PAL JOEY Reviews- Page 4

[Jack King]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 6:54am

Jenny Fellner, who plays Linda English, is from Deadwood,later Sturgis, South Dakota! So she HAS to be great. :)

[WestVillage]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 9:59am

Ben Brantley (NY Times): When Ms. Channing, as the alcoholic society matron Vera Simpson, sings the show’s most famous song, “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” it might as well be titled “Benumbed, Bummed Out and Bored Silly.”

That has got to be the funniest line I've ever read in a review. And so on target. It was painful listening to her warble her way through that gorgeous song.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 10:04am

The New York Post is mixed with two-and-a-half out of four stars:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12192008/entertainment/theater/not_bewitched_by_joey_144823.htm


"'M pleased to report that a musical-comedy star is born in the newly revived "Pal Joey."

Unfortunately for the Roundabout, it's Martha Plimpton and not Matthew Risch, the chorus boy recently bumped up to the title role.

As the tough-talking, second-rate nightclub performer Gladys Bumps, Plimpton - not exactly known for musical comedy - is terrific, the standout attraction of the flawed revival that opened last night.

...


Despite some terrific elements, including Paul Gemignani's typically expert musical direction and William Ivey Long's gorgeous period costumes (only Scott Pask's set design, featuring looming elevated railways tracks and a giant spiral staircase, doesn't really work), this "Pal Joey" is seriously undercut by the gaping hole at its center."

[marknyc]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 12:15pm

"mark - your "tally" is completely an opinion. To agree that NY1 was a positive review is absurd! They ripped Risch apart; how could a review be positive if it hates the leading man... that would be mixed... as are a lot more of the reviews."

Many of the reviews had reservations about Risch (as did I), but were positive overall. NY1 said this, which I think is clearly positive:

"Richard Greenberg's rewrite of the John O'Hara book flashes with keen wit and shadows of melancholy, raises the emotional stakes for each character and avoids O'Hara's more formulaic plot devices.

Martha Plimpton makes a sizzling musical theater debut...Stockard Channing is classy and poised, and while she may not be a great singer, she lends worldly humor and stylish charisma to classic tunes such as "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered."

Although “Pal Joey” is not a Broadway masterpiece...it is a sophisticated showcase of old-fashioned glamor and wit. As such, it's still well worth a visit to Studio 54, but don’t expect to see a star being born."

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 3:58pm

Once again, I think that would (in my "opinion") be a mixed-positive. It says "not a Broadway masterpiece" "don't expect to see a star being born"... I understand these are primarily about Risch (and I haven't seen the show, so I can't comment on his performance - aside from a few clips I have seen). But, to me, when you have lines like those in an article I would consider it a 7 out of 10, a "C", mixed-positive.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 4:36pm

" As such, it's still well worth a visit to Studio 54, but don’t expect to see a star being born."

Basically what he is saying is, its not great but it isn't great, but its still worth the trip.

That is definitely mixed.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 5:51pm

REVIEW ROUNDUP

Associated Press
John Simon
Rave

Variety
Very Positive

NY1
Positive

Hollywood Reporter
Mixed-to-Positive

Newark Star-Ledger
New York Post
Mixed

Entertainment Weekly
Newsday
Mixed-to-Negative

New York Daily News
Negative

Bergen Record
Wall Street Journal
Very Negative

New York Times
Pan

Updated On: 12/19/08 at 05:51 PM

[marknyc]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:32am

Another TheaterMania review:

Well, at least the True Musical Theater Enthusiast can be enthused about Pal Joey, a show for adults...Richard Greenberg, in his “new” book (he actually began work on it nearly two decades ago), has added abortion to the mix, but has stressed the gay angle that leads to one surprising stage picture and one dynamic scene. It all works superbly.

So does Matthew Risch as Joey. Don’t you dare tell this former understudy that this part isn’t his. He utterly owns it, and securely holds stage with Stockard Channing, the pro who’d already appeared in three Broadway shows before he was born. Risch moves beautifully, has the requisite smarminess, and the right vocal sound for the heel.

http://www.theatermania.com/peterfilichia/

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:19am

Thanks for posting that. I wouldn't have seen it otherwise. Although Peter Filichia gives too much praise to Richard Greenberg for my taste, this next paragraph in his review captures my feelings anout Martha, Zip and why people should see it:

===

Let’s not forget that as Gladys, we have Martha Plimpton, who excels as the woman that, in a smart Greenberg rewrite, Joey once Done Wrong. Plimpton rather resembles Elaine Stritch, who sang "Zip" in the famous 1952 revival, as Plimpton does here. Oh, it's once again shoehorned into the plot, but with more justification than ever before. If you’re a True Musical Theater Enthusiast, you’ll be more inclined to appreciate than criticize.

[Sleeper2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:43am

NY One was an outright pan, save William Ivey Long's costumes and Martha Plimpton's performance. He took 5 swipes at Risch in a 90-second review.

Christian Hoff must be laughing his hot butt off.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:47am

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-paljoey_1220gd.ART.State.Edition1.4a654d7.html

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:59am

I don't think Christian Hoff is laughing at all.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 8:43pm

May I remind everyone of my full review I wrote early in previews. When I find the link, I'll post it.
Just because I thought the whole show was ridiculous and stupid and that I hated the production whole heartedly does not mean I am. I've been enthusiastic about a lot in the past and I was hoping for a good production of this show. Alas, this was not it.