Tony night, GREY GARDENS is performing...- Page 2

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:42am

I don't know, GREY GARDENS is my favorite musical of the season, but I almost didn't see it because of the Drama Desk performance. I didn't really get it, it seemed tuneless and boring. Then I saw the show and that number is, of course, a highlight. At the time, I hadn't seen the documentary, so...

I hate to say it, but a medley would be cool from Act I and Act II stuff - though costuming would have to change. I don't think there are too many plot points they have to avoid.
Updated On: 5/20/07 at 11:42 AM

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:44am

Except if they were to perform The Five-Fifteen, the average audience is going to wonder why they're supposed to care about dishes, cats, Harper's bizarre, etc. as the song doesn't really give us any insight into the show except what these characters are planning to do for the day. How exciting is that? If anything, it's more show-specific than Costume.

And Around the World is beautiful, but I fear might be too downbeat for audiences. Updated On: 5/20/07 at 11:44 AM

[nymommy]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:47am

OMG. Why do you hate GG so much???? I think Revolutionary Costume is the perfect choice. These women were non-conformists. Please don't forget that. Little Eddie would have approved of the choice. The producers are being true to the show. Period. End of the story.
Honestly you'd get anyone for wearing red shoes on a Thursday, wouldn't you?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:53am

For me, there is a big difference between a performance number piquing someone's interest and causing them to want to go out to see the show.

Many people who watch the Tony's are going to be intrigued by and curious about "Revolutionary Costume..", but will it motivate many to want to run out and see the show? No, not at a hundred bucks a ticket.

Something like the classic ballads of "Another Winter.." or "Around The World" would have drawn a more mainstream audience who are prone to seeing more traditional shows, as well as those who could appreciate Ebersole's stellar acting and vocal ability.

Would both have been a risk because of their downbeat nature?, yes, but the same risk is being taken with the "out there" feeling of "Revolutionary Costume.."

Updated On: 5/20/07 at 11:53 AM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:56am

I think though, that Around the World, while it's a beautiful song, the beginning wouldn't make sense. I saw Ebersole's peformance on CBS' website when she did it for a morning show, and I had no idea what sh was talking about with these washing machines.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:58am

OMG. Why do you hate GG so much????

- What the hell are you talking about? We are all GG fanatics, and we are just upset by this choice.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 11:59am

Perfect choice.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:00pm

I think Revolutionary Costume is the perfect choice. These women were non-conformists. Please don't forget that. Little Eddie would have approved of the choice. The producers are being true to the show. Period. End of the story.

The average television viewers are NOT non-conformists, nor are they interested in their spending money on finding out more about the silliness of non-conformists. The producers may be being true to the show, but I hope that they, you, and "Little Eddie" can be satisfied with continuing to play to houses at 50% capacity and with the show closing a couple months after the Tonys.

Updated On: 5/20/07 at 12:00 PM

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:18pm

The audience for this show is limited enough, and I am sure the producers know no amount of Tony Awards will extend this show beyond the short term.

Revolutionary Costume is a perfect vehicle to introduce the quirkiness that most audiences have fallen in love with, and what makes Act II all the more special. I'm sure the montage that generally comes before the number will illustrate the rest of the qualities of the show, but they need something that will capture general audiences' attention and think "Oh, that looks like it could actually be fun!"

Another Winter is beautiful, but comes far too late in the show and may put off audiences who think the subject matter is bizarre enough for a musical and then end up looking like it's depressing and sad on top of it.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:21pm

Well said.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:36pm

But in thirty years when this performance is remembered with classics such as Merman's Rose or Streisand's Fanny won't it be nice to have the signature number on Tony's Greatest Hits v 29?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:42pm

Revolutionary Costume is the smartest bet. It showcases the most recognizable moment from the film/show - Little Edie and her strange outfits.

IMO, any number from Grey Gardens/Spring Awakening will turn audiences off. They're great in their entirety, but a selected number is just plain bizarre without context, especially from a show like Grey Gardens.

Doing any number but Revolutionary Costume would be like last year's selection from Sweeney Todd. Completely off-putting. I certainly loved Sweeney (saw it 5 or 6 times), but after seeing their selection, it was clear why The Pajama Game (another great production) won.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:51pm

But if Christine came out and sang Will You people would think the show is very traditional and romantic. I am just saying that for posterity I would rather have RC than Entering Grey Gardens or Drift Away...

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:04pm

I like what they did in 05, when each nominated show performed a live snippet of a song in the opening of the show.

Wish they could do that again this year - They could actually feature Mary Louise.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:06pm

The first time I saw GG was Off-Broadway and after Act 1, I was ready to leave. It was meandering and unfocused. Reluctantly, I stayed. And I was truly happy that I did because "Revolutionary Costume" completely turned me around. It was riveting, engrossing and powerful. And it really had no context because I didn't understand how it connected to Act 1 at all.

I think it will make the Tony TV audience "pay attention." It has that effect on people.

[Miss.Vanessi]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:10pm

I doubt CBS would let them do Around The World again after all the complaints they got when she did it on the Morning Show. Another round of "YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!" wouldn't be appealing to me, if I were them, anyway. Mother Darling would have been an interesting choice, but then you're not seeing the biggest draw of the show, which imo, is act II. If they did Entering Grey Gardens, most first time viewers would probably think, "Why are these people meowing... and is it supposed to be like Cats?" I think Revolutionary Costume was a pretty wise decision.

[DBillyP]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:16pm

As someone who has not seen the film, I found "Revolutionary Costume" rather off-putting in the context of the show. I can only imagine how I would react if I saw it completely out of context on the Tony Awards.

"Hmmm ... that was interesting ..."

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:22pm

What was the problem with Around the World on the Morning Show? Did she say Goddamn?

[neelyohara]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:27pm

Yes, she said "goddamn" and people got all crazy up in arms about it. The CBS message boards were flooded with complaints and the guestbook on Christine's site got some really interesting comments. Personally, I thought the backlash was ridiculous, but it totally makes sense that CBS doesn't want to go that route again. I was kind of hoping for The House We Live In...just because I think it's fun. But Revolutionary Costume will be fabulous.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:37pm

Okay, I can understand people getting up in arms about her singing Goddamn on the Morning Show, but didn't ANYONE at CBS hear this song BEFORE she sang it? Didn't is occur to Christine that the song MIGHT not be appropriate for that particular time slot and show?

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:43pm

In my experience, having seen a few videos on youtube before seeing the show I can honestly tell you that I was slightly turned off intially by "Another Winter...". When the song is not performed within the context of the show, it can be alittle boring and not as interesting as some other songs. I think this number will work out for the best. Also, Christine really hams it up with the audience before the actual number starts and thats always fun.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:49pm

The "interactive" part with the audience before she actually starts singing should be a crowd-pleaser.


***Potential Spoiler:***

"I'm so glad you're here." And "You look terrific, honestly" should get the audience going!

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:55pm

Except if they were to perform The Five-Fifteen, the average audience is going to wonder why they're supposed to care about dishes, cats, Harper's bizarre, etc. as the song doesn't really give us any insight into the show except what these characters are planning to do for the day. How exciting is that? If anything, it's more show-specific than Costume.

And Around the World is beautiful, but I fear might be too downbeat for audiences.

Sometimes I wonder what is wrong with you.

THe same goes for ANY song.

The audience wouldn't know why in The Drowsy Chaperone she cares about Showing Off, why in Wicked they want to Defy Gravity, why in Urinetown they want to run to Run to Freedom, why in Ragtime they were circling each other...

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:13pm

"Yes, I can speak for the very one-note, stereotyping, human categorizing, judgmental TV audience for whom all of the dreck that is produced on network television succeeds."


Wow, Wanna Be A Foster, I hate to break it to you... but those people won't even be watching the Tonys.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:19pm

Good Choice ! She can sing that song thru the entire Tony Telecast and I will be content ! but I was hoping for ANOTHER WINTER in a Summer Town with Mary Louise Wilson .. I think they were thinking of... this Number could definitely "one" of the Broadway Treasures DVD vol. 4 ...-j* (Go Grey Gardens for 2007 Tony Best New Musical !!)