WHAT??!?!??!?? NO LITTLE SHOP?!?!?!?!?!- Page 3

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/10/04 at 10:42pm

Butler's omission didn't surprise me. Aside from her mostly lackluster reviews, she left the impression on me and others that she was consciously trying to avoid doing an Ellen Greene impression (which most people do in the role), yet she didn't seem to have developed her own "take" on the part, so she settled into a rather generic, safe reading that was ultimately underhelming and left a hole in the emotional core of the show. She also failed to deliver a lot of the laughs that are built-in to the part -- I remember seeing Greene in the show at the Orpheum back in the 80's and what I still recall fondly about that amazing performance (that really didn't entirely translate in the film version -- what seemed genuine on stage came across too broad and cartoonish on screen) was Greene's unique ability to effortlessly mine laugh after laugh from every second she was on stage (sometimes with just a look) and at the same time break your heart. I don't know how she did it -- it was pure genius. Butler just isn't in that league and the show suffered as a result.

Aside from that, the direction and pacing of this revival struck me as off, also undercutting the humor. And, perhaps I'm alone on this, but I wasn't crazy about Sills -- he seemed to be winking at the audience (deadly to this kind of piece) mugging and projecting an attitude of "oooh, look how funny I am." I can think of several actors who do this kind of material SO much better.

Anyway, no, not everyone was surprised this production was snubbed by the Tonys (and finishing 5th out of 5 is a definite snub). It pales in comparison to the original and is routinely performed at least as well at amateur theatres around the country all the time.

Updated On: 5/11/04 at 10:42 PM

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 5/10/04 at 10:56pm

As others have said, Kerry deserved and was robbed of a Tony last year and last year only. I didn't even particularly dislike her in LSOH, but there was NOTHING Tony-worthy about her performance. That last nomination went rightly to Stephanie.

[Jamie Hat]

Posted: 5/11/04 at 12:39am

Kerry will be recognized eventually. But her Audrey was not what it should be. Bat Boy and Hairspray were great, but in LSOH she was given a role that has been created larger than her. I think she's great, but in no way deserved to be in this years group. She'll be around.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/11/04 at 12:58am

Unfortunately that's just one of those roles that no matter who plays it, they will always and forever be compared to Ellen Greene.

Also, it was nice though to hear Tonya Pinkins say how dissapointed she was that LITTLE SHOP wasn't recognized by the Tony nominations today.

[StateOfJade]

Posted: 5/12/04 at 10:11pm

Calm the **** down.

[broadwaysweetheart]

Posted: 5/12/04 at 10:54pm

I LOVED LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and I LOVED KERRY in it, I think Kerry is the ebst Audrey ever, before I saw her I hated Audrey I really did, and now I love her. Douglas Sills is probably the best actor on Broadway and nothing! I'm mad, I also wanted to see Ann Harada in the nominees

[magic8ball]

Posted: 5/13/04 at 3:50pm

I completely understand the whole "make the character your own" thing; however, Butler's characterization is terrible- she has turned Audrey into a near-ingenue who is, at times, eerily reminiscent of Jodi Benson's Ariel in "The Little Mermaid". Frankly, I don't care whether or not she adheres to the Ellen Green precedent. That's not the point. The point is that Butler's new interpretation is just BAD, and that there are many other actresses out there who could have handled it better. Stupid stunt casting...

THAT'S why she wasn't nominated.

Updated On: 5/13/04 at 03:50 PM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 5/13/04 at 3:55pm

I can't believe they let the F word just hang there like that - I thought there were people on these boards who were worried about underage kids seeing stuff like that....