Mr. Burns @ Playwrights — Page 5

Even if you scroll down to skip the offending parties' posts, you still are faced with some disgusting picture you may not want to be forced to look at, or the sight of some grimacing, whining guitar-player. They're gone from my life now, and I'm so much happier for it.

Based on that, methinks he's blocked Wicked.

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Oh, no doubt- after all, he accused me (well, more like declared) that I have been copying his writing style in an attempt to seem more intelligent/cultured or something.

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Oh I'm sure he's blocked me. Because according to him I'm an ageist. K.

I saw the Simpsons episode it was based on but it was so long ago it really didn't help. I also love Playwrights Horizon and it's always one of my subscriptions every year. that being said , I found MR. BURNS a bore. I was in row E where the aisle is and could see a number of people leave during the break in the first act. I see a lot of theater and took my brother who was in from Texas who sees almost no theater. At intermission we just looked at each other and knew it was time to leave . I couldn't have taken another 90 minutes without falling asleep. I felt bad for the actors because a fair amount of people left at intermission. I can't see this getting all raves but it does look like one of the plays that really divides people. Either you go for the ride or you don't. I didn't. I would sum it up by saying proceed with caution. One last thing, I did have trouble understanding the actor people have mentioned in the thread and missed a lot of his lines. It's a shame these threads have to get so nasty. It's a show, you liked it and I didn't. Maybe next time we'll both love it. Why do some people need to construe an opinion for someone being right or wrong. I hope everyone on the board will give A GENTLEMANS GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER a try. I saw it with Jefferson Mayes and thought it was delightful with a lovely, clever score. After you see it give the novel it's based on ,ISRAEL RANK a try. To read it before would give to much away and you'll be surprised to see how dark the ending gets. Both the movie it's based on KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS and GENTLEMANS GUIDE don't touch it but it worth checking out.

Updated On: 9/4/13 at 01:18 AM

I think it's worse to stay and fall asleep especially since one of the actors came out during the first act and was crouched down right in front of me. And yes, I did feel that bad for actors to come out and see a good portion of the audience has left. That doesn't mean I should stick around for a show I felt wasn't worth my time. And what was point of your post except that snarkiness that seems to pervade this board.

That is a perfectly valid critique, newintown, and your last paragraph sums it up well. But you’re being extraordinarily generous in extrapolating that from After Eight’s word salad. I’d be interested to see if even he would concede that as (one of) his intention(s).

Unfortunately, that idea has nothing to do with this play, and anyone who came away from it seeing that as either a goal or achievement of Washburn or the production either wasn’t paying attention or has a terribly faulty noggin.

Oh. Wait.

And I also see he deleted his post from this thread where he misused a word after condescendingly chastising another posters’ typo.

He’s a stand-up guy.

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First let me start by addressing, notabb. The reason for my post was to point out the fact that what you said seemed like double-talk to me. On one hand you feel bad for the actors that people leave at intermission when you yourself are doing the same thing. This is one of the shows that you might have actually very much enjoyed Act III because it is vastly different from the first two and brings the entire point of the piece together.

Now I will give my thoughts on the show. At first I thought this was something that I appreciated more than I enjoyed but then it really stuck with me. It was actually surprising to me how much of the humor relies on a knowledge of The Simpsons (especially Act III). I agree with Whizzer that it's best to watch the episode before seeing this because you definitely appreciate the jokes that much more.

I'm very glad that I saw this because it isn't the typically structured story of beginning, climax and denouement. That is the whole point to show how storytelling can evolve in a world where everything is changed. The whole cast seemed game for whatever it was they had thrown at them. I can see where people are coming from when it comes to Matt Maher but I could still understand everything he said. My one weak link that I would point out is Colleen Werthmann. I wasn't really loving her performance in Act II.

Something else that greatly altered my view of the show was the fact that I saw VAUDEVILLAINS right after and they used some of the same songs showcased in MR. BURNS and it further illustrated the point of how a story (or song) is changed based on who is telling (or singing) it.

I wouldn't say this is for everyone and I know I'm going to sound totally ageist but I don't think it's for anyone over the age of 40 unless you're a huge Simpsons fan. I'm basing this off the people who left during intermission and also the comments that I heard from those people who left. I feel like some shows are just written for a certain demographic in mind and while it may seem limiting to the playwright it's just the fact of the matter.

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It's funny that you didn't include my entire quote...

I don't think it's for anyone over the age of 40 unless you're a huge Simpsons fan.

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"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah