My Bye Bye Birdie Review
My Bye Bye Birdie Review
#1My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/2/10 at 11:48pm
I went to see Bye Bye Birdie today and this will give a lot of people a lot of material to talk about(especially my haters)but I must say...I loved it! And so did the audience.
The show has been sold out all week, it hasn't been on TKTS until today, if I'm not mistaken.
The matinee was a 100% sold out today too.
I loved the sets, the costumes, the colors, the screens, the orchestration, the actors, the dancing, everything.
I was engaged the whole time, enjoying this great score.
There was also a talk about the show, and the cast shared a lot of their stories(the teen actors were on stage and answered questions from the audience)
Some comments about the cast:
John Stamos: I loved him, he looked amazing. His acting, singing and dancing were terrific!
Gina Gershon: She looked fantastic, and her acting was good. Her singing wasn't as good as my favorite Rose(Vanessa Williams in the TV movie), but in my point of view her voice is more pleasant than Chita Rivera's(who sounds like a chain-smoker)
Bill Irwin: He is such a good actor, that he makes up for his singing.
Nolan Gerard Funk: Was very sexy and has a nice voice. He was perfect for the role of Conrad.
Neil McCaffrey: Was great, and he told the audience the story about how the previous Randolph is now in Billy Elliot, so that's how he got the part. Very charming kid.
Catherine Blades: Was playing Kim for the 4th time. She was wonderful and hit the notes required. After the show, she also shared with the audience how this 15yo girl from Iowa is now on Broadway, and that her parents had to get her 4 flights to New York during the audition/call back process.
A wonderful show! I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a good time. Ignore the evil reviews!
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
Updated On: 1/3/10 at 11:48 PM
Will O'Donnell
Understudy Joined: 11/21/09
#2My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/2/10 at 11:52pmI loved it to. I did not particularly like John or Gina, but the teen were fantastic. Nolan was amazing, he brought a very updated vibe to the part.
WishingOnlyWounds2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/25/08
#2My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/2/10 at 11:57pmSo happy Catherine is getting performance time! Would love to see her and Danny Quadriano on as Hugo and Kim together...
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5
May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
#3My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 12:07amNeil Macaffrey was my favorite part of the show. That boy is beyond adorable. Glad you enjoyed the show!
#4My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 12:30am
Your review makes me even more excited about seeing the show tomorrow (Sunday) night!
Broadway 2010: January 1- Wishful Drinking, January 2- Hair (2pm), January 3- Ragtime (3pm), Bye Bye Birdie (7:30pm), January 4- Mary Poppins, January 14- The Lion King, January 17- The Understudy, March 10- Come Fly Away (2pm), March 15- The Addams Family
Updated On: 1/3/10 at 12:30 AM
#5My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 12:44am
Ugh ....... this production makes it almost impossible to believe that the original established long-time careers for Dick Van Dyke, Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde and Gower Champion, since what's seen on the Henry Miller stage will do nothing for the careers of anyone involved.
And incidentally .... it was on TKTS at 50% for both Friday evening and Saturday evening.
2016 These Paper Bullets (1/02) Our Mother's Brief Affair (1/06), Dragon Boat Racing (1/08), Howard - reading (1/28), Shear Madness (2/10), Fun Home (2/17), Women Without Men (2/18), Trip Of Love (2/21), The First Gentleman -reading (2/22), Southern Comfort (2/23), The Robber Bridegroom (2/24), She Loves Me (3/11), Shuffle Along (4/12), Shear Madness (4/14), Dear Evan Hansen (4/16), American Psycho (4/23), Tuck Everlasting (5/10), Indian Summer (5/15), Peer Gynt (5/18), Broadway's Rising Stars (7/11), Trip of Love (7/27), CATS (7/31), The Layover (8/17), An Act Of God (8/31), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (8/24), Heisenberg (10/12), Fiddler On The Roof (11/02), Othello (11/23), Dear Evan Hansen (11/26), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (12/21) 2017 In Transit (2/01), Groundhog Day (4/04), Ring Twice For Miranda (4/07), Church And State (4/10), The Lucky One (4/19), Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (5/16), Building The Wall (5/19), Indecent (6/01), Six Degrees of Separation (6/09), Marvin's Room (6/28), A Doll's House Pt 2 (7/25) Curvy Widow (8/01)
#6My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 12:51am
It sold out during the week though, I went on a Tuesday and it wasn't on TKTS at all. And Friday night, it was on TKTS but they wound up selling out by 7pm I believe.
Tonight Saturday, most shows were not selling that well it seems.
Carts, I'm glad you're excited! I will be seeing the show again tomorrow at 7.30 too!
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#7My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 12:51am
Glad to see that Will O'Donnell, and others, enjoyed the show as well. The audience seemed to love it, but I overheard a lady next to me saying that Gina can't sing though. Haha.
The theatre is gorgeous by the way. I've never been to that theatre before.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
Updated On: 1/3/10 at 12:51 AM
#8My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 12:52am
This production is terrible. It is the theatrical equivalent of the film version of NINE. PLEASE.
P
P.S. You know I love you. It's just not good.
#9My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:02am
Pat, maybe it was because I saw Nine the other day, that I found the singing in this pretty passable! Hahah.
Nah, seriously, Stamos sings very well, and Gershon can carry a tune. She is not Kelli O'Hara, but she does ok.
Bill Irwin, on the other hand...is a really good ACTOR! But his singing is plain terrible.
I love the colors they used for the suits and dresses, the sets. I thought it was really great put together.
Pat: I know you haven't seen this production because you haven't been in NYC!I love you too!
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#10My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:05am
Oh, I've seen it. And it was almost as bad as TAF. Almost.
UP OUT MY FACE. 
P
#11My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:07am
What is TAF?
When were you in NYC, you mysterious man?
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#12My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:20amBut of course you loved it. You always love the things that get an overwhelmingly negative consensus. Why should this surprise anybody? I saw the thread title, I saw you started it, and I knew what I was going to read before I clicked on it.
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
#13My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:23am
What is TAF?
The Addams Family
Gershon can carry a tune.
She tries so hard and she sells it through her acting. But she tries to overcome her vocal inabilities by using inflection. And it doesn't quite work because you know that's what she's trying to do.
Did she trip on her shawl this time?
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#14My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:30am
Namo, I'm going to be nice to you, because that was kinda funny and I just read all you said about Madonna and I was LMAO!
But I disagree, I loved for instance Finian's Rainbow and it got rave reviews across the board and on BWW.
So I am anything, but predictible.
Eris, you might be right, but she was having an "on" day today, she sounded pretty good. She did not trip, or maybe she did? I forgot.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#15My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:32amNo, what I am saying is when there is a NEGATIVE consensus it is absolutely predictable that you will go against it. Absolutely.
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
#16My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 1:33am
She did not trip, or maybe she did? I forgot.
When I saw it she dropped her shawl to the floor during Spanish Rose. Then she backed up and skidded on it. When I made a comment about it here someone remarked that she had done the same thing on a different day. I was starting to wonder if it was an every day thing.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#17My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 2:18amI would really like to see this production for myself after all the reviews. I also want to see the set. I have seen it in pictures and videos and I really like it, but I would love to see it live because I designed the set for my school's production of Bye Bye Birdie! Anyways, I am glad you enojyed the show :)
#18My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 2:19amSorry double post Updated On: 1/3/10 at 02:19 AM
#19My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 2:38am
Jon, do your best to see it.
The sets, the costumes, the images, they truly did a terrific job. It didn't feel low budget like so many of the roundabout productions.
Actually I promised to never see anything by roundabout after Wishful Drinking and The Understudy last week.
Now I like roundabout again, out of all the plays and musicals I've seen from them, I have only enjoyed Birdie, The Apple Tree and Cabaret.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#20My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 2:43am
ctually I promised to never see anything by roundabout after Wishful Drinking
Wait...what? WD was amazing.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#21My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 2:54amMuscle23, I really want to see it! I have never seen a Roundabout production, but I do have the recording for their Cabaret revival!
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#22My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 7:52am
I certainly didn't HATE it as much as many others, but I can't say I actually liked it. I felt as though I was watching a HS show. If it WERE a HS production, I'd have been pretty impressed....but there's a big difference there: I only pay 10 bucks to see HS shows, and the odds are against more than ONE of those performers ever finding a job on b'way. For me the entire production was SADLY misdirected. I truly believe ALL the actors deserved better and would have been MUCH better had they had a director that truly understood the piece.
But my 13 year old daughter loved it. A lot. But she liked The Little Mermaid too. And she blushed seeing NGF in his tightie whities. My 9 year old son is a bit more discriminating. He had fun. But didn't love it. He has the good test to realize that the TV movie is actually MUCH better. (With Jason Alexander)
To each his own.
The Caberet revival was OUTSTANDING.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#23My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 8:40am
Saw the show last Wednesday night. I hope to get around to posting full reviews of all three shows we saw (ALNM, Wishful Drinking, and Birdie), but have to jump in here and say that is the first Broadway show I have walked out of at intermission (we had only paid $10, so I figured it wasn't too much of a loss). There was absolutely no way we could have made it through Act Two. I agree that the production itself didn't seem low budget. My problem was the cast. There was no electricity on the stage...at all. I really wanted to like it despite the word-of-mouth, but found the whole endeavor painful.
(It didn't help that we were in the last row of the Mezz and the copious latecomers and their noise were horribly distracting...which I guess is a problem unique to the Henry Miller's since the Mezz is at street level.)
Will O'Donnell
Understudy Joined: 11/21/09
#24My Bye Bye Birdie Review
Posted: 1/3/10 at 4:03pmFor the record I'm a high school, student too, so maybe this show does appeal to younger audiences. I also had very low standards walking in because my friend told me it would be horrible, so it was a surprise to me.
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