Mack and Mabel Shaw Video

[Kevinoes]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:21pm

The Shaw Festival web site has a video preview of their production of MACK AND MABEL that opened to rave reviews last month. It's a shame they don't show Glynnis Ranney or Ben Campbell singing since they are so brilliant. But
it gives you an idea of what they're physically doing with the production. Enjoy!

http://www.shawfest.com/web/content.asp?docid=1_3_2_5

[Kevinoes]

Posted: 6/16/07 at 5:52pm

Bump.

[MrBundles]

Posted: 6/16/07 at 6:10pm

thank you for posting this. I love the show, and this production looks fantastic. I ADORED the recent West End revival.

[Tag]

Posted: 6/16/07 at 6:23pm

The production design looks gorgeous.

[DirectorGP]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 8:24am

That looks amazing.... I want to see that! Do Shaw Fest productions ever end up on Broadway?

[AngusN]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 1:51pm

Wow, thanks for that. This show looks amazing! I hope it does well.

[Julian2]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 2:17pm

Rave reviews? Really??? Does this mean they fixed the book?

[Kevinoes]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 3:50pm

It's the version that was revived by Michael Stewart's sister. The reviews have all acknowledged that the book is still a mess (even with revisions) but that what Molly Smith has physically done to the production -- with design by William Schmuck -- has turned the show around and made it work for maybe the first time. The "filmed" sequences on stage are particularly stunning and the Keystone Cops sequence in act two is amazing. And again, Ben Campbell and Glynnis Ranney are absolutely brilliant. Glynnis' voice melts your soul.

To date, no Shaw Festival production has ever transferred to Broadway. Their production of SAINT JOAN is touring to Chicago and Cleveland at the end of the year but that's the extent of it. I don't think the show would do particularly well on Broadway. Even here at Shaw, most people had never heard of it. But word of mouth has been strong as well as the great reviews and so tickets have been selling VERY WELL! It plays thru to the end of October so if anyone gets a chance to see it, GO!
Updated On: 6/17/07 at 03:50 PM

[Kevinoes]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 9:49am

Jerry Hermen came to see the production this week and LOVED it. Read what he said about it!

http://www.shawfest.com/shaw07/PDF/news/2007/June22_07_Jerry_Herman.pdf

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 11:36am

Thank you so much for posting this. It reminded me that I promised myself I would make it out to Shaw this year to see this and Tristan.

Akiva

[OOTI2004]

Posted: 8/9/07 at 1:46am

I just returned from my Shawfest trip, and I just wanted to say that I thought the production was simply amazing. I found no real flaw with the book, it moved along very well and was captivating the entire time. It was just stunning and I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it, having been a little skeptical about choosing this as one of the shows to see, since its had a so so reputation (book-wise)

Also, watching this production's version of "Time Heals Everything" was one of the most heartbreaking experiences I've ever witnessed. I can't believe I'm going to say this but Glynnis Ranney's rendition seemed to me to be far superior to Bernadette Peters'.

If you get a chance to catch this you should definately make the trip. It exceeded all of my expectations and was thrilling, and having talked to some other people at the theater, many others were very impressed and thoroughly enjoyed the show.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 8/9/07 at 1:49am

OOTI,

What else did you get to see while there.

Akiva

[Trish2]

Posted: 8/9/07 at 9:29am

I attend the musicals every year at the Shaw festival and they never cease to amaze me. They are first rate, quality productions, and the production values are never compromised. I'm looking forward to Mack & Mabel which I'll be seeing in September.
Plus, Niagara-on-the-lake is just a beautiful spot to enjoy for the weekend !

[WOSQ]

Posted: 8/9/07 at 10:15am

I was at the Shaw July 22-28 and saw all 10 productions. I always say the Shaw is like sleepaway camp for theatre fans.

Mack and Mabel musically was pretty good. The book does sink it and I don't think the show will ever really work. It belongs on the list of unfixable heartbreakers like Merrily We Roll Along. Benedict Campbell is so strong and so damn good as Mack Sennet that he over shadows Glynnis Ranney, and I felt the show ought to be called "Mack and Mack and Mabel".

As for Time Heals Everything, why have her wander all over the stage? What is wrong with planting her DSL or DSR, have her sing, then move during the musical interlude and then have her stand still again while she finishes the song?

My A+ list for this season is:
Summer and Smoke which took a B list Williams play and made it A list. This is the reason to travel to NotL this season. The company is justifyably very proud of this production.
The Cassilis Engagement is a terrifically funny, witty and pungent comedy about the class system and warfare in early 1900s Britain. This is also a must-see. It could use a NY production.
Both A Month in the Country and Saint Joan are also on the must list.

Tristan, an original musical, is a nice try, but is not assembled well. There are some good songs and the cast is admirable, but the book needs major restructuring. This is the only show that I found lacking although the production is strong. The audience ate it up so you could say 'what the hell do I know?'

This was my 6th trip to the Shaw Fest in 7 years. The Shaw is remarkably easy to get to and is actually closer to the Buffalo airport than Toronto. The bulk of the season runs through October 7. Once you get there, you really do not need a car. There is not much nightlife so you eat, sleep, shop, take walks, swim at the municipal pool and go to the theatre. What else is there?

This year's big drawback for those of us from the US? Our dollar is weak and it is about par with the Canadian dollar. In 2001-02 it was about 1USD=1.50CD.

Go and you'll get hooked. You will probably also be the youngest people in the theatre at least on a weekday.

[OOTI2004]

Posted: 8/9/07 at 1:50pm

Thats very interesting WOSQ because the other show that I saw Summer and Smoke, I only had the chance to see two. However I did not like it that much. I love Tennesse Williams plays and I do like the play but there was something about the production that I didn't find right. I know that does not explain it very well, but I was not very impressed by Summer and Smoke, although there are some great performances in it, and I did enjoy getting to see Williams live again.

As for Ranney moving around, it didn't phase me one bit. From the moment the song started she took a hold of my attention and I didn't see anything else, while I noticed she was moving its like I didn't even see that it happened until the end of the song. She could have walked out into the audience and I probably still wouldn't have even really noticed. She was simply breathtaking.

I do agree that Mack overshadows her a little, though. Its not too much but there isn't a complete balance.

What is it that you find wrong with the book?

[ahmelie]

Posted: 8/9/07 at 1:53pm

The Creative Writing department at my school saw this production on their end of the year trip.

I was very jealous, the production looks fantastic.