Mantello Slams Chicago Sun-Times Critic over Controversial Review — Page 2

The review would be laughable, except that the article will cost the show money, especially when factoring in the open-ended production of Wicked that is starting in a few months. And there are many people that will choose not to see Wicked solely based on this woman's ludicrous accusations. Joe Mantello's rebuttal isn't going to be published in the Chicago Sun-Times, so they'll accept Hedy Weiss's article as an accurate review.

If they must have theater critics, I think they should have to have their articles reviewed by their peers, like academic journals are. Because this article is the perfect example of why critics should have to answer to a higher-up before they do irreparable harm to a show.

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Updated On: 5/16/05 at 02:41 AM

Well, now I don't feel so bad about the times Hedy hasn't liked ME!Go Joe!

I didn't read it myself but I was under the impression that the Sun-Times had printed Mantello's letter.

You add Weiss's absurd comments to the fact that the Tribune citic made and out-and-out mistakes in his review and Chicago critics are looking very bad this spring. It's really hard to understand especially considering the huge civic push there has been for this production. I can't help but wonder if Weiss's bizarre behavious was somehow motivated by her resentment that the Sun-Times spent a week promoting this show with a "Wicked" article every day. She's known to be a bit of a contrarian, so maybe she was pissed they were hyping a show and she decided to take it to task.

In any case it's sad and reflects poorly on the media here. From all repors, tickets are still selling like crazy.

Updated On: 5/16/05 at 10:37 AM

Is she Chicago's version of John Simon?

I turned on TV during Chicago tonight and turned it off immediately seeing that she was talking, even though they were showing some clip from "One Short Day."

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hmmm........this will make her even more un-pop-u-lar in Chicago.

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Some critics think that, unless they say bad things, they aren't doing their jobs. Ultimately, even a good review is just an opinion and you know what they say . . . but she definitely sounds like she's a few ruffles shy of a Glinda gown!!!!

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And to top everything else, even though she'll deny it, she's frequently shown a tendency for homophobia, particularly when it regards lesbians (gay men she'll like if they're cute, helpless and with AIDS, which is why she did like "Angels in America"). There's no doubt that it's not just "Caroline" that bothers her about Tony Kushner...

I was bothered enough by her review and her remark about Mr. Kushner to send her an e-mail on May 6th. Some of you have probably read these posts on the thred Wicked's first show in Chicago. Here is the e-mail I sent her along with her response and my response back. It just amazes me that she is still working for this paper! here are my posts:

OK...it bothered me enough to send her an e-mail....this is what I said. I will post her response if I get one!


Just read your Wicked review here in Denver. I saw the show on Broadway with the original cast and enjoyed it. No, it is no masterpiece but an enjoyable show with good music. I am e-mailing you in regards to a part of your review. The comment that the scarecrow is revealed to be a "lynched black man" is kind of offensive especially seeing that I am a black man. It also gives a plot surprise away, something that most reviewers have not done. I wonder how you would have described the character had it been played by a white person, Asian or Hispanic on the tour. I cringe to even think about it. While I agree with some of your review about the show (I can't speak to the touring cast but will see them in Denver to form my own opinion)I think it was pretty harsh and slightly off the mark.




Well kids, I got a response! You are gonna love this!

From Hedy Weiss to me:


My intent was only to depict the way history is shorthanded in this
musical,
and unquestionably black men have been the major victims of lynchings.
If
you reread my review you also will note that I considered this
reference in
the exact same way that I did the fact that the Munchkins were dressed
like
concentration camp inmates (and I am Jewish). There was no value
judgement
made at all, except to say that the book of "Wicked" is all over the
map and
that if you are going to put a political subtext in a musical you
probably
should put things in context.

Hedy Weiss



My response to her was this:

Ok...don't really see what history has to do with a
musical based on fiction. This is pure fantasy. The
original Fiyero was, and still is, white. So your
statement would have been unfounded had there been a
white person playing the part. So why even make that
type of reference. I am interested in knowing what
you would have said had a person other than an african
american played the part. Seeing that white people
were not being lynched, I can only expect that you
would compare it to Christ on the Cross maybe?!!!
Only thing I can think you would do. I still find your
review to be out of line. And having archived your
reviews and read you review on Caroline or Change, I
think that you may have some issues that need
addressing. I did see Caroline or Change on Broadway
and did not get the same thing out of it that you did.
Neither did anyone I know that saw the review. And I
think Mr. Kushner was fully justified in his response.

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I just don't get how you go to a show/musical that is fiction and fantasy (with a nice message) and look at it in the way she did. My mind didn't even go there when I saw it in New York (with Mr. Butz)and won't when Mr. Williams arrives in Denver as Fiyero. It's amazing, and sometimes very scary, how some people look at things. Even scarier is that it sounds like the woman is going to be allowed to continue as a critic for the Sun-Times.

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I don't really like Wicked, but she seems a bit looney. You guys are great! Thanks for pasting in her replies. :)

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LOL Hanna..you are, I am sure, very correct!

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