The Critics on Little Women- Page 4

[Ellie3]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:44pm

Ben Brantley is afraid to come down too strong on any side, I think. He seems a bit simple.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:47pm

I was struck by how little he says about the woman who delivers the showstopper-McGovern. She deserves better as does the theatre community. Brantley disappoints me once again.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:51pm

It's pretty clear Brantley doesn't like Foster.

I think the line "But for better or worse, it's the over-the-top, introductory fantasy sequences - performed by Ms. Foster in a cyclone of gestures and grimaces - that are the most vivid scenes" sums it up the best.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:54pm

At least he noticed her.

[beacon1]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:55pm

Raith...

Did you like this show?

I've got it on my list for the fall...

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:55pm

She still deserves better-I'm sure you agree.

Hopefully the Tonys will agree...

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:56pm

I loved Foster.
I just don't she how people can say she deserves to have the Tony clinched.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:57pm

beacon, I posted a thread about it, which will be a few pages back now probably. I liked most things about the show, with big exception to the bland, unmemorable score. I found Maureen McGovern to be graceful, beautiful, effortless, and heartbreaking.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:58pm

I don't know about clinching it but she's an amazing performer who deserves every bit of success she's had and more. She'll definitely be a contender but she'd better watch out for Victoria Clark who is also a very gifted and deserving actress.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:59pm

I'm waiting to see Victoria Clark (whom everyone I know who saw Piazza in Chicago swears is gonna walk off with Tony), Sherie Renee Scott and Christina Applegate before I start rooting for anybody. Foster's certainly talented, but I do find her a bit grating and overly earnest at times.

Updated On: 1/23/05 at 10:59 PM

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:03pm

I think, standing alone, Sutton's work is clearly Tony-worthy. Whether or not the other women will be just as worthy if not more is something I can't say.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:08pm

A little bit of a threadjack but, Margo, who are some of your favorite performers nowadays?

[beacon1]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:16pm

Raith.

I love the story/book and I so want this to be good. And I love Maureen McGovern's voice. It is incredible.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:21pm

Not too many, really. I like and respect several, but there are very few I would pay to see in a show JUST to see them. Some exceptions off the top of my head (in terms of musical theatre -- I could list dozens of dramatic actors): Chita Rivera, Elaine Stritch, Donna McKechnie, Jennifer Holliday, Julia Murney, Raul Esparza, Mary Testa, Harvey, Jackie Hoffman, Nathan Lane, Bernadette (in the right role), John Cullum, George Hearn, Angela Lansbury (though she's retired), Tonya Pinkins, Patti Lupone, Liliias White.......

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:24pm

Sounds very much like my list. Thanks!

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:44pm

I'm drawing a blank; are we still waiting on reviews from any of the big theatre critics?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:48pm

Brantley's the only one that counts. Newsday, The Post, Daily News, USA Today, Washington Post, Newark Star Ledger, Hartford Courant, Journal News, etc will all be on line by the morning -- go to Broadwaystars.com first thing tomorrow and it will have the links to all of the reviews in one spot.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:49pm

Brantley's casually dismissive review is exactly what this thoroughly mediocre show deserves. Updated On: 1/24/05 at 11:49 PM

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:55pm

Thanks, Margo.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 1:36am

Theatremania's review is also pretty lukewarm:

"With its deliberate scene-song-scene-song construction, traditional values boldly declared, simple life lessons, and pretty, unadventurous harmonies, you might mistake this show for the work of Rodgers and Hammerstein -- that is, if it were bigger and better."

"Fond as I am of traditional musical theater forms, this show -- for all its beguiling moments -- would have more impact and pungency if it didn't keep posturing and going through such predictable paces. It's almost as if it were in contention to be named the Best Musical of 1958."
http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/5572

[FOCI]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 1:46am

"theatergoers not enamored of unstinting eagerness may find her {Sutton's} energy less infectious than exhausting."

This from the man who adores Kristin Chenoweth!!!! WTF???

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 1:50am

That confused me too. It's interesting that in both the Millie review and Little Women reviews he expresses a clear distaste for earnestness, "pluckiness" and any hint of an overeagerness on the part of a performer to "please."

Yet he ADORES Kristen Chenoweth in everything? She has all those qualities in spades, but he seems to love it coming from her, but not so much from Ms. Foster. Perhaps, the fact that Chenoweth leavens it with an air of self-possession that he somehow finds more appealing in her? I don't know.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 1:55am

Well, taken as a whole, these seem like the kind of reviews that will allow the show to run through the spring, when it will take its chances on picking up a Tony. It won't win any, and then the show will shutter in early July.

Just hypothesis, of course.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 1:57am

That is strange. I personally find Sutton's onstage energy to be refreshing and, for lack of a better phrase, attention-getting. I also appreciate Chenoweth as a very gifted performer and, at times, a comic genius. But I am very confused as to how Brantley can be less than dazzled by these qualities in Foster and yet rave about Chenoweth for paragraph after paragraph.

The big difference, in my opinion, between the energies of Chenoweth and Foster is the following: Foster has a very honest, naive, eager energy while when Chenoweth is onstage, you know that she knows what she's doing. She has a certain control that comes with a perfectly tailored performance. I love both but perhaps Brantley doesn't. Or maybe this is just more confirmation that he has no idea what he's talking about.

[FOCI]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 1:59am

I don't know either.
Edited: Mattio you basically took the words out of my mouth. But I will leave this..

Pehaps Mr. Brantley doesn't like SINCERITY?

Updated On: 1/24/05 at 01:59 AM