Melanie Griffith on The View

Just watching Melanie on The View and they're discussing how the press is gaga over her performance in Chicago. I haven't read many professional reviews - is this true? From what I've read here (and other places) she's not a great fit, to put it mildly. And the critics love her? That, in my opinion, is what is wrong with Broadway these days. Critics and audience seem to have very different ideas of what is "good" and what is "bad."

Melanie also mentioned that she's forgotten her lines a couple of times and that it was 'so funny, everyone was laughing.' Huh? Since when is forgetting your lines in front of a theatre full of people funny? I realise it does happen but isn't the idea actually to try to hide the fact that you've screwed up? Maybe I'm wrong. Melanie has never been my favorite person so I suppose I could be biased.

Anyway. Diedre was great and I'd really love to go see her in the show. Any idea who's coming in after Melanie? Oh and how long is Brent Barrett in? Please tell me he'll still be around!

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I'm sorry i'm at work and can't see this. Melanie and the View women. What could be better than watching tha always annoying Melanie chat with the equally annoying loud mouth Joy Bayhar and the obnoxious full of herself (although I can't see why)Starr Jones.

Anyway, you're right, Kelly. A good actress who forgets her lines is able to adlib something on teh spot and cover for herself so that audiance doesn't notice. But, that's a good actress, not Melanie.

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I wouldn't exactly say her performance was "trashed"...
For those curious, here are links to most of the major reviews...

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/04/arts/theater/04CHIC.html
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1947713
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/ledger/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-1/1059802345288450.xml
http://nypost.com/entertainment/2285.htm
http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CT=8
http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/stage/ny-p2top23401236aug04,0,356494.story?coll=ny-theater-print
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater/story/106171p-96010c.html

Right now Brent Barrett and Melanie Griffith are only signed until 9/28, as far as I know.

I, too, am hoping he'll stick around after she leaves so I'll have a chance to see him again! (Unless, of course, he leaves so he can originate a role in something fabulous...)

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seabyrd,

Some of her biggest compliments came from gay men...so I'm not sure of your point.


I have seen performers who I forgive ANYTHING if they inherently have something in them that illuminates the part. I don't go to watch technical proficiency (one of the reasons I'd rather watch paint dry than a performance by Karen Ziemba). I go to be moved and changed in some way. These reviewers obviously know that they should be taking her to task for her lack of experience, but something about her transcended all of her faults...for them. No need to crucify her or the reviewers. If you don't want to see her...don't go.

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Melanie did not act professional at all. She seemed very bored with the routine she was doing. Very ditzy. (in the show). She brought a nail file with her when she came out on stage. Deidre was singing to her and she was concentrating on her nail. Now don't tell me that was in the script.

Go and see her for yourself. She is not Broadway caliber. WHen you pay a lot of money for tickets, that is annoying.

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No, she was showing the blonde actress, who gets hanged, her broken nail. I was in the third row. She decided to file it down during Deidre's number.

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Updated On: 8/7/03 at 07:20 PM

Did they perform on The View?