VERY FIRST NIGHT OF

[FOCI]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 3:19am

erghstsh. I think that is the noise I made after seeing the first preview. I will start at the beginning:
1. I got to see them rehearse a little before the show which was cool cause I went in as a big Kerry Butler fan, and I stood not 3 feet away from her and smiled as she looked so nervous and cute trying to make sure she would remember everything.
2. The show starts and basically people, if you are deciding whether or not to see the show ask yourself this"Did I like the movie?" if the answer is yes then you will enjoy the show-if the answer is no, don't bother. they somehow managed to include almost every scene from the movie with most of the same dialogue and in terms of songs a lot of the dialogue from the movie was just put into song form. The show moves along nicely and you don't get lost anywhere, very smooth transitions, clever staging etc. Bad story in the first place, I'm sorry the audience was mainly made up of people involved in the show in some way(including friends and family of cast members) and they still ddidn't respond that well to the jokes and things. Not to mentiopn it is disturbing as hell to see Kerry Butler playing such a bad ass , you see A LOT of skin and simulated sex(of course) and she is just acting really raunchy and naughty as a whole. Jeff Mcarthy was a great sherrif, wasn't too impressed with his vocie and Karen Ziemba of course made a great Lucia and David Burtka a good Matt. Basically, everyone played their characters the exact same way they were in the movie, so I really can't say too much in terms of acting choices. The only part I really enjoyed was the very end wwhere it seemed like people got real, although it was an odd way to end the show, just Deede going like"go away" at the audience and then that is the end.
3. The curtain call-no standing ovations, minimal cheering so much so that the actors didn't know if they should take a second bow b/c the applause ddidn't really warrant it.
4. I accidentally was sitting next to the shows creators and I guess maybe speaking a little too loudly to my friend about some of the parts I didn't like, I hope they didn't hear me.
5. If the show ever goes to Broadway which I must say I have a really hard time beleiving it will as it so raunchy and so bad on the whole,but if it ever does they better get a theater where people cannot see so closely because I was in the third row(the magic is an incredibly intimate theatre, like I was practically conversation distance away) and I did not believe for a second that Deedee anywhere under 21- I would have had a hard time even buying 21.
Anyway, final impressions: I was really disappointed, I thought the show was just pretty bad and there was no belting and I'm sorry if you are not gonna make your songs cathcy and tuneful at least you should make them have the shi* belted out of them....
Oh well, was anyone else in the audience, what did you think?


-------Edited Post---------
Oct. 2-Turns out I had to go see it again and I don't know exactly what it was but I catually ended up liking it this time. There was belting this time, some of the songs were re-arranged, I think a couple were added, better acting more jokes. I think some people were in better vocal health also, I won't say exactly who but some people were not sounding very good during the first couple of previews. Overall, I eat my words and I liked it.

Updated On: 10/3/04 at 03:19 AM

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 9:15am

That's really sad because I love Kerry so much I hope it gets better. Maybe it would have been very very good if the creators heard you! Then they would be getting feedback on things that needed to be changed. What things that you saiddo you think they heard?

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 9:34am

Awww that shtinks. Kerry is too awsome to not be shown off in the proper way.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 11:19am

Thanks for the review. My question is, what is the negative with having it "exactly" the same as the movie? If it wasn't, people would be complaining that it wasn't. Can you elaborate on why that was not a good thing?

As far as your comments on Kerry Butler, wouldn't it be "disturbing" to see any young actress in the same role? I think that's the point. Which could very well be, as you pointed out, the reason why it doesn't end up on Broadway.

Updated On: 9/26/04 at 11:19 AM

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 12:43pm

not to be crass but how much of kerry are they showing off?

[FOCI]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:18pm

Rathnait-I'm sorry I guess I wasn't clear. The ending was the part I liked because it seemed like the characters all took a second and calmed down a second and "got real" it was alomost a little chekhovian I suppose...it was just Kerry as Dedee telling the end of the story with tears in her eyes on the edge of the stage with a lot of real plpable emotion. the part I didn't like was that instead of dealing the audience a finishing blow with either a song or a line she just goes "go away, houselights on" and that is it..it is just a little startling.

Yes, I suppose it wouldbe a little disturbing to see any young actress in the role, and I suppose it is not so much disturbing as different from the parts we usually see her in, I suppose it just takes a little getting used to.

Jon-I never thought I would see so much of that woman's ass...granted she never mooned the audience or anything but it was usually hanging out and there is one scene where she is seducing matt and turns around with her back to the audience and lets down the top of her bikinni and, again this might not be a problem on a broadway stage, but as the magic is so intimate and i was so close I am sure I saw more than was intended.

SaddleShoe- I would just roll my eyes a little loudly at my friend or at the end of the song say somthing along the lines of "umm ok I guess" it was basically at the end of the show that i was critiquing it and I guess it might have been a mixed blessing if they heard me, however they were really proud of the show and not realy looking for any critique-they were anxious to go debrief the actors.
Hmm I am curious as to hear what other people who saw it thought

Updated On: 9/26/04 at 01:18 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:31pm

FOCI - that is the way the movie ends...but I understand being in a theater is a bit different.

[FOCI]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:49pm

Ok thanks Rathnait, I didn't realize that was the way the movie ends....hmmm I just thought of something else about last night also, there was absolutely almost no difference between the local non-eq nobodies and big broadway people in the cast in terms of talent. If you asked someone to pick out the non-eq local actors in the cast 10:1 they would have no idea. That just makes me wonder abut why it is some people end up on broadway and others, equally as talented and good-looking, don't

[FOCI]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 7:39pm

*bump* come on hasn't anyone else seen the show? I'm dying to know what you thought...

[wicked4life51]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:41pm

now is this the pre broadway run? will it eventually go to broadway?

[tkts]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 8:45pm

I'm seeing the show later in the run. I'll let you know then. Keep in mind that was the first public performance ever and as of now it is not scheduled to come to Broadway. It's a work in progress.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 10:31pm

Originally the plan was to bring it to Broadway but the theater they wanted was not available. I don't know where it all stands now, but I'm sure the response to the SF run will have a big impact on that.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 11:07pm

FOCI- you've just sold me on seeing this show

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 11:11pm

Was Alan Cumming in the movie?

[Up In Won]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 11:51pm

Oy! I'm a huge Kerry fan (Ask Craig, he'll tell you.), but I know I wouldn't enjo seeing her butt at all, even if it is for the sake of theater. That goes from the bikini thing too. That being said, Kerry and Craig both told me this show was a far cry from her other shows. Kerry went as far as to say "It's actually pretty much the opposite of the Disney-ish stuff I've done." (Or, maybe that was Craig, regardless they were both standing there.).

[FOCI]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 12:08am

UpInWon- I too, am/was a big Kerry Butler fan and really I applaud her for the switch-up.....just to make clear, I feel like I gave off the wrong impression, you never actually(are supposed) see any body part not exposed in a bikinni.
It was also kind of weird, as I walked in for a little bit to see the set(don't worry I was authorized) and the first person I see is Kerry Butler..I just went "woah" b/c literally the only time I had ever seen her in person was like a million feet away on stage. Then I see her again in the parking lot and in the theater after everyone's gone, I didn't want to talk to her 'cause i was in a car and it would just be scary for me to like get out of the car as she is walking back to wherever they are housing her(I gurantee you the housing is crappy anyway) umm anyway so yeah she was walking with a big backpack on and looked so sweet, completely unlike Deedee. Also, i didn't want to be really disingenuous and be like "wow I loved it" when I didn't, although I did feel a little bad for the actors as the applause and such was so weak and no one from the audience congratulated them or anything, But on that note, I was disappointed because I told the friend that was with me that Kerry Butler was really good and I was excited and whatnot and then the show ends and they just look at me"umm yeah ok, I don't see what you're talking about"

Jon-glad I could help, it wasn't a bad show....I just didn't think it workedvery well as a musical,maybe because the music was so bad?

Sorry for all the rambling folks

Updated On: 9/27/04 at 12:08 AM

[tkts]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 12:51am

I wonder since it's at such a small SF venue that are loking for a small Broadway house. The Helen Hayes or maybe the Lyceum?

Posted: 9/27/04 at 1:22am

I am going Oct 9th. Still looking forward to it.

[Up In Won]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 1:23am

I know you said you don't see anything, but still. I cna't even begin to picture her scantly clad and simulating sex scenes. Maybe she needed a break from all those typical 'innocent' roles. I'd probably be sick of type casting after awhile!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 2:14am

I am sorry, but are you talking about Kerry Butler? The same woman who played Audrey (the one who is in an abusive relationship with Warren and then dates Seymore in Little Shop?) and Penny Pingleton (the one who falls in love and has sex with the hot "colored boy" in Hairspray?) THAT Kerry Butler? Yea, I can see how this role would be a shock to her fans who saw her in Beauty and the Beast!

[ckeaton]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 10:06am

I never thought I would see so much of that woman's ass... turns around with her back to the audience and lets down the top of her bikini and...I am sure I saw more than was intended.

OK. I'm having trouble here. I want to be respectful, I want to talk about how artistic choices are made based on their merit to the project... Here's the problem:

I am such a Kerry Butler fan, I'd probably pay to see her read the phone book. She is sooooo hot. As a guy, I have to say that this additional information is awesome. I'm thinking about booking a flight to SFO, just in case it doesn't transfer, or worse, it transfers without K.B.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 10:51am

I appreciate what you said at the beginning of your review. I hated that movie SO MUCH, so it saved me a lot of time not to read the rest. It is just a bunch of awful people doing really stupid things. I didn't care what happened to any of them. If this show goes anywhere, I'll skip it.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 1:16pm

At last we agree, MisterMatt.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 1:19pm

It is just a bunch of awful people doing really stupid things.

And that would be the WHOLE point of it. And that said, I still cared about Martin Donovan's character, and his boyfriend. And Deedee, for that matter.

And what a shock, MusicMan agreed with a negative comment.

[Lucy Harbin]

Posted: 9/27/04 at 1:27pm

All this talk about Kerry, I can't believe nobody's asked this yet: Does David Burtka show anything? (I was dumb enough to miss PLAY ABOUT THE BABY.)