My thoughts on DAMN YANKEES- Page 6

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 4:39pm

*ducks* I'm not a fan of Fosse choreography...I'm sorry...but I enjoyed it nonetheless.


- LOL. LOL. OK.

[maliatkb8]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 5:33pm

Whether you think Sean Hayes was good or not doesn't do anything to kill the fact that he has audiences laughing and applauding after most all of his lines. And, whether you like "Those Were The Good Old Days" or not, it is clearly the fan favorite musical number. Therefore, I think the overwhelming response of theatergoers, whether they're at "Damn Yankees" to analyze acting and singing techniques or just to have a good time, is that Sean Hayes puts on quite an enjoyable performance. Cheers!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 5:42pm

I guess by your remarks that you haven't read this thread and a number of them on All That Chat, all of which say Hayes is the weakest link of the production. (I say he's a weak link in a series of weak links.)

I don't give 2 craps about what the audience thinks. The audience stood at Cry-Baby, The Pirate Queen, and Tarzan.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 7:30pm

I got a nice PM as well.

Friendly, though.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 8:56pm

At first I was excited when I heard this would be at City Center this summer. I originally thought I'd make a trip in from DC to see it, but have more or less decided against it (based on what I've read from people whose opinions I respect).

[logan0215]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 9:06pm

I don't give 2 craps about what the audience thinks. The audience stood at Cry-Baby, The Pirate Queen, and Tarzan.

Belittling the audience, thats the best way to get your point across.

I saw the production on Monday. I enjoyed it and feel they worked the source material well. It needed tightening and true it felt like many of the aspects of the show fell just short (including lead actors). Jane's vocals seemed a bit strained, Cheyenne's modern spin of sarcasm on the dialog felt a bit out of place and Sean's vocals didn't carry a heavy resonance, but I still feel like they all shined respectively and as a whole.

I don't get what all the upheaval is over Hayes being Sean as Jack as Devil. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! If his intent was to bring a sarcastic semi-homosexual veil to a role that is pretty much open to interpretation, than that's his prerogative! Guess what?! "Jack" was a fun character that (along with Karen) many would say were the driving forces behind a show that didn't even carry their characters' names as a title!

Like I said, the production isn't perfect. I don't necessarily see it transferring, but if it does I won't be broken hearted. With the proper amount of rehearsal time given to the piece I'm sure it could really do well back on Broadway. There is still comedy and amazing Fosse choreography encased within this show as well as heart breaking and jubilating songs, so I don't see why not...
Updated On: 7/9/08 at 09:06 PM

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 9:23pm

I have to say something here...

In my original post I said that I thought Hayes was more charismatic than I expected, and I stand by that. I'm not saying he's brilliant in it, he's fine as is Krakowski even though I don't particularly like her in general.

However, I don't understand how people can say "Hayes is playing Jack, who he always plays" when Krakowski is doing the same thing, playing the vamp, and so few people are complaining. Maybe it's because people feel Lola is supposed to be the vamp so Krakowski is doing it right but Hayes is playing Applegate differently than people expect it so that makes it bad, but really it is what it is. They're both doing what they usually do because it's what they do well. People are just being harder on Hayes because he's not playing it like it's been played before whereas Krakowski is getting away with it.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 9:25pm

It seems unfair to fault someone for playing a role the way it has always been played, just because they've played that kind of part before.

I thought Sean was wonderful. I'm assuming the difference between people who liked him and didn't like him was whether or not they felt his "Just Jack" schtick worked for Applegate, which is open to interpretation.

[logan0215]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 9:31pm

I also feel like there's a bit of blonde prejudice going on here...

Jane played a different part in "Ally McBeal" than she does in 30 Rock entirely. "Jenna" is a highly comedic role that requires her to make an ass out of herself and keep a straight face. On Ally McBeal she played a more emotional, albeit sexy, role. Lola is supposed to be a sexed up vamp as was her role in NINE, so she's playing the parts as written. It's not fair to call her single layered or single-noted when, if you actually have knowledge of her past work, Jane can really play a varied number of roles. I think people are assuming because she does end up playing sexy parts more often than not due to her Blonde pedigree, that she is just using the same trick here which is unfair. I can't really picture the producer's of ANY production of DY looking for a particularly unsexy Lola...

Updated On: 7/9/08 at 09:31 PM

[geaj]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 9:41pm

wth? who is el muhammed?

[geaj]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 9:42pm

wth? who is el muhammed?

[Robos89]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 9:47pm

Good, I'm glad i'm not the only one getting that!

This sucks...

(this comment is about the "el muhammed." It was the only thread I could post in.)

Updated On: 7/10/08 at 09:47 PM

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 9:49pm

I'm not saying she's bad or has literally only ever played vamps, I'm just saying neither of them is really doing anything "new" for them. I've never seen her sex appeal but that doesn't mean I don't recognize that other people do. The problem really doesn't seem to be that someone is playing what they've played before because then people would have problems with her too. The problem is some people, as Kelly2 said, think the way Hayes is playing it is an interpretation they don't like.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 11:51pm

maliatkb - who could not love that song "Those Were the Good Old Days"?

...."I see Bonaparte munchin', a missionary luncheon,
And Nero fiddlin' thru that lovely blaze --

Antoinette, dainty queen,
With her quaint guillotine --

da da da da Those were the good old days!

Now, THAT's Lyric Writing.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 12:01am

Oh, and as a sidenote, I agree that Jane can do many different types of comedy, as well as play very sexy "vamp-ish" roles, very well. She's a very diverse actress, IMO, and I've always been a fan of hers. But, I'm clearly biased because I DEFINITELY get her sex appeal.