so what do we know about Looking for Billy Haines?

[whatever2]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 8:35pm

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/136765-Looking-for-Billy-Haines-to-Play-Off-Broadways-Lion-Theatre-Casting-Announced

i think previews started last thursday. it actually kind of sounds like fringe festival fare, but maybe that's unfair. anyone seen (seeing) it, or otherwise have useful intel?

Updated On: 3/14/10 at 08:35 PM

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 8:46pm

William Haines was a silent screen actor during the 1920s, whose screen career terminated when he refused to play ball re: his sexuality (obviously, he was gay). He later became a reknowned interior decorator with his parther and they had a successful career. He was close friends with Joan Crawford. There was a biography about him 12 years ago entitled "Wisecracker."

There was also a rumor going around that the REAL reason Clark Gable wanted Cukor off Gone With the Wind was because Haines was close friends with Cukor who most likely knew that Gable had serviced Haines when Gable was still an up-and-comer (bad pun, not intended). It was only a rumor, described in one of the Hollywood Babylon books.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/14/10 at 12:43am

Hello. I remember seeing the film some years ago, as well as reading the book. The title of the book is: "Wisecracker: The Life and Times of William Haines" by William J. Mann. Also, William Haines' designs are showcased in his website: www.williamhaines.com. from RC in Austin, Texas

[Q]

Posted: 3/14/10 at 3:14am

"Wisecracker" is highly recommended, no matter what happens with this piece.

[whatever2]

Posted: 3/14/10 at 11:14am

thanks for the info/gossip! not sure if my OP was clear -- specifically looking for info on the new production -- so i updated it.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/14/10 at 4:10pm

So are they're ripping off William Mann's "Firecracker"? It's such a terrific book.

[whatever2]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 2:47pm

(bump)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 3:21pm

Bumping without saying anything additional is SEVERELY discouraged here at BroadwayWorld.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 3:25pm

In other words, if you've got to bump it, bump it with a trumpet.

[whatever2]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 4:27pm

what of dramatic silence? what of craft?

:)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 10:39am

OMG! I saw this last night and promptly bolted at intermission. It had a downright awful script and the actors did their best with the material- most seemed embarassed. The lead actor had a lisp that was truly distracting.

The dancing was OK...

my review 1/2 out of 4 stars...

[newintown]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 10:46am

I suspect the OP is involved with the production and is trying to hype the show here.

One thing I know about this production, and it's something of a red flag - the producers are the parents of the leading actor.

[whatever2]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 11:20am

newintown: that made me laugh so hard i spit coffee on my monitor!!!

sorry to disappoint, but i'm just a middle-aged theater queen who spends too much time reading about obscure upcoming shows, and then trying in vain to get info about them before anyone is likely to have any ...

i've been a lurker here for years.

if you read enough of my old posts (and why would you?) i've made sufficient allusions to how i earn a living that no one could possibly confuse me with someone in the business.

any communists lurking in your bushes? you might want to get your suspicion-o-meter recalibrated ...

[newintown]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 11:22am

whatever2, I retract my suspicions with apologies.

[whatever2]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 11:23am

no worries ... in my secret soul i'm flattered.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 12:56pm

whatever2, are you going to see this?

[whatever2]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 1:42pm

can't imagine ... the reviews were not not great -- and some (ahem!) were even blistering!

i'm kind of bummed, though -- it sounds like (it could have been) an interesting story.

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 9:19pm

According to the program, just about every actor was making his/her off-Broadway debut in this show. This show belongs in an amateur college acting class, not in a professional off-Broadway theater. One of the worst shows of 2010 so far. Felt absolutely no chemistry/connection between the actors - they looked to be just saying words on a page with no genuine feeling (other than "false" two-dimensional feelings). There are so many good off-Broadway shows playing now. Stay FAR FAR away from this one.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 11:04pm

If you're interested in the story, here's the genuine experience. The authors of this show plagiarized everything from this book:


Wisecracker: The Life and Times of William Haines, Hollywood's First Openly Gay Star

Updated On: 4/13/10 at 11:04 PM

[whatever2]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 11:48pm

thx, PalJoey!