STAGE TUBE: 'THE FIRST WIVES CLUB' Video Preview!- Page 3

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 10:03am

First they need a new director.

Second a brand new cast - Sheryl Lee Ralph always plays the same character, and while it was fine for millie, in this, from what I've seen, she is dreadful and completely superficial.

Hell, just toss the whole show and in another couple years try doing it again with everyone new - from the cast to the writers.

[Jon]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 11:29am

it looks like the "choreographer" asked Karen Ziemba to demonstrate some moves from other shows she'd been in, and just decided to use those same moves.

It also looks like Karen gained 20 pounds since CURTAINS. it may just be the awful costume, though.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 12:16pm

I think the warning sign was when they announced they were revamping the character of Elyse into an former solid gold pop singer. The original chemistry just worked so well!

My problem with Barbara Walsh is she's just too classical looking for the role of Brenda. Karen and Sheryl actually look appropriate to their costumes, but Walsh seems so out of place in an oversized flannel shirt. Brenda needs to be very down-to-earth, homebody, and frumpy in the beginning.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 12:57pm

I laughed when Barbara Walsh held up her glass at the end of the first song, and half of whatever was in it came splashing out.

That's the only good thing I can say about that video.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:09pm

I'm jumping for Oy!

P

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:12pm

I can't stop watching/laughing at this video...

[Pgenre]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:41pm

I assume the combination of the "choreography" given to her and Brenda's XL blue/green flannel nightshirt is the oh-so-subtle sledgehammer hint that Brenda's a lesbian again, like she was in the book?

And that set... notice the shaking island... and ginger ale? Ginger ale?

And THAT is the musical moment... like "Some People" in GYPSY... that is going to set the entire enterprise into motion?

The only motion I see happening is that of bowels...

P

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 4:10pm

Bumping, because this thread should be pinned to the top.

[madophelia]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 4:29pm

Brenda's XL blue/green flannel nightshirt is the oh-so-subtle sledgehammer hint that Brenda's a lesbian again, like she was in the book?

I was struck by that thought as well. But the small head peeping turtlelike from out of that large shirt quickly made me lose my train of thought.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 4:34pm

She's definitely dressed that way to make her look "fat," although it hadn't occurred to me that they might be going back to the book for Brenda. I would say it's probably just an ugly costume, because that scene is early on and Brenda didn't realize she was a lesbian until the very end of the book.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 4:39pm

I'm pretty sure (like the movie) Brenda ends up with Morty in the end, since Sam Harris said something along the lines of the women "getting back at their husbands, while one gets back their husband" recently.

As Phyllis Rogers Stone said, the oversized shirt is probably supposed to help emphasize Brenda's transition from frumpy to more... glamorous?

Updated On: 7/24/09 at 04:39 PM

[madophelia]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 4:52pm

As Phyllis Rogers Stone said, the oversized shirt is probably supposed to help emphasize Brenda's transition from frumpy to more... glamorous?

True, and I think the shirt came from Zambello's closet.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 5:04pm

As someone else posted, if this is the best they got, we are in trouble. Sheryl Lee sounds so hoarse in the first clip and her voice sounds beat. I think they needed to better delineate and costume the archetypes. Jackie Hoffman would have been a better Brenda than Walsh. Brenda needs to be a dowdy comedienne. There is nothing earthy about Ziemba and what are those dresses they are putting her in? I truly wonder if this will even make it to Broadway, especially with theatre demand being at a premium right now. God bless these ladies for trying but it really doesn't look like they were given good material and frankly, Ralph might have just needed the work. She hasn't been doing much except appearing on Clean House to get her nasty house cleaned up.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 5:34pm

Probably the worst thing I've ever seen. 9 to 5 without the "sparkle" that show has.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 5:46pm

Bettyboy, that episode of Sheryl Lee Ralph on Clean House is at least 2-3 years old!!

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 7:00pm

Anybody who has seen Zambellow's work on Mermaid, Showboat (London), Napoleon (London), or Little House on the Prairie (Minneapolis) should be surprised. I have liked some of her opera productions (her homoerotic Billy Budd staging is quite good) but she doesn't have a clue about musical theatre. If they wanted a female director, why didn't they hire Kathleen Marshall or Susan Stroman, for chrissake. They may not be everybody's cup of tea but at least they are thoroughly grounded in musical comedy.

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 7:03pm

What a trainwreck this is going to be which I have tickets to on August 6th! Will be seeing it with very low expectations and have a feeling that they'll even be lower when I leave. If the poster doesn't mind I think I'll make a Titanic sign to wave from my front row balcony seat at Curtain Call. The Old Globe has had some really great pre-Broadway musicals but I'm sure this is not going to be one of them.

[Popular]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 7:13pm

According to a friend of mine who saw the show yesterday, Sara Chase is apparently one redeeming quality. He said she gave an inspired performance. Yeah yeah, sue me for throwing in a little positivity to the mix.

[noahrp3]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 7:15pm

Popular - What else did your friend say about the show? I'm seeing this on Sunday.

[Popular]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 7:20pm

Hmmm, well... like I said, trying to keep it positive. I hope they get it together is all I'll say.

[iabwayfan]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 8:07pm

This HAS to be the reason so many people have left the show after the original reading. I feel like they are doing exactly what they have been told to do.... it's just really not that great. Hopefully that can make changes and improve it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:17pm

I can't stop watching the video!!!

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:18pm

From :06-:09, there is a line that Karen spits out that was AWFULLY acted...yet I can't stop watching it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:20pm

It's extremely embarrassing that the Old Globe had to disable comments for this video, but not their other videos, lol.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:22pm

From :41-:45, is that Sheryl's idea of riffing?!?!