Three Penny Flop

[Bwayfan6]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:01pm

I just saw Three Penny Opera at Studio 54 and I cannot believe how bad it was from start to finish. First off Cyndi and Anna are good, but the show itself is so incredibly boring and bad that you over look them. The sets, which there are non of are boring as well and the costumes do not make sense in anyway. And Alan, who I'm a fan of cannot sing this material and he is far from convincing in the role. I am shocked that Roundabout has the gull to present this and to charge to see it, shame on them. The directing is a joke. The whole production comes across like a bad high school presentation. There is so much going on and none of it makes sense. It's not that it's high art, it just bad theater.

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:02pm

Was this just a preview? They can change things before it opens you know.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:10pm

hi. can you be a little more specific about alan cummings? is the material too heavy for his voice? what's the prob.

[StageDoorMatty]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:15pm

The show is incredibly boring and bad...to you, perhaps.

This show is a classic--and even if the production has bad direction, that doesn't make the show itself bad.

Just an opinion. I haven't seen this production. But unless it has been DRASTICALLY altered from previous scripts (I DO know it's a new adaptation), the show itself is in no way "bad."

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:21pm

did you know anything about the show going in?

do you know about Brechtian form?

just asking, becuase I want to know where you are coming from with your point of view.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:29pm

Guys, read the post. Clearly, he's young - he can't even type coherent sentences.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:32pm

Okay guys, lets start a pool. How many more "3peny oppersaa is soooooooo BaD i Am telllungb uuuuu" thread come in before official opening.

Betting is now open to the public.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:33pm

Interesting that he just joined today for the sole purpose of slamming the show.

But FYI -- Regardless of the translation being used or directorial touches in any given production of Threepenny, people need to realize that this piece is not an "opera" or even a "Musical" as we have come understand the meaning of the term. It is best described a play with music -- about two hours of play (with LONG "book scenes") and one hour of music. That's what Brecht & Weill wrote. If you don't like that, fine, but don't blame the director or translator if you find the underlying show "bad" or "boring." If you go in expecting "Guys and Dolls" or "West Side Story" you're going to be disappointed -- this ain't that kind of show and never will be regardless of the translation or direction.

[StageDoorMatty]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:35pm

I'm certain that there will be many...it just upsets me to think that young people are going to see this show primarily because Alan Cumming and Ana Gasteyer are in it, not for the fact that it is a classic musical with some pretty nifty themes.

I have nothing against young people attending it for the sake of seeing Cumming and Gasteyer--but I do have a problem with them bashing the show just because it isn't like CABARET or WICKED.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:40pm

It is funny because I think just the opposite of what StageDoorMatty said.

To me this is a fantastic production of a fairly weak show. The cast is top notch and for the amount of talent and effort that went into this show I think it deserved better source material. However, because of the great production values and there are indeed some good parts in this show, I think it is definitely worth seeing.

Also as I said before, this is a show that I believe people will either love or hate.

Updated On: 3/28/06 at 02:40 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:40pm

Spell check....check it out.....it's fabulous.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:42pm

I am 14 and am seeing it because I am interested in becoming more farmiliar with Brechtian style, and following Margo's comments of the dress rehearsal, I am extremely interested in the visual elements of this production. Of course I am excited about Alan, and have not yet had a chance to see Ana, so both will be interesting.

p.s. that was to Matty

Updated On: 3/28/06 at 02:42 PM

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:46pm

if the show is good and has the ring of truth to it, young people will like it very well --even if it's not WICKED. did you read the thread about the little boy, who on seeing SWEENEY turned to his sister and said, "I don't think MAMMA MIA is so great anymore." (after he had been obsessed with the abba show)

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:49pm

Haha, that was my brother!

Updated On: 3/28/06 at 02:49 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:02pm

I know people who are seeing this show who range from complete theatrical novices to experts on Brecht and their reactions are all over the map.

Every opinion is valid. However...

I think we need to stop criticizing posters who don't like this production becuse they *clearly* "do not" understand Brecht's intentions, because some of the most vitriolic statements I've heard about Elliot's staging has come from people who understand completely brechtian concepts and think Elliot has failed miserably in his attempts to capture them.

Conversely, I've known people who know nothing about Weill or Brecht and thought it was a fabulous evening of theatre.

I think this show is going to continue to polarize audiences and most definitely critics and you know what? I think Brecht and Weill probably couldn't be more pleased at that...
Updated On: 3/28/06 at 03:02 PM

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:05pm

I am not as farmiliar with Brecht as I'd like to be, which is part of why I'm seeing this.

What bothered me most was A) the poster joining to trash the show, and B) the mostly incoherent goblygook that followed.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:10pm

I used to shampoo with Brecht

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:12pm

"I used to shampoo with Brecht"

Ok..that made my afternoon.
Thanks handsome.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:13pm

it's a show, not a term paper. the director must entertain. the audience doesn't have to "understand" brechtian staging concepts -- they have to be touched by the show -- or alientated by the show -- maybe the director wants the audience to be uncomfortable.

[BwayStar]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:21pm

3peny oppersaa is soooooooo BaD i Am telllungb uuuuu

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:26pm

Guys, did anyone bet on 1?










Any takers?

[etoile]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:36pm

If Bwayfan6 is a child then I applaud him for being the one to astutely note that the Emperor has no clothes.

I don't often comment on any production, especially during previews, but as my companion stated during intermission, "There is no fixing this."

[beenthere]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:37pm

I haven't seen the show but just a note to the Poster,
you were so close to something funny if you just tried harder... why not a post titled "Three Penny Flopera" ?
just saying

[leefowler]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 4:14pm

Someone mentioned that if you go to see Threepenny Opera expecting Guys And Dolls or Gypsy, you'll be disappointed. I agree with this. The problem is that if you go into the theatre expecting "Threepenny Opera", you will also be disappointed.

[etoile]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 4:15pm

Amen.