Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

#1

Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 11:54am

Reidel's not the most popular guy on these boards and I know he can be a real jerk, but I admit I find his column a fun read - most of the time anyway. I found the story entertaining - hope you guys do as well.

https://www.nypost.com/seven/05212008/entertainment/theater/from_legit_house_to_outhouse_111814.htm?page=0

If one of the more computer savvy would shorten the link I'd appreciate it.

#2

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 11:57am

Mr. Riedel has evidently never seen ALL ABOUT EVE. Addison DeWitt never makes that remark.

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"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/

#3

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 11:58am

John Simon being a bitch. No big news.

The Visa story is, however, much more frightening.

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"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

#4

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:00pm

"You should take 'Passing Strange' into the bathroom and flush it down the toilet," said Simon.

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"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

#5

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:02pm

I can't say I entirely disagree with Mr. Simon on PASSING STRANGE, but saying that to Gerald Schoenfeld isn't exactly the wisest course of action.

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"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/

#6

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:19pm

Nothing's going to beat Simon's evaluation of Nilo Cruz:

RIEDEL: What is your objection to Nilo Cruz?
SIMON: No talent... he keeps turning out things, things, things; I've seen five of his plays, but there must be about twenty by now, all of them bad, none of them worth anything but a booby prize, maybe. But look, he's two minorities: he is the Hispanic minority and the Homosexual minority; if he were also a woman, he'd really have it made.

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"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum

#7

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:20pm

Owned

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-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

#8

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:27pm

"I'll never stop paying my Visa"
That made me sick, does Sondheim know about this?

At least Mr. Simon hasn't lost his bite.

#9

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:27pm

LuPwned

#10

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:35pm

"John Simon hated his mother." I'd say that to Gerry Schoenfeld.

Simon may have intelligence, but he is too busy hating to be any good. Same goes for the Post and its staffers.

John Simon and the NY Post really deserve one another. That would be a marriage made in hell.

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"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher

#11

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:36pm

It's Press, the Good, the Bad, the Ugly. I'm sure the entire exchange was actually originated in the offices of from Cubby Bernstein ; guerilla marketing at it's best. Schoenfeld and Reidel are buddy buddies, anyway.

#12

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:42pm

What does that lady with the tuba have to do with it?

#13

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:48pm

Well, Simon seems to have said what A LOT of people feel about Passing Strange...

#14

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:57pm

Ewww. A big yuck to Visa, what a digusting show of corporate control.

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"As we all should probably have learned by now, to be a Stephen Sondheim fan is to have one's heart broken at regular intervals" - Frank Rich

Dearest, how can this be so? You were dead, you know. - Candide

Oh my god, this show has everything! Half naked guys and girl on girl action! - [title of show]

(My avatar? Why, yes! That is Laura Benanti making out with a chick!)

#15

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 2:13pm

A big yuck to Visa, what a digusting show of corporate control.

Um, actually it is a disgusting show of artistic pandering. Visa gave them the terms, which are not admirable, but it is the Theatre Wing who accepted the terms and carried them out. Your digust seems to be a little misdirected.

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"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#16

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 2:22pm

Perhaps, but I was thinking along the lines of maybe they didn't have a choice? Who knows.

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"As we all should probably have learned by now, to be a Stephen Sondheim fan is to have one's heart broken at regular intervals" - Frank Rich

Dearest, how can this be so? You were dead, you know. - Candide

Oh my god, this show has everything! Half naked guys and girl on girl action! - [title of show]

(My avatar? Why, yes! That is Laura Benanti making out with a chick!)

#17

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 2:43pm

"What does that lady with the tuba have to do with it?"

LuPwnage.

#18

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 3:35pm

Simon and Riedel are amazing. Bless them for not being PC.

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Do you know what happens when you let Veal Prince Orloff sit in an oven too long?

#19

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 4:15pm

"Critic Dumps on Passing Strange"

This reminds me of either Maureen Stapleton or Sylvia Miles (possibly both) dumping on John Simon. Literally, these esteemed actresses dumped a plate of fettucini Alfredo or something on his head at some public event in the 70s. The ladies were heartily cheered by all except of course Mister Simon who threatened to sue.

I think they paid for his suit to be cleaned.

I say the SOB got off lightly.

Stapleton put the tale in her memoir.

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"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher

#20

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 4:19pm

How exactly is this "amazing"? Anyone can be snide. Is "dump it down the toilet" 2008's approximation of a Wildean bon mot?

If yer gonna be a bitch, at least be a witty bitch.

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"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

#21

re: Reidel Today - Critic dumps on Passing Strange

Posted: 5/21/08 at 4:23pm

One word describes Passing Strange - Overrated.

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Poster Emeritus