THE DROWSY CHAPERONE- Page 3

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 9:58pm

I'm curious what you'll think of "Romance", Patronus. My friend *(who used to be a theatre critic for the Montreal Sun 20 years ago)and I ran out at intermission. We hated it that much.

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:02pm

I'll definitely let you know. I don't go to a lot of plays, but I've heard good things.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:06pm

I can see, Patronus, that you and I have differing tastes so you may like "Romance". You liked Chita's show in SD and as much as I love Chita, I thought the show was very poorly constructed and written.

[Madame X]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:10pm

Sorry to hear about Romance Patronus. I personally thought Romance was horrendous...I was shocked when I saw that it would get an LA run...or a run anywhere else for that matter. Hopefully Drowsy will offset Romance.

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:15pm

So basically you are saying, I might like "Romance" because I like crap?

I actually agree that the stories weren't written as well as the could've been and in general it wasn't as tight as it could have been - but I still enjoyed the experience quite a bit.

I will admit that I didn't have the greatest knowledge of Chita going into the show and maybe that helped. It's entirely possible that all of the things she discussed was common knowledge to huge fans.

In general, I am tend to find the positive things about any show. I don't write a lot of reviews, so I do tend to struggle on pointing out the faults.

If nothing else, I am sure I'll enjoy "Romance" on some level after reading all of the "horrible" comments.
Updated On: 11/9/05 at 10:15 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:16pm

The New York production of ROMANCE was terrible. Mamet hasn't written a decent play in a decade.

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:19pm

Great! You guys have got me to the point where I am sitting in my office chanting:

"It was only 20 bucks. It was only 20 bucks. It was only 20 bucks."

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:25pm

Well, I have some friends, who may not be as discerning as some on this board, who enjoyed themselves at Romance.

So, it is only 20 bucks. Hopefully Patronus we won't be chanting it together Friday night.

[Madame X]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:25pm

It's only about an hour IIRC...so your pain will be short lived...even if the hour seems much longer than it actually is.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:27pm

The play is 90 minutes, including a pointless intermission. It should be a one-act.

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:29pm

The way I see it, the $20 is worth meeting YWIW????

If we get a good play out of it too, so be it.

I will say that it's doing well in LA. It was recently extended.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:30pm

Yeah, for a show that opened to mixed-to-negative reviews in New York, it has done quite well for itself: star-studded productions in LA and London...

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:31pm

Aw shucks. And of course, the feeling is mutual.

If nothing else, we can snicker at the play together, and you can give me the scoop on Chaperone.

I thought you were going to the reading in Burbank?

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:33pm

I was going to, but I am still not feeling great, the wife got stuck at work and the weather is crappy.

Since I am going out tomorrow and Friday I decided to skip it tonight and get some stuff done around the house.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 2:56am

Romance is doing well in LA (almost sold out on weekends) and it's the same director and most of the same cast from NYC.

My friend and I were shuddering in horror while people around us were laughing their heads off at the stupid jokes which during one scene came from a jew and a catholic anti-semite trading insults. The jokes in another scene revolved around a silly gay boy toy and his prosecutor lover. We left after Act I because we couldn't take it anymore.

I've been very dismayed by the programming choices made by the big LA Theatres (Geffen, Taper/Ahmanson and Pasadena). I don't have high hopes for "Drowsy" because I'm quite familiar with Michael Ritchie's bad taste. This is a man who claims "Stones in his Pockets" is his favorite play of all time. I hope to be proven wrong because I love Sutton and hope she found a winner.

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:05am

Well, I saw the first preview of The Drowsy Chaperone last night.

I am not sure if I am going to attempt a full review a later date but here are a few random thoughts as I am already running late this morning.

In short, I liked it.

It had that same element of the LA audience finding it a bit funnier than it really was, but there were some very funny aspects of it. There were also some non-PC moments in this musical, but since the point is to poke fun at the old musicals of the 1920s, it works.

Sutton was fantastic as always, but she is almost wasted in this show. It is very much an ensemble piece and isn't Sutton-centric at all. For all of the people that were concerned about her playing another 1920s woman, don't be. It's all very tongue in cheek and this is NOT another Millie.

The cast on her wrist is noticeable even from the back of the orchestra - but it doesn't limit her at all. I was very impressed with the one armed cartwheels she did in succession during her big number, "Show Off".

The true highlight of the show for me was actually Bob Martin's performance as the Man in Chair. He essentially narrates the entire thing and is quite funny.

There were a couple of slow spots in the show that on the surface seem unnecessary, (most of which was when Georgia Engel was on stage) but then they are recognized as such by our narrator. I assume there will be some changes since the show is still in previews and I am going back on Closing Night so it will be exciting to see how the show has evolved since that time.

I'll may sit down and write a more in depth review sometime this weekend if I can. Although, I do have "Romance" tonight and I now fully expect to kill myself half way through based on the reviews.

Updated On: 11/11/05 at 10:05 AM

[Sheri]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 11:25am

Thanks for your review, Patronus! Can't wait to see the show tomorrow.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:14pm

I hate to be a spoilsport but I don't hear the sentence "will be a HIT on Broadway" in your mini-review.

[inla2]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:22pm

Its going to be a huge hit on Broadway! Mark my words. It is truly wonderful!

[Amy Archer]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:25pm

And what exactly is your involvement with the production, inla2?

[Popular]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:25pm

SO many posts on this show I almost didn't see your review Patronus! Glad you enjoyed it :)

I'm seeing it on the 6th with YWIW??? - should be fun!

[ShuQ]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:31pm

Amy...I don't think inla was trying to say he had any sort of affiliation with the show.

[Amy Archer]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 12:54pm

inla2 made his/her first appearance on 9/29, to launch this thread. There are nine posts in total from inla2, each one about Drowsy Chaperone, but with info about the casting announcement, first ad, rehearsals, first preview... Nothing seems suspicious?
Updated On: 11/11/05 at 12:54 PM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 1:11pm

And tonight, I get to meet the Mr. Patronus at Romance - our virtual world is slowly but surely turning into the real world.

[inla2]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 1:53pm

Well, I wish I could say that I was the producer or something very exciting for you to chew on, but alas i am not. i'm just excited that Los Angeles finally has premiered something special and I encourage anyone out here to see it and judge for yourselfs. I'm am always astounded by the pessimism and conjecture on these boards especially from people who haven't even seen the production they are talking about but I digress.