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WSS: "Pretty/Boy Like That" now partially in English — Page 4

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#76

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/22/09 at 9:47pm

Well, many other things are different about this production - they just didn't receive the press the Spanish lyrics have.

And the use of Spanish is arguably the least jarring instance of Laurents' bowlderizing. (Add to everything PalJoey said the over-the-top crotch grabs during "Krupke" and Rosalia now apparently having a developmental disability.)
#79

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/22/09 at 10:28pm

As much as I didn't particularly care for this production, given the fact that it's selling well, I give credit for Arthur keeping tabs on the production itself. To me the Spanish lyrics were the least of the problems and one of the few things I actually liked.

Can the kid, put back the original choreography to America and the Dream Ballet and reinstate the original ending. It's as simple as that (or maybe not).

That understudy board makes it look worse than it really is.
Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#82

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/22/09 at 10:47pm

People need to give SOME credit to the dancers in this production. Obviously not Karen, but the dancers in the ensemble. To say that they don't execute the ballet well is a little harsh. AS the dancing might be washed down, some of the dancers are very, very talented. I'm sure most of them could do the original choreography. Pamela Otterson is a good example. Brilliant dancer.
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&. "Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#83

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/22/09 at 10:52pm

The blame should NOT be put on the dancers. McKneely wasn't an adequate choreographer to recreate the Robbins/Gennaro choreography. I believe PalJoey even admitted in another thread that he believed a better choreographer may have been able to get better results out of Karen. Robbins sure would have.
Karen did what she could. She was cast in the role, trained in ballet before each rehearsals, and learned the choreography from McKneely. It's not her fault.

Updated On: 8/22/09 at 10:52 PM

#85

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/22/09 at 11:02pm

I am not being mean to Karen. I love her. I am just saying the dancers shouldn't get judged on their ability just because the choreographer didn't follow the original material. It doesn't make sense.
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&. "Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#86

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/22/09 at 11:05pm

I was not saying that directly to you Cson, but rather just in general. I agree that the dancers should not be judged because of the choreographer didn't follow the original material. It's just the same thing over and over. It's like beating a dead horse.
"It's about the Benjamins, not the Bernsteins."-CapnHook
#87

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

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

I have never blamed Olivo, I blame Laurents for casting her.
Robbins would never have cast her in the first place.
I'm sure she is a lovely woman who can act and sing and more TONY voters liked her than the other actresses in the category.
Good for her.
And I see nothing "old" about discussing the bastardization of perhaps Broadway's most iconic choreography which still has Robbins name attached.
#88

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/22/09 at 11:12pm

Would you rather have just a dancer who couldn't sing or act the role as well and deeply??
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&. "Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#91

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

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

Lana Gordon is a marvelous dancer. However, she sings the role so awkwardly. I feel like she is singing to the cameras not her scene partner.
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&. "Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#93

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/22/09 at 11:32pm

I don't think she's a "bad" dancer at all. She is just not as strong of a dancer as Debbie Allen or Chita Rivera. But it doesn't bother me. I didn't see either one of them in the role.
If McKneely was able to somehow how get Karen to do the leaps at the end of America, I think there would be less bitching and moaning.
#94

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/22/09 at 11:33pm

I am a dancer. I remembering watching the David Letterman performance in March and thinking her dancing was a little iffy. As they did more television performances...her dancing improved everytime I saw a new performance. Now it seems she is really comfortable with dancing. She has improved SO much. I don't personally know her, but I am proud of her. She can now hold the full ending lunge pose...During the Letterman performance, she just kinda stood there with her arms up at the end. She has been working her ass off, and it shows.
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&. "Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#95

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/23/09 at 12:16am

CS--I'm not going to post it again because it upsets people, but a dancer friend of mine who served as dance captain for the show wrote a paragraph outlining the ways in which the classic and standard Anita choreography was "dumbed down" for her.

Do a search for "Anita" and "PalJoey" and you'll find it. If not, PM me and I'll cut and paste it into a PM.

Updated On: 8/23/09 at 12:16 AM

#97

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/23/09 at 12:21am

No, a previous company. He put in many Anitas. He's Latino, with ballet training, as have been many of the dance captains for the past 50 years.

Remember that Robbins himself wasn't comfortable choreographing the Shark moves. That's why he hired Gennaro. Whoever re-stages WSS has to be able to instruct and inspire the cast in BOTH the ballet and Latin moves.
#98

re: WSS: 'Pretty/Boy Like That' now partially in English

Posted: 8/23/09 at 12:30am

No, I would rather see a true triple threat as Anita
and in the half a decade since WEST SIDE STORY debuted
I have seen many.
But Laurents obviously put the dancing third and I disagree with that.
I think it's great you guys love Olivo and are dedicated to her.
I hope someday she gets a role that makes me like her as much as you do, but this ain't it.
And now that Laurents has turned on her, I feel bad for her.

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