Thoughts on IS HE DEAD?- Page 2

[WestVillage]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 1:26pm

I don't get it ... everyone around me was laughing and I was thinking "WTF?" Norbert was doing contemporary sitcom acting while the rest of the cast was playing period. The play is very trite and I only enjoyed Pittu's performance. Even at $26.50, I felt like I spent too much. I love a really good farce, but Is He Dead could have remained buried as far as I'm concerned. A waste of an evening for me.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 1:30pm

JumpJump - Ives cut a number of characters - Mother Leroux, Sandy Ferguson, Charles Everest, Jared Walker, Henry Parker, all "pupils" of Millet, as well as "a young Turk, a young Hindoo, a young Spanard, and a young Chinaman." Also cut were a third older lady - Madame Audrienne, "some pretty girls, several splendid flunkeys, a page," and the Chimney Sweep - who has a scene in the first act about "leaving his calling card." We see that in the show - his back print on the cloth.

I don't have Ives' script to compare the original - so I can't speak for jokes.

Since Mama Leroux was a character, I assume Ives added the "Papa Leroux falls in love with Daisy" plot.
Updated On: 12/7/07 at 01:30 PM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 2:02pm

What's the promo code for $26.50 seats!?

[WestVillage]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 2:13pm

There was no promo code ... these were post-strike ticket prices. I don't know if they're still offering them or not.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 2:14pm

It was only valid December 4th-6th.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 3:38pm

I'm with Foster on this, it sounds like some of you were completely overthinking the show. This isn't August or Seafarer, it's not trying to be. This show is trying to make you laugh and I think it completely hits the mark. I loved how Norbert totally lost himself in Daisy, it had me and everyone else around me laughing up a storm. I hope this show finds it's audience, not sure that the marketing for it so far is helping much though.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 9:20pm

Once they have pull quotes to include in their advertising, I think it will be helpful.

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/8/07 at 10:39am

I saw it last evening. Since I live for farce, I LOVED IT!
The cast are priceless! Marylouise Burke cracks me up. Norbert was hysterical especially in the second half. I thought I would pass out with the eye, teeth, leg scene.

I ADORE THIS PLAY!!!!
Updated On: 12/9/07 at 10:39 AM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/8/07 at 11:12am

Here's an interesting article on Twain and the play from The Times:


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/theater/09gree.html?ref=arts

[ruprecht]

Posted: 12/8/07 at 12:17pm

So much has already been said but I will add that I enjoyed everything about it so much. I agree with getting the farce aspect and I thought it was completely deliberate for them all to sound different than one another. didn't even think about it. Butz is fantastic and his "sitcom style" acting is what kept the whole performance somewhat anchored in reality for me.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 12:31am

I am shocked as to how much I utterly detested this show.

David Pittu was brilliant, MaryLouise Burke was ADORABLE. THere were some very "cute" moments. I did not laugh out loud once the entire show, only occasionally managed some smiles.

I am a HUGE Norbert fan- best Roger I have ever seen in RENT, I loved him in both The Last Five Years and in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I did not get his performance AT ALL. He, of course, does a good job playing all feminine and there are some funny lines- but the play is so poorly written and so utterly awkward that having Norbert in a wig and a big dress only adds to an uncomfortable script.

Absolutely ANYONE could play the majority of these characters- the big German dude was incomprehensible, the guy who played Chicago was boring, John McMartin played the same guys hes always played, Jenn Gambatese was no different than any other NYU theater student would have been in the role..

I was just bored from start to finish, while appreciative of some of the funnier "situations" that they set up. But the set up takes forever with a very disappointing pay off. (and what was with all that random dancing?!)

I cant imagine the critics being kind to this show, and I dont see many Tonys either (Pittu deserves a nod but with such a variety of small roles, I cant imagine hed nail one in such a competitive season...)

Blah. Go see August of Farnsworth.

[Bwayfan4]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 2:52am

I saw this show today from the row AA and adored it!

(AA was a little too close, FYI, my neck was quite sore afterwards...then again, I'm not that tall...)

After a while, I wanted Norbert back and out of drag! I also have to wonder how much of Norbert's lines were written and how much (if any) of his performance was improv...anyone else get this impression?

I have to agree with Ole Chum...David Pittu was great! (I enjoyed him in Lovemusik as well)

The only thing I didn't get...the ending was really random. They were all dancing around, and then out of nowhere, they started taking bows. It didn't "flow" for me...other than that, I had a good time!

[ruprecht]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 10:05am

I was so focused on NLB that Gambetese didn't even register for me. David Pittu is always great and this material and he were a great match. I can see why some wouldn't love it but unless you "detest" this genre, it's not really a detestable evening of theater.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 10:27am

Jesus. Anyone who could "detest" an evening at this play has got to seriously LIGHTEN UP.

Welcome to BWW, Ole Chum. What a coincidence you joined just to tell us how much you hated this play.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 12:03pm

i absolutely did not join just to trash this play. i have no animus towards it, or NLB or anyone- i hope it does well, and if ppl enjoyed it, so be it.

i just found it painfully unfunny, as did the three people i was with. that said, the audience was eating it up, so i am happy to be in the minority on this.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 12:09pm

I was in no pain whatsoever. I'm going to see it again next week and try and focus on things besides NLB. It's not your run of the mill night at the theater and that's a great thing. I think it'll do just fine. It's a limited run right Wanna Be?

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 12:57pm

Foster,
I was in row b orchestra. I have never laughed harder at a play. The only thing that makes me laugh this hard is Charles Busch.
I was full of tears all over my face.

I thought it was the funniest farce I have ever seen. I was cracking up. I plan on buying tickets to see it a second maybe even a third time.

If you like farce see this in row B, CENTER AISLE. You must see Norbert's facial expressions. They are beyond perfection! Especially in the second half with the eye, leg, teeth scene. I almost died from laughing to death.

This play made me very happy to be in a Broadway theater! I ADORE IT.

I think it is an open run and I hope it runs for years!

If you like Charles Busch, David Lindsay Abaire you will adore this show. The cast are all exceptional. I wish, MaryLouise Burke had a larger role, she is the best. Jenn was very funny too. Especially in the second half when she crossed her eyes. I thought I would pass out. The key to this is sitting close and looking at the facial expressions of Norbert and Jenn. It was so much fun!!
Updated On: 12/9/07 at 12:57 PM

[Sonia&Vernon]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 3:52pm

Was the opening at 3:00 today?

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 7:04pm

Was the opening at 3:00 today?

Yes, today was the opening performance, which I just got back from. For anyone else who was there today, who were the two men Norbert Leo Butz called on stage during the bows?

I basically agree with Yankeefan's first post. It was a melodramatic over the top farce which started slow but got better as the show progressed. I definitely laughed out loud several times, but there were many groans too. I found the second act to be far more entertaining than the first. Norbert Leo Butz & David Pittu were great though.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 8:40pm

I wasn't there, but I'd venture a guess one was Mark Twain and one was Hal Holbrook.

Or, in the real world, it was probably Ives and Blakemore.

(Did you notice if foremost Mark Twain interpretor Holbrook was in the audience?)

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/9/07 at 11:59pm

I wish I was there. It is sooooooooooooooooo funny!

[JumpJumpJumpSoHigh]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 1:30pm

Thanks for the info, Yankeesfan. I haven't read the original, but I think I'm glad that all those characters got cut -- they might have gotten too confusing after a while, I think. :)

~JJJ

[mattonstage]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 2:19pm

I finally sat in and watched for the opening (for some reason they didn't want a bar, so I only had to do coat check). I enjoyed the cast and the production design very much. The cast was excellent from top to bottom, with particular mention of Byron Jennings and David Pittu who got the biggest laughs out of me. Although Jennings works constantly, I think he is one of the most under appreciated character actors working in theater today. He made me laugh out loud in this and in Man Who Came to Dinner, and he was mesmerizing in Inherit the Wind as well. What an actor!!! Pittu was hilarious in his many roles. The costumes were sumptuous and the sets are both gorgeous (and huge, thus the 20-25 minute intermissions).
The play itself is amusing, has some great moments, but was not the best farce I've ever seen (for me, that honor goes to Noises Off). I was also confused by the odds bits of dancing in the show. It seemed like they wanted to stretch for some reason and couldn't think of anything else, so let's Dance!!! On the whole, I'd say the cast defenitely makes this work.

[MimiJudith]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 8:16am

Ole Chum, unfortunately I agree with your review. I really wanted to love this play, I really did. But Ole Chum, you hit the nail right on the head. The random dancing, the NYU theater student comment, all true.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/12/07 at 7:41pm

Saw the matinee today, and thought it was very good !!

Second Act (loved the set !!!) was better than the first, but they were both good.

NLB is perfect for this role !!! He is such a great physical comedian !! Pittu was excellent !