Kerry Butler and Little Shop — Page 2

Speaking of Ellen, I wonder if she has seen the revival and what *she* thinks of the production. Who knows if she'd even associate herself with this production seeing how her friends Connie and Lee were canned in the Florida tryout.
I will be sure to ask her opinion when I go to her "intimate little concert" here in Central Florida. (Not that she'd say anything either way, but wouldn't it be interesting to know what's going on in her mind about the whole situation??)

Joshua

P.S. - I saw the show in Coral Gables twice and (IMO) thought that the show was a hundred times better than the one I saw at the Virginia theatre. Alice Ripley was amazing, and her chemistry with Hunter (Who, by the way a much more "real" character in the FL production) was stellar. AND, the girls down in FL seemed to have a lot more fun than the three currently on display in NYC (not that I *don't* love and adore DeQuina Moore!). I just think the producers got a little money-hungry and saw nothing but the dollar signs when the multi-award-winning Zaks agreed to take over. (Just my two cents!)

I most certainly do NOT hate Kerry Butler!

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What baffles me most is that this is a post from someone who has not even seen the show! And the person goes on to say the critics are not being harsh but being honest...how do you know this if you haven't seen the show to see for yourself?

I don't understand some of the unabashed glee in trashing a performer (whether it's deserved or not). It's one thing to not like a performance; it's another to take delight by writing "everyone hates Kerry Butler!" I feel that kind of negativity comes back to haunt in the end.

I don't know why Kerry Butler is receiving the blunt of this. I found her fine. She wasn't great. She wasn't bad. She was serviceable, but the rest of the cast was the same way. I wouldn't even label her the worst performer in the show. Douglas Sills is frantic and over the top, but he's never funny unless you think watching someone change into different costumes is a laugh riot. There's no menace to his role. When I saw the performance, I was sitting next to Douglas Sills groupies who hollered every time he appeared, but I was not impressed.

The problem for me is less about the performances, and more about why this is even being done at all. Except for the darker ending, it does nothing to improve upon the film version.

One great big "I told ya so"..and I'm done, I KNEW Kerry Butler's performance would wound this show and I was right. And I don't hate her, loved her as Belle, as a matter of fact I think she was the best I've seen.

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Just want to point out that I didn't really say anything negative about Kerry Butler. (Even if I think she's completely miscast, I'll keep most of my opinions to myself...)

I must say that I loved her "Bat Boy" and "Hairspray".

Joshua

I completely agree, and never did I say that it was her fault. I, myself, have been cast in a few roles that, it turned out in the end, I wasn't quite right for... The butch mountain man in "Dark of the Moon" pops into mind (shudders at the thought!)... However, that happens in the business and you move on. My biggest problem with this particular production doesn't really have to do with the actors, it has to do with the way the material has been handled. Howard Ashman himself, in the front of the published script, said that playing the show for laughs is the deadliest mistake concerning the success of a production of "Little Shop". I agree with him. (And who shouldn't? It's *his* show!) At least Connie Grappo's production was a pretty faithful and straightforward production with a few cute new bits of business thrown in. (I absolutely adored when the girls popped out of the dirty, nasty cooler for "Da-Doo!" - Genius!).
As from the beginning, I have and will continue to place the blame on the producers. They haven't quite seemed to know what they want (aside from money).

Joshua

I think it's Jessica-Snow Wilson, Snow being part of her first name and not her last.

I'd be curious to see how she did in the role. I saw her more than once as Eponine in the 3NT of Les Miz, and while I thought she played the role in the way her body-type and (rather high) voice would allow, I wasn't that fond of her portrayal. But she did seem to be a good actress and I'd be curious to see her take on Audrey.

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Ah Yes!....a opinion based on listening to "bootlegs"..not watching, but listening..no need to actually view it. And you a "Broadway Star"...tut tut.

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We all know where I stand on the subject!!
That's all I'm gonna say. I just keep repeating my self then get shot down. So it doesn't really matter what I say anyway.

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Penny Lou

Go on repeating yourself as many times as you like on any thread you like. Why should you be any different that any other person who does it. The people that have differing opinions are not more worthy of repeated posts than you are

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If I see my name splashed on a message board like this, and I'm making upwards of two grand a week for starring in a Broadway show, I suspect I'll be able to withstand the awful shame of it all.

Clever. That reply doesn't make you the least bit shallow or non-caring about your work as an artform.

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The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity -- Harlan Ellison.