MATT CAVANAUGH AND CODY GREENE MUST BE REPLACED! — Page 3

Two comments. First, I saw the original production in 1957 and was paying strict attention to the opinions of the theatre critics at the time. No less than Brooks Atkinson raved about it and the press was generally positive. All seemed to agree that the dancing was the true star of the show. I think part of the show's relatively short run (as compared to, say, My Fair Lady and The Music Man, both in their original runs) can be attributed to the dark nature of the material. Second, several years later, I saw Larry Kert do Pal Joey in summer stock and he was fine, doing a bang-up job in the dancing, singing and acting departments. Shirl Conway was the Vera and was supporting him to the max at the curtain call.

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Were the snotty comments about Matt's singing overheard at the stage door where you were camped out waiting for the horrible actors and singers to emerge?

I hope, when Matt came out, you let him know what a suck-ass job he did -- every performer loves constructive criticism from autograph hounds.

While I agree in THEORY with a lot of what is being said: it is still a PROFESSIONAL company doing an EQUITY show. THEY know that word of mouth is incredibly important ESPECIALLY in this economy. And while, yes, things are still being worked on, they should be at the top of their game.

Are some folks being too harsh? I don't know as I haven't seen it yet, regardless, it's still their opinions. They paid for a professional production and deserve just that. They didn't get a discount since it "might not yet be up to snuff".

It is THEIR job to give us a show to love and to rave about. Not to want our "understanding" that they are getting there.

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"That being said...I hope to see something wonderful on 1/10 and applaud those who have seen it already with their glass-half-full optimism."

I hope you enjoy the show. I didn't "hate" it and I understand how early in the preview process it is. I thought that Karen and Curtis were absolutely pleasures to watch. "America" and "Gee, Officer Krupke" were the best received numbers of the evening. During curtain calls people started standing for the two of them and they absolutely deserve it. Tony nominations? I don't know but if the show were to be reviewed right now by one of the major NYC reviewers I feel they'd be mentioned very favorably.

I didn't feel that Matt was "bad" or "sucked". I've seen him perform before and have enjoyed him. I just didn't feel his voice was as good as I've heard it before. I don't think he should be replaced and someone else had stated that he sounded better on a previous night than he did when I was at the show. And, at this moment, Matt's voice is not the most troubling thing in this production. As another poster said in a different thread the actor who played Schrank was very troubling. His take on the character was just to mostly yell at the kinds in the same voice. I know it's not a very deep character but his performance just made me cringe.

IMO, all of the things that are making this production stumble out of the gate can be fixed. I don't think it's a "nightmare" but there are things that, perhaps, need to be reconsidered. For example - the TVs that show the subtitles. They can't even be read from every seat in the theatre in DC. I can't say exactly what size the TVs are but they're your basic flat screen TVs. I had a friend who was sitting in the balcony and she couldn't read them because they were too small. But if they were bigger they would interfere with the "magic" of the theatre. But if you take them away completely people might not understand what is being said. How do you answer that question?

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The performers can / will be fine. As long as the director makes some changes.

BINGO

"I've come up with a way of doing it that will make it absolutely contemporary without changing a word or a note."
-Arthur Laurents

Maybe he should stop.

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"It's a boring role"

echoing others: it doesn't have to be. Louis Hobson was a thrill to watch summer of 2007 at 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.

I wasn't expecting anything great from Matt even before these reviews started coming in. I hope I'm proven wrong next Tuesday when I see the show! I can't wait :)

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