WSS: "Pretty/Boy Like That" now partially in English- Page 3

[Kalimba]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 3:11pm

The dancing in America was lame and horrendous. I thought all the other dancing was fine.

McNeely was probably hired because Arthur knew he wouldn't fight him on anything.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 3:24pm

Isn't the Somewhere ballet the same choreography as the original? I think that is the best dancing part in the show.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 4:35pm

Adamgreer just saw the matinee, and he said a boy like that is almost entirely in English. He said Karen is just as emotional with the English lyrics.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 4:50pm

"Karen is just as emotional with the English lyrics"???

Why wouldn't she be?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 4:50pm

Isn't the Somewhere ballet the same choreography as the original? I think that is the best dancing part in the show.

No. The original was a masterpiece of emotion and storytelling.

McNeeely's version uses pieces of the original, omits the Nightmare ending that keeps it from being sappy and adds the focus-stealing little boy, whose presence implies another story altogether.

It's also poorly danced, where Robbins's original was always executed to perfection.

McNeely was probably hired because Arthur knew he wouldn't fight him on anything.

Sadly, that appears to be the case.

Updated On: 8/22/09 at 04:50 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 4:55pm

Arthur was apparently in the rear orch taking noted throughout the entire show.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 5:36pm

I'm glad they're trying it in English now. The singing in Spanish is nice to listen to, but I feel like that scene, "A Boy Like That / I Have a Love," is so crucial to the story. The audience should know what's going on during that scene. Karen and Josephina acted and sounded wonderful and had a lot of emotion, but that scene lost its impact on me because there were many people around me going, "What are they saying?" a hundred times. I like the symbolism of Anita going from English to Spanish, but I'd rather know what she's saying.

I don't mind if they keep "Pretty" or the Shark guys' dialogue in Spanish, but I'm hoping they keep "A Boy Like That/I Have a Love" in English. And I hope they bring back the original ending. I may have to see this again soon.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 5:37pm

Here's a note for Arthur: "Bow out gracefully, and let Alan Johnson or someone take over, for God's sake."

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 5:39pm

Arthur was apparently in the rear orch taking noted throughout the entire show.

He was taking attendance.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 5:41pm

^LOL.

There's an English version of A Boy Like That sung by Karen on that site if anyone's interested in giving a listen. I think it sounds great.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 5:49pm

I never thought I'd ever say "What WSS needs is a little touch of Alan Johnson," but what this production of WSS needs is a little touch of Alan Johnson.

There are also others trained in the Robbins style, who are more adept at both the ballet and the Latin movements.

What this production really, really, REALLY needs is a little touch of Richard Caceres, may be rest in peace.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 5:52pm

Hell, let's have it Tommy Abbott and Lee Theodore back too!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 6:07pm

Tommy was good at the ballet, but he sat out the Latin moves.

Lee could do it all.

But Richard's Mambo and America sizzled.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 7:57pm

I was in fact at the matinee. I'm far from a WSS expert, but I will do my best to report on changes and answer any questions.

Here was today's board:


Matt H was, in my opinion, a far better Tony than Matt C. I loved his voice, and really liked his acting. I was happy Matt C was out, though I'm sure Laurents, who was in the audience, was not.

The Sharks portion of the Quintet remains in Spanish.

The only changes to I Feel Pretty were the girls parts, which were in English today.

A Boy Like That is where the big changes come in. Anita's lead in to the song is now "And you still don't know, he is one of them!" That was in english, and delivered very well by Anita. Anita does not sing ANY spanish in the song, or at least she didn't today. The only spanish in the song was a brief bit in the middle sung by Maria.

The ending didn't change, and I still dislike it.

Laurents was at the back of the orchestra with a notebook. He spent much of intermission writing and looked REALLY grumpy, but maybe that's just his personality.

Updated On: 8/22/09 at 07:57 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:10pm

Knowing Arthur, what we saw in the Michael Riedel column was only the tip of the iceberg.

And when Arthur is icy, you have to watch out for frostbite.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:13pm

Wow, nine understudies? I know the show has had a ton of understudies, but nine is outrageous. The most I've ever seen is six in "In the Heights". With all those people out, I'm surprised that Karen was still on. Did they use an understudy slip for each understudy in the playbill, or did they print out a big list of the cast for that performance? I wonder what the record for the most understudies on at one performance of a Broadway show.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:20pm

Does anyone think Laurents was behind the Riedel column?
They are chummy, and if the rumor that Olivo was not at the big "chilling" speech is true, it could be another way to stick it to her.

Considering the speech, that's still a lot of people missing on the board.
I'm sure Matt gets a pass because Arthur has changed his life.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:20pm

AwesomeDanny: Only two of those people actual matter (Tony and Anybodys) because the rest of them are minor characters, who mean little to nothing except ensemble.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:22pm

Anybodys must be on vacation or really sick/injured. She's been out since last week.
Updated On: 8/22/09 at 08:22 PM

[byebyebaby12]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:27pm

I thought someone here said they had 16 understudies when they went one time

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:28pm

^ That was a rumor that started on ATC. Then I believe someone corrected that person and said it was only 9 understudies. So who knows.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:30pm

Matt's wedding is tomorrow.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:30pm

^That very well may have been true, but most of those names with the exception of Anybodys and Tony are smaller roles being covered by swings.

Zaza is normally played by Kaitlin Mesh, who is on for Anybodys, so they have a swing covering Kaitlin's role while she is on for Anybodys.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:41pm

That describes this cast well. Anybodys.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/22/09 at 8:55pm

I'm surprised Arthur switched any of the Spanish lyrics back to English after spending countless interviews justifying the entire revival by saying the only reason to do it would be to have a different take on it. The Spanish was what was different and now he's gone back on it. I wonder how he justifies the show now.