Riedel: "The Savior of 'Sunday'" or "Don't Go Giving Buntrock Any Credit!"- Page 2

[sparrman]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 9:34pm

Excuse the long link, but here's Ben Brantley's ecstatic review of the Menier Chocolate Factory production, before it transferred to the West End:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/28/theater/newsandfeatures/28bran.html?_r=1&ex=1158379200&en=d6fc0477302f3a28&ei=5070&oref=slogin

[nonplussed]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 7:50pm

The article is totally incorrect. Lapine was not acquainted with this production until he first saw it at The Chocolate Factory weeks after it had opened to rave reviews. Critics had praised Buntrock for drawing out the emotion of the piece and for unifying the two acts. Some critics even admitted to having been moved to tears. Prior to the West End transfer, Sondheim and Lapine, as authors, typically gave notes. When Sunday opened in the West End, many of the same London critics reviewed the show again. None commented on changes to the production, because it was essentially the same production, the same staging, the only major change was the lead actress, as Anna Jane Casey could not do the transfer. So how could Lapine be "the savior of Sunday" who "sorted out the chaos" and who "taught him how to stage the show"? Also the cast never threatened to walk out. I wonder what is behind this destructive article?