#1
Posted: 3/26/09 at 12:44am
I feel like I should preface this by saying that this revival of Guys and Dolls is truthfully not very good. Really it isn't even average.
That being said, it wasn't the disaster I was expecting. In short, I just don't think it was THAT bad.
What WAS that bad: Oliver Platt and Lauren Graham. I mean, I understand they want stars in these roles, but in reality, these aren't superstars or anything. They certainly could have found an equivalent (and really actors who were bigger stars) that could have done much, much better. I wouldn't call them awful singers, but they were pretty bad. But it was their acting that was really horrendous.
I'm not really familiar with Graham, but I know that Platt can act. But they were both so awkward and their voices/accents would change haphazardly. Platt was definitely the worse of the two. He just felt so awkward up there: the way he moved, the way he held himself, the motions he made with his hands. He reminded of this awkward kid I did drama with in high school in every way (I wish you knew him, because the similarities are uncanny). Graham was not as awful, but not too far off. I think two better actors in these roles could have really improved the production significantly.
Tituss Burgess was a total bore as Nicely, Nicely Johnson. It's usually my favorite role of the film, and he just felt totally lifeless. "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat" is typically my favorite song as well, but it was so bland. Until it goes gospel. That was the one of the few moments that really felt fresh and vitalized (the other major one would probably be the "Crapshooters Dance").
Mary Testa has received a lot of credit, and she is very good for the most part. The only thing she did that I didn't like (honestly I HATED this) was when she did the devil horns and started slapping her butt. Too much. Though the blame for this more than likely falls on McAnuff.
But now the good thing. McAnuff is able to do the impossible: he made Sky and Sarah more fun and interesting than Nathan and Adelaide (and Nicely, Nicely). I thought Bierko was great. His singing wasn't anything outstanding, but I thought his acting was really great and his comic timing was excellent. The scene where he goes into the mission for the first time was the first moment that I actually smiled during the show and it got three good laughs out of me.
I thought Kate Jennings Grant was the perfect Sarah. She captured all aspects of the part perfectly and her singing was excellent. She's really beautiful too (can't believe she?s nearly 40!). I hope they're both in Tony contention. And they deserved top billing.
The sets were alright, nothing spectacular. The lighting was kind of gross. It was just a bunch of bright flashing colors. As for the projection? Why is that even necessary? And couldn't they have at least gotten graphics that didn't look like they were part of some program on Windows 95? The whole Damon Runyon character was at least mildly interesting, but really totally unnecessary.
Guys and Dolls is one of my all-time favorites. While this was still a massive disappointment (heck I've seen high school productions of it that were stronger), this still had some redeeming qualities that salvage it from being a complete disaster.
That being said, it wasn't the disaster I was expecting. In short, I just don't think it was THAT bad.
What WAS that bad: Oliver Platt and Lauren Graham. I mean, I understand they want stars in these roles, but in reality, these aren't superstars or anything. They certainly could have found an equivalent (and really actors who were bigger stars) that could have done much, much better. I wouldn't call them awful singers, but they were pretty bad. But it was their acting that was really horrendous.
I'm not really familiar with Graham, but I know that Platt can act. But they were both so awkward and their voices/accents would change haphazardly. Platt was definitely the worse of the two. He just felt so awkward up there: the way he moved, the way he held himself, the motions he made with his hands. He reminded of this awkward kid I did drama with in high school in every way (I wish you knew him, because the similarities are uncanny). Graham was not as awful, but not too far off. I think two better actors in these roles could have really improved the production significantly.
Tituss Burgess was a total bore as Nicely, Nicely Johnson. It's usually my favorite role of the film, and he just felt totally lifeless. "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat" is typically my favorite song as well, but it was so bland. Until it goes gospel. That was the one of the few moments that really felt fresh and vitalized (the other major one would probably be the "Crapshooters Dance").
Mary Testa has received a lot of credit, and she is very good for the most part. The only thing she did that I didn't like (honestly I HATED this) was when she did the devil horns and started slapping her butt. Too much. Though the blame for this more than likely falls on McAnuff.
But now the good thing. McAnuff is able to do the impossible: he made Sky and Sarah more fun and interesting than Nathan and Adelaide (and Nicely, Nicely). I thought Bierko was great. His singing wasn't anything outstanding, but I thought his acting was really great and his comic timing was excellent. The scene where he goes into the mission for the first time was the first moment that I actually smiled during the show and it got three good laughs out of me.
I thought Kate Jennings Grant was the perfect Sarah. She captured all aspects of the part perfectly and her singing was excellent. She's really beautiful too (can't believe she?s nearly 40!). I hope they're both in Tony contention. And they deserved top billing.
The sets were alright, nothing spectacular. The lighting was kind of gross. It was just a bunch of bright flashing colors. As for the projection? Why is that even necessary? And couldn't they have at least gotten graphics that didn't look like they were part of some program on Windows 95? The whole Damon Runyon character was at least mildly interesting, but really totally unnecessary.
Guys and Dolls is one of my all-time favorites. While this was still a massive disappointment (heck I've seen high school productions of it that were stronger), this still had some redeeming qualities that salvage it from being a complete disaster.
Updated On: 3/26/09 at 12:44 AM
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