P. Diddy in Raisin

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 8:53pm

How often does he sign autographs? does he come out after matinees or just evenings? does he exit in that little ally behind the golden theater?

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 9:28pm

Who cares?


Sorry I couldn't resist.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 9:39pm

If I were him, I'd cower and scurry my ass outa that little theatre as fast as I could....not to mention the face of the earth. I hope some disgruntled theatre lover doesn't take action and end his performance for him....I'm not suggesting that they do, but anything can happen. This play is adored by many. As well as ASSASSINS. I hope no one sees that show and decides to do something they shouldn't. Updated On: 4/6/04 at 09:39 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 10:21pm

CATS, your last comment absolutely disgusted me! I'm no great fan of P. Diddy and George Bush, but I don't wish anyone to kill them. do you realize the strength of your words? Even if you were jesting, they are extremely harsh. You are talking about human life fella, not ideas or myth. Reconsider what you've said and I'll delete this message if you delete yours.

[cmleidi]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 10:23pm

I don't want to defend Puff Daddy/Sean Combs, but I don't think he's that bad. He has his moments, and if he had a bit more experience, he would be effective. He does show talent, and he works best in the more subtle moments. He also works best with the males--the son and the white lawyer. The problem is that he has no training, and he doesn't know how to perform the emotionally tense scenes. I saw the second preview so I hoped this would be solved. In his defense as well, Beneatha's boyfriends are miscast and have no stage presence. There's one mover at the end who is hot as hell. They should move him up to one of the speaking roles. I don't care if he can act just as long as he stands around and looks pretty.

I don't see anything wrong with Puff Daddy taking on the role. It was a gamble. It will either pay off or it won't. Isn't that true of all new shows? I wouldn't even label Combs's performance the worst I've seen this season.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 10:32pm

Dollypop, I wasn't suggesting nor jesting I was just expressing a concern. ASSASSINS tells us that the only reason people do those kinds of things is to be noticed. I would hate to have someone hurt because of someone else's feelings toward what they see on stage. We live in a cruel, cruel world... someone has to stay aware of any and all possibilities. Updated On: 4/6/04 at 10:32 PM

Posted: 4/6/04 at 10:35pm

I have nothing against him. But this is broadway. He better be brilliant.

[LouW95]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 10:47pm

Combs needs work but according to last weeks's gross-he is not pulling his fans to see this kind of play. I have seen him in Raisin, am not a fan but have seen worse. Some time may help him. The play and other cast members make it a show that one should see.

[Schmack]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:09pm

do you think he deals better with the male cast members because he's so used to denouncing and screaming and name calling those ladies of ill repute in all his videos and in his normal surroundings, and his on stage scenes with females suffer because he is intimidated by such amazing, respectable and strong women of the stage?

[cmleidi]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:23pm

I know very little about Puff Daddy. I know he was involved with Jennifer Lopez; he was involved in some frecas that involved a gun, and that he had a song where he sampled EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE. That's pretty much all I know about him. It wouldn't surprise me that he didn't know how to relate to women, and that his performance suffers because of this. From what I've seen of rap and rock videos, women are not portrayed in anything other than a sexual manner.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 4/6/04 at 11:35pm

*[f]rom what [i]'ve seen of rap and rock videos, women are not portrayed in anything other than a sexual manner.*

well that's not a generalization, is it?

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 7:21am

papa, no, that's not a generalization! haven't you seen all those female rappers and rock stars portraying women in anything other than a sexual manner??? (wink!)

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 8:06am

I'm only going to say, in person he is both charming and actually down to earth.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 10:05am

that's right, i am, you pack of [xd] [xd] [xd]!

[bigred1571]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 10:34am

I was fortunate last night to see a revival of a wonderful play, A Raisin in the Sun. It was a star-studded cast. Sean Combs played the role of Walter Lee Younger, three time Tony award winner Audra McDonald played the role of Walter’s wife, Ruth. Phylicia Rashad played the role of Walter’s mother, Lena and Sanaa Lathan played Walter’s sister, Beneatha. It was a very interesting rendition of the popular classic, written by Lorraine Hansberry, the youngest American playwright. Although this is a new genre for Combs, he was convincing in the role of Walter Lee and as a friend of mine said, he put “his own spin” on the character and made him his own. No, it wasn’t the role Sidney Poitier played so many years ago, but neither is this 1959, which is what I should have told the old couple who were sitting in front of me complaining!!! As an older woman who loves Sean Combs, I thought his performance was well acted, his facial expressions were perfect and his timing was impeccable!! Nothing need be said about the rest of the cast who are seasoned Broadway actors who performed their roles with perfection!!
And to the poster who wanted to know if Sean gives autographs, I can give you a resounding "YES". He came out and was very personable, thanking each and every person for coming!!! He signed as many playbills as he could and even posed for pictures with a few young fans. He was truly humble and a real sweetheart!!

[FrontRow]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 11:06am

Does anyone know if there's a discount ticket program for young people?

The prices could be keeping P. Diddy's usual fans away (although don't his concerts cost about the same?)...but it's disgraceful they're not attending. Every aspect of pop culture, the education system, etc. does whatever it can to appeal to rap fans and the "rap mentality," but heaven forbid rap fans stretch themselves one iota and agree to sit still for 2 hours and listen to an intelligent spoken script.

How old is RAISIN IN THE SUN, 50 years? Hmmm....let's see how many rap songs we're still performing in 50 years. (I also say this when anyone trots out the "but parents objected to the Beatles" argument.)

[cmleidi]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 11:40am

"well that's not a generalization, is it?"

And what if it were? I'm sure there are rock and rap videos by male artists where the women are not solely portrayed as sexual objects. I haven't seen them, but as I wrote, I have limited knowledge of both genres.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 11:59am

geez, bigred, at least make an effort at sounding like something other than an intern.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 12:10pm

I can't help but marvel at the shrill, shill sounds that bigred is making.

(Don't you just love it when a newcomer joins us with an immensely positive posting about a show that's in trouble? Makes you wonder who signing the paycheck, doesn't it?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 12:51pm

Bigred, forgive me, but what do you consider "older" woman. And I am sure there are "younger" American playwrights than Ms. Hansberry since she passed away in 1965.


(Not that you will ever read this.)

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 12:57pm

doggone, sueleen, they can't slip anything past you can they?

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 1:02pm

i think bigred considers "herself" to be "older", not the playwright...

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 6:31pm

Big Red looks like she's having fun with this sh(r)illing thing . How about someone post about how they don't like Tale of Two Cities so I can get in on the action! Speaking of Tale of Two Cities! The workshop is supposed to be starting sometime soon. Let me know if any of you are able to catch it and tell me what you think. I am not nearly as good at this as robbiej, is it his wit, or his charm that makes him better at this or is it his mustasche? Inquiring minds want to know.

Updated On: 4/7/04 at 06:31 PM

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 7:11pm

Take everything bigred has said and basically put "not" in front of everything about Combs. Then you'll have an honest review of his laughable portrayal of walter lee. I guess "put his own spin on the role" is the new euphemism for "destroying a great part"

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/7/04 at 7:29pm

Credibility gap #1: Bigred complains about "the old couple" in front of her. Then begins a sentence, "As an older woman who loves Sean...." A real person (much like yourselves) would not write this way. People who identify as "older" never use "old" as a perjorative.

However, the following line is just fantastic:

::: ... as a friend of mine said, he put “his own spin” on the character and made him his own. """

A friend of yours said that! That is "word up!"