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

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 11:25am

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.

[amoni]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 1:42pm

"Were you in the theatre listening to the comments of the other people in the audience?"

No, I wasn't in the theater but then I don't go around eavesdropping and snooping in strangers conversations either.

[Sleeper2]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 6:18pm

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.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 6:31pm

I'm amused, irritated, but not altogether surprised that some individuals find it is their life's work to totally skewer the star(s) of a show. It seems that at times, people turn into mini Michael Ridel's. Frightening, is it not? They're growing into their roles, for goodness sakes. That takes time. All I'll say is good luck to Matt, Cody and the rest of the West Side Story cast. In these hard economic times in the country and also on the Great White Way, shows and cast members need all the positive vibes they can get. We'll find out eventually how WSS turns out. from RC in Austin, Texas... where it doesn't snow.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 7:20pm

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.

[matty159]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 7:34pm

Good assessment, dramamama.

I have to say, and I have said it on here, that this production has made me a little nervous...from the Spanish to the design to the casting...to the, er...Laurents. I am still excited to see it very much.

And though from a lot a peoples impressions on here might make it seem a nightmare, it is as others have said -- it has just gone through its first week. Hopefully they are listening to word of mouth and glancing at the reactions on message boards. They are not going to let a total train wreck that is going to be beaten to to shreds come to NYC.

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.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 8:38pm

"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?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 8:50pm

BTW: I still can't wait to see this; have tix in March.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 8:34am

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

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 1:12pm

I have seen matt perform three times now. Grey Gardens, the tour of Millie, and A Catered Affair. In every show, I thought he was the worst one, hands down. His acting is wooden, he always does this 1920s-radio announcer-whatdyasaysee-film noir voice that drives me up the wall. He doesn't know how to stand on a stage and speak. I have nothing personal against Matt and i want him to be good - after all I paid money to see those shows. But he's a disappointment every time.

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 1:13pm

BINGO

[hubee]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 4:56pm

I usually love Matt but he's slightly wrong here. He's not as horrid as the boards are saying but his voice is too operatic or something and somehow clashes with the character (he seems to "good" to be a former gang member).

I totally disagree about the Cody Green comment. I thought he was EXCELLENT as Riff and I've seen the show 3 times now. He's the perfect mix of leadership, disillusioned youth but still playing it cool (which is why Holbrook's Action goes crazy but Riff doesn't. duh. it's supposed to be that way).

Anyways, I didn't see it mentioned anywhere else yet (though maybe I missed a post somewhere) but the subtitles and projections (astrological sign and the rose window) are out as of now. They were no longer in the show last night.

But I overheard the lady taking notes speaking with someone else who seemed like he was working on it that they were still considering stuff though Arthur didn't like the projections and had wanted them out. But they were still discussing what to do.

There were a lot of other small changes, most notably that Tony doesn't push Anybodys onto the ground at the end anymore. Also, maybe cause I was just getting used to him but I didn't mind Matt as much last night. Again, he's the weak point in the show right now but it's still minor compared to the whole show. There seems to be so much negative hostility towards the show that seems so unwarranted.Chill people. It's good. It's really really good!

[beltingbaritone]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 5:32pm

"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.

[dexter3]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 12:30am

Whoever said the comment about matt's acting being wooden was right on.

And i can tell you....he is notoriously self-centered and frustrating to work with.

I think he should be cut. For everyone's sake.

<3

[SteamHeat2]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 4:29pm

"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.

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 7:01pm

I don't think any role is boring. If you have amazing presence, timing, etc, you can make any role a LITTLE interesting.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 10:30pm

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 :)