Liz Smith on John C. Reilly

[PalJoey]

Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#0

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:03pm

First Daniel Davis, now this. Not since Nicol Williamson...

And she gets in a dig at British directors!

===

WHAT'S NEW on the old Rialto? Well, the latest incarnation of Marlon Brando's famous characterization as "A Streetcar Named Desire's" Stanley Kowalski — actor John C. Reilly — is not the best loved leading man in theater history. One of his theater intimates describes John as "a very cranky boy!"

On the very day that New York Times drama critic Ben Brantley was describing how "O'Reilly seems neither threatening nor — how to put this? — erotically overwhelming," the backstage unions at the Studio 54 Theater filed a complaint against him. O'Reilly is now not allowed to speak to any union member backstage. He cannot address any of the crew serving the dynamic play, which co-stars the beautiful Natasha Richardson. Some say John is "acting like a tyrant" and threw a shoe at somebody backstage, but we can't confirm that. Perhaps it was only a misplaced torn wife-beater T-shirt.

Miscasting on this Tennessee Williams classic does seem to be a bit staggering. And maybe it's time for U.S. producers to rethink their infatuation with hiring British directors to deal with all-American themes.
STRIFE OF REILLY

[Dolly_Levi]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#1

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:01pm

Wow! Very interesting.

Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward. Carol Channing

[MagicToDo82]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#2

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:06pm

Whoa, thats craziness. And he, typically, has such an aw, shucks nice guy thing going on. Who knew?

There's always room for pathos - and jazz hands.

[DAME]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#3

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:10pm

Maybe he has a reason to be pissed. Who knows.

HUSSY POWER! ------ HUSSY POWER!

[WISHIHADATONY]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#4

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:23pm

most interesting indeed. Perhaps his less than stellar (or is it Stella?) reviews put him over the edge?

"Blow out the candles Robert and make a wish. Want something, want SOMETHING."

[Thenardier]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#5

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:26pm

Hmmm, he seemed chill on Conan.

Mama Korey

The Beauty Is: Kelli O'Hara Online

[MagicToDo82]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#6

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:37pm

Maybe he's a crazy method actor underneath it all.:)

There's always room for pathos - and jazz hands.

[Gothampc]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#7

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:48pm

Unions supporting backstage personnel instead of an actor???? Backstage personnel being treated like they have needs??? Maybe it's time to revive my theater career.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

[CurtainUp]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#8

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:12pm

How disappointing! I always thought Reilly had this adorable, Charlie Brown-appeal (like what M2Do said), if you will. He always seemed like such a nice guy, in interviews and such. (Guess I'm seconding previous opinions.) This saddens me. Especially, since I'm seeing it in June.

Rosencrantz: "Be happy - if you're not even HAPPY what's so good about surviving? We'll be all right. I suppose we just go on." - from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 03:12 PM

[mallardo]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#9

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:26pm

Don't be too quick to buy into this stuff. Reilly is a nice guy - but he's under enormous pressure right now. Cut him some slack. He's not the first actor to have a problem with disinterested and distracting stage crew members.

Faced with these Loreleis, what man can moralize!

[DAME]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#10

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:28pm

I agree with Mallardo. And there are always two sides to every story.

HUSSY POWER! ------ HUSSY POWER!

[CurtainUp]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#11

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:28pm

True, true. I'm just a bit gullible. * :-P*

Rosencrantz: "Be happy - if you're not even HAPPY what's so good about surviving? We'll be all right. I suppose we just go on." - from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

[PalJoey]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#12

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:32pm

John C. Reilly needs a PR rep PRONTO to get his side of the story out. He should have had one from the moment he was considered miscast.

And if he has one, he should FIRE him.

[DAME]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#13

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:33pm

Pal Joey,
I doubt he is too worried. And in case you have not noticed..Liz Smith is wrong a lot.

HUSSY POWER! ------ HUSSY POWER!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#14

Posted: 5/2/05 at 4:51pm

Well, he did get pretty bad reviews, and I doubt anyone can be too pleasant to be around if eight times a week they have to go in front of a Broadway audience knowing that they are giving a mediocre performance in a famous play (I haven't seen the show, I'm just going on what I've read...) I'd cut the guy some slack.

[mabel]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#15

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:02pm

I didn't really read the reviews but I was under the impression that most of the critics were claiming that he was woefully miscast, not necessarily that he was giving a mediocre performance...or am I wrong? Whatever, I'm looking forward to seeing the show on Saturday night. I enjoy John C. and Ms. Richardson, and it will be my first time seeing the show live, so I'm sure it'll be a fine way to spend an evening.

But when did New Hampshire become--Such a backward wasteland of seatbelt hating crazies?...I mean, only 40 people actually live there. The others are just visitors who come for the tax-free liquor and three inches of novelty coastline. John Hodgeman on The Daily Show (1-30-07)

[SueleenGay]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#16

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:06pm

I find it rather offensive that she trashed British directors in that way. Her little gossip tid-bit was just an excuse for this cranky old witch to show her ignorant bigotry towards Europeans. God forbid and American director dare to take on Shaw, Wilde or Shakespeare for God's sake, because we know nothing of British life.

PEACE.

[Unknown User]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#17

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:11pm

Mallardo,
Do you know him. You say "he's a really nice guy" How the hell do you know that? And is he a nice all the time? Does he ever get into moods?

Where are you getting that he really is a nice guy?

Reilly was on Theatre Wing Seminar on Sunday and Reilly was almost rude towards the moderator, Jeffrey Eric Jenkins.Almost. He was certainly abrasive.

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 07:11 PM

[Plum]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#18

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:13pm

Oh, that's the stylish thing for American gossip columnists to do, Sueleen. She and Riedel could have a tea party about it.

[KindnessofStrangers]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#19

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:17pm

A good friend of mine is a celebrity interviewer of some renown. He swears that of everyone he's interviewed, Reilly is the biggest asshole of them all.

[Unknown User]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#20

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:22pm

and then you have people like Dame who says "I agree with mallardo. there are two sides to every story."

Only you got it wrong Dame. Mallardo didn't give both sides. He just said Reilly is a nice guy(how he knows this, I don't know) and then went on to thrash the "Disinterested and distracting stage crew members"

How are these statements by mallardo , both sides of the story?

[Unknown User]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#21

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:25pm

Chita darling. Take a valium and breathe. Dame is right in saying Liz Smith is wrong all the time. She retracts constantly.

[Unknown User]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#22

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:39pm

I have not mentioned Liz Smith once.

[Unknown User]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#23

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:44pm

The article is by Liz Smith sweetheart. Wether you mentioned it or not. Don't act stupid. It doesn't fit your avatar.

[Plum]

re: Liz Smith on John C. Reilly#24

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:44pm

He said there were two sides to every story, and gave a potential second side. I don't see where the contradiction is.