Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
"I don't understand why After 8 jumps in to any chat about Sondheim shows to trash them."
Someone has to speak for the general theatregoing public, who are only a gazillion-fold more numerous than the two dozen or so fawning idolators here of the cold, mean, tuneless, and ugly who take up permanent roost in these threads.
That public --- THE public --- needs to have its voice heard. The public that consigned things like Pacific Overtures to deserved flopdom. And if that charge falls to me, well, then I have a responsibility, no, an OBLIGATION to fulfill it, however burdensome that may be. An obligation to the public, to the theatre, and most importantly, to the truth.
Updated On: 2/2/15 at 06:08 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
"No matter what anyone says nothing will take away the happy memoirs of that weekend in New York."
I doubt highly that anyone would want to take away your memoirs.
"the perfect snob hit musical"...??? i am not a snob but i admit to being a SONDHEIMMANIAC...but even i do not enjoy all of the man's shows...but yet i see brilliance in his attempts...and this was a huge gamble...kabuki-style musicals are not a guarantee of success obviously...and yet it was tried and i applaud all who went for it even though they ended up with a show that only lasted a relatively short time for a major Broadway musical...does this thinking make me a snob?...NO! It makes me more a hopeful Broadway fan that wants to see more than just happy happy nonsense musicals...
So, Fantod, what do you think of the way After Eight has expressed himself in your thread?
"That public --- THE public --- needs to have its voice heard. The public that consigned things like Pacific Overtures to deserved flopdom. And if that charge falls to me, well, then I have a responsibility, no, an OBLIGATION to fulfill it, however burdensome that may be. An obligation to the public, to the theatre, and most importantly, to the truth."
What sanctimonious self-aggrandizing nonsense... ironic, seeing that those are the same windmills from which After 8 is trying to protect others.
Ok, Sondheim is a genius, and Pacific Overtures is one of the greatest piece of theater ever.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/08
Beware of individual people who profess to speak for the masses.
Not just the masses, THE masses!
i get it now...AFTER EIGHT is just putting us on...very funny...'THE public'...lol...i love this!
Updated On: 2/2/15 at 10:34 AM
"...THE public..."
That was very funny, AE!! It's clear now that you are Sondheim just having fun with us. It's the only explanation for your posts.
Guys, stop making fun of him. He has an OBLIGATION to the public!
Guys, stop giving this turd the time of the day. The more you ignore, the better the chance of him shutting the f*ck up.
"The public that consigned things like Pacific Overtures to deserved flopdom.."
The very same public that consigned Ben Franklin in Paris to flopdom?!
And THE same public that consigned that horrible dirgical ONCE to a 3-year run!!
We just need to start a "What I Love About Sondheim" thread right at the same time as when Fun Home starts previews... keep him distracted.
DEAR WORLD and 70, GIRLS, 70 also didn't run very long either. (Sad, since I love 70, GIRLS dearly, though the story makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.) I've tried to interact with After Death about these shows, one of which I think has merit, and the other of which I love, and he's ignored me, so I think he just likes to hear himself bash Sondheim.
Maybe he was the guy Mary Rodgers found chained up in the bathroom that Christmas. (Kidding, kidding.)
^^^^ That really is the point, I think: the lack of supporting examples. After several thousand posts calling Sondheim's work "bad", I've yet to see After Eight define "good" and "bad" or explain what it is about Sondheim's work (except its less than sunny worldview) that A8 so abhors.
I saw the original Pacific Overtures. I remember my seat was in one of the boxes, which I thought was so exciting. It was a beautiful show. The orchestra, and the orchestrations were superb. I remember looking down after intermission and many seats had become empty. I love the show, but I think the last number "Next" is awful. It was jarring then and it's dated now. Other than that, there was much to admire.
I also saw it at The Promenade Theatre, but I don't remember that much about that production. But I do know I miss that theatre. It was one of my favorite venues.
I think the whole point of "Next" is that it's supposed to feel both jarring and dated-- like an industrial musical from the mid 1960s. I actually think it's kind of moving as of late.
Yeah, it took me years of watching the film for "Next" to click, and since it finally did, I can't imagine the show feeling complete without it.
I think the vocal arrangement is kind of thrilling on the cast album, which is why it gets to me. I know that a lot of people feel it's the weak link the show though, even some members of the original cast.
I will keep an open mind the next production I see about "Next" .. I am just talking about what I remember about the original. I was younger then. They drank many cups of tea.
It just seemed like he didn't know how to end it, and that's what he came up with.
The orchestra was just amazing. Those beautiful arrangements and the strange sounds of the Japanese instruments. It sounded so beautiful.
And if that charge falls to me, well, then I have a responsibility, no, an OBLIGATION to fulfill it, however burdensome that may be.
Your imaginary charge didn't fall to you and as such, there is no obligation. It is entirely your choice to elect yourself as personal representative of an undefined and (thankfully) unaware group and voice your personal opinion as something it is not. But, by golly, your delusions are rich with grandeur, aren't they?
...so I think he just likes to hear himself bash Sondheim.
He just likes to hear himself, period.
Until After Eight, no one's been as unforgivingly critical of Sondheim since Walter Kerr. And Walter Kerr wasn't nearly as pretentious.
Videos