Official Bernadette Peters in Hello, Dolly! performances thread- Page 19

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 2/14/18 at 4:27pm

People in the theatre read Michael Riedel. It's a small community. He is the one that began the smear campaign against Peters and he was relentless. It caught fire and it did real damage. There weren't as many online outlets then to 'deflect' the smear campaign. That's my point.

[binau]

Posted: 2/14/18 at 4:33pm

I do wonder how much the early controversies would have contributed to a perception that Bernadette didn't pull off the role well - here was a hyped revival with a star-director and actress (and for 2003 standards it appeared to be a hot ticket) - that right from the beginning had an opportunistic journalist ready to create controversy there was "trouble". Then, due to unfortunate co-incidence with her illness in many ways he was 'right' with Bernadette missing at least 9 early performances! Had this narrative not existed I do wonder whether her performance would be perceived differently. She was 'following' Tyne Daly, not Patti LuPone! Did anyone care that Tyne Daly could barely sing the role? And of course years later no one cared that Staunton sounded unpleasant in the role. I didn't see Bernadette live, but based on the Lincoln archive, Tony performance and cast recording it's funny to look back and see that while stretching her to her maximum capabilities, the hype around her lack of vocal ability was a little exaggerated. 

Updated On: 2/14/18 at 04:33 PM

[binau]

Posted: 2/14/18 at 4:35pm

...

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 2/14/18 at 4:41pm

I saw Peters do opening night in GYPSY and it is one of the most electric nights I've ever had in the theatre. She was absolutely sensational. And her reviews were raves. Riedel, as he very candidly explains in this Post article, thought from the onset she was miscast in the role and when she was out in previews brought out his pitchforks. He had a vendetta against her that entire season and he kept it going long after her raves came out.  I maintain he (or at the very least his concentrated negative efforts) cost her the Tony. I have no idea what his deal was back then. But it was the height of his 'power' and he used it for bad. A lot of people didn't forgive him - as he again candidly states in this new Post piece.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/14/18 at 4:41pm

bwayphreak234 said: "As usual, Riedel is wildly exaggerating and stretching the facts."

 

 

The though occurred to me that Reidel wrote this article as a "favor" to boost sagging ticket sales.

Updated On: 2/15/18 at 04:41 PM

[binau]

Posted: 2/14/18 at 4:56pm

QueenAlice said: "I saw Peters do opening night in GYPSY and it is one of the most electric nights I've ever had in the theatre. She was absolutely sensational. And her reviews were raves. Riedel, as he very candidly explains in this Post article, thought from the onset she was miscast in the role and when she was out in previews brought out his pitchforks. He had a vendetta against her that entire season and he kept it going long after her raves came out. I maintain he (or at the very leasthis concentrated negative efforts) cost her the Tony. I have no idea what his deal was back then. But it was the height of his 'power' and he used it for bad. A lot of people didn't forgive him - as he again candidly states in this new Post piece."

It's funny to go back and see him say " I especially enjoyed my dear friend Bernadette Peters’ lovely “In Buddy’s Eyes.” I assume this was also a subtle reference to the same incident. It's a little bit creepy haha.

https://nypost.com/2011/09/14/avoiding-financial-follies/

[east side story]

Posted: 2/14/18 at 5:31pm

MR had his moment in the sun. He loved being “right” about Peters in the role.

Truth be told, the sh*t was hitting the fan in the rehearsal room, and by the first preview, the production had its work cut out for it. Laurents was up in arms regarding just about everything. Reading his account of the ordeal, no one did anything correctly because he was not directing. Everything from the costumes to the sets was an issue. Arthur says that Bernadette eventually went on to find the role in her own way, and was brilliant once the run went on and Sam Mendes was long gone. But until then, the production was lost at sea with a “clueless” director and a star that needed a firm hand.

Updated On: 2/14/18 at 05:31 PM

[binau]

Posted: 2/14/18 at 5:50pm

I find Laurents' commentary on the 2003 revival really interesting - he made a big deal that the 15 seconds of darkness after the overture with the stage hand sweeping the stage (introducing the rather pointless 'concept' ) meant that the show 'lost the audience' (seems a bit of an exaggeration). He then goes on to complain that the show didn't work 'without walls' - especially the hotel manager scene. The LuPone production appears 'without walls' so he decides to just cut the hotel manager scene I believe (which he also said he wanted to cut since the 1989 revival - maybe he could have offered up his advice to Mendes). 

He complains about the aesthetics of the production but due to necessary and wise cost saving of course his own LuPone revival wasn't exactly known for this either.

Can't help but feel he was a bit of a control freak/didn't like his hands off. It's not as if this was a Terry Hands/Carrie situation. Was Laurents ever public about his dislike for the production during its run?

Updated On: 2/14/18 at 05:50 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 2/14/18 at 9:04pm

After seeing an interview with Rex Reed last Sunday morning on CBS, I can’t help thinking that Rex Reed is to movies what Reidel is to theater. Opinionated. Not particularly well informed. Viscous except when he decides to be an unequivocal cheerleader with very little middle ground. Thoughts?

Updated On: 2/14/18 at 09:04 PM

[Footlight Parade]

Posted: 2/14/18 at 11:44pm

No matter how good she maybe .... there will be a dip in the Box Office as she isn't as well known/loved as Bette Midler is to international tourists. Sure she'll do well intially...but once the domestic following dies down how will she sell? I can't see too many people crossing the Atlantic or the Pacific Oceans to see her as they did for Midler.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/15/18 at 10:23pm

Seeing the show again this week. It'll be my 85th time.

[AllThatJazz2]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 8:58am

Quick question from those who know better - we're planning to see Dolly but the mezzanine is almost fully booked up for the date we are going, so we're looking at orchestra. One of the possibilities is the second row, left orchestra (the first two seats on the inner aisle, closest to the center area). Has anyone sat in these? We've already seen the show twice and it would be fun to see it from a new perspective, especially being that close to the performers, but I just want to make sure we don't lose out too much in terms of visibility, especially in regards to stage height.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 9:10am

AllThatJazz2 said: "Quick question from those who know better - we're planning to see Dolly but the mezzanine is almost fully booked up for the date we are going, so we're looking at orchestra. One of the possibilities is the second row, left orchestra (the first two seats on the inner aisle, closest to the center area). Has anyone sat in these? We've already seen the show twice and it would be fun to see it from a new perspective, especially being that close to the performers, but I just want to make sure we don't lose out too much in terms of visibility, especially in regards to stage height."

I'm sure those are great seats, especially if you've already seen the show. Someone from this board sat in C 2  (2nd row on the aisle, right orchestra), and he was able to shake Bette's hand during the curtain call. Although I haven't sat there, I wouldn't hesitate to, if given the opportunity.

 

Updated On: 2/22/18 at 09:10 AM

[AllThatJazz2]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 9:31am

CT2NYC said: I'm sure those are great seats, especially if you've already seen the show. Someone from this board sat in C 2 (2nd row on the aisle, right orchestra), and he was able to shakeBette's hand during the curtain call. Although I haven't sat there, I wouldn't hesitate to, if given the opportunity."

I knew you'd have an answer for me CT2NYC...thanks so much!

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 9:54am

Miles2Go2 said: "After seeing an interview with Rex Reed last Sunday morning on CBS, I can’t help thinking that Rex Reed is to movies what Reidel is to theater. Opinionated. Not particularly well informed. Viscous except when he decides to be an unequivocal cheerleader with very little middle ground. Thoughts?"

Rex Reed always had the vitriolic edge, but he was a highly respected writer for quite a while.  He regularly wrote lengthy, highly analytical pieces for the Sunday NY Times.  He was always biased towards and against certain directors, e.g., loved John Schlesinger no matter how bad the movie was (Schlesinger had some great movies and some real messes); hated everything Robert Altman did, including some real movie masterpieces; however, his writing was extremely polished, a lot of his analysis very interesting.  

As he got older, his tastes grew more conservative, for want of a better word; but, even today, if you read a review of a movie that he liked or thought was a near-miss, it is extremely well-written and factually correct, unlike Reidel.  When he doesn't like something, he is as bitchy as anyone I have ever read.

To this day, when I read reviews of certain movies, I will look up RR just to see where he came down on it.  Frequently disagree, but -- knowing his biases -- I get further perspective every time.

[dollyfan]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 2:28pm

Opening Night tonight!!! I can't wait to see the official reviews tomorrow 

 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 4:52pm

If any of the board regulars will be at the show tonight, and would like to say hello, please let me know!

[DAME]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 5:12pm

CT2NYC said: "If any of the board regulars will be at the show tonight, and would like to say hello, please let me know!"

I wish I was cause you are a cutie.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 5:21pm

DAME said: "CT2NYC said: "If any of the board regulars will be at the show tonight, and would like to say hello, please let me know!"

I wish I was cause you are a cutie."

Stop making me blush, DAME.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 5:33pm

Also, tonight's show is 40% off at TKTS. Should be a great night!

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 5:37pm

I hope they release some promo of the show after the show officially opens.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 6:39pm

I'm kinda hoping we get to see Laura Benanti replace Kate as Irene at some point

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 6:49pm

Gavin is out, as expected.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 8:04pm

So is Gavin out of the show now? It sounds like Christian Dante White will play the role until Santino steps in.

Anyways, hope everything goes great tonight. I'm returning this weekend to see Bernadette. Very excited for it!

[JBC3]

Posted: 2/22/18 at 8:29pm

Jesse Green NYT review