Will you see Tale of Two Cities if...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 2:26pm

Barbour is in it?

This was brought up on the AmEx thread.

Can you overlook his criminal past to see him in a show about standing up for what is right, honorable and selflessness?
Or would you be thinking about his crime the whole time?

I am not posting this to start an argument, just curious about how this will be accepted or rejected.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 2:32pm

Updated On: 5/6/09 at 02:32 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 2:36pm

I am not posting this to start an argument

Zzzzzz....

And actually, YES I would see the show if it's promising and I believe its high quality is something I'd enjoy.

And no, by then I don't think I'd even remember what Barbour went through, I'm watching a Broadway musical not Judge Judy! Hmph!

Updated On: 5/10/08 at 02:36 PM

[lakezurich]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 2:40pm

If it ends up going on tour I will. Don't have the $$$ to go to NY.

Updated On: 5/10/08 at 02:40 PM

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 3:22pm

Yeah.

[amalou]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 3:41pm

I guess I'd see it. I'm already pretty interested in it, the music sounds nice. When I watch other actors perform I don't focus on the actors' personal lives, I focus on the show. In Barbour's case, his personal life has been exposed to the point that I don't think I could completely 100% not let the scandal cross my mind while I watch it, but I don't think the show or his performance will be completely ruined for me. I can't speak for other people though.

Updated On: 5/10/08 at 03:41 PM

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 4:42pm

I'll see it since Aaron Lazar is in it!

[sally1112]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 4:50pm

This is an age-old debate, can the audience seperate the actor from________? (fill in the blank with what thing that actor has done).
Of course there will always be a segment of the population that doesn't care, and a segment that does.

I think this situation will depend on what people are willing to forgive when it come to his charges.

With all that said, sure, I'd go.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 5:31pm

I'd go. He made a mistake. I forgive him. Lord knows we've had worse offenders appearing on the Broadway stage.

[sanda]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 6:24pm

Sure. And especially if he is in it. This role fits him like a glove. I am not gonna miss it if he is in it.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 5/10/08 at 8:36pm

Ordinarily an actor's private indiscretions wouldn't keep me away from a show . . . but I can't help feeling differently about it when a minor has been victimized. There's something about that that does not sit well with me. I don't think I would see it. But if it's successful enough to tour, it won't really matter to me, because I can just wait till it gets here with another actor.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 1:27am

Oh, blaxx! You are SO poignantly "on queue"! Thanks for that!
BIG YES for me! Especially becuse James is in it...and Lazar, and Toro, and Tony Walton, and...Way too many plusses to not see it! This show will rock Broadway like it did Sarasota!
The best to the producers, and all actors involved--I really hope all their hard work, and love for the project, the last 8 years, pays off with the "best of times"!
YEAH!

Oh, LePetite--once again, I LOL and LOVED your post! I do think this is the start of a beautiful friendship (so far, I've enjoyed all your posts, keep them up!)

Updated On: 5/11/08 at 01:27 AM

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 1:43am

BTW MCfan2...if you wait to see this show while "on tour" (and, besides, what if it never does go on tour?) you will be missing out on some performances of a lifetime!
I happen to have info from several people who got to go to Sarasota, and the concensus is that Barbour and Toro are up to Tony worthy performances! No to mention the costuming, sets, lighting (here a very clever inventivenss), which will satisfy beyond measure any true Broadway fan. I do not think it will dissapoint at all, and you will get your money's worth.
Beyond that, I LOVE Jill Santoriello's music and lyrics ( I have the "concept" CD), and can't wait to hear it live (and hope Lazar plays Charles...can't wait to hear how he takes on the musical score..there are some very good songs for him in this, and he should be fantastic).
I do hope sometime in the future, you come to see the situation for what it really was, somehow.

[goofy108]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 2:02am

he is the main reason i am interested in the show. he is very talented; of course, i'll see it.

[johnnyg]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 2:13am

actually SueLeen, i've seen the show and what it's really about is a flawed man who changes his life and finds redemption.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 2:26am

johnyg, thank you for posting :) I did not want to be too long with my post, so I forgot to mention this extremely well pointed out fact. And in the play, Sydney, with all his flaws and debilities, is taken warmly into the Darney household as family.
Would this be how the DIVINE would like for us all to behave with those less fortunate (for whatever reasons)...?
Mental note: The reason Sydney redeemed himself at the end IS because he was shown such kindness and graciousness, that he felt compelled to do something that would preserve this family and their love and lives.
Think about it.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 2:29am

I couldn't have said it better, bwaybabe2. Well, maybe I could have, but I would have gotten flamed by the haters.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 2:59am

I actually wish that all Barbour-incident related topics were banned - at least for the next while.
It would be awfully unfortunate for the show (whether it's great or awful) to be eclipsed by the incident - it really wouldn't be fair.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 3:06am

Honestly, I wouldn't be seeing it because I have no interest. But I don't think Barbour starring would bother me much.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 3:08am

CATS, I think I know exactly what you mean.
And blaxx, all power to you! I'm beginning to think, YOU ROCK!

[winston89]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 4:13am

I will see it Barbour or not. I like full out sung through musicals and it is even better if it gets me out of reading the book (just kidding.)

I said it before and I still think that Barbour being in the show won't hurt it any.

Most people when seeing a Broadway show don't pay attention to cast lists and who is who in a given show. I believe that the Barbour news is said and done and won't do much if any damage to the show when it comes to Broadway.

Keep in mind though that the producers have yet to announce if Barbour is going to be in the Broadway mounting of the show. They could have thought of him as a libality and thus decided to let him go.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 4:19am

Oh, winston, say it isn't so!

[winston89]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 4:32am

Which part?

The part where I said that I feel that the general public is going to be oblivous to what Barbour did because I feel that the story isn't going to get published again and its Broadway and the general public really doesn't care about Broadway?

Or, the part where I said that he might not get cast in the Broadway production?

I am guessing you ment the second one. And to that I say the following.

I don't know if he is or isn't going to be in the Broadway production of the show. There was no announcment either way. But, I wouldn't be suprised if the producers decided to cut him from the Broadway run because they thought that by having him in the cast that was just a sign for trouble to start.

I think that if they do that then they are shooting themselves in the foot. Because they will go out of their way to not hire an amazing actor and singer because they are worried that people will complaine that he is in the cast. Which isn't going to happen because the story was out. No one other then the people on this forum paid much attention to it when it was out and the general public doesn't pay attention to what Broadway actors are in what show like we do on this site.

[johnnyg]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 11:34am

winston, why not stop speculating on what the producers might be doing or not doing and just wait for casting to be announced?

[MmeJavert]

Posted: 5/12/08 at 5:09pm

I'd go see this show no matter who was cast in it; I've been looking forward to seeing this musical for a very long time and it would take one hell of a bad cast to keep me from it. (Though I have to admit the news of Aaron Lazar being cast in it is a strong argument for me seeing it many times. )