Margo on Charity- Page 4

Posted: 5/2/05 at 12:54pm

no other actresses are being given a pass on broadway?

"Hmmmm...

Brooke Shields, Teri Hatcher, Melanie Griffith; Marisa Tomei, Nicole Kidman, oh let's see, what other Hollywood actresses have done Cabaret or Chicago in the past six years? " justme2
----------------------------------------------------------------to just me.

it sounds like you were saying those women were given a pass. Am I wrong.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 12:54pm

Though Margo says the show has improved since I saw it and I respect her review very much, I wonder if a more accomplished singer/dancer/actress could have saved it.
The direction was not very good at least when I saw it. I wonder if it was obvious early on and that is why Jane Krakowski quit.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:00pm

Streep trained as a professional singer for many years and starred in the off-Broadway musical "Alice at the Palace" by Elizabeth Swados and sang quite well. With a little work and coaching, who's to say that she couldn't sing Mrs. Lovett?

And please don't forget that Melanie Griffith received a love letter of a review from Ben Brantley when she did Roxie a few years ago stating "Ms. Griffith's performance in this hit revival of the Kander and Ebb musical, still feisty after more than six years, has to qualify as one of the most bizarrely successful debuts in Broadway history." He also called her "a sensational Roxie, possibly the most convincing I have seen."

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:06pm

aarrrgh! Chita33!! It's simply a misinterpretation. I am not hiding behind anything I've said!! I swear it!

Glebb said Christina was being given a pass on her dancing, singing and acting because she is very very pretty and asked the question "what other broadway actress is afforded this kind of leeway?" and Theaterboy33 responded with "none glebb. Determination is not a stage skill".

My response was to list out examples of other actresses that have indeed been given the same leeway as Christina...i.e., coming to a show with little to no Broadway experience. NOT A PASS. My arguement is that NONE OF THESE ACTRESSES WERE GIVEN CRTICIAL PASSES. They were chosen for the roles for whatever reasons (money, name, etc...for better or worse...many ended up for worse).

It had nothing to do with whether or not they were good in the show, it was simply to show that Christina is not the first Hollywood actress to be on the boards on NY without having "earned approval first". And she is not being given any sort of "pass". In fact, she is paying dearly for having the nerve to act upon a goal she's had.

That's all.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:13pm

I don't think Christina Applegate has been given a pass because she is pretty. I just think she is pretty. I notice that people are rooting for her (as I was) and I don't think it's enough to be just OK in the role of Charity. The role calls for a performer of great skill and charisma.

I think she was hired with high hopes and the fact that she is a widely known name.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:16pm

Glebb..

I say they shouldn't have started rehearsing the show until they nailed the ending! I remember bringing this up in another SC thread. I find it odd that anyone would take a chance on presenting any revival when the ending is obviously not going to work!

That said, I still want to see it. I am a Walter Bobbie and Cy Coleman fan. I would have seen anyone in this revival, except maybe Jenna Elfman. I remember when her name was attached. I would have loved seeing Charlotte D'Amboise in it as well. I was excited for Krakowski when she was announced. I was not excited by Marisa Tomei's name being attached to it.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:18pm

:)

Keeping fingers crossed that all goes well.
It's good for actors to have work. :)

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:22pm

Thanks Glebb...I too am keeping fingers crossed if only to keep people employed.

And...I do agree with you...she was hired for her name. Bobbie said it himself in an interview, "We couldn't raise 8 million dollars on Charlotte's name".

A sad theater fact, but true.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:08pm

I think "Charity's" reviews are going to be some of the most anticipated of the season.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:18pm

thanks for a great review Margo. I am sad you did not enjoy the show more. I shant repeat here all my previously posted reasons about my shock that anyone would think a revival of this show would make money. I am saddened that the show does not seem to have been improved, based on what I have read from the majority of posters who have written their CHARITY reviews here. Maybe something magical will occur before opening night, I hope so. Thanks again Margo Channing. :)

[DAME]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:20pm

Oh my god. I thought for a second he was going to repeat all his lies again and I was going to have to take us all on a "WishIhadatony" stroll through memory lane.

I WILL ALWAYS BE WATCHING.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:26pm

You are so bad, Dame....

You got that right, Princeton! I shudder to think of all the comments and comparisons with Fosse that will be published as "reviews" on Thursday am.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:27pm

I (the Invigorating Hussy) personally feel safer knowing that DAME is watching and protecting the world from "Charity-Bashing"

[DAME]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:29pm

I have not seen this production so I am not necessarily defending it. I just hate a few things; like whemn people review shows without seeing them, or one people post fiction as facts. All of which this WishIhadabrain guy has done.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:29pm

Well, the critics have already seen it -- Brantley was there Saturday night and I saw Winer at the Sunday matinee -- so it's too late for miracles. I suspect Applegate will get mostly kind and positive notices, as will most of the rest of the cast. I'm guessing, though, that the direction and choreography and overall show will be lucky to get even a mixed reception from most of the critics.

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 02:29 PM

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:30pm

So do I...so do I!

I meant "bad" in a good way, of course!

[wink]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 4:02pm

After reading that Ms. Applegate limped slightly and sat out a few dance steps a couple of weeks ago, I decided to skip this show for another one when I was in NYC. Now I'm glad I did. Why cast an actress who only displays "decent" dance technique and is obviously working hard? I expect professionals to make their craft look as effortless as possible. I don't want to atend theater feeling as though I have to root for actors/dancer/singers to make it through the performance. My expectation is that they are better than competent before they step foot on stage.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 4:13pm

Maybe you should see the show WINK, and decide for yourself whether she was up to snuff or not...please don't take the word of others alone to make a decision! If I did this, I would never have seen Scarlet Pimpernel, Damn Yankees, or Showboat, three shows I ended up loving, despite others negative comments.

And when I saw Hello Dolly in 1994 in SF, I was wincing everytime Carol Channing walked down a staircase or did a high kick. I was terrified that she would fall and break something. I was rooting for her to make it through her performance!