New Pal Joey! Hoff out; Risch in- Page 2

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 5:51pm

PRFRMR, you have no basis for your opinion either other than he is "just a chorus boy." You know, maybe if you took the time to actually see him in the show (instead of criticizing his past theatre credits), you may find out that some people may surprise you.

And I have been hearing good things from people who have seen him.

Updated On: 11/24/08 at 05:51 PM

[marknyc]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 5:52pm

Saw Matthew on Saturday and let me reassure everyone here that he can sing, dance AND act.

Dance: 10
Sing: 9 (just a few weak notes here and there)
Act: 8 (this was his first night, remember - I'm sure he'll grow into the role)

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 5:54pm

But, man, is he nice to look at.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 5:56pm

Millie-you're right... and I keep saying that I hope him success. But, I am just surprised that they didn't pull a Xanadu and take someone who is "more" of a name.

We'll see what the critics and BWW'ers say over the next weeks.

Best of luck to him and the production!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 5:58pm

to play a leading role on Broadway I think you need more acting ability than being a pretty/hunky chorus boy.

They all laughed at Shirley MacLaine when she was a pretty chorus girl too.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 5:58pm

PRFRMR - I am curious if you are willing to see this production?

[marknyc]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 5:59pm

I think they "auditioned" Matthew on Sat. and Sun. and saw that he could quickly step into the part. Finding someone new would mean shutting down for weeks of rehearsal. Why do that when you have someone who can do it now?

[Act4ever]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 6:00pm

What diffrence does it make? It's a non-profit show that's only running until February anyway... Producers obviously aren't looking to fill seats with a big name.

Is Stockard Channing not a big name? It's certainly bigger than Hoff. No one knows who he is besides avid theatre people.

And to add to that list of "Just a chorus member..." -- Sutton Foster anyone? Even Cheyanne Jackson was once just a chorus boy. The list is so long... it's good that someone else has a chance to let themselves shine.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 6:12pm

Millie-to be honest I had no strong desire to see it anyway, especially after the reviews here (Pal Joey isn't one the top of my fav. list). Not that Hoff is out, I am less inclined, but if the show starts to get better reviews (here and critically), I might go see it. I am not one to only listen to reveiws unless it is a show that I had no strong pull towards originally.

Act4ever-Yes, both Sutton and Cheyenne started out in the Ensemble. However, before their big breaks... Sutton had played Sandy in Grease and Eponine in Les Mis on Tour before Millie and Cheyenne had been the standby for Radames in Aida and been the original Matthew in Altar Boyz before All Shook Up.
Updated On: 11/24/08 at 06:12 PM

[landryjames]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 6:22pm

I saw Matthew in Legally Blonde over a year ago, and mentioned to my partner that he was one to look for in the future.

I saw Pal Joey on Thursday night. Before the show, I was thinking how great it would be if Hoff was out and Risch was his understudy and went on for him (not knowing who Hoff's understudy was at the time). Alas, I saw Hoff who was pretty flat in the performance (granted, I had heard all the bad buzz beforehand).

Anyway, I left thanking god I wouldn't have to see the show again. Until This morning. I am now going tonight with my sister and could not be more excited to see Risch in the role. (Sidenote--Stockard Channing was great in my opinion)

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 6:35pm

I really do hope Risch pulls it off. This is an amazing opportunity for him.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 6:46pm

Oddly enough PalJoey, I was just going to make the Shirley Maclaine remark. You never know what you are going to get with theater, but especially when an unknown takes over for someone else in a large part, it really is exciting. Much lesser, but more recent example was seen in Xanadu (though Jackson was hardly a chorus boy previously), as he was not the original Sonny. Even so, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who loves the show and does not associate him with the role.

[larry64]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 7:07pm

I think that his "foot injury" was another way of saying, he "left due to artistic differences", "exhaustion", or he was just bad in the role. I am a fan of Christian Hoff from his early tv roles and from TOMMY, but a Broadway leading man he is not. Anyone who throws JERSEY BOYS at me will get rolled eyes! He was an ensemble member who narrated and sang harmonies with 3 other guys. IMHO not really TONY worthy, but neither was John Llyod Young for that matter.

I saw the first preview of PAL JOEY and from the first scene, my thought was RE-CAST! There is no way the Roundabout would open this show with Christian in the title role. How he stayed with the show for a couple years of workshops, etc. is beyond me, but I have a feeling Joe Mantello, the most overrated director IMHO, had something to do with him staying for so long.

Think about it, a musical with 3 names above the title and all 3 non-singers! And the title character a non-dancer too! This is what they threw millions of dollars into??!!

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 7:19pm

I saw Matthew once as Warner in Legally Blonde, he was very good!

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 7:19pm

I saw Matthew once as Warner in Legally Blonde, he was very good!

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 7:32pm

mormonophobic: Cheyenne was the workshop Sonny with Jane Krakowski. He'd had experience in the role before.

larry64: Christian and John Lloyd won because there's no one who can do what they did in those roles. Go see JERSEY BOYS now. Every subsequent actor I've seen as Tommy or Frankie has paled in comparison to the originals (Travis Cloer came the closest to being great, but still couldn't do what John did).

My main reason for wanting to see PAL JOEY was to see Christian, so I don't think I'll be going to this show. I saw Risch as Warner in LEGALLY BLONDE and didn't think he was anything special, but it could've just been the character. Best of luck to him.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 7:40pm

Hoff isn't a trained dancer. I think the demanding choreography caused the injury. Probably for the best before New York critics ate him alive.

[mc1227]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 8:04pm

I have tickets to this show in January and am still looking forward to seein it. With Stockard Channing and Martha Plimpton, this is still a very quality cast.

The only way to judge a performance is to go see it, not depend on other people's taste on shows. There have been many shows that are ragged on here that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Theatre is a totally subjective experience. Don't let people scare you away.

Updated On: 11/24/08 at 08:04 PM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 8:06pm

Hmmmmm

A chorus boy can't go on to become a star?

Look at the guy on the left. Look familiar?

(Hint: It's PAL JOEY himself, Gene Kelly in the chorus of "Leave It To Me" in 1938.)

Some of you guys can be real horses arses.

Updated On: 11/24/08 at 08:06 PM

[larry64]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 8:10pm

Believe the people on this board who have seen it. He was awful and unless there was a divine intervention, ie. a genie with a lamp, a witch's magic potion, or if J.Christ came back and annointed him, the performance was not going to change.

Christian Hoff will not be back in January or ever. I think he'll take a break from Broadway for a while as this probably has worn him down. I do feel bad for him, but I feel worse for the producers and director who should've made this decision a long time ago, before they decided to put his name above the title!

This is a true embarrassment for Christian Hoff but not entirely his fault.
Updated On: 11/24/08 at 08:10 PM

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 8:12pm

peggy sawyer!!!

and thanks for the much needed perspective, allofmylife.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 8:12pm

I kinda love the "drama" here. I feel bad for Hoff, and I think he has talent. I could just tell from all the comments (and I mean ALL the comments) he wasn't a good fit for Joey.

I don't know Risch, but one look at him says "trouble" in a good way. (I hope he's not insulted by that!)

What I mean is that he instantly registers as great-looking---somebody you would be quick to forgive, if he was a bit of a jerk or an opportunist (and Joey is both).

That kind of "sexual danger" is a great quality for Joey,

Hoff is good looking and charismatic. But he's a little too "character" for my taste, as a personality. Kinda like a "pretty Joe Pesci." He was very affected in Jersey Boys, too. It worked because of his charm, but he had enough mannerisms on stage to choke a horse.

Put him in the next Scorsese movie, I say! He'd be GREAT. But fate, I think, worked a nice little miracle (whether real or prefabricated) here.

And I do hope "a star is born." I'm sure there will be a big curiosity factor now. Give him a little rehearsal... and see what happens!

And I wouldn't give up your tickets, folks. You may be watching the next Shirley MacLaine. He certainly has the looks for Hollywood.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 8:13pm

Regardless of the bad buzz, Hoff really did injure his foot.

As for those of you knocking CCM, I have seen so many CCM graduates give amazing performances that required serious acting chops. Performing IS performing- this is why many pop singers are able to naturally transition into acting.

I'm sure Matthew is very psyched about playing the lead on Broadway and will work his ass off to give an amazing performance by the time the show opens. Until opening night, please give the guy a break!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 8:14pm

Everyone seems to be assuming that Gene Kelly went from being a chorus boy in Leave It to Me to doing Pal Joey. That's not quite the case. After LITM, Kelly had a good role in the original production of The Time of Your Life, which required him do do some hoofing (ironically, Harold Lang played the same role in Time of Your Life, post-Joey, when it was revived by City Center in the mid-fifties). So he wasn't really an unknown who came out of nowhere when he was signed for PJ.

Updated On: 11/24/08 at 08:14 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 8:16pm

had enough mannerisms on stage to choke a horse

HAHAHAHAHA! I love how you phrased that. Because it was so true.