OFFICIAL "Chitty" Review Thread..- Page 4

[riv]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 11:09am

I'll be brief. I wasn't expecting much from Chitty, but I fully realized their target audience and went with an open mind.

Let's get something straight right now: It's been quite a while since a family-oriented extraganza has been presented on Broadway. Disney hasn't put anything new out there for a while and Little Women, which hoped to exploit that void, is old-fashioned and dull and doesn't cut it.

Howard Kissel and other critics may be too stupid or elitist to understand it was only a matter of time before a show of this nature came to The Street, but they should be greatful that Chitty is as good as it is and that the considerable money spent on it is all on stage to see. This is not a cheap production, which is more than I can say for some shows--especially recent revivals.

I hadn't watched the film in, probably, three decades. I meant to view it before I saw the show, but never got around to it. So I wasn't totally recalling the entire plot. Perhaps it helps to see the show without knowing exactly what's coming up next.

I was glad they integrated the Vulgaria storyline into the work as a whole, instead of treating it as the extended fantasy sequence which it was in the film. Giving a somewhat dark edge to the Baron and Baroness instead of making them the total buffoons they are in the picture was a good move, although I'd love to know who dreamed up the ridiculous "Bombie Samba," which was totally out of place in the show. The Childcatcher's ominous presence was also a big help, as opposed to the image of an undertaker he had in the movie. You almost can't take your eyes off him when he's on stage. Brantley was absolutely correct bringing up Nosferatu.

Raul Esparza was hardly Mr. Charisma out there. His low-key approach--if that's what it was--made the work more of an ensemble piece rather than it being a star turn for him. I don't know if that was a choice or if Esparza simply couldn't dominate when he was out there. Some critics felt he was miscast.

The set design was terrific and the car's "flying" was perfectly fine. It's not a great score by any stretch of the imagination, but the orchestra was full and made the music sound as well as can be expected.

It won't be everybody's cup of tea, but there's room for this kind of thing on Broadway and bashing it is unfair and arrogant. By the way, the audience participation (such as singing or clapping along with the title tune, etc.) was mercifully restrained at the performance I attended.

Updated On: 4/30/05 at 11:09 AM

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 12:48pm

I saw it in London and i thought it was o.k! I mean, it's never gonna be remembered for much else other than the car... but it's a good show to simply enjoy! No thinking required!!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 4:27pm

Journal News:

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050429/LIFESTYLE01/504290308/1031

It's short, and I don't know what to excerpt, so just go read. Negative on the Raul. boo.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 4:52pm

Of course the critic who wrote the review for the Journal News(the one who dissed Raul) is the one for me and Em's home papers, as well as the same stupid guy who raved about Brooklyn and trashed DRS.

[JO125]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:32am

David Cote of Time Out New York gave Chitty a great review this weekend on "On Stage" on NY1 this weekend. It will be repeated tonight, Monday at 9:30 and then again at 12:30 AM Tuesday morning.

I assume that will review will appear in Time Out New York this week as well.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 9:38am

I'll try to watch... I think I can get NY1 here.

ETA - there was also something in the Times yesterday about Kevin... I'll post the link in a bit.

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 09:38 AM

[bta212]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 12:40am

A friend dragged me to see Chitty tonight; she had fifth-row center house seats and wanted company. I hated the movie, I hate singing children and I hate props that fly/fall/spin etc. But I'm a good friend, and I figured an evening with Raul Esparza, Marc Kudisch, Chip Zien and Jan Maxwell couldn't be ALL bad.

Kids, I loved this show. I know I'm increasingly seeing life through the gay filter these days (see my "gay Holocaust" post on the OT board) but I found this Main Street-children-and-family show incredibly, delightfully, fabulously subversive in it's gay sensibilities. The Vulgarians (male and female) all look like drag queens, Robert Sella and Marc Kudisch are camping it up like Jackie Beat at Christmas, Kudisch kisses Zien full on the lips (I know, I know--it's played for a laugh--but it's hot anyway), and during the big "Family love is all that matters" number at the end, one of the re-united families has two daddies that hug and kiss their child (and each other). Now THAT's a feel-good night of theatre.

I agree with much of what the critics have said about the show's weaknesses, but I really enjoyed it. As one of the critics said, I would buy tickets for my out of town visitors, and I'd probably go back with them.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 12:56am

See? It's irresistable!

I went with my brother (he's 16, I'm 19), and rolled my eyes and was like "heh, the damned car's gonna fly now." Then that car flies, and you can't help but be in a TOTAL feel-good mindset. At first I went only for the cast, as the movie was too weird for my tastes upon first viewing, and the show has its issues, but I am now shamelessly, head-over-heels in love with it.

Updated On: 5/5/05 at 12:56 AM

[mebice]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 2:30am

I have to agree...I went last saturday. Its a little know fact about me that i HATE kids...don't have the compassion or patience that you need for them...yuck. BUT I loved chitty...and i guess the little kid in me came out...it was magical...and it makes me mad that they aren't going to perform on the tonys... i know i know....i just want them to be nominated just to see it again....

[JAZ94]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 2:13pm

Here is David Cote's review, which you WON'T find in Time Out New York.

A great review!



http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=238&aid=50479

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 4:32pm

The video on there is cute, too.
Not much of a review, though it is a nice one.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 4:51pm

It won't play for me. Is Marc in the video at all?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 4:55pm

There's a short Bombie Samba clip. Watch the broadway.com opening night one to see lots of Marc!

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 4:56pm

Methinks I need to go see that show again ASAP.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 4:58pm

Methinks I need to.... no, wait. I just went.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 4:58pm

So?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 5:02pm

Good call. Let's go!

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 5:03pm

Anytime! You just let me know when.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 5:04pm

I may be going thurs (heh) depending...

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 5:04pm

I truly don't understand the Mark obsession. I think he's beastly!

My friend thinks he's dead sexy, but he just turns me off. Oh well.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 5:06pm

First off, it's MarC. :)

Secondly, I have no idea where it started. I've just had a thing for him ever since I can remember. And "beastly" isn't necesarily a bad thing.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 5:06pm

With a C, munk.

Rauuuuuuuuuuuuul.

That's all.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 5:07pm

Any hot women in this show?

lol -

How'd the dog's performance? Does it give Eden a run for her money?

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 5:09pm

The dogs barked right on cue, which is more than I can say for Espinosa.

Updated On: 5/7/05 at 05:09 PM

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 5:10pm

I thought Eden barked on cue as well...?