The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
A Director
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
#1The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 12/18/07 at 3:15am
This was one of the worst productions I have seen in a long time. I am familiar with the opera and with The Threepenny Opera and Happy End. Ms LuPone gave a one note performance. Gum chewing doesn't not a character make. Ms McDonald was a bit better, but not by much. Her voice is too pretty for the role.
The major problem with the production was John Doyle. Of course, you didn't understand what was going on because Doyle's staging was static. There was no sense of storytelling in the production. Many things made no sense. What was that long piece of red and black fabric suppose to be? Every image in the production was an over used cliche. Las Vegas anyone? And just to make sure that you can't see what is going on, let's turn the lights way down low. A good Brecht production is many things, but boring should not be one of them. John Doyle is a third rate talent and that might be too kind.
After the broadcast, there was a brief program featuring Lotte Lenya who sang two Weill/Brecht songs in German. I don't speak German, but I understood what was happening in the songs. Lenya never had a great singing voice, but she put everyone in the LA Opera production to shame.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#2re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/6/08 at 12:46pmWow, do you start threads just so that you look like an ass to the rest of the board?
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#2re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/6/08 at 12:58pmI don't think anyone should respond until "A DIRECTOR" responds to Jaystarr.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#3re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/6/08 at 12:59pm
Yes, I see that he ran away after posting.
How Cruel.
#4re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:02pmThe above pun was brought to you by TheatreDiva90016. To get a bad pun to respond to her, trust Bad Puns. "We Can Give You Bad Puns. Take our word!"
With Clay Aiken in Spamalot, all of Broadway is singing a collective "There! Right! There!" -Me-
"Not Barker, Todd is the only person I've ever known who could imitate Katherine Hepburn...in print." -nmartin-
#5re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:05pmI smell dirty socks
A Director
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
#6re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/6/08 at 2:34pmWow, DIVA, you must have lots of time on your hands if you bring back a two month old post. At the time, people were posting their comments about the production; I was posting mine. I still think the LA Opera's production of The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny was awful. Patti and Audrea were terrible and John Doyle's directing was fourth rate.
#7re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/6/08 at 2:36pmShapoopi! The other thread got deleted.
With Clay Aiken in Spamalot, all of Broadway is singing a collective "There! Right! There!" -Me-
"Not Barker, Todd is the only person I've ever known who could imitate Katherine Hepburn...in print." -nmartin-
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#8re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 12:25pm
"Wow, DIVA, you must have lots of time on your hands if you bring back a two month old post."
It doesn't take any time at all, considering that trash always floats to the top.
Besides, it's obvious here that no one cares about your opinions.
#9re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 1:00pm
Yeah, I have to agree as well, "Rise & Fall" was a bad show. As talented as Patti and Audra are, they couldn't even rise above the material. It's just a bad show.
My friend and I were so looking forward to seeing it last year at this time when it was at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. We were both very disappointed. But, that happens.
Updated On: 2/7/08 at 01:00 PM
#10re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 1:02pm
"could rise above the material."
It wasn't the material. It was what was done to the material. Mahagonny is a masterpiece.
kmc
#11re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 1:24pmGood thing that after the thread you started yesterday, nobody really gives a damn what you think.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#12re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 1:34pm
Hey, watch it as many times as you can.
Buy the DVD.
I thank you when I go to the bank to cash my residule check.
And it was my first time working with Patti, so I couldn't care less how bad the show was.
#13re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 1:36pmI liked this production very much.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#14re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 1:42pm
Thank you, Bobby!
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
#15re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 1:50pmIt's highly unlikely that a dresser to a show would get any type of residual check. Let's keep it real.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#16re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 1:53pm
Star Dresser.
And I do.
Sorry.
Everyone that worked on the show is getting paid for the video. It's a Union thing.
#17re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 2:19pmWatched the version I tivo'd. Didn't like it at all, actually. Fast forwarded a lot...
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#18re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 2:30pm
I know...
It's static, and strange...
But, gosh darn it!
It was a show with Patti and Audra AND directed by John Doyle ANNNNND with Costumes designed by Ann Hould-Ward!
It was just sort of a wet dream come true for me.
Jonny boy
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/30/07
#19re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 2:35pmCongrads Diva!!!! Sounds like it was a blast for you! I'll have to check it out
#20re: The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Posted: 2/7/08 at 3:30pm
TheatreDiva, just PM'd you a minute ago. Wanted to follow up on the thread there, as well. That's great that you're getting a share of the profits. I can corrected.
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