PalJoey Sees His Beloved West Side Story- Page 5

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 5:35pm

I didn't realize how much I wrote, guess I got a bit invested in it.
While Olivo could have been a strong contender--and still is--Laurents' misdirection and her non-showstopping dancing will probably get in the way of her getting the Tony award. Especially when she'll be competing with Haydn Gwynne's beautifully acted, sung, and directed turn in BILLY ELLIOT. Olivo is as good as the direction allows her to be...unfortunately, that's not enough. Having said that, unlike 90% of the other principals, she still manages to turn in a great performance. Her rape scene is just... wow, it left me speechless and it made so much sense for her to lie about Maria's death.
Oh, I believe I forgot to mention that the Jet who looked, sounded, and acted like a gang member the most was Curtis Holbrook. He was perfection, I don't get why he wasn't cast as Riff, he outshone Cody Green all throughout.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 5:39pm

I don't know. That race is still down to Stephanie J. Block, Karen Olivo, and Haydn Gwynne. Personally, I loved Stephanie J. Block overall, Karen Olivo did a very good job in an outstanding role, and Haydn was somewhat disappointing for me.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/12/09 at 2:06am

"I have liked a lot of Arthur Laurents' writing - the book of Gypsy is wonderful, the book of West Side Story works well (although, maybe I'm in the minority, but I thought Ernest Lehman's screenplay improved on it), and I'm fond of The Way We Were. But I have never thought much of him as a director. And, for me, therein lies the problem. "

I just need to be clear I also think the man has a LOT of talent. He's one of the better librettists out there for musicals, has written some very good films, and I even like some of his controversial plays like his early "gays fitting into society" The Enclave which eeryone else i know who's read it hates. I also even think his work on Anyone Can Whistle is pretty good but him directing it is what really caused the probs--it's a problemic book but has a lot of interest in it.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/12/09 at 2:34pm

That race is still down to Stephanie J. Block, Karen Olivo, and Haydn Gwynne.

I've a feeling Megan Hilty will be a contender as well.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/12/09 at 2:49pm

"Oh, I believe I forgot to mention that the Jet who looked, sounded, and acted like a gang member the most was Curtis Holbrook. He was perfection, I don't get why he wasn't cast as Riff, he outshone Cody Green all throughout."

Right on for Curtis!!!!!!! I'm not seeing WSS until March 28th, but I'm dying to see Curtis again. He is such a terrfic dancer and seems to stop the show every time he appears. Bravo, Curtis!!!

[bardolator]

Posted: 3/13/09 at 2:31pm

"I've a feeling Megan Hilty will be a contender as well."

I might agree with you if I felt we were seeing Megan Hilty playing Doralee Rhodes instead of Megan Hilty playing Dolly Parton playing Doralee Rhodes....


(edited for typo) Updated On: 3/13/09 at 02:31 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 9:29am

I might agree with you if I felt we were seeing Megan Hilty playing Doralee Rhodes instead of Megan Hilty playing Dolly Parton playing Doralee Rhodes....

I don't get the feeling she's playing Dolly playing Doralee, but she does have the most obstacles to overcome. Her costumes, hair and makeup have been designed to look like Dolly and then she's singing Dolly's songs playing a character that is a famous Dolly icon. I think Megan's doing an exceptional job shining through. The mistake was in the design team to tray and make her appear as much like Dolly from the film as possible. Nobody else was made up and costumed as closely to their film counterpart as Megan.

[Amaranth9]

Posted: 3/14/09 at 7:22pm

Mister Matt, I agree with you that the likeness to Dolly's image is its own challenge for Megan, and that she does well. I admit I still have trouble separating that from the sentiment Bardolator expressed. Many reviews loved that Megan seemed to channel Dolly.
I enjoy her performance either way, but I'm not sure what her chances are in a category that's shaping up to be tight. But who knows?

But back to WSS, have ya'll seen this? I thought it was great!(Sorry if this was posted already but I did a search and didn't find it.)


Will Ferrell sings "Maria" on Letterman

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/19/09 at 7:26pm

So far no surprises.