Brantley hit the nail on the HEAD.
as usual (imho).
Then again.. Wicked got majorly mixed reviews and yet... most popular show on Broadway... just sayin'
i think Shrek is superior to Wicked in almost every way:
book, music, lyrics, lead performances, comedy, sincerity, set design..
the exception: MAYBE direction.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/5/08
..."I smell a happy ending."
Hmmmm...not so sure, although it should have the potential for one, as did Tale of Two Cities. This does not sound very encouraging for future audiences:
"When is the musical theater going to learn to let cartoons lie?"
...and...
"A big, expensive Broadway musical needs to have grown-up as well as kiddie appeal."
I just hope it lasts long enough for me to get to see it, or maybe that it will eventually tour =I
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/5/08
...forgot to say "break a leg" to all the cast and crew
So...there!
Well, I was on the fence about seeing Shrek. Just when I thought I didn't want to, we heard about the creative team and how they weren't going to simply put the movie on stage....so I was interested. And then we heard the casting...more pluses. But then we saw the pix which exemplified the movie...back to the negatory for me.
The reviews out of Seattle did nothing for me. I was sort of hoping that my HS kids would chose it for our annual pilgrammage, so that I could both see it but not pay for it...but they took the high road (We're seeing WSS, August and Altar Boyz -- which I know isn't the high road but they really wanted an off b'way show.)
So....these reviews aren't doing it for me. If most of them were raves, I might have ventured to see it, but I think I'll stay away. For me: there needs to be a reason to re-tell a story in a different medium. Bring me something I didn't already know, give me a different perspective. I don't enjoy (although I can appreciate) "the movie on stage".
No, I haven't heard the music and no one that I personally know has been there yet...I'm just not interested. I'd rather spend my teacher's salary on shows that I'm curious about and that pique my interest.
I never weigh in on these things, but I can't believe the arguments about the Times review. That review was negative...period. It basically said, Do NOT go.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
So, I think we can say that Shrek has locked nominations for:
Best Director
Best Actor: Brian D'Arcy James
Best Actress: Sutton Foster
Best Featured Actor: Christopher Sieber
And slightly decreased chances for:
Best Musical
Best Book
Best Score
Best Featured Actor: Daniel Breaker
Once the morning after is over, reviews matter only in terms of ticket sales.
The Times' best statement:
"...SHREK, for the record, is not bad..."
will not sell a single ticket.
I think it's way too early to say it has locked nominations for anything.
So many musicals have yet to open. There are only four or five slots per category.
>So many musicals have yet to open.<
But not too many on the new musical front. Right now, there are only two more new musicals confirmed to open for the season - The Story of My Life and 9-to-5. (Talk of a Fela! transfer seems to have cooled). As it stands, I think Billy Elliot, Shrek and 9-to-5 will be nominated for three of the four Best Musical slots, and the fourth slot is up in the air.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
Well, looks like at this point we gotta hope for the best for this show cuz frankly, I'm rootin' for it.
I didn't say new musicals. I said musicals.
The categories PiraguaGuy2 labeled as "locks" can be filled with both revivals and new musicals.
Yeah, I think it's far too early to say what SHREK has locked as far as nominations go.
Are Brian D'Arcy James and Christopher Seiber its best bets? At this point, I'd say so. Sutton Foster could get a nod but this year is chock-full of female lead performances (unless the producers of 9 TO 5 decide to promote one of their ladies in the Featured Actress slot which is doubtful...)
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Does this mean [Title of Show] will have a better chance of winning some awards? What with shrek clearly sliding down that slippery slope and I'm sure 9 to 5 will follow it, maybe [TOS] will be victorious. There would be some justice in this, would there not?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Does this mean [Title of Show] will have a better chance of winning some awards? What with shrek clearly sliding down that slippery slope and I'm sure 9 to 5 will follow it, maybe [TOS] will be victorious. There would be some justice in this, would there not?
Wow, I am impressed at the Pinocchio costume's detailing. Too bad from some of the reviews on this board John Tartaglia doesn't get more stage time.
Looks like Shrek's prosthetic scalp is falling off...
>I didn't say new musicals. I said musicals. The categories PiraguaGuy2 labeled as "locks" can be filled with both revivals and new musicals.<
Yes, I realize that, but not in the categories of Musical, Book, Score, which he also includes.
Entertainment Weekly:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20246581,00.html
the closeup shots reveal how sutton gets "ogre-ified" so quickly, everything below and including the necklace is a rubber piece, so it would appear they just do her back and neck up green, stick on a nose and swap out her costume. Still very effective though
Also it looks like the change her wig to another wig with Ogre ears and a green painted lace (for her forehead). Cool to see up close!
Updated On: 12/15/08 at 02:54 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
I don't get why he praised Sutton Foster? I found her to be doing her same ol' shtick. Boring. Even her singing wasn't as powerful as I would have expected. I thought James was the star of the show, for me. And Bleaker wasn't bad either. I'm surprised he didn't care for Sieber.
I am extremely jealous for all of those who were able to attend this show. If I lived in NYC I would be there in a minute. I love this show, and I haven't even seen it yet. From what I have seen though it seems as though it does have the qualities to win many tony's. I think it is the front runner for best new musical as well as set and design. It is crazy good. The score is also amazing. I only hope that it stays on broadway long enough so that I can see it.
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