thoughts on THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, HIGH FIDELITY, THE APPLE TREE, & THE CLEAN HOUSE- Page 2

[justme2]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 1:15pm

Nice try there with that last post in the Fidelity thread.

Don't worry, I am not one just looking for your sarcastic posts. I read the threads.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 1:17pm

What do you mean nice try? You're telling me that I'm lying about why I wrote that?

You've been on this board long enough to know that when I say something - as nasty and uncalled for as it may be - I don't retract and apologize for what I say. If I truly meant what I said, I wouldn't even address it. Please.

[justme2]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 1:21pm

Nope, not calling you anything, so please don't say I am.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 1:46pm

Munk- thanks for the review. While I don't necessarily agree with all you say (I thought Kitt's music was the best thing about the production- it was the first musical in a long time where I came out humming the songs, but I agree the book is very mediocre), I appreciate that you always back up why you think something. And that your reviews are so detailed.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 1:53pm

justme, you are a strange duck. I never said you called me anything - I was asking. So strange.

No problem, Ashley. I'm glad you liked the score. I will get the CD, but offhand, I can't remember any of the tunes.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:03pm

I was also at the matinee of The Clean House yesterday. I was very impressed and surprised. I didn't think much of the play at intermission, but it really deepens in the second act. Fabulous stuff by the end.

And Marilyn Dodds Frank was so awesome I can't imagine how the actress regularly playing the part could be better. I'm really pleased I saw this.

Also, I sat across the aisle from Marian Seldes, which was cool.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:06pm

Do you think a crappy show = crappy direction? Like, would you ever consider a show, that's just plain awful with its book and music, but has fabulous directing? Are there such shows?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:10pm

Sure.

I think that Mike Nichols' direction for SPAMALOT is better than the material. Same goes for Jack O'Brien's direction for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS.

SPAMALOT and DRS don't have awful book and music, but I felt that the direction of each was stronger than the actual show.

I'm sure there are countless examples of mediocre shows with great direction.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:11pm

Tommy Tune's direction was usually the best thing about a number of his shows. For example, while I wouldn't call the book or score for Grand Hotel, or The Will Rogers Follies "awful," his direction and staging definitely carried the day for both productions.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:24pm

Yeah. Just wondering. It seems like most awful shows are awful because of their direction and execution. I guess I'm not keane enough to know good direction vs. bad direction.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:44pm

I have to say, I think Christopher Gatelli's choreography was just as bad as Walter Bobbie's direction. The show looked like a mess. The set may have been impressive, but the staging really looked like a second-rate community theater. (and some of the acting felt like that too.)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:46pm

Well, there really WAS no choregraphy - so it's hard to really judge.

Ben Brantley was sitting behind me. Didn't seem to enjoy it, though he gave the show polite applause.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 2:57pm

Yeah, although I thoroughly enjoyed the show, I can't imagine the Times review helping it at all.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:03pm

Munk - Sitting through Apple Tree, I noticed many (MANY) instances where I had seen Griffin's concepts. You've seen just as much and more than I have...did you notice anything unoriginal? Given his history (Most Happy Fella, a while back), I'd say it's a "borrowing" (to put it nicely) more than a simple "homage." Know what I mean?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:03pm

I'm not really sure what you mean, Yank.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:06pm

Normally I'd ask you why you didn't like, assault Brantley, but now I'd propose to the man on the spot if I saw him.

I'm curious to read his HF review.

I'm confused; unless something is copied exactly, it's kind of hard to judge copy-cat behavior from homage, or at least the intention of homage. I didn't see The Apple Tree yet, but I don't get what you're saying either. =P

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:07pm

I was going to say something to Brantley after the show, as our paths crossed several times before the show and at intermission, but I didn't feel like it. I was going to say something sarcastic, like "Critics' pick, huh?"

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:09pm

Munk, thanks for the reviews. I always enjoy reading yours. Like Ashley said, they're always so detailed and you always back up what you have to say. It's nice to get a well-written and well thought out review instead of having someone say "OMG IT'S THE BEST THING EVA!" or "this shows sucked!!" and just leaving it at that. Thanks again. I'm seeing HIGH FIDELITY on December 9 and it should be interesting...We'll see.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:09pm

You should have!

I shouldn't talk, I would've kept my mouth shut, too. :)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:10pm

I was pretty pissed off after the show was over, so I didn't really think about that.

But he is certainly an awkward human being.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:13pm

Munk - I noticed a lot of the concepts were taken from other shows I've seen (both on stage and television). (The extending couch during the Passionella sex-scene - Walter Bobbie (your favorite!) used that in Sweet Charity last year). When Kudisch jumped into the TV, I was instantly reminded of that episode of I Love Lucy where she did the same thing. Granted, these can be written off as an homage, but...he's got a history of many "homages." (I'm just wondering why he'd choose to emulate Bobbie's lackluster Charity revival....unless it was done in the original production of both shows).

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:21pm

I don't see what you're talking about.

The couch in SWEET CHARITY didn't go off-stage - it was center stage as a set piece.

Here, the couch acted as a way to conceal the quick change. I don't see the similarity.

Secondly, the Kudisch in the TV thing is how I believe it is generally done. It's a 60's piece (both the show and the Passionella sequence), so it would be appropriate for it to be staged that way.


And I forgot to add this to my review, but the quick change for Chenoweth from Ella to Passionella was wretchedly staged. Truly horrible.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:22pm

The only very obvious thing I noticed was Chenoweth's use of the Evita "pose." I don't know if it is her doing or Griffin's doing, but it was funny ONCE in WICKED. Though, I do think that it works better here. I found it to be cheap.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:27pm

Yeah, I was going to say that it's hard for me to explain. I just noticed a strange amount of similarities to other shows.

The Evita pose got great laughs Saturday afternoon. I'm almost surprised people recognized it.
Updated On: 12/4/06 at 03:27 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 3:58pm

It got a few chuckles when I saw it, and it saddened me that more people didn't recognize it. What was her line when she did it? Something like "My people need me," right?