MOMMY DEAREST as a Musical ?- Page 2
MOMMY DEAREST as a Musical ?
#25re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 6:19pmIt's being done here in L.A. at the Hudson Backstage theater. I'm trying to find a discount code to go Saturday night.
#26re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 6:23pm
Yeah, I have friends who saw it and loved it. I guess Danny Pintauro is playing Christina Crawford.
From the LA Times:
'Mommie,' is that a man in a dress?
Lethally shoulder-padded Joan Crawford tells lover Greg, "You know what's missing from my life?" Greg fires back: "Estrogen?" So runs the high camp course of "Mommie Queerest" at the Hudson Backstage Theatre. One needn't know from "Mommie Dearest," whether Christina Crawford's memoirs or the 1981 Faye Dunaway film, to enjoy Jamie Morris' hysterical storefront frolic.
First seen in 2004 at Ultra Suede, "Mommie Queerest" is a barroom sketch pumped to Bruce Vilanch proportions. Adaptor-performer Morris deconstructs the screenplay's most notorious bits while exploiting the notion that Hollywood's most famous hater of wire hangers was actually a man.
This flask-clutching, duct-taped conceit is one key factor in "Mommie's" wicked drag rodeo. Another is the resourceful staging, which revels in set designer Michael Lee Scott's ever-changing panels, the uncredited props and costumes and, especially, audience response.
Although Morris eerily resembles his target, the mugs, vocal attack and death-defying pauses suggest Rosalind Russell and Robert Mitchum as much as Crawford and/or Dunaway. Given this, Morris delivers the goods, as does Brooks Braselman's kidney-threatening Christina, who blends Vivian Vance and a Central California Women's Facility inmate. Brian Rooney gives supporting roles from lovelorn secretary Carol Ann to adenoidal Mother Superior a delicious deadpan simper.
At the reviewed performance, director Christopher Kenney went in for Bradley Griffith as Greg, leather-harnessed Christopher, et al., which may explain some awkward transitions and scattershot timing.
The absence of Joan's subbing for Christina on "The Secret Storm" is a missed opportunity, and Kevin Gardiner's adroit film-credits prologue doesn't exactly jive with the new venue.
Regardless, "Mommie Queerest" will fracture Crawford cultists, and true believers should sit up front.
— David C. Nichols
"Mommie Queerest," Hudson Backstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. 8 p.m. Fridays, 8 and 10 p.m. Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays. Ends July 10. $25. (323) 960-7744 or plays411.com. Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes.
Updated On: 7/21/05 at 06:23 PM
#27re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 6:29pm
ends July 10??????
CRISTINA.....BRING ME THE AXE! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story...
AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956
#29re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 6:31pmJuly 10th can't be right because a friend of mine knows someone in the cast that asked her to come support him. That's why we're trying to make the show on Saturday. I think you still have this weekend at the very least.
#30re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 6:31pmJoan: (out the window insanely draped in ACE Bandages) Christina!...Christopher! Dammit!
Gypsy - Betty Buckley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUN5XoB5vFs&feature=youtu.be
#31re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 6:42pm
OMG Popular, thanks so much for bumping this- my friends and I are so going to see this this weekend! (theatermania says it closes July 24)
I love Mommie Dearest, my mom and I used to watch it every Mother's Day (what can I say, I grew up in a weird family) and I used to work with a woman named Christina who had a boss that would scream at her and whenever the boss was out of earshot I would always go "TINA, bring me the ax!" to her- it cracked us up every time. Can't wait to see it as performed by four men.
eta: Hey, I am a Chorus Member now! Does this mean I get to boss around the Swing folks? :)
Updated On: 7/21/05 at 06:42 PM
#32re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 6:53pm
"The Wire Hanger Tango" has a nice ring to it...
"Christina's bummin'. Cuz mommie's comin'. Though Chris is strapped into the bed. I know, I was there...she even buzzed hair".
I guess it's been done before though.
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
-- Author Unknown
Updated On: 7/21/05 at 06:53 PM
#34re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:17pm
god i love this movie!
Myb rothers friend made a shirt that said NO MORE WIRE HANGERS ... EVER!!!
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#35re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:28pm
That was my old theatre back in LA. Waaaaa!
I did Christmas With The Crawfords there....
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#36re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 8:21pmThis needs to tour. Any word on whether the scene with the scissors has been musicalized?
MaTakeALookAtMe
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/13/04
#38re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/22/05 at 12:13am
I can just imagine the pool scene- Think Aida, 'Strongest Suit' special effects...As Tina and Joan emerge from the water, and begin to argue, Joan belts out in a spine chilling patter, "I will always win because I'm STRONGER than you and FASTER than you!"
"I need to know that someone out there cares...Are you there?"
Updated On: 7/22/05 at 12:13 AM
#39re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/22/05 at 1:43am
I'm still more interested in Marc Shaiman's more grandiose version, which I hope would have females cast as Joan and Christina. Half the fun is seeing women risk their careers and reputations by taking on these roles. I could also see a more expensive production presenting the birthday party as a lavish ATLANTIC CITY (Ragtime) or ONE SHORT DAY (Wicked) number. *sigh* So much potential!
And Rusty, that's funny as hell about Joan emerging from the pool.
#40re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/23/05 at 1:44amThanks Evelyn- I appreciate it as I do have a deep passion for this movie...I feel as if they would take away my card as a gay man if I had not seen it.
"I need to know that someone out there cares...Are you there?"
#41re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 2:36am
Bumping, as I saw Mommie Queerest tonight, and it was one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time!
For those who are fans of the camp of the movie, it is all here- the swimming scene, "Tina, bring me the ax," "I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the dirt," the rare meat dinner, "Understand, the first word I ever heard out of any of you...," "I am NOT one of your fans," and, of course, the wire hanger scene.
But, this cast takes it up and out to a whole new level of camp- a catfight staged to Bette Davis Eyes, 'Christina Aguilera Crawford,' etc.- ok so it all makes more sense in context. :)
Jamie Morris (Joan Crawford) completely takes Joan's mannerisms and facial expressions to a whole new exaggerated level- hilarious. I believe that it ends tomorrow night, as a warning for anyone in the L.A. area who wants to check it out.
And who knew that little Danny Pintauro (sorry- Dan Pintauro now) from "Who's the Boss" would grow up to be such a cutie? Small correction to one of the posts above- he does not play Christina, rather he plays Carol Ann and a whole host of other characters.
#42re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 4:19am
Anakela, that's both great and depressing to hear... great becuase it sounds like the crew did much more than just set the dialogue to music, and depressing because I won't get to see it!
Please tell me how the HAIRCUT scene was done! "You spoiled it just like I spoiled you!"
#43re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 6:26amGreat title for a rousing second act number: "Don't F*ck with Me, Fellas!"
Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!
#44re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 9:16amTommy, we'll have the steak for two - rare, and two limestone salads.
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
#45re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 12:00pm
Actually, sorry, I should have explained this furthur- they did some stuff to music, but it was music as in a soundtrack, the show was just straight-up dialogue, no singing from the folks on stage.
The haircut scene: fierce light on Joan and her scissors, strobe lights going off all around, no other lighting, bits of hair flying everywhere, Joan's got some great lines including bits about "looking like you're working the streets of West Hollywood," etc., strobe lights turn off and Christina's changed wigs from the little blonde curls look to some awful half shaved, half fluff, I'm not even sure it was a wig before the props guys got ahold of it, wig.
It played a lot better than I can do it justice in words!
I think my favorite bit might have been the 'celebrity death match' type fight they stage during "I am NOT one of your fans!"- "In this corner, weighing in at 185 (off of look from Joan) 110, Joan Crawford." heh.
#46re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 12:21pmOh my, that sounds hilarious. This has to come to Chicago and back to New York. I feel like I've missed out on the experience of a lifetime.
#47re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 3:16pmEvelyn- I'll keep my fingers crossed that hopefully it tours near you soon! And now I have updated my sig with the best line of the night that did not come from the stage.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#48re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 4:28pm
Imagine a chorus of 16 Joan Crawford's dancing with wire hangers & singing " No More Wire Hangers"
Another great camp musical would be "Myra Breckenridge - The Musical" with Rex Reed in the John Houston part
Poster Emeritus
Updated On: 7/24/05 at 04:28 PM
#49re: MOMMIE DEAREST as a Musical ?
Posted: 8/26/05 at 9:07pm
This needs to be done now.
I can hear the overture stasrting with hwavy crazy music, then changing into a light lullaby to show how damn' crazy she is!
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
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