MARTIN SHORT: FAME BECOMES ME - was it a hit or flop? — Page 2

Unless I'm wrong, I don't recall the word "vaudeville" being mentioned in the script ONCE.

Ummm...did the cast of THREEPENNY OPERA come center stage and scream: "JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW. THIS IS BRECHTIAN THEATRE"?

No.

Because some people don't have to be told.

They just know.


Then I guess from here on in I should think of myself as the clueless wonder!

Ben Brantley's New York Times review was mixed to positive, with much praise to Capethia Jenkins, Mr. Short himself, and a little shout-out to Mary Birdson.

However, no mention of Brooks Ashmankas, the only Tony nominee.

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I doubt it recouped but I also think it was never intended to have a very long run

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I was very disappointed with Big Black Woman - it was quite tame compared to what it should have been. Capathia has way more in her than that. If you want a show-stopping song, give her a damn show-stopping song - don't make it a show-stopper simply by baiting the audience.

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Saw the show mid-run. Didn't get to see Nicole Parker (love her on the cast album, though) but I did get to see her replacement (Nicole left the show in December than came back when it closed), forgot her name, but she did a flawless imitation of Sarah Jessica Parker and Renee Zellwegger. mary Birdsong was wonderful, too-uncanny Judy Garland.

I enjoyed the show. It was fun. It was overall generally funny with some hysterical moments, and Martin Short has enough energy to perk up Ben Stein. Capathia Jenkins, was...alright. I didn't know what she was capable of until I saw her perform "My Handyman Ain't Handy No More" from Stairway to Paradise. If she had performed "Stop the Show" with THAT much energy and attitude than the entire theatre would've been standing on their chairs while applauding her. But it was a fun evening.

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what parodies of shows were involved?

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it would have ran longer (until the TONYS) had marc shaiman not decided he wanted to leave. marty was willing to keep it open the five months until tony time, but without marc shaiman that was a no go. seth rudetsky's name was thrown around to replace him but ultimately the decision was made to close.