another forum like this one.

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Updated On: 4/8/12 at 01:26 PM

ok so the terminology should have been...'go with an open mind and hopefully you'll be entertained'.............is that good enough; now can you answer the several points I raised?

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Updated On: 4/8/12 at 01:44 PM

Based on the reviews and opinions so far, I gather the play is poorly written regardless. It may depict her a certain way, but offers no real insight, no cohesiveness, and no perspective. It's just sensationalism without a point or purpose. That may be "entertainment" enough for some, but it wouldn't fly in my book, even if I could open my mind enough to embrace her darker side ... and even with a dedicated performance from its leading lady.

I don't mind a "dark" portrait of Judy Garland. But it's a play, so there needs to be some sort of point or insight, or don't bother. The same would be true for a "light and happy" play about Garland, too.

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I have slammed no one nor been personal as posters have with me.

Then this ...

Each to their own but I still cannot get the venom of some posters.

And this ....

Amazing......so friendly. I don't know of another forum like this one.

Not a slam?

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Oh, okay.

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