My Bye Bye Birdie Review- Page 2

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 8:08pm

I LOVE this show....just not this production. Truly. Except for "expectations", this SHOULD appeal to everyone.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 8:19pm

I too love BYE BYE BIRDIE and have seen approximately 15 productions of it throughout my lifetime including Middle School, High School and Regional productions. The 2009 Broadway Revival was by far the worst production of the 15 I've seen. It is very very difficult to ruin BYE BYE BIRDIE - but Robert Longbottom succeeded in doing just that.

[carts2010]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 1:32am

I was definitely entertained by the show tonight. It wasn't the best show I have ever seen, but it wasn't the worst either. I enjoyed John Stamos, Gina Gershon (when she wasn't singing), Bill Irwin, Jayne Houdyshell and Nolan Gerard Funk. Nolan in his underwear... WOW!

After the show I braved the stage door even though it was absolutely freezing, and super crowded. I got to meet much of the cast including John, Bill and Nolan.

It was a fun night at the theatre.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 2:08am

Saw it today--this is my first exposure to the show.

I, too, was pleasantly surprised, probably due mostly to my horrible expectations. Did not care for Stamos. LOATHED the walking ham that was Bill Irwin (what the hell was he DOING? What was with the voices?). And there was something really oddly sinister about Funk that I couldn't put my finger on (also hated his singing more than anybody else in the cast--so whiney. Is he sick?). BUT I enjoyed the material, LOVED the sets/costumes/lighting, the ensemble and...I might be alone in this...found Gershon really appealing and likable. I had fun. Especially since I paid virtually nothing...
Updated On: 1/4/10 at 02:08 AM

[yankee_fan907]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 2:16am

Scarywarhol and I had about the same exact experience/opinions, although s/he seems a little more enthusiastic about the technical elements than I was.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 2:23am

"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."

It made their careers because they were Dick Van Dyke, Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde and Gower Champion. Talent will shine out.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 11:26am

muscle23 - Let me get this straight...you didn't like Wishful Drinking OR The Understudy, but...you LOVED Bye Bye Birdie? You have a very warped opinion.

The Understudy is cast quite perfectly, Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking is brilliant, and Bye Bye Birdie, well...is dreadful.

We must have very different tastes.

But, I do love your enthusiasm

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 11:43am

On my defense...musicals are my favorite genre. I'm VERY picky with plays.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 12:27pm

"Saw it today--this is my first exposure to the show.

I, too, was pleasantly surprised, probably due mostly to my horrible expectations. Did not care for Stamos. LOATHED the walking ham that was Bill Irwin (what the hell was he DOING? What was with the voices?). And there was something really oddly sinister about Funk that I couldn't put my finger on (also hated his singing more than anybody else in the cast--so whiney. Is he sick?). BUT I enjoyed the material, LOVED the sets/costumes/lighting, the ensemble and...I might be alone in this...found Gershon really appealing and likable. I had fun. Especially since I paid virtually nothing..."


Haha, I thought Funk had a beautiful voice, haha, and so does Stamos. I agree about Gershon. But I guess I was expecting worse after reading the reviews on here. Her singing wasn't great though. But as you say, the sets, costumes, lighting were terrific. I especially loved the screens that somehow transported you to the 60's and that TRAIN, wow! I'm still impressed.

[carts2010]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 2:01pm

LOVED the train!

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:38pm

I've had "Kids" and "One Less Kiss" stuck in my head all week so I decided to snatch up a ticket to tonight's performance. I'm a little nervous being I've heard for the most part only bad things but who knows when it will be revived again... and hey, maybe I won't find it that bad after all.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:47pm

I saw BIRDIE during its infamous first preview and then again several weeks after it officially opened. It was somewhat better the second time around, but the casting mistakes and the lack of direction are egregious.