Live from the Lincoln Center Discussion Thread- Page 8

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 2:08am

Now that I've seen this, I am kicking myself for not seeing the tour when it came to Atlanta. Thank god for VCRs! This was such a beautiful piece of theatre, and that ORCHESTRA! I'm going to be so disappointed when I go back to school and do our musicals with a 4 to 6-piece band. "South Pacific" has spoiled me for good.

[choitoy]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 2:12am

I was surprised that I still found myself tearing up by the end of the telecast. I've worked on the show in high school, watched both movie versions, but only found myself affected by the show when it toured to Seattle last February, and now watching the show. Paulo and Kelli were excellent. So that this was televised.

It was also nice to see the original staging of the revival (with the Pull-back stage) instead of the slightly pared down staging with no orchestra reveal as on the tour.

[starspangledjenny]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 2:33am

The whole telecast was simply amazing. Words can't describe the true beauty of this show.

As for Samonsky, he wasn't good. I thought the R&H family had to sign off on all casting. His voice was pleasant enough, but his transition from speaking to singing was jarring. For some strange reason his singing (probably the hard "r"s) reminded me of a pretentious Norbert Leo Butz. Also, his stage voice is ridiculous. All that said, he didn't take me out of the show at all.

Just my two cents,

I must mention Szot's NBA worthy towel toss during his wash "reprise."
Updated On: 8/19/10 at 02:33 AM

[sasquatch_223]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 2:55am

i thought I was the only one who noticed the incredible towel toss!

Seriously, I turned to my mother and said, "Did... did you SEE that?"

[Myron]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 5:09am

This version of "South Pacific" was fabulous. I enjoyed it more than most because I saw the 3 major stars live at Bryant Park back in July. While many performances at the Park use understudies, they were the real stars. Luther Billis (Danny Burstein) was a riot and Nelly (Kelly) was great. I only saw the film and always wondered how they'd do the part where Cable and DeBecque get smuggled onto Marie Louise Island. I never enjoyed the Glenn Close version where the number "Happy Talk" was sliced. Very enjoyable. Kudos to the cast and to PBS.

[eileen6]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 5:56am

What can I say that has not already been said. Saw this twice at LC and the from LC last night. It just gets better and better and the cast great. Have been in love with this work since I was a small child and as far as Paulo Szot, he broke my heart. What a passionate actor.

[justafan2]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 7:45am

This was such an amazing production---I'm very sad that it's closing this weekend. I saw it at LC three times and I still teared up watching the telecast. Incredible cast in a wonderful show!

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 7:55am

A wonderful production, a great cast {Samonsky was awful--great voice, but go back to acting 101-whew what a stinker}and PBS did it justice ! One of the best revivals I have ever seen.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 8:39am

Just a beautiful performance last night. Kelli and Paulo were amazing, the tears were flowing in our household. Samonsky was the weak link as everyone mentioned, but thankfully he didn't ruin an otherwise great show.

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 8:53am

Agree with the comments about how wonderful this was, and with the critiques of Samonsky. His speaking voice came across as trying to imitate Keanu Reeves, and I found it distracting.

The one additional comment I would add is that O'Hara comes across much younger in the theater than she does on screen.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 8:59am

I can only echo the praises for most of the cast and the production, and most importantly the fine camerawork. There was blessedly little of the MTV editing and bad camera placement that can make these Live things such an ordeal. I saw the show very late in previews, and it is startling to see the changes that have come about since then. I remember being bored senseless by that damn "Happy Talk" when I saw it live, and was very impressed by the performance last night. That air of desperation that she brings to it now simply wasn't there when I first saw it.

Ms. O'Hare was splendid. And if you don't get a lump in your throat when Paulo Szot sings "this nearly was mine" then you should have your throat examined.

But that Samonsky guy. What the f*ck was that? Kudos to whoever pointed out the similarity to Westenberg's Prince Charming, that was driving me nuts the whole time. To be fair, he did a great job with the songs, particularly "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught," but the poor guy just can't act. Comparisons to Keanu are entirely apt, I'm afraid, there's that same level of dependence on voice placement to the exclusion of anything else. And he's apparently been doing the role for over a year, I mean, how does this happen?

Updated On: 8/19/10 at 08:59 AM

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 9:24am

I actually really loved Samonsky's performance in the telecast, even more than I did live. I feel so alone...

[othell]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 9:27am

A beautiful show - I wish I could have seen it live, for I can imagine how even more spectacular everything would be! Everyone wa great, even Samonsky, whose singing I loved (but his acting choices were a bit jarring at first). I especially loved Loretta's Bloody Mary in "Happy Talk". And then that orchestra and that overture - I, too, wanted to cut away from Mr. Alda after the intermission to hear the second act opening.
My station repeated it directly following the first showing, and I fully intended to switch to the news and then go to bed, but did not get up in time enough, and that overture started again -- needless to say I was pulled in and stayed up until 1:00 a.m. to see the whole thing again. I LOVED it all!

[bryan2]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 9:37am

I loved loved loved this..kelly and Paolo were sooo great it brought tears to my eyes... I have 2 complaints and they did not ruin the show just not crazy about thie Samonsky person his voice is incredible....horrible actor , one of the worst "trying to be tough man" performances I have ever seen
also Danny Burstein I thoough he was funny crazy and goofy but wow was he gay (not insult just statement), I never saw Luther played as a queen before and it was fun ..but kind of distracting...knowing he is married to a beautiful woman I had to explain to friends he is not one of us....they dont believe me ...ahhh well on the DVD and will watch over and over

[Tom1071]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 9:42am

"I never thought I could love a voice more than Kristin Chenoweth's but Kelli O'Hara may be passing her in my book."

They both went to Oklahoma City University and studied under the same voice teacher, Florence Birdwell.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 9:45am

I never cared for South Pacific UNTIL NOW! I did not like the film or the previous TV version. Actually, I strongly disliked them. The quality of performances and the orchestrations last night is what made the piece work for me. Kelly, Paulo and Danny are just sublime perfection. Their depth of character was heartbreaking. Oh, and Loretta was ROBBED of a Tony.

Samonsky would have a great career in voiceovers with his "acting" voice. He should avoid acting all together. Whenever he spoke I felt like I was watching a Tylenol commercial. His singing is gorgeous though. Thats why he was hired.

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 10:09am

Everyone involved should be eligible for next year's Emmys, right? If I recall correctly, Kevin Kline got an Emmy nod when Cyrano was broadcast. I hope they're not overlooked because this is airing so early, and will not be rebroadcast.

[bryan2]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 10:36am

And I forgot Bloody Mary was off the chain
her Happy Talk was fun and scary ..kind of like everythings coming up roses...the mother pimping her daughter
She was amazing her tone and the faces were spot on.
I cannot stop thinking about this great show

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 10:38am

also Danny Burstein I thoough he was funny crazy and goofy but wow was he gay (not insult just statement), I never saw Luther played as a queen before and it was fun ..but kind of distracting...knowing he is married to a beautiful woman I had to explain to friends he is not one of us....they dont believe me ...ahhh well on the DVD and will watch over and over

Wait, what? Luther was clearly in love with Nellie and I felt Danny played that to perfection. His tenderness toward her in the scene after Honey Bun was perfectly played. I don't feel he was gay at all and this is the first time I have ever seen anyone take that away from his performance.

I never cared for South Pacific UNTIL NOW!

I felt the same way. I've seen both the film version and the telefilm version multiple times but never really "got" the show until I saw this production. In fact, I grew up thinking that Nellie was mad at Emile for hiding his children from her. I never picked up on the racism angle since both filmed versions played it down. This production is what made me love South Pacific. Until now SP was one of those shows where I loved the music but didn't care for the book. Now I love both equally.

[newintown]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 10:38am

Loved Szot, O'Hara, Sayres, and Burstein (doing a Bert Lahr imitation?).

Samonsky almost ruined the whole thing for me, though. Subjectively, I found him old-looking and unattractive. Technically, however, his hard Rs, string of negative choices, pointless swaggering and posing, and playing of attitudes rather than thoughts and feelings were unacceptable. To me, it was selfish and ridiculously amateur.

[bryan2]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 11:07am

Yes I saw that he was in love with Nelly but I felt he
was effected,,,,just my opinion I still think he was fun to watch

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 11:14am

"Oh, and Loretta was ROBBED of a Tony."

I think that's a bit harsh. It was a VERY strong year in that category, and Benanti was a worhty winner. Olga Merediz would have also been very worthy winner for In The Heights. If I had a vote, I would probably have gone with Merediz.

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 11:15am

Tom1071...I think that is why I always compare them in my head, because I knew they both trained under Ms Birdwell.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 11:18am

Still have Paulo's 'This Nearly Was Mine' on my mind today. What a passionate performance! Both when I saw the show live (almost 2 years ago) and on last night's telecast that number really affected me.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 8/19/10 at 11:20am

bwaylvsong, you're not alone. I thought Samonsky's anguished, torn Cable was spot-on. I thought he performed the role beautifully when I caught SP some time ago at Lincoln Center and thought he was even better last night. I was glad I didn't catch Morrison, as I thought--and still think--him highly overrated.