Question for Former Posters

[Steve Newport]

Is there any interest in getting the usenet version of this group going
again? Since I check in here to see what the forgers and cross-posters
from rec.arts.tv are up to, I might as well start posting again. And
Broadway's award season starts in about a week.

*********************************

[Ed(NY)]

It would be a shame not to be able to comment on Matthew Broderick's performance in "Nice Work If You Can Get It."


"Steve Newport" <Newpor...@webtv.net> wrote in message news:4188-4F8...@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net...

[Steve Newport]

From: eb...@earthlink.net (Ed(NY))

It would be a shame not to be able to comment on Matthew Broderick's
performance in "Nice Work If You Can Get It."

---------------------------------------------
SN: Please do.

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[Ed(NY)]

"Steve Newport" <Newpor...@webtv.net> wrote in message news:25554-4F9...@storefull-3172.bay.webtv.net...

> From: eb...@earthlink.net (Ed(NY))
> It would be a shame not to be able to comment on Matthew Broderick's
> performance in "Nice Work If You Can Get It."
> ---------------------------------------------
> SN: Please do.
>

I don't know if it's just him or the direction or a combination of both, but at least in this show, he cannot put across a song. He seems trapped in that nerdy characterization. Probably the direction, since I recall his singing was much more effective in How to Succeed. This is a tough role, but more could have been done with the songs.

The rest of the cast is very good.

[Steve Newport]

From: eb...@earthlink.net (Ed(NY))
It would be a shame not to be able to comment on Matthew Broderick's

performance in "Nice Work If You Can Get It." I don't know if it's just

him or the direction or a combination of both, but at least in this
show, he cannot put across a song. He seems trapped in that nerdy
characterization. Probably the direction, since I recall his singing was
much more effective in How to Succeed. This is a tough role, but more
could have been done with the songs. The rest of the cast is very good.

---------------------------------------------
SN: I didn't really like him in HOW TO SUCCEED. (Although I did like him
in the *movie* of THE PRODUCERS.) How does the show as a whole compare
with CRAZY FOR YOU?

*********************************

[Ed(NY)]

"Steve Newport" <Newpor...@webtv.net> wrote in message news:20785-4F9...@storefull-3171.bay.webtv.net...

>Lacks the sparkle and innovation. No comparison.

BTW, the only thing I liked about the Producers (musical) movie was that I got to see it in a free screening.

[Steve Newport]

From: eb...@earthlink.net (Ed(NY))

the only thing I liked about the Producers (musical) movie was that I
got to see it in a free screening.

---------------------------------------
SN: I liked Broderick and Roger Bart.

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[David Lawver]

On 4/15/2012 11:52 AM, Steve Newport wrote:
> Is there any interest in getting the usenet version of this group going
> again? Since I check in here to see what the forgers and cross-posters
> from rec.arts.tv are up to, I might as well start posting again. And
> Broadway's award season starts in about a week.

I would MUCH prefer to discuss musicals here than on places like
broadway.com or Facebook!

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Lawver la...@charter.net
"Without danger, Mr. Bardolph, there is no theatre." -Peter Shaffer

[Steve Newport]

From: la...@charter.net (David Lawver)

I would MUCH prefer to discuss musicals here than on places like
broadway.com or Facebook!
----------------------------------------

SN: So what you you seen or bought this season? I have recordings of
DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY and FOLLIES. And a number of non-musical scripts.
(I'm reading VENUS IN FUR.) I've been buying the Bell Telephone Hour
DVDs.

*********************************

[David Lawver]

On 4/25/2012 12:35 AM, Steve Newport wrote:
> SN: So what you you seen or bought this season? I have recordings of
> DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY and FOLLIES. And a number of non-musical scripts.
> (I'm reading VENUS IN FUR.) I've been buying the Bell Telephone Hour
> DVDs.

Got my annual NYC fix in January - 7 days, 7 shows, 4 of them musicals,
plus some opera and music.

Porgy and Bess - Audra was awesome, David Alan Grier also very strong.
Didn't like the production much.

Book of Mormon - Oh my goodness! Adored it!! Very pro-personal-religion
and brilliantly staged and performed.

Godspell - I completely disagree with most of the critics. I know this
show cold, and everything in this production was entirely within the
bounds of what directors have always been doing with the show. Loved
the trampolines! Terrific cast, including Hunter Parrish, and the
multi-talented Telly Leung.

Follies - a last minute whim, since I had seen the show in DC. Really
glad I chose it. Much deeper and truer than at the Kennedy Center,
especially Elaine Paige. Danny Burstein and Jan Maxwell still brilliant,
Bernadette Peters still miscast.

OT: Relatively Speaking, Seminar, War Horse, 2 sets of Vanguard Jazz
Orchestra, Met Orchestra @ Carnegie Hall, Tosca @ the Met.

Bought the McGlinn Brigadoon for its completeness (stage managing a
production this summer). Tempos not to my taste; Luker and Barett can't
compare to Jones and Cassidy.

Disney's Aladdin Jr, which I directed, closes this Sunday.

[Steve Newport]

SN: I didn't write the previous post.

**********************************

[Steve Newport]

From: la...@charter.net (David Lawver)

Porgy and Bess - Audra was awesome, David Alan Grier also very strong.
Didn't like the production much.

-----------------------------------------
SN: What about Norm Lewis?
----------------------------------------
Book of Mormon- Very pro-personal-religion
-----------------------------------------
SN: That would be me. My first cast album download. And I have the
script.
------------------------------------------
Follies - Much deeper and truer than at the Kennedy Center, especially
Elaine Paige.
--------------------------------------------
SN: I don't care for her on the recording.
--------------------------------------------
OT: Seminar
--------------------------------------------
SN: Still, I'd like to hear about it.
---------------------------------------------

Disney's Aladdin Jr, which I directed, closes this Sunday.
--------------------------------------------

SN: That sounds like fun. Finally got to do BELLS ARE RINGING a while
back. Michael Colby's musical of BOYNTON BEACH CLUB had a starry staged
reading here recently.

*********************************

[David Lawver]

On 4/25/2012 3:56 PM, Steve Newport wrote:
> From: la...@charter.net (David Lawver)
> Porgy and Bess - Audra was awesome, David Alan Grier also very strong.
> Didn't like the production much.
> -----------------------------------------
> SN: What about Norm Lewis?

I normally find him very underwhelming. I wasn't totally disappointed by
him this time, and thought that some of my objections were to the way he
was directed, rather than weaknesses on his part.

> Follies - Much deeper and truer than at the Kennedy Center, especially
> Elaine Paige.
> --------------------------------------------
> SN: I don't care for her on the recording.
> --------------------------------------------

I would imagine that the recording was made soon after NY opening, where
from what I've heard from friends she was still playing it as she had in
DC, mostly for laughs. By the time I saw it this time she was going for
much more pain and anger, which I think is really what Carlotta is about.

> OT: Seminar
> --------------------------------------------
> SN: Still, I'd like to hear about it.
> ---------------------------------------------

Rickman was very entertaining, as was Hamish Linklater. Very slight
script, however.

> Disney's Aladdin Jr, which I directed, closes this Sunday.
> --------------------------------------------
> SN: That sounds like fun.

It's been a great time. 32 kids ages 8-14 who are having a blast
entertaining their audiences, with those great Ashman and Menken songs.