Riedel on BIRDIE, Gershon and the one they call "Corky Sinclair" — Page 3

Very true Jordan. This one hits me really hard though. I hate that the wonderful book and score are somehow being blamed for the Roundabout's errors. It is such a wonderful show when done correctly. It doesn't need much. Just great performers and someone to guide them. I also don't get the playing of Albert as a nerd. The character never strikes me as such and I've never seen him played that way.

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It's always fascinating to read these posts. Birdie should have smoldering sex appeal. I have two words for you - Dick Gautier. That's who played Conrad Birdie originally. A wonderful comic actor with about as much sex appeal as a tuna fish. Apparently, he was very funny - maybe that would help since this is a musical comedy. That said, Jesse Pearson, who did the tour and the film, does have both sex appeal and humor.

I wholeheartedly disagree with you bk. I can't comment on Dick Gautier as I was not yet conceived when he was swiveling his hips on B'way but I can comment on Pearson's performance from the 1963 film version. Pearson had NO sex appeal as "Conrad Birdie" and came off as a mindless dork. Bobby Rydell and Dick Van Dyke had more sex appeal than he did...combined!

Updated On: 10/9/09 at 01:31 PM