On The Town- Page 3

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/11/15 at 10:50pm

"The 1970s revival got *bad* reviews."

It was a thousand times better than this one. That one had charm and innocence. This one is crass and charmless.

"I think the show also felt, arguably, more dated back in the early 70s."

You do? How would you know what felt dated or not back in the 70s? You were there?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/11/15 at 11:02pm

Because everything I've read, including the Barnes review I quoted, has implied they felt the show was dated. I never said I knew or I thought it was, I just said that I think that's how many saw it. Is that hard for you to comprehend?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 1:03am

What happened to you After Eight? There are skilled professionals who can do wonders helping people get over severe sexual trauma, or whatever.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 6:12am

EVERYTHING is hard for A8 to comprehend - because he has no intention of listening to anyone else's ideas ever.


Trust me: blocking him was one of the best choices I ever made on this board. Threads are much more pleasant now.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 6:59am

^

Yet you took the trouble to read and respond to my thoughts on Hamilton.

Why, I have no idea.

I'm grateful you blocked me, though.

I wish more people would do the same!

As for the subject of this thread, I saw a wonderful production of On the Town at Paper Mill a few years ago that, unlike this one, got it right. But I don't know if it would have fared any better on Broadway than previous revivals or the present one. The public just doesn't seem to be interested in the piece.



Updated On: 2/12/15 at 06:59 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 8:43am

^When was Papermill's production? Do you remember who was in it?

I liked the current revival, but not as much as I anticipated. I remember really enjoying the version that was in Central Park in the 90s. The only time I laughed at Jackie Hoffman was when she was playing the cabaret singer.

I would definitely go back to see it again if given the opportunity.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 8:54am

It was in 2009. Cast and creatives in Variety review linked below.
On the Town at Paper Mill

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:24am

Thanks, Smaxie.

[Huss417]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:26am

I thought I had him blocked as well but appeared the other day. Not sure if something happened with settings but had to add him again. One can only look at so much negativity.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:42am

"I'm grateful you blocked me, though.

I wish more people would do the same!"

LOL! Why would someone like this want to post here?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:43am

That one had charm and innocence. This one is crass and charmless.

That's not even remotely true. The 1971 revival was completely campy, as was the style at the time. There was nothing at all innocent about it.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:45am

"LOL! Why would someone like this want to post here?"

He really loves engaging other posters in discussions about theater, doodle.

[newintown]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 10:01am

"I don't understand this. Nearly 500 performances was still seen as a big hit by the time On the Town premiered."

462 performances definitely was a hit, but here are the longer runs of other shows from the same time (On The Town opened December 1944):

Oklahoma, March 1943 - 2,212 performances
Ziegfeld Follies of 1943, April 1943 - 553 performances
One Touch of Venus, October 1943 - 567 performances
Carmen Jones, December 1943 - 503 performances
Follow The Girls, April 1944 - 888 performances
Song of Norway, April 1944 - 860 performances
Bloomer Girl, October 1944 - 654 performances
Up In Central Park, January 1945 - 504 performances
Carousel, April 1945 - 890 performances
The Red Mill (revival), October 1945 - 531 performances
Call Me Mister, April 1946 - 734 performances
Annie Get your Gun, May 1946 - 1,147 performances

Not making any particular point, except that some shows that were more (maybe only slightly more) successful than On The Town are never revived now, and are almost entirely forgotten. For some reason (perhaps because of the popular movie), producers believe that On The Town is a good candidate for a financially successful revival (despite all evidence to the contrary).

The same thing happens with Jesus Christ Superstar, too.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 10:58am

Growly, you use the word "discussion" loosely!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 1:56pm

Newintown--I would suggest both OTT and JCS (if we can lump them together,) have scores that have endeared and that surely is one of the reasons they are revived. (I know that's probably obvious, but since you didn't mention it :P )

[Xxxbroadway]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 1:03am

This show was fantastic. Such hard working, incredible performers. Always hoping for the best for this one.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 2:00am

I found this production much more rewarding than the '71 revival. As much as I admired Ron Field, Bergasse's choreography is more dynamic and the casting is more appropriate. Bernadette Peters was no more a Hildy than Donna McKechnie was an Ivy and only Remak Ramsay stood out among the leading men. I agree that some of the sexiness is overplayed in this production to diminishing comic returns but it has a big heart and innate energy the '71 revival lacked.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 2:30am

@jv92 That criticism of Into the Woods is spectacular. I can only imagine, "Can we please get these characters out of these f#cking woods? All the leaves and sh!t."

Updated On: 2/13/15 at 02:30 AM

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 6:33am

Ron Husmann was wonderful in the '71 production, as was Bernadette Peters. In fact, the entire cast was superior to the current one.

There was plenty of energy in that production. And style. But there's a big difference between energy and pushing too hard, as there is between good taste and a lack thereof.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 8:03am

The cast tried hard but that entire production was forced and campy.

Everything you hate.

You're only saying it's better to be argumentative.

If this were 1971, you'd be saying the same things about that revival that you're saying about this one.

That's just who you are.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 9:06am

PJ,

You're absolutely wrong.

About that revival, and about me.

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 2/14/15 at 2:28pm

Convinced my basic friend to see this next week YAY. Has anyone tried the TodayTix lottery? I figured since the theater is 35% full it might just be better to try the lottery... Let me know!! :)

[Pootie2]

Posted: 2/14/15 at 2:31pm

What the heck does "basic friend" mean?

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 2/14/15 at 2:33pm

She doesn't have the best taste in Broadway... I had to beg her to see Violet and Bridges and she pretended to hate Bridges. I was like.. Kelli O'Hara is a legend.

She also hated Bonnie and Clyde... WTF.

[Pootie2]

Posted: 2/14/15 at 2:36pm

Oh. So you insult a "friend" because their tastes don't coincide with yours. You must be a joy to be around, considering you have only one person to beg for theater company. Why not just go to shows alone; it'll be much more fun, and apparently plenty of people here do it.