Photo Flash: SWEET CHARITY At Theatre Royal Haymarket.. ummm.- Page 4

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/6/10 at 10:21pm

Just my two cents on the regional productions conversation...I never went to many regional productions until I moved to Denver 19 years ago. Prior to that I saw Broadway shows and touring productions. In Denver I got very involved with the, Tony winning, Denver Center Theatre Company (DCTC) as a chair for one of their organizations. I now write for BWW Denver. Somewhere in this thread someone mentioned that they review theatre in London. Well, I don't think that gives you a one up one anyone as what I have done does not give me a one up. I enjoy theatre period. Whether I am there to just see a show or review it. (And that's why I have been involved in the theatre here) I had not been back to New York to see a show for 13 years but I saw 13 years of tours and regional theatre. I can agree with besty that you can in fact find regional theatre that is as good as or sometimes better than what you see in NYC. The DCTC, with the exception of very few productions, has put on stunning productions. Both large and small. I really realized this after I started going back to NY twice a year to see shows in 2004. I realized how lucky I was to have such a wonderful theatre company in my city and a great facility. Last year I saw a fabulous production of "A Little Night Music" at the Central City Opera House here. They had a full orchestra and smaller sets. All pieces were moved onto and off stage and they used swaths of fabric. It was beautiful. I so wanted to see the revival on Broadway this season. I love the music and wanted to see how this production campared to what I saw.

As far as judging a show from video clips..I don't think one can judge an entire show or its cast from a few clips. BUT, when a show or a movie puts out clips or a trailer it is usually to advertise to get people into the theater. Judging by that clip, I would still see the show if I could simply because I like the show. I did the same with Hot Feet (And we know how that show turned out!) but I am a huge EWF fan so I went. What I don't get is why they used clips from the 1st production to push the current one. That reminds me of what they do with touring shows here. We get commercials featuring the Broadway production and cast. Granted, the touring shows are pretty close to if not at times identical to the touring productions but it still annoys me that even by the middle of the tour we are seeing the Broadway cast in the commercials. (And granted, the casts do change during a tour) But when Wicked was here and they were advertising it, people thought the original cast was going to be here with the show.

So I agree, big or small, I look for a show to connect with me in some way. Whether it be on an emotional level or just entertainment. I enjoyed both productions of "Sweeney Todd" and did not feel that the original was overblown. Overblown was Miss Saigon and even CATS. I really feel that those big spectacles that came over from London are a big part of the reason NY theatergoers and tourists want big shows. I have seen them all and enjoyed most of them but aside from a few, they aren't really done well anymore (In my opinion) and that's why a lot of them don't last. But some do. Just my random thoughts.

Updated On: 5/7/10 at 10:21 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 10:06am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=129633

Tamzin - If They Could See Me Now

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 10:43am

So the guy who bitches the loudest about judging performances from clips posts a clip of "Charity" himself?

L.O.L.

Such hypocrisy.

By the way, thank you! It has only served to solidify my opinion. She has NO idea what she's doing or singing about or who Charity is. And she's so confident in her lack of understanding. Of course the five-year-old's wig she's wearing from 1972 doesn't help. She's is "presenting" this number to an audience with a single painted expression on her face. She isn't thinking about the lyrics AT ALL. No thought process registering. And that crap choreography! Wow.

But I know, it's only a clip.

One that YOU posted.

Again, L.O.L.

Updated On: 5/10/10 at 10:43 AM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 10:46am

What an idiotic statment
I can watch and love clips, im not knocking anyone for that, i was talking about basing an opinion on a whole show having only seen a 2 min clip which i did not do.

Isn't it strange that she has opened to rave reviews from all the press. Ive seen the show and love the Choreogrpahy.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 10:55am

You can't read then, so yours is the "idiotic statement."

I NEVER offered my opinion of the "whole show." Go back and read. I was clearly talking about clips posted.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 10:56am

" She really is a revelation"
Independent

"To enrich a performance to this degree is a mark of real determination and star quality"
Telegraph

"Tamsin Outhwaite wowed the audience on the opening night of Broadway classic Sweet Charity"
ITN

"What's on Stage
"Hers was always a beautifully resourceful, touching and funny performance, but she’s added not only steel and volume but also a sense of walking straight into things without realising the consequences. She’s open-hearted and goofy at the same time"

and so on and so on.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 10:58am

"Think "Tamzin" looks completely wrong for this part. She has the voice and look of a talented sorority girl who got the lead in the pledge girls' fundraiser. She should be playing Sophie in Mamma Mia or Sandy in Grease, or Cinderella at a theme park, not Charity Hope Valentine.

This is badly cast and choreographed, with mediocre (at best) dancers and (wimpy, thin-voiced) singers. The set would be fine at a community theatre, for no more than $10-15 per ticket. The costumer, makeup designer, and hairdresser have no idea what the 1960s looked like on any continent, let alone in NYC.

OH, but other than that, I like it."

Yeah u got all that from a 2 min clip

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 10:58am

This is a thread about CLIPS posted. Remember?

And my opinion of her IN THE CLIPS is unfavorable. I think she's mediocre at best. And the choreography is sub-par.

Waving a bunch of critic quotes is ... just really weird.

Funny, I don't remember asking them (or you) for my opinion.

Updated On: 5/10/10 at 10:58 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 10:59am

"Yeah u got all that from a 2 min clip"

Yeah. I did. It's all there.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 11:01am

Not really

This was about the new London revival, the video clips at the MC Factory production, you hardly seen any Choreography and you must get about 20 seconds of Tamzin and others singing

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 11:02am

You posted a new clip just now and the choreography still sucks. So?


Again, I don't remember asking you for my opinion.

Updated On: 5/10/10 at 11:02 AM

[Piper3500]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 1:13pm

songanddanceman

I watched Tamzin at the weekend on Over the Rainbow and it was so clear ALW was gushing, but if I'm honest, I was a little underwhelmed, sorry. also, she looked like she was miming. don't get upset! i didn't say she was. but it looked like it in bits that she was.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 1:18pm

Besty, what did you think of Christina Applegate in the role? She was a hell of a lot more charming than this woman seems to be.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 2:07pm

I Loved Applegate in the role
And no Tamzin was not miming

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 2:16pm

ljay, I didn't see Appelgate as Charity.

I did see Debbie Allen and company in the 1986 Fosse revival in NY. I went in with reservations, deciding to see it because Fosse was directing with his original choreography. But I thought of Debbie Allen as Miss "Fame." I figured she would be too sassy and unsympathetic in the role. But her acting, along with her singing and dancing, were all terrific. I doubt I will ever see the role danced as well live. She was a wonderful Charity. I think the only person I didn't care for was the guy who sang "Rhythm of Life." Just not a big presence, either vocally or on stage. But Bebe Neuwirth and especially Michael Rupert were first-rate.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 3:10pm

Is this argument still on? Geeez haha.

I've just seen the clip. I was a little underwhelmed by the performance. Not by Tamzin though if that makes sense. UK TV have a tendency of glamorizing a performance on TV, look at John Barrowman singing 'I Am What I Am' on Paul O'Grady... god that was such a headache! But Tamzin showed me she can dance & sing. She was abit 'in your face' so to speak from the clip and the choreography was abit eh in it. But it did make me wanna see the show very much! And what nice legs Tamzin's got! She's one pretty lady I can give her that!

I guess this argument's never gonna end since we'll never agree. But I think the production or Tamzin's definitely doing something right since the public and the critics have all embraced her. And so far, all Menier productions have been so well-casted (apart from Jessie Buckley who I didn't enjoy much), so I trust it should be good too.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 3:19pm

If these clips are getting people excited to see this production, then that's fine. That's exactly what they were meant to do.

I offer my opinion of them as my opinion of them.

Nothing more or less than that.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 4:21pm

fair enough. Everyone are entitled to their comments/opinions :)

[Scripps2]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 4:53pm

Apart from a few great songs Sweet Charity is a boring show anyway.

Gets boyfriend. Loses boyfriend. Gets boyfriend. Loses boyfriend. Gets boyfriend. Loses boyfriend.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 5:18pm

The current version in London looks like gets bad choreography. Loses personality. Gets weird accent.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 5:36pm

"The current version in London looks like gets bad choreography"

Huh?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 6:16pm

I hear wonderful things about the stripped-raw production of A CHORUS LINE at the Vanilla Factory in Dipswitch.

They removed ALL THE DANCING so that they can concentrate on the relationships.

People who have seen it have been shattered. They said they've never seen such an honest exploration of the emotional reality of the actor's life.

If it moves from the West End to Broadway, the actress who plays Judy Turner is sure to get a Tony. Her murderous rage at her husband's constant interruptions is supposed to be riveting.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 6:23pm

I've never been a fan of scaled down productions (save for Ragtime) but I just took a crap and it looks better than that production.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 6:42pm

Huh?

You poor thing.

When did you switch back to this screen name? I'm convinced that the obnoxious Brits who post and then go cry on the West End board about how awful the Americans are are really one person.

[Piper3500]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 7:11pm

"I guess this argument's never gonna end since we'll never agree. But I think the production or Tamzin's definitely doing something right since the public and the critics have all embraced her. And so far, all Menier productions have been so well-casted (apart from Jessie Buckley who I didn't enjoy much), so I trust it should be good too. "

to have both the public and the critics embrace you is a plus i suppose.
Jessie Buckley. send me that one. I didn't think she was ready for a big stage yet when I saw her two years ago. I am interested to see it.