Riedel weighs in on BLONDE, and Bundy vs. Ebersole?- Page 2

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 1:13pm

It is to early to judge pirate queen...they did not do so hot out of town.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 1:16pm

After seeing Donna Murphy in Follies last night (where if she were eligible she would've posed a threat to Ebersole), I realized that not only is she a brilliant actress (her one-liners killed and the choices she made with "Could I Leave You?" were a revelation) but that she captivates the audience. She got such reactions from everyone, people were loving her. So as I was saying, after seeing that last night I think it's gonna come down to Murphy and Ebersole.

[SayitSomehow]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 1:47pm

Just from all the raves she got in Chicago. Every reviewer, no matter how negative, praised her powerful performance - "worth the price of admission," "holds up the show" etc.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 2:00pm

Say it Somehow, I don't think "The Pirate Queen" will last long enough for voters to remember Block. Not in a season this strong..

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 2:02pm

^ agreed. They need to be making those serious changes over aty 42nd street studios.

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 2:07pm

They should trim the "Riverdance" down a little bit.
It is very long, even when watching it. Although I am sad because I love watching Andy dance.
I hope they don't cut "There, RIght There!" - It isn't one of my personal favorites, but it is very funny and always got a great response from the audience while I was there.
As much as I love "Take it Like A Man" it can be trimmed or cut. My biggest hope is that they cut "Ireland" and give Orfeh a better song, but that would require too many changes elsewhere in the plot. That song is so out of place to me.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 2:28pm

Everyone is talking about Murphy and Bundy being a threat to Ebersole, but for months, i've been saying that the one Ebersole has to watch out for is the never to be underestimated Audra.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 2:30pm

Audra has 4 Tony awards, I'd highly call her underestimated.

[massofmen]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 2:33pm

aren't we going a little overboard with this? I mean a few reviews come out that are mixed to great and people are already talking about Jerry Mitchell as the best director/choreographer?
This show hasn't even hit manhattan yet, and people are saying that its going to be in the "best musical" category? Are people on this board swayed that easily by 6 San Fransisco reviewers, one saying "It has no heart, but is good fun"?
The wedding singer had no heart but it was good fun as well. See what happened to that show.
I just think all these amazing preominitions about this show are deeply premature. a week ago, seemed like 3/4 of this board hated the show and the title song especially. Now because of a few good to great reviews the show is the next Wicked? Come on. Remember Wicked's Nyc reviwes. Mostly mixed and it has become a worlwide phenomenon.
Reviews don't mean crap. Spring Awakening got the best reviews I have almost ever seen and it still can barely make a profit (which is actually hasn't yet seeing how many weeks in the red it was before it even opened).

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 2:37pm

A show rarely gets such good notices out of town, and they have a month plus previews to fix whatever it is they need to change/fix/alter.

Based on that, I would say it has a pretty decent shot at becoming a hit.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 2:51pm

Out of town buzz on HAIRSPRAY, THE PRODUCERS, and SPAMALOT was all good, and all the shows went on to become hits, much like off Broadway buzz for GREY GARDENS AND SPRING AWAKENING has also turned into Broadway Box Office success. Out of town word on SWEET CHARITY and THE WEDDING SINGER was bad, and the shows failed. It's not hard to imagine LEGALLY BLONDE becoming a hit based on it's San Francisco reviews.

Updated On: 2/9/07 at 02:51 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 3:44pm

SPRING AWAKENING (as good as it is) is not a Box Office success.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 3:57pm

Plus so far, I have not heard a director praised this much in reviews...I so see hm getting double nominations.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 3:59pm

"SPRING AWAKENING (as good as it is) is not a Box Office success."

Much to my dismay, I have a feeling that SA will catch on at the Box Office. I have no use for it, but I have a feeling it will catch on.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 4:00pm

Having done several weeks of performances in SF, I can say that their taste is NOT the taste of most ny theatregoers; of course, it could still do well, but I think NYC also has alot of movie-to-musical fatigue--hope this show can rise above it.

I think Donna is ALWAYS in contention for Tonys--she's the Meryl of Bway.

But it's Ebersole all the way.

[legallyblondemusical]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 4:10pm

Does anyone know what percentage of NYC theatregoers are actually from NYC?

[massofmen]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 4:18pm

great points princeton.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 4:19pm

"It is to early to judge pirate queen...they did not do so hot out of town."

Except for the universal raves for Block's performance, which looked like an early indicator for a Tony nom. No matter what the critics hated about Pirate Queen, they all pretty much agreed that Block was a powerhouse on stage.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 4:24pm

"I think Donna is ALWAYS in contention for Tonys--she's the Meryl of Bway."

I think if anyone is the "Meryl Streep of Broaday" it's Audra McDonald.

Audra has been nominated for every show she's ever had a principle role in except one. She's won four Tony's out of five nominations (three of which came before the age of thirty,) and has won for both straight plays and musicals.

Updated On: 2/9/07 at 04:24 PM

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 4:40pm

No, then Audra would be the Kate Hepburn of Bway--I say that about Donna because she has been around for MUCH longer than Audra, takes on a HUGE variety of roles and styles, and gives a layered, comic and touching performance every time she steps on that stage.

Not to disparage Audra, but Donna can act circles around her.

I make the Meryl connection not because of awards, but the career.

Donna made her Bway debut when Audra was 9.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 4:46pm

This pisses me off tremendously.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 4:54pm

lildogs, although Donna may have been around longer, they have been in almost the same amount of shows (counting "110 in the Shade" and "LoveMusik," Audra has been in seven Broadway shows, while Donna has done eight.)

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 5:14pm

It is too pre-mature to tell who will be the biggest contendor for The Best Actress In A Musical nominees {excluding Ebersole who seems a lock for her nomination}

Its also too pre-mature to tell how LB will fair once it hits New York. But, those reviews can only help the show do better.

Its my opinon, and mine alone, that you can't judge something till you've seen it.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 5:14pm

I thought you might bring that up--I'm talking stage time, though....and you can think Audra is better than Donna, it's not a crime or even worng necessarily...I just have different criteria--and I LOVE Audra--I don't think anyone SINGS better than she does, but she's not as good an ACTOR as Donna--in my very unimportant opinion.

[Amneris]

Posted: 2/9/07 at 5:27pm

There are only 4 or 5 people allowed per category right?

Therefore, I predict for best leading female:
Christine Ebersole,Audra M,Kristin C,
Maybe Ashley Brown or Luker,Debra Monk? I just can't see laura bell beating out any of these ladies for a spot...