Riedel: Arthur Laurents turns on Matt Cavenaugh

Not surprising...

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/west_side_whack_ZnVeviiV4uQv3B0pJNJqPL

ps: PalJoey you warned all of us about this (Arthur turning on people).

Updated On: 11/6/09 at 01:58 AM

Interesting about Spiderman blowing off the Tony deadline and going for the summer opening. We'll see if its true.

---

So, he turned on him because he is no longer turned on by him?

"So, he turned on him because he is no longer turned on by him?"

That phrase came into my head too.

---

Can't see any other reason why he got the job.

Notice how Laurents was wrong to cast Cavanuagh, wrong to stand by him and now is wrong to replace him. Nice trick.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Arthur Laurents had the good fortune to be involved in the creation of two of Broadway's real winners. He was NOT the reason for those shows' success. From the get-go, even devout WSS fans have admitted that the weak link, if there was one, was the book. It's the music and the dancing that make that beloved show soar and have placed it in the Broadway pantheon. The original Gypsy owed much to the super-charged performance of Ethel Merman and subsequent productions have followed suit: no Rose, no show, period. Mr. L. WANTS to believe he was the motor but he wasn't. And what else do we have: Time of the Cuckoo? Invitation to a March? He's a nasty, mean-spirited SOB who, on two occasions, lucked out, IMO. And he's a dirty old man, into the bargain.

---

So I assume Olivo and Scaglione renewed their contracts? I think it would have been announced with Cavenaugh if they did not renew.

Updated On: 11/6/09 at 01:52 PM

I haven't seen the new WSS yet but on my recent flight to Barcelona, the cast album was one of the audio choices and I gave it a good listen. I was very impressed--especially with Cavenaugh's vocalizing. On the CD, his "Maria" is probably the best-sung version I've heard of the song. The rest of the cast comes across extremely well on the recording, too.

I'd like to seethe show before he leaves.

---

Reminds me of George S. Kaufman's comment about Jed Harris being called his own worst enemy, to which Kaufman retorted, "Not while I'm alive."

---

Dollypop, I felt the same way (and also listened to it on a plane the first time, this one to Hawai'i tho) and posted a long review that was eventually deleted because Cavenaugh-hating people showed up. This is the best recording of WSS if only for Karen's Anita (sorry Chita!) and I will now listen to this over any of the others. The recording is ELECTRIC. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but it is my favorite recording of the score now, too.

P

I agree he's too old, his acting is uninspiring, and his voice is wrong for this show. I'm not sure how it got cast and through all those producers.

We need Laurents to get involved in Spiderman now. That would make the whole debacle really interesting.

---