Will Chase on HiFi's Closing- Page 2

[D2]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 10:33am

I agree with WickedGeek - there was a semi-review of the show on CinemaBlend that was based on the show's website, before the show even opened! And it was written by a staff writer who was clearly biased against the show being done at all. When pressed by another poster, the author admitted she hadn't seen the show! Dreadfully unethical, at least.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 10:37am

"But people on here are not professional writers that are influencing thousands of people on whether or not to see a show."

Personally, I always thought it was better to read a review of a person who saw the show that wasn't a professional critic rather than a professional critic's review. Although a professional critic may have better organizational skills and polishing techniques, I think that the average theatergoer has a better idea of what the general audience likes and doesn't like and writes more on their level. And as for influencing people, it's the responsibility of the person reading the review to decide how much to take in as serious criticisms or just a person bashing the show. As far as I'm concerned, if a person gives good enough reasons to back up his or her opinions, the review is good enough for me.

Now, back to studying for the two finals I have today!

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 11:29am

I was postive toward the show leading up to its arrival because I think Will Chase is a fine actor.

However, having seen the show, I think it's awful and it's not related to the talent quotient of the actors, it's the trashy composition and themes of the show. Watching it I felt sad that so many shows just don't have any taste, or any style that can elevate iffy material.

The treatment of sex was disgusting, a song about "I just slept with somebody who slept with someone else"--truly a horrid piece. The lead woman singing about when some guy "mounted" her--what 13-year-old uneducated sickening male wrote this show?

The rap number with the wouldbe killing and peeing on the male rival in the show was beyond revolting. It wasn't funny, though the reaction from part of the audience was loud. It was vulgar. Done with an all-white cast I also felt it was insulting to blacks and I was chagrinned that no one was aware of that, not the writers or performers or those hooting in the audience. The black friend I was with was appauled.

The use of the "f" word and "mother-f'er" in the play was the pathetic drivel of lack of dialogue.

And you know what. In a way I do fault the actors, and you, too, Will Chase, for deciding to perform in this insipid piece of trash.

Choose better material for the exploration of your God-given talents! You can get other work!

[ashley0139]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 11:33am

Yes, because jobs on Broadway come around every day and they should really pass up an opportunity to be in an original Broadway show. Maybe Will could get another job more easily, but all these other supporting actors? Not so much. I love how you just assume they could get another job no problem. Only thousands of people were trying to get that job as well.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 11:34am

"The rap number with the wouldbe killing and peeing on the male rival in the show was beyond revolting. It wasn't funny, though the reaction from part of the audience was loud. It was vulgar. Done with an all-white cast I also felt it was insulting to blacks and I was chagrinned that no one was aware of that, not the writers or performers or those hooting in the audience. The black friend I was with was appauled."

That scene made me laugh as hard as anything else I've seen in a theater. Your finding the rap portion of that scene offensive only shows your racist view that only black people rap. It was a parody of the overly crass and moronic lyrics that are often in rap music. The scene rotated through different genres of music.

God, I'm sick of political correctness.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 11:40am

The scene was disgusting.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 11:42am

"you just assume they could get another job no problem"

I'd rather see them wait tables than act in trash.

[wickedobsessed]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 11:43am

I agree, people on the internet who are not expierienced try to make reviews of thier own sound really good by putting lots of negativity into it.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 11:47am

The internet is no different than any other word of mouth after people have seen a show and talk about it.

It just extends the size of the coffee shop.

It's perhaps an adjustment regarding the speed or quickness of the spread of word of mouth, and theatre has to adjust.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 11:50am

"you just assume they could get another job no problem"

I'd rather see them wait tables than act in trash.

Well good thing you don't decide then. Because that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 11:54am

Will writes very well and I feel bad for him

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 11:59am

"people on the internet who are not expierienced try to make reviews of thier own sound really good by putting lots of negativity into it."

OMG, I know just what you mean. It's like when people make themselves really ugly, like goth kids at my school, just so people will say how beautiful they are.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:00pm

I felt bad to see him in the show.

Especially after I saw what a good acting job he pulled off as Lennon and the fine work I saw him do in Miss Saigon. I would have liked to have seen and heard him sing the role in Rent, too. I was looking forward to his having his first OBCR.

This show is just not a good show. It may be hard when something is still in development to being able to tell how good it is going to wind up when it's finally staged. I hope to see him in something better suited to his talents soon. Updated On: 12/16/06 at 12:00 PM

[SirLiir]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:08pm

The whole rewind sequence was very funny and one of the best parts of the show. It was an hilarious play on the music of the time and the audience LOVED it. If people are disgusted because they felt it is racist, then perhaps they need to learn to be less prudish and PC. There was no such tone anywhere in the show and trying to create one is brash and uncalled for.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:11pm

Will was fantastic in Rent.

I don't think the issue is that reviewers -- amateurs on the internet or professional critics -- put negativity in their writing to make it sound better. I think negativity has sort of become a way to prove having taste and that criticism has sort of become a contest for who can be bitchy in the wittiest, most sarcastic way possible. The idea seems to be that if you hate everything, you're very picky and therefore people will listen to you. But still, I think Will also makes a good point to say that reviews can be negative without becoming bogged down with the exhaustive attempts at being funny.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:18pm

It's not a "PC" issue to me. It's a human one, and how you treat other human beings.

It was my visceral reaction that I found the scene to be obliviously racist and offensive in several ways. Its celebration of gun violence, its celebration of the humiliation of someone being urinated on, its celebration of the supposed righteousness of jealous rage. Those kind of self-centered rages get women shot, killed and mutilated by the men who supposedly "love" them, so much so that they claim some kind of justification for committing murder if the woman decides she wants to be free of their unpleasant presence.

It was the equivalent of what some of our soldiers were doing to Iraqi prisoners in jail. And glorifying that behavior.

That is the offensive nature of the material. Updated On: 12/16/06 at 12:18 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:20pm

I agree. All of that "wit" and sarcasm can get in the way of a review. A lot of reviews will focus on the lead actor or actress and touch on a few other things. I want to hear more about the supporting actors, sets, costumes, etc. The Grey Gardens reviews were a bit frustrating because they were mostly about Ms. Ebersole. Few went into the other performances.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:23pm

I guess some of the wit and the jokes can be fun to read. Brantley can be funny. But so often, I'm like "just tell us what you think already!" (not that it wasn't obvious with his High Fidelity review, but in other cases). I do envy his writing talent, but he's right in the middle of that seeming contest for who can write the bitchiest review.

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:35pm

Honestly, I more often than not agree with Uncle Ben's reviews and appreciate his depth of knowledge and wit BUT, his review of HIGH FIDELITY was needlessly bitchy. I was shocked at how mean it was. Almost unforgiveable, really.

While I'm not a fan of HIGH FIDELITY, it has its merits. As I wrote several weeks ago, Will Chase is a really talented, likeable guy but his star power is not yet approaching a wattage that can send the marketing of a tough show like this to a place where people are really motivated to buy tickets. It's that simple. Again, the marketing thing.

Art is art. But, business is business.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:37pm

It can't be easy to be a critic. To have to go and see and write about shows you don't want to see because it's your job and you have to do it. Even if you love theatre, you'd reach a saturation point.

I wouldn't do it. I like more freedom than having to be tied to some rigid schedule like that. I only want to write about what I want or feel led to write about.

Having to write about a show you didn't really want to see in the first place? And having to do that time and time again? No wonder they get "bitchy."

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:44pm

Listen, if you're employed as a reviewer for a major daily newspaper (some say THE "newspaper of record") and you have an attitude going into the theater because you might not want to see it, then recuse yourself from writing the review or change professions. It's irresponsible to write about stuff if you're gonna bring a bias like that. Good golly -- reviewers are nothing more than writers with perspectives and experiences that better equip them to write about what they see for others. They are not gods.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:44pm

But then.... couldn't you say that if they've hit their saturation point (which I do not deny them, it's valid), they shouldn't keep doing something they hate? I know, we're talking about the real world where people need jobs and everything, but I do disagree with the fact that these people are like kings and keep their jobs until they're virtually dead, because look what happens. When it gets to the point of being that jaded, you shouldn't do it anymore, and I don't think saying "well, they love theater but now they're tired of being forced to see bad stuff" excuses what the field has become. I'm not saying it's wrong to dislike a show, because that's part of the theory of the necessity of the critic, but there's a fine line, it seems, between valid criticism and bitchiness and cynicism for their own sakes.

Updated On: 12/16/06 at 12:44 PM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:48pm

I notice there are several other writers for the NY Times, and it does seem that Isherwood and others get sent off to see what Brantley doesn't want to cover.

And perhaps given Brantley's pathetic review for The Light in the Piazza, which I have still not forgiven him for, he doesn't get sent to as many musicals anymore. I haven't noticed that closely if he's covering all the musicals, and I didn't read his review of High Fidelity. Having Will Chase in it was enough to make me want to go and see it.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:52pm

This show got bad reviews in Boston. It had no advance sales built up. That means the general public (the majority) had no desire to see this. In the past, the plug would have been pulled out of town. These days, they push ahead, throwing good money after bad and the result is still the same. The show closes. That's show biz.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 12:54pm

Yes, I do remember some unfavorable comments on here from Boston when I did my "will High Fidelity be the next hit" thread a while back.