Roundabout cuts a dance sequence from Birdie- Page 3

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 3:52pm

Rapish? Rapesque?

Gangdoodily rapifyin'?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 3:55pm

Rapetastic!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 4:00pm

Rape is the new black.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 4:03pm

Supercalifragilrapestic

[Pgenre]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:34pm

So Gershon is worried about feminism now?

What about SHOWGIRLS where she played the biggest c*nt of all time, usually topless and coked out to boot?

Ah, the indiscretions of youth...

P

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:48pm

Roundabout strikes again. I am truly outraged by this news. The Shriner's Ballet is an iconic scene to BYE BYE BIRDIE (like Rich Man's Frug to CHARITY, Waiter's Gallop to DOLLY and Steam Heat to PAJAMA GAME).

If Gina Gershon is unable to dance the Shriner's Ballet, then she SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN HIRED. Her "rape-y" excuse was pathetic and just proof that she cannot dance the role.

BYE BYE BIRDIE has been done in Middle Schools and High Schools with the original book and with the Shriner's Ballet intact. Why is it, that the first Bway revival, after nearly 50 years, will butcher the show? What's next? Cut the Spanish Rose dance? Cut Talk To Me? Cut the dancing in A Lot Of Livin' To Do? Cut the dancing in Put on A Happy Face? The possibilities are endless.

I hope the rest of the book/score/dancing is intact. Strouse and Adams should refuse anymore cuts to their already near-perfect musical...and Longbottom should know better.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:52pm

I really don't think it's THAT iconic. It's arguably the most boring moment in the entire show.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:55pm

Boring? Really? If done well, I think it's thrilling. To each his own I guess...

I watched that clip that PalJoey posted earlier in this thread...Chita was outstanding!

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:59pm

It's arguably the most boring moment in the entire show.

Oooh STRONGLY disagree!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 9:09pm

OK, seriously, though I still find it hard to be serious about something being "rapey"

I don't see why she even said what she did at all.
A few artistic changes are to be expected and as most have said,
as long as they figure a way to get Albert and Rosie together it shouldn't be a problem.
If she never brought the subject up, the show opens and if it is wonderful, it will be moot.
Chita's version is the complete opposite of boring or slow, but her particular talent will never be matched, so if you have to adjust to another actress, so be it.
Now that she has put it out there, most will assume she couldn't dance it, but since it's all new choreography and she was never gonna do the dance Chita did, again moot.

I'm more worried about Stamos doing PUT ON A HAPPY FACE.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 9:16pm

PC comes to to Birdie

I think they should cut out some offensive scenes from WSS while they are at it. This is getting ridiculous.I was on the fence on this one but when they start doing this, count me out.

Reminds me how they PC'D Annie Get Your Gun.Bye Bye Birdie

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 9:19pm

If Gina Gershon is unable to dance the Shriner's Ballet, then she SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN HIRED

If that's the case, why didn't you feel the same way about Karen Olivo?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 9:30pm

I actually do feel the same way about Karen Olivo, and I'm both shocked and disappointed that she won the Tony Award for a dancing role, when she herself cannot dance the part. (I was rooting for Haydn Gwyne to win the Tony)

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 9:23am

Am I the only one who is aware of the fact that a show revived on Broadway is almost NEVER the same show it was in its original incarnation? Like at the evolution of the Cabaret book, or the proliferance of interpolating songs in various shows (Kern and Porter especially). What makes Bye Bye Birdie so sancorsanct?

What about SHOWGIRLS where she played the biggest c*nt of all time, usually topless and coked out to boot?

Once again, equating showgirls with Bye Bye Birdie makes no effing sense.

I also don't get why just because she mentioned it in an interview, it's all on her shoulders that it was cut.

But seriously, I love this show and couldn't care less about the effing Shriners Ballet.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 9:27am

I think they should cut out some offensive scenes from WSS while they are at it.

Yeah, because the the Shriners Ballet serves the same purpose as simulated rape in WSS.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 9:30am

Yeah, because the the Shriners Ballet serves the same purpose as simulated rape in WSS.

this.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 10:03am

Phyllis, I agree with you. If changes don't work, the show will be bad. That's all there is to it. I know nothing about Bye Bye Birdie, so I can't say anything about this change. I'm just hoping I enjoy the show when I see it. I'm actually purposely not getting myself prepared with knowing the show very well so I don't go in with anticipation and end up being disappointed. I know, it doesn't work if you are familiar with the show already.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 10:16am

I think I just have a personal attachment to this. The first time I saw BYE BYE BIRDIE onstage, "Shriner's Ballet" was absolutely my favorite part. But, I guess it doesn't truly serve a good purpose. But, isn't it kind of the catalyst for getting Rosie and Al back together? Or do you think they'll just work the bar scene to make that happen? I always thought she kind of goes back to him because he comes to get her, and it gives him enough bravery to ignore his mother.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 11:02am

It's Roundabout. They never do any show on the level that it should be done. Why they even attempt musicals is beyond me because they always turn in a watered down show.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 1:01pm

ugh...nevermind. Updated On: 8/25/09 at 01:01 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 1:04pm

^ ???