The Strike, Xanadu, and the UK Perspective

[Luvinbroadway]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 3:39pm

Interesting....

telegraph Updated On: 11/21/07 at 03:39 PM

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 4:00pm

Interesting article with definitely a British slant there but of course I must consider the source of the material. :)

I do agree that I would probably love Peter and Jerry, it sounds great. I would also like or at least try to like Rock n' Roll for what it is.

I think though he misses the mark on Xandu and why it is doing better than he expected. It has some nostalgia from days past and it represents a part of our History that really was to me a transition into modern music today. I haven't seen the Musical yet but I liked the Movie. I like the songs. It seems that it hasn't ventured too far off in script. The Movie focused on music and dance, albeit a lot on roller skates, yet is was Musical based to begin with.

So I can't argue the Acting but I like the story so I am more than willing to check it out as much as I am Rock 'n Roll. Especially since Cheyenne seems a lot more interesting in the Male Lead than the Actor who was cast originally in the Movie. I felt he was the only real weak link in the Movie.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 4:03pm

He's also kind of rude to Cheyenne and Kerry...oh well.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 4:32pm

hes also spot on about Xanadu

[Trish2]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 4:33pm

I must say I couldnt agree with him more regarding Xanadu. He hit the nail on the head with everything. Although I found a few laughs here and there, I saw it to be shabbily produced as well.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 5:01pm

Matt Wolf should know what he can do with it. Thank God we don't have to endure his asinine opinions on these shores. Time for the Du Crew to reassert themselves -- again. Xanadu reigns!!!

[MuseOfVideoGames]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 5:14pm

Charles Spencer wrote that piece. Matt Wolf's name is there as a link to something else. I like and respect Matt's criticism quite a bit, so was happy to see that it actually wasn't him who totally missed the point.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 5:16pm

Ooops, I guess I goofed. My apologies. Well, whoever wrote that piece should be burned in oil -- slowly.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 6:19pm

God! How rude towards XANADU! I think Mr. Spencer there completely missed the point of the show! But I was more WOWed by the fact that YF are selling $450 tickets?! omfg! anyway... i hate when critics talk through their ass!

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 6:21pm

He is actually a very well respected critic here, just because he does not like the show does not make him wrong

[exedore]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 6:39pm

"He is actually a very well respected critic here, just because he does not like the show does not make him wrong"

Spencer is one of the three critics here that I make it a point to read (the others are Michael Billington and Lyn Gardner), even though it's clear why he's working at the Torygraph.

Oh, and add another vote to the pro-Xanadu pile. I've found that the London critics just don't know how to let what's left of their hair down and enjoy a show sometimes. Hell, even the West End Whingers liked it.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 6:45pm

Oh Come On

Its nothing to do with him missing the point etc, he just did not like it

I also did not like it, and many people from here in the UK and our friends in the US also hated it

get over it

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 7:45pm

Sorry for the Xanadu fans, but Spencer is one of the best UK critics and is very well regarded on both sides of the Atlantic.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 8:46pm

Like Riedel is here right? I just noticed, from this writer featured that he may be leaning a bit too far to one side, thus being unable to stay in the middle?

As in "not my cup of tea?". I don't know SMaxie, did you like the Movie? I am afraid some Musicals are just not meant to challenge people mentally too much or stir up a lot of controversy.

I felt he was way too demeaning when it came to describing the talent. He seemed to be writing some of that to entertain those who don't get to the burlesque shows frequently enough these days.

His attention of course being focused ever so much on the talent we have from his home turf. They all got a good mention it seemed. That's where the British came into it for me.

The concept of a "roller disco" has it's limitation but then tell that to all the skaters I see at Golden Gate Park on a Sunday? It's great exercise.

So maybe it has a limited audience. That I can agree with but being someone who loved skating and to dance on skates, it's right up my alley! If it inspires even more young people to roller skate and put it to music, even better! Even if it is mediocre, I think I'll like the Costumes and go for the Music.

Here I'll help my Brit pal out on what is good about the story.

It has Greek Mythology, frustrated Artist, cranky Boss, roller skating, ELO, Tap Dancing, Clarinet Playing, mostly nice Costumes, Girl Power, and an innovated Business idea that was soon to go under! How can I not like the script?

Since I can't really defend the stage show properly please help me out here on what of this story was deleted or added to. These were just things I enjoyed from the Movie.

[jeffrey1dog]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 9:02pm

I discovered, after having dated a Brit a few years ago, they do tend to have a very different sense of humor from Americans.

There's no accounting for taste. Too much vegamite will do that, ya know!

If he doesn't get it, that's OK as long as he stays on the other side of the Atlantic

And just for the record, I hated the movie "Xanadu" but love the Broadway show. Douglas Carter Beane has transformed the book into a riotously funny show, and the stars versions of ELO & ONJ songs may even be better than the originals (if that's possible)

Updated On: 11/21/07 at 09:02 PM

[scott68]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 9:08pm

I love that he heaps scorn on Xanadu for not furthering the art form and resorting to camp, then praises that bastion of artistic integrity, the Radio City Spectacular.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 9:16pm

>Like Riedel is here right?<

Michael Riedel is not a theatre critic. He is a columnist and reporter. It's not accurate to compare him to Charlie Spencer.

The London theatre critics are generally a thorny bunch, even more caustic and merciless than our New York first string critics. But I wouldn't say that's true of Spencer, who has been warmer than most of them to both shows playing on Broadway, and US works that come to London. The people attempting to discredit him because they do not like the opinion he expressed on Xanadu should just thank their lucky stars that Nicholas De Jongh didn't get to it yet.

[jeffrey1dog]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 9:16pm

Good point Scott68!!!!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 9:47pm

songanddanceman2, I am from England too so don't have to act all 'ooo I'm the only British one on this Broadway board so you don't know what you're talking about! He's HERE, he's in where I live'

I have to agree that sometimes British critics can a bitch. This probably don't make sense and make me sound stupid but they always review a show in a very critical way (sometimes I even feel their job was to be harsh!) and not in a way from how the audiences would find the show. I mean... isn't that the most important thing?

Anyway, I take back saying that they talk from their ass, I mean everyone has different tastes, that's why I never really trust when I read the reviews on the papers.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 12:19am

Sorry Smaxie, Riedel is the only critic that ever comes up around here. Though I can really care less what either one of them have to say since I don't follow them. As for reputation? That's all nice but since I don't like the terms that he uses and how he talks about some Actors in general, I have no respect for him at all.

Like I said, I haven't seen it yet but his terms make me doubt his significance. I am sure he has a great reputation and you think a lot of him. Obviously, he is much older than I am, so it seems.

That has nothing to do with Xandu. I am not too keen on Pygmalion because instead of putting Claire Danes in Costume they use a head shot. It isn't doing so well just looking at lower ticket sales even during the strike. Not too bad though. I may try out a show based on who is playing the part but I do still go for the show. Just one more bad advertising angle to me. I know what the show is about but that stunt still bugs me.

Almost as bad as the Lone Star Love marquee. Pretty close in my book.

Songanddance- Some people like it some don't. I didn't start the topic. Sorry you and your friends didn't like it. Do I have to get over you and your friends opinion or this critics?

It doesn't matter. Just lucky that I live on this side of the pond so much more now.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 2:07am

I think that Xanadu is one of those shows that does a good job showing the typical American camp humor. I have yet to see it but that is the impression that I got. I just think that it is the kind of humor that doesn't really travel well across the pond.

And, if we are talking about what critics have said. It feels to me that in regards to Brantly of the Times you can count the number of positive reviews he has given a show in the last five years on one hand. I find that he gave Xanadu a great review so that must count for something.

[DeNada]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 3:03am

Brantley didn't review Xanadu, Isherwood did.

Given that virtually none of the British critics actually like musicals (I think it may have been Spencer who recently wrote that he never had anything to say about musicals because there wasn't really anything of substance in them?) it's hardly surprising he didn't like Xanadu. I refuse to believe it's as lackluster as Desperately Seeking Susan, though...

The British press is quite easily bought, though. When/if the show makes it here, if the producers make the Telegraph their "media partner" Spencer will get a second-string critic to review it to give it three stars or above probably. Not that I'm suspicious or anything, *cough*SamMarlowe'sLordoftheRingsreview*cough*.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 3:50am

>Sorry Smaxie, Riedel is the only critic that ever comes up around here.<

Once again... Michael Riedel is not a theatre critic. Clive Barnes and Frank Scheck are the NY Post's theatre critics. Riedel is the theatre columnist.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 3:56am

>Given that virtually none of the British critics actually like musicals<

I'm not sure this is quite true. They were just quite welcoming to Hairspray. And while the reaction was not universal, Caroline or Change got a better reception in the UK than it did from the NY critics. Avenue Q got a pretty decent set of reviews too. Also, the Chicago revival. The West End reviews for Mary Poppins were much better than the reviews it received here. And what of Billy Elliot?

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 4:45am

Smaxie, I didn't say he was a Theatre Critic in the same sense. I just said critic and he does voice his opinion on things so he does critic now and then. I read the Times once in awhile, very rarely the Post. I prefer this site better because more everyday people post here. I can do without the jargon most Theatre Critics come up with hoping to entertain their readers.

I didn't get much out of his reviews. I'll take the ones I get here from both sides of the "pond" over this guys any day. I am glad his column works for you.