Margo on Charity — Page 4

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. :)

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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.

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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.

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So do I...so do I!

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

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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!

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