Not having Betsy Struxness in the Hamilton movie does a disservice to the show- Page 3

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 2:38am

Sutton Ross said: ""A gentle reminder that Hamilton on Disney+ is not the original cast. It is the original production. Both Betsy Struxness and Emmy Raver Lampman are absent as they’d already left the show. These are 2 brilliant artists who poured their hearts into creating their tracks."

-Javier Munoz"

With all due respect to Mr. Munoz, he's splitting hairs and being pedantic.

The absence of two members of the show's original ensemble does not invalidate the validity of describing the film as featuring its Original Broadway Cast.

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 5:57am

No disservice whatsoever. Betsy was lovely, no doubt - but no one walked out of seeing Hamilton for the first time talking about her - except for the OP, perhaps.

Yes, TECHNICALLY, it's not the OBC......but for most of the universe, it qualifies.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 8:27am

In defense of Munoz, I remember reading somewhere that he and Lin collaborated on the creation of the Hamilton character. When rehearsing downtown, Lin would do a scene with Munoz watching and taking notes, then Munoz would do the same scene and so on. There were things that Munoz did, for example that Lin liked and and the other way around.

Yes, it will always be though of Lin’s role. But, the creation of the character was a collaborative effort between the two.

[massofmen]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 10:00am

Jarethan said: "schubox said: "Jarethan said: "Only being a member of the audience, I have to admit that I see a huge difference between Groff and Ms. Struckness. As people have already said, Groff had name recognition, was nominated for a Tony, and was very popular in the role, based on my internal applause meter. Other than Thayne J,who had his moment to solo in Farmer Refuted, I really couldn't distinguish between members of the ensemble, despite the fact that they worked their asses off. (Before criticizing me, isn't that a key driverbehind A Chorus Line).

Finally, I personally thought Rory O'Malley was lousy as George, whereas Groff was perfection.

No contest for me, as only a member of the audience.


I don't see how anyone other than King George could come in with such short notice"



Right on target. Reflecting on it, I absolutely agree with you."

it wasn't short notice. Lin told groff he would be back months before filming. Same could have been done for the original ens members. Even if the show was shot over a few performances, you could have invited the 2 original ens members back for a week, gave the other 2 ens members the week of (paid vacation if you will) and done. 
Its not like it would have taken much if any rehearsal to implement the 2 orig back in. 
To each their own. 

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 10:48am

I fail to see how the absence of 1 or 2 members of the ensemble affects the overall enjoyment/quality of the show. From what I could gather after filtering out the numerous posts in this thread is that Betsy Struxness, an original member of the show's ensemble since it's inception was disillusioned and left the show of her own accord and does not appear in the released film. The producers have since stopped promoting this as the Original Broadway Cast after much protest from original cast members who did not participate in the filming. 

Maybe it's me but I don't know what the problem is. If I am missing something can someone kindly fill me in?

 

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 11:12am

Theater_Nerd said: "The producers have since stopped promoting this as the Original Broadway Cast after much protest from original cast members who did not participate in the filming.

"

Which is just dumb.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 11:12am

Theater_Nerd said: "The producers have since stopped promoting this as the Original Broadway Cast after much protest from original cast members who did not participate in the filming.

"

Which is just dumb.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 12:18pm

Theater_Nerd said: "I fail to see how the absence of 1 or 2 members of the ensemble affects the overall enjoyment/qualityof the show. From what I could gather after filtering out the numerous posts in this thread is that Betsy Struxness, an original member of the show's ensemble since it's inception was disillusioned andleft the show of her own accord and does not appear in the released film.The producers have since stopped promoting this as the Original Broadway Cast after much protestfrom original cast members who did not participate in the filming.

Maybe it's me but I don't know what the problem is. If I am missing something can someone kindly fill me in?
 

I think this is a case of purism.  'It is not the original cast because some member of the ensemble was missing from the performance.'  My response, however coldly, is that 99.999999999999%  of the theatergoing audience does not care if a member of the ensemble is not in the show.  Hell, 90% were probably only focused on LMM.  Personally, the inclusion of 8 people was enough to make it the original cast for me: LMM, Leslie, Daveed, Christopher, Renee, Philippa, Jonathan, and Anthony.  But, I guess I am not quite as literal s a lot of people.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 12:21pm

Theater_Nerd said: "I fail to see how the absence of 1 or 2 members of the ensemble affects the overall enjoyment/qualityof the show. From what I could gather after filtering out the numerous posts in this thread is that Betsy Struxness, an original member of the show's ensemble since it's inception was disillusioned andleft the show of her own accord and does not appear in the released film.The producers have since stopped promoting this as the Original Broadway Cast after much protestfrom original cast members who did not participate in the filming.

Maybe it's me but I don't know what the problem is. If I am missing something can someone kindly fill me in?
 

I think this is a case of purism.  'It is not the original cast because some member of the ensemble was missing from the performance.'  My response, however coldly, is that 99.999999999999%  of the theatergoing audience does not care if a member of the ensemble is not in the show.  Hell, 90% were probably only focused on LMM.  Personally, the inclusion of 8 people was enough to make it the original cast for me: LMM, Leslie, Daveed, Christopher, Renee, Philippa, Jonathan, and Anthony.  But, I guess I am not quite as literal s a lot of people.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 1:53pm

Again, they are not advertising/promoting it as the Original Broadway Cast. It is officially labeled as the Original Broadway Production, which is accurate.

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 2:26pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Again, they are not advertising/promoting it as the Original Broadway Cast. It is officially labeled as the Original Broadway Production, which is accurate."

Which is fine but I fail to see how Miss Struxness' absence makes this recording irrelevant. I am not familiar with her and I am sure she is a wonderful performer but going by the original poster's message they make it seem as if her presence was absolutely necessary to the show.  

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 2:33pm

I literally have no idea who this person is. I'm sure she's extremely talented, but I didn't miss her in this recording. Her absence is not a disservice to the show.

And please stopping dredging stuff up from a certain alternate for a certain principle role. He is clearly unwell.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 6:38pm

massofmen said: " you could have invited the 2 original ens members back for a week, gave the other 2 ens members the week of (paid vacation if you will) and done."

Bearing in mind that this is a non-issue everywhere on earth except in this thread, no (as rehearsed earlier in this thread but I guess you want to ignore that), you cannot give a company member a week off. It doesn't work that way: they have the right to the performance. Ironically, if they HAD kicked two performers to let departees return, we would have an inane thread with people like you haranguing the production for depriving the actors who show up every day of their opportunity to be seen by the wide audience.

Sometimes the silliness here seems unrelenting. 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 6:46pm

Ok ... there's been countess times when I;'ve walked into a show and seen a swing in the show because an ensemble member is out. Even more times when a lead is out and the understudy is on. Audience members mostly suck it up (if it;s like a super duper star then I suppose you can get a refund). This is no different -- this Hamilton was a film of a live show. It had the ensemble that was still with the show at the time filmed along with all of the original leads. 

Moreover if you go to Betsy's IG she;s posted tons of backstage shots and herself said she was excited about the film. She made the right decision for her which was to leave the show. 

Jesus, why the pearlclutching over a non-issue?

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 6:49pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Again, they are not advertising/promoting it as the Original Broadway Cast. It is officially labeled as the Original Broadway Production, which is accurate."

Every performance of Hamilton is the "original Broadway production"; describing this live-capture film that way is nonsensical pedantry that means absolutely nothing.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 7:02pm

DigificWriter said: "Every performance of Hamilton is the "original Broadway production"; describing this live-capture film that way is nonsensical pedantry that means absolutely nothing."

Not pedantry; it's marketing. 

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 7:11pm

HogansHero said: "DigificWriter said: "Every performance of Hamilton is the "original Broadway production"; describing this live-capture film that way is nonsensical pedantry that means absolutely nothing."

Not pedantry; it's marketing."

Marketing can still be pedantic.

This live-capture film features the Original Broadway Cast of the show and should be marketed as such; choosing to do otherwise, especially if said choice was influenced by complaints from people who were absent from the specific performances from which it was derived, is naked pedantry.

Updated On: 7/7/20 at 07:11 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 7:20pm

DigificWriter said: "This live-capture film features the Original Broadway Cast of the show ."

It's impossible to put stock in anything you say because this is not true.

I will give you one thing: you may be the first person ever to call Mickey's Marketing Machine pedantic. LOL

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 7:28pm

HogansHero said: "DigificWriter said: "This live-capture film features the Original Broadway Cast of the show ."

It's impossible to put stock in anything you say because this is not true.

"

Keep telling yourself that.

The absence of two members of the show's original ensemble and the opinions of an original understudy do not invalidate or cancel out the fact that the performances that comprise this film feature every principal cast member who was with the show at the time it premiered on Broadway, which is all that is necessary for the description of "Original Broadway Cast" to apply.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 7:31pm

In your opinion. Not the casts. Not the creatives. Not the presenters. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 7:37pm

The absence of two members of the show's original ensemble and the opinions of an original understudy do not invalidate or cancel out the fact that the performances that comprise this film feature every principal cast member who was with the show at the time it premiered on Broadway, which is all that is necessary for the description of "Original Broadway Cast" to apply."

Yeah, no. 

 

[Carol Channing, or Change]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 7:46pm

When there are cast members who aren't the same as the ones who opened on Broadway, it's pretty clearly not the Original Broadway Cast. You could call it "the Original Broadway Cast with the exception of ensemble members Betsy Struxness and Emmy Raver-Lapman," but just saying it's the OBC point-blank is misleading.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 7:48pm

This bickering is pointless.

99.999999999999999999999% of people are going to describe this film as featuring the Original Broadway Cast of the show, and they'll be accurate in doing so regardless of a pedantic decision not to tout that fact in its marketing and/or the opinion of an original understudy.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 7:53pm

Is there even any indication that Betsy wanted to be invited back?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/7/20 at 7:55pm

DigificWriter said: "This bickering is pointless.

Then stop. Let it go. 

99.999999999999999999999% of people are going to describe this film as featuring the Original Broadway Cast of the show, and they'll be accurate in doing so regardless of a pedantic decision not to tout that fact in its marketing and/or the opinion of an original understudy."

Incorrect. Let it go.