THEATRE GOSSIP # 503 - Dear Reba McEntire

The correct formatting/title would have been—THEATRE GOSSIP #503: The "Dear Reba McEntire" Edition.

I hate to be a hall monitor, but it must be said.

an empty vessel, r1?

In the middle of a long discussion about Sondheim's drinking and cocaine use, which could have offered inspiration for an interesting title, we get...another title about Reba.

No comment.

Absolut Citron, not Lemon

Also, FYI--one reason to put the link to the previous thread in r1 instead of the OP is that these theatre gossip threads keep getting crossed out, so if the link is in the first post, it won't be shown or clickable.

OP- What an asshole.

I think this settles why Stephen Sondheim hated Elaine Stritch.

Drinks hate other drinks

At the memorial, Jonathan Tunick spoke of Sondheim drinking him under the table.

One more, because this one's nice.

If you had the mother Sondheim had, you'd probably drink yourself silly, too.

R3 is correct. Time to pack up the tired Reba BS and move into this century.

OP: you kinda suck at thread titles.

All of the pearl clutching about drinking and drugs is hilarious. Aren't most of you old enough to remember the 60s, 70s and 80s?

As if LuPone wasn't coked out of her mind during Evita.

[quote]I hate to be a hall monitor, but it must be said.

No it didn't.

"His criticism was mainly aimed at Jerry Herman for writing too lyrical a piece for a character--Mack Sennett-- who's too earthy and selfish to think of expressing himself so openly."

Which is why I don't read Mordden's books. "Openly?" Sennett warns Mabel not to become involved with him and, damn, he's proven absolutely right. About as lyrical as a mortician's slab.

Thanks, R15. What Sennett is openly expressing in the song is a warning that he cannot be openly expressive of his love for Mabel. It's a brilliant and probably unique song in that way, and it's pretty shocking if Mordden or anyone else who purports to be any sort of expert on musical theater is unable to understand why.

So...we're going back there are we?

Yes, Steve liked vodka at home, a nice white while out. He enjoyed some weed during his final relationship after staying away from it for many years. The widow enjoyed good coke, but slowed down considerably when it became a problem. You were never judged about your vices at the Sondheim house, your choice of favorite films on the other hand…

Thanks to whoever posted that wonderful link in the last thread of Maria Friedman singing "Saga of Jenny" in that late 1990s production of LADY IN THE DARK. I thought she was absolutely sensational and held the stage without a lot of scenic, lighting, and special effects nor legions of chorus boys.

It amazes me the range of roles female stars in the UK, like Friedman, Imelda Staunton and Elaine Paige, for example, have gotten to play on prominent London stages. They're not always great, of course, but I find it impressive that they're afforded all those opportunities.

More please, R18!

I’m curious about the marriage between Sondheim and Jeff. I can’t imagine them having sex…so was it just companionship?

R21 what're ya doin'? Writin' a book?

R21, I can imagine it...it's really hot.

Coke made a strong return along the Broadway campus during the late 90’s and onward, the entire cast of Fosse basically had their dealer living backstage! There are a few notorious coke fiends still snorting away in certain theater spot bathrooms, although it is sort of boring again for most.

Wasn't one of the ensemble actually dealing backstage, R24?

I won't give a name in case I'm wrong. But it was a woman.

I thought Lapine wrote about Sondheim's aversion to pot in putting it together(but it has been awhile since I read it so I'm probably wrong)

If by "aversion" you mean sharing a doobie most afternoons with Lapine upstairs at Playwrights Horizons, R26....

OP You fucking suck cunts.

R25 YES! No powered cheap either, nice and rocky, thank the Lord they had plenty of strainers!

^powdered, typing sober sucks.

I hope Sondheim's drug and alcohol use didn't hasten his early death.

Oh, please, r21, do you actually think anyone on DL knows the details of his sex life?

I know his husband and it was a real marriage in every sense.

Hot.

My prejudice is showing, but was there a lot of drug use at Rent?

That's nice to hear, r33.

Well Jeff is a stronger man than I because I found 1985 Sondheim attractive but that doesn’t mean I wanted to have anal sex with 2012 Sondheim

who cares, r37?

Who said there was anal sex? It may just have been some nipple tweaking by the end.

Sondheim has spoken openly over the years about using both pot and vodka as intrinsic parts of his creative process. It's not shocking that Feinstein uttered it, it's more shocking that the fraus are clutching pearls over something that Steve himself freely admitted to.

Now regarding the coke use, that's an entirely new one to me. And I've been around his inner circles the last two decades...never has coke been whispered as one of his creative tools. Pot and booze surely, but the coke thing seems like a stretch. Not to say he didn't dabble like every other creative in the 70s/80s, but Steve's tonic was vodka.

However, to what extent he'd booze at home while writing is anyone's guess!

2012 Sondheim? He died in 2021.

[quote]Steve's tonic was vodka

No wonder I woke up in his dungeon with my underwear missing when he invited me over for a couple of gin-and-tonics after a preview.

Toast of the Town

R40, agreed, it wasn’t him using the cocaine, it truly was various flavors of Absolut that was his enjoyment.

Former Village Voice critic and OBIE chair Michael Feingold died.

Wow.

How could they tell, r45?

If anything kept Sondheim from productivity, it wasn't booze or pot. It was the fact that he appeared to have answered every fucking letter he received since the 1950's. I had no idea the man would respond to seemingly everyone. Makes me wish I'd written him at some point.

He answered all my letters. I treasure the replies.

First audience chatter from the NYTW Merrily first preview is in, and Daniel Radcliffe’s vocals are exactly what you’d expect them to be.

Critical chatter to pass on:

& JULIET is getting the business at the box office from young/non-traditional audiences that everyone expected K-POP to get.... but isn't.

[quote]I’m curious about the marriage between Sondheim and Jeff. I can’t imagine them having sex…so was it just companionship?

Jeff was/is attracted to MUCH older men. It wasn't all an act to get at the Sondheim millions.

[quote]No wonder I woke up in his dungeon with my underwear missing when he invited me over for a couple of gin-and-tonics after a preview.

Those Sondheim dungeon jokes never get stale!

Michael Feingold review from a series "Old Movies for Theater Lovers," typically packed with fun and arcane lore and an effusive love for the arts.

"I am something of a hermit by nature, and I was never wholly comfortable with the New York critical fraternity’s old-time habit of clustering together and muttering comments on the piece under review that evening."

RIP

R.I.P. Michael Feingold.

Here is a perceptive piece he wrote after the death of fellow drama critic, John Simon. You can get a good sense of Feingold's evenhanded approach to criticism by the way he excoriates and laments Simon's joyless and bitter career.

I've never understood the esteem and importance the NY theatre establishment placed on critics. (Or more accurately, used to: no one gives a damn about critics in 2022, or even about reviews). Remember Frank RIch when he reviewed theatre ? They used to name Bway theatres after them, for heaven's sake.

Jinxx Monsoon joining Chicago as Mama Morton.

I guess she hasn't the notes for Mary Sunshine.

John Simon was the bitchiest straight man ever. When told of the Glenn Close TV version of "South Pacific," he responded, "Who's she playing...Lieutenant Cable?"

Who has won more undeserved Tony Awards, Audra McDonald or Comden & Green?

Bernadette Peter.

Recall walking out of night, mother, towards Broadway and looking up to see John Simon right next to me. We got to the corner of 45th and Broadway, when I looked up at him and said, "If you hate this play, I will never read NY Magazine again. And I'll find you".

R60. Audra. Lousy actress. Great singer though.

Watch Audra in "WIT" on HBO. She is sublime.

[quote]Who has won more undeserved Tony Awards, Audra McDonald or Comden & Green?

Someone has a stick up his ass today.

[quote]I've never understood the esteem and importance the NY theatre establishment placed on critics. (Or more accurately, used to: no one gives a damn about critics in 2022, or even about reviews). Remember Frank RIch when he reviewed theatre ? They used to name Bway theatres after them, for heaven's sake.

Simple explanation: Back in the day, the theater establishment felt that a couple of critics made enough of a worthy contribution to the art form through their reviews that they deserved to have theaters named after them. You're free to disagree with that practice, and anyway, now the Brooks Atkinson one has been renamed for Lena Horne.

If you go back and read Brooks Atkinson's reviews, written on opening night on deadline, his ability to recognize and assess great work is really remarkable. He starts to falter a bit as he gets to around 1960, but his reviews are largely impressive. Bit of a bummer that he lost the honor of having a theatre named in his honor.

Now Walter Kerr - a wonderful writer with terrible taste - should never have had a theatre named for him. I read his reviews and was astounded by the number of shows he trashed that became classics.

Walter Kerr was tone-deaf, so his reviews of musicals were generally clueless.

Just received notice that the first preview of The Collaboration set for 11/29 was cancelled with no further details. Any gossip?

[quote] Someone has a stick up his ass today.

Or doesn't.

I prefer Audra's acting to her singing.

I like Audra as a person and as an actress but I don’t love her voice either.

People keep clamoring for her to play Rose.

Not me

Going to see 1776 tomorrow. Can't wait!

Covid cases in the company is the reason for The Collaboration delay.

If I had Hepburn as a neighbor, I’d be drunk or stoned half the time as well.

Was it Kerr who wrote about a musical:

"There were a lot of obstacles in getting this musical to the stage. Some in the cast sacrificed their salaries to make sure the curtain would go up. Then the worst thing of all happened......the curtain went up."

Elaine Stritch finally created a leading lady role in musical comedy via the work of Kerr, right?

Is this a coup de theatre, elder show queens?

So, how did Walter Kerr ever come to have a theater named for him? And wasn't this long before the naming of the Richard Rodgers Theatre?

Did NO ONE want to name a theatre for Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Ethel Merman or Mary Martin (to name just 4 obvious candidates) before Walter Kerr got his? Really seems kind of shocking. I can't quite comprehend the politics here.

The wheat field in YOU WILL GET SICK wants to be a coup de theatre, but it really isn't; the reveal is underwhelming.

Thanks R74

Not So Fun Fact: Jinkx Monsoon and DL Icon Sara "only giving 70%" Porkalob are both graduates of the same expensive arts college in Seattle!

They don't appear to be friends.

So the cast recording of Funny Girl featuring Lea Michelle is getting raves. Like really good reviews.

Has anyone heard from Beanie ? (seriously, not a joke)

[quote] Did NO ONE want to name a theatre for Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Ethel Merman or Mary Martin

Williams was a fag, Miller was a Jew, Merman was a cvnt and Martin was a lady licker.

Next question?

Who thinks that FUNNY GIRL recording is good?!?!

Hugh still out of TMM

Jinkx Monsoon IS Matron Mama Morton!!!!

Jinx Falkenburg IS...dead...to ME!!!!

Heres one r85

Broadwayworld...

Anyone who would write "Fanny-Tastic" should be fired.

[quote]Not So Fun Fact: Jinkx Monsoon and DL Icon Sara "only giving 70%" Porkalob are both graduates of the same expensive arts college in Seattle!

Now, don't you shortchange Porkalob! She said that she gives a whopping 75 percent, not a mere 70!

[quote]Walter Kerr was tone-deaf, so his reviews of musicals were generally clueless.

I wonder how he would've reviewed Beanie's "Funny Girl."

[quote] Who thinks that FUNNY GIRL recording is good?!?!

The kids on Broadway World are going nuts for it, as if it's the greatest cast album ever made. I listened to it once for curiosity's sake, and never intend to listen to it again. There's no need.

[quote]Hugh still out of TMM

Hugh was doing Thoroughly Modern Millie somewhere?

I'd love to see Millie. Missed it the first time. Mainly I love Harriet Harris as batshit crazy Mrs Meers. Would that character be considered offensive now, if she was always supposed to be a piss poor imitation of an Asian by what's clearly a bad actress character...?

Who is Hugh's understudy?

I listened to People and Parade and Lea was good but annoying as usual with the gasps and dramatic tics and Barbra isms.

Any Phantom dish?

[quote]Who is Hugh's understudy?

Matt Doyle's husband.

James Norton is hot as fuck, but not even he could get me to see that A LITTLE LIFE shit.

Jeez, did I miss the posting of the Sondheim memorial?

[quote] Who is Hugh's understudy?

Max Clayton

Did Doyle and Clayton get married or are they still engaged?

Anyone joining the Broadway Book Club? We can read each one of the plays, gather here, and agree that every single one of them suck, and go back to reminiscing about FOLLIES

Isn't James Norton just a tad too old to be playing one of those boys in A Little Life?

James Norton is fucking hot but apparently straight

The grosses on Broadway are either feast or famine. On the famine end: A Christmas Carol ($218,944.00), Walking with Ghosts ($262,122.40), Topdog/Underdog ($265,167.00) and K-Flop ($127,261.70).

Audra is the most over awarded Tony winner who arguably should only have one or two of those awards, without doubt. However, I agree with R64. She was incredible in the HBO Wit with Emma, and I think she gets stronger as a screen actress as she ages. I find her compelling and interesting on screen in a way that I don’t find her at all on stage, and that includes her singing which outside of Carousel never worked for me.

Funny Girl is outgrossing Wicked and has consistently been sitting at 1.6 mil a week. A pretty incredible comeback for a show that was written off as dead. What will they mount for Lea if she chooses to stick around on Broadway, say two seasons from now? Does she look for a new show or a revival? Is there really anyone who could write a show for her? That style is pretty much dead and gone on Broadway.

Also, I would have paid money for a John Simon review of Beanie. Can you imagine? It would have been fucking epic.

The Funny Girl grosses are impressive. I thought Lea was terrific, but as I sat there, I was struck by (from what I was hearing around me) how much the Lea/Rachel in Glee/Rachel in Glee on Broadway in "Funny Girl" was playing into the audience's experience/joy.

The Little Mermaid on Broadway starring Lea Michele

Lea is also sticking around until the end of May with a one week vacation in February. That’s pretty impressive considering some replacements sign on for only 2 or 3 months and, sometimes, even less.

On this day in 1964 Bajour opened at The Shubert Theatre for 232 performances.

BAJOUR!

Well, R110, considering that Lea seemed to have come thisclose to being completely canceled for her apparently horrendous behavior and attitude, I don't think it's all that impressive or surprising that she's perfectly happy to remain as the lauded star of a Broadway show in her dream role for a while. She may well consider herself VERY lucky that FG played out for her the way it did, and I don't think we should assume that TV and film offers have necessarily begun pouring in for her.

For those still looking for TMO stuff, I found a site that had several more videos that I hadn't seen before. Seriously, everybody was filming the thing. There's one of the main shower scene (combined with another view that was already posted), one of the JW/MO scene, then one that has closer views of both.

Like I'm doing to download something from a WeTranser file on DL. Not even with a condom!

Happy Birthday, Bajour!

FF R113

[quote] I would have paid money for a John Simon review of Beanie. Can you imagine? It would have been fucking epic.

Like her ass.

Back at you, r116.

Given how much the grosses have fallen since the original leak, the producers would probably be glad for anything to get that attention back. (Hmmm...maybe I'm a marketing intern for the show...)

The producers grossly misjudged the interest in a leaked dick pic and should have never brought back Take Me Out. It only did as well as it did last season because of the subscriber base and even that wasn't all that great. You cannot give tickets away to it now.

Doyle in Little Shop photos. Some claimed in previous threads this would be just another case of too-attractive guy with glasses in the role, but he looks fittingly nerdy to me.

TAKE ME OUT

Starring

JON HAMM

THAT will fill those seats!

I enjoyed Titanique well enough, but I'm not sure this was the best showcase for them. They didn't seem to get any laughs from the audience, which made it fall a bit flat.

Tickets for Merrily have been popping up on the NYTW website over the past 24 hours, for anyone who wants to see Groff spray saliva all over his costars. Might be too late (again), but you might luck out.

The BroadwayWorld chat board is gushing about Merrily.

Tweets about Merrily have all been raves.

Will it transfer for a limited run in the spring? Lindsay Mendez needs a second Tony.

Lindsay Mendez needs to bid on a Deal a Meal on Ebay.

Curtain call...

Jesus, Radcliffe is barely up to Groff’s shoulder. Didn’t realize he was that tiny.

Radcliffe bottoming for Groff would be so hot on paper.

Too bad Groff is a big ole bottom.

She's playing Mary, r126, not Roxie Hart.

[quote]Isn't James Norton just a tad too old to be playing one of those boys in A Little Life?

the book and play follow the four guys from college until they're in their 50's.

The van Hove Dutch version at BAM did little or nothing to age the actors over the decades

One valid criticism of that production is that he actor playing the protagonist Jude was not handsome enough to have the charisma that drew the other characters to love Jude so passionately. Norton will fix that.

Here's the thing about "Merrily..."

It's still backwards. No matter who's performing....

Of course, MERRILY will transfer to Broadway. Why in heaven's name would it not? I'm sure everyone involved finally wants to get paid some decent money.

I don’t know if Merrily would make money though. Radcliff will sell tickets but even Into the Woods is struggling after Sara left

Doyle looks like a shortbus student

[quote] She may well consider herself VERY lucky that FG played out for her the way it did, and I don't think we should assume that TV and film offers have necessarily begun pouring in for her.

Film offers, no. She’s never going to be a film actress but I’m sure there will be some TV offers given her success here. That’s probably a year out or so. I’m wondering if producers will approach her now though about mounting something for stage and if she’ll even want to stay.

Maybe a live NBC production of Funny Girl next year?

Radcliffe is NOT aging well.

I think a fabulous ad campaign could be made for MERRILY on Broadway, prominently featuring Radcliffe and Groff and Sondheim's music. Even though many potential ticket buyers won't know the music, I think snippets could sound gorgeous and intriguing and even catchy in the right ad.

Now, whether or not there's an ad agency that could pull that off in this day and age is another issue.

Use a snatch of the overture.

I will say, the photo at R127 is exactly how I would imagine an ideal Charley, Franklin, and Mary to look like. Very inspired casting.

Jesus Radcliff looks like Roy Cohn in the last half of Angels in America in that photo

Lea might, if she's lucky, have the career her Glee costars Idina Menzel or Cheno have had. If she keeps doing shows every so often, and mixes in a TV appearance here and there, plus some club dates, she may cobble together something.

But she needs to learn to collaborate, and let go of the idea that she's a star. And she's starting this game kind of late, so she may only have a short run for the gold.

Then again, if she's now focusing on being a mom, she may like the flexibility of being Not The Star. Who knows if her sanity wins over her ego.

She'll be a Mom character on a reboot of GLEE. A Candace Cameron without the relgiosity.

*religiosity

R142 He looks fine in the official poster.

I think Franklin should be hunky.

R147 We all think stupid things once in awhile.

Lindsey Mendez is NOT a Mary! She's not a Gussie, she's not a Beth. She has no business being in this show.

In the original "Merrily..." there was a character named "Franklin Shepard (at age 43)" Is there anyone who can explain what that role was? I thought the same actors played their characters all the way through? Was it like Dream Laurey or Dead Skipper?

No, r150, He was at the beginning and the end, as the guest speaker for the graduation ceremony at his old HS. He gives a speech that the students hate because it's so negative. The framing device has been cut since the original. (as far as I know...I haven't seen every production.)

Idina and Lea in THE RINK!

Lindsay Menedez has an unfortunate face.

And that's why she aimed for Broadway.

[quote]Lindsey Mendez is NOT a Mary! She's not a Gussie, she's not a Beth. She has no business being in this show.

MARY!

Lindsay Mendez has a hairy pussy!

In that picture at R127 Radcliffe looks like Tom Schumacher.

Jonathan Groff looks like a Mormon missionary. White shirt and dark pants? Who costumed this show?

[quote]Jonathan Groff looks like a Mormon missionary. White shirt and dark pants? Who costumed this show?

Someone who's aware that it's a period piece, which apparently you are not.

Every Broadway publicist and advertising agency is stuck in the world of analog media, and none of them know anything about major online outlets, podcasts , or anything else from the past 20 years and they work for producers who don’t either

R150, I'm really surprised you don't know the answer to that question. Haven't you ever heard the original Broadway cast recording of MERRILY?

R161 Oh, leave her.

Friedman directed this revival? Fuck, I hated the London production.

The worst thing about Friedman's production of MERRILY in London -- so bad that it really sabotaged the show -- was the set. Incredible that they seem to have basically recreated it at NYTW.

It’s the exact same production as the London one - sets, costumes, everything. Apparently Radcliffe saw it in London and petitioned to bring it here.

R164 Stupid, and cannot sing.

The production wouldn't be happening without him, r165.

[quote]Now, whether or not there's an ad agency that could pull that off in this day and age is another issue.

Get me McMann & Tate!

Ha. When I saw the video I wondered why she was singing "Mr. Macy's" instead of "Mr. Macy." I wonder if they'll fix the recording she's lip syncing to by tomorrow. Probably not.

R165 He’s also 5’5.

Direct link

Feingold: the only--and I mean ONLY--remaining critic without a tin ear who could write and assess musicals with erudition, passion and, most important of all, taste. RIP, MF.

Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn, r51.

I'd forgotten that the Village Voice is up and running again. That Miss Saigon review is still a wonderful read.

I know I'm in the minority on DL.

But am I the only one who fails to find Mare Winningham less than magical onstage?

And by "less than magical" I mean "self-conscious and annoying."

Oh, it's late...

Either "fails to find Mare magical onstage" or "finds Mare less than magical."

You get my drift.

r120 Looks like Gideon Glick

Did Matt Doyle say anything publily about L.M. Sarfati?

Who?

Quotations from critics are the only thing publicists and marketers know how to put in ads. No. One. Cares. Do better. Be creative and exciting.

That TimeOut review makes it sound like Jane Lynch stormed out with Beanie. She did not. Her contract was up.

Jane avoided working with Lea. She left before her due date.

Because it made sense to have Lea and Tovah rehearse and debut together, there would've been little point have Jane do the extra work of rehearsing with Lea just for a few weeks of shows.

Replacements are put in by the stage manager, not the existing cast.

Lea is opening the Parade and the audience is cheering. And she sang MR MACYS

Beanie is eating everything in the house. Lea opened the Macy’s parade with Funny Girl.

[quote] Someone who's aware that it's a period piece, which apparently you are not.

They didn’t have color in the 1960s through 1980s?

[quote]She left before her due date.

Isn't Lynch a bit long in the tooth to be with child?

I love watching the Macy’s parade to see all the white people in the VIP seats

The Some Like It Hot number makes me want to buy tickets. But where was Christian?

[quote] The Some Like It Hot number makes me want to buy tickets. But where was Christian

Three black people center stage. They didn’t want white people in the marketing of the show.

That's very smart. Those people look deathly at this time of year.

Oh, little Julie Benko got another job! Good for her.

Oh. It was one-night only benefit performance.

Well, still.

The last line of that Adam Feldman Funny Girl article is awful and hilarious.

What is it?

"If the end is right, it justifies the Bean."

[quote]Beanie is eating everything in the house.

A normal day then?

It's too bad they can't always do this outside before a parade. This is much better staging than what they're doing every night at the August Wilson.

Stage version for comparison.

Is that Beanie in yellow at 0:31 twirling her flag in r197?

That Adam Feldman review is embarrassing

r189, Borle isn't in the title number in the show. They could have shoehorned him in like they did in the promotional video, giving him lines someone else usually sings, but probably not worth it to get him in costume and rework the staging to include someone who isn't a big name with a national profile (and may not be recognizable in drag anyway?).

[quote] Did Matt Doyle say anything publily about L.M. Sarfati?

Oh, DID she. He literally referred to Lea as Satan in an interview last year.

“The show made monsters out of every single one of us, except for Jonathan Groff, because he’s literally like Jesus. Whenever I had to go on for him I used to say it was like going on with Satan, as a replacement for Jesus. I had to go on and deal with the most difficult person and fill in for the greatest man of all. So it was lose lose.”

That was cleverly put. Thanks, r202.

I bet Lea would have been as sweet as pie to Hunter Parrish.

I could just about sit in the audience and watch Lea do Funny Girl. But I don't think I could sit with THAT audience and watch Lea do Funny Girl.

And that staging is awful......

Borle wasn't in the parade because he's at home (still) rewriting....

Maybe if he wrote it backwards...

It's still forwards...

Borle is too busy hauling out his oversized package and spanking it in a mirror to focus on his writing...

Pics?

Well, R184, to be fair "hey Isidor" doesn't scan very well.

[Quote] and spanking it in a mirror

I hope he wears a mask. Wouldn't want the mirror to crack.

True dat, R212. Borle is no oil painting.

Re: Borle pics. I seem to recall there was an episode of Smash where he walked in front of the camera in little briefs where he had an nice bulge, but I don't remember what episode it was.

You bitches would all kneel for Borle and present tongue.

Or hole!

Borle is a talentless fug.

...with a big weiner.

Sondheim's letter to Patti after she offered her views on the Sweeney Todd film

[quote]Sondheim's letter to Patti after she offered her views on the Sweeney Todd film

He certainly stated his boundaries!

She wasn't wrong.

[quote]She wasn't wrong.

Are you trying to say she was right?

Patti sent a note to Sondheim or to someone else?

Turkey lurkey time... with dudes.

R224 Grey guy is a beat behind Donna in the front.

R22 You may be right.

to Sondheim, r222

Wow at that letter! Sondheim was such a cunt to her in that letter. To tell Patti he didn’t want to invite her to the premiere, but did so only because he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

And Patti...*never* did it again.

It was a screening, not a premiere. And he might have been a cunt to her because she hurt his feelings; he didn't ask her opinion, she just gave it. Apparently he couldn't deal with criticism. This sounds like the Jason Robert Brown and Ricky Ian Gordon incidents.

I follow all these Sondheim letters on Insta and I'm wondering how they all came to be made public. If someone close to him to decided to release them it could have been with SS's wishes before he died, but then he would have had to make copies of them before mailing them. Obviously, even if Patti still possesses this letter, she wouldn't have wanted it out there.

So, what's the story? Who has all these letters in their possession?

Sondheim was known to be very unwilling to hear criticism.

Which I can understand to some degree - when one has a vision, you really don't want a sea of people trying to project their lack of imagination onto it. But it has its downfalls, for sure.

Sondheim had no qualms about dishing other writers--in public if they were dead (like his notes in "Finishing the Hat") or privately, mostly, if they were living (when he was still friends with Arthur Laurents, they'd attend theatre together and were notorious bitches about what they'd seen.)

[quote]Grey guy is a beat behind Donna in the front.

But he has better handwork than Donna in the front, who is just phoning it in.

I have a friend who was a very handsome and precocious teen when he was in high school/college in the late 70s/early 80s and he began a letter correspondence with Sondheim, who was initially eager and seemingly flattered to exchange his thoughts and ideas about the Broadway theatre and show music. I believe they even met for coffee or lunch occasionally, though there was no sex (yes, you could be too young!).

But once my friend started asking Steve too many questions as to why he composed things as he did, which just might have veered ever so slightly into criticism, Steve immediately told him off in no uncertain terms and ended their relationship, such as it was.

I'm guessing there were scores of young men like my friend with similar experiences.

Thanks for that, R202. I hadn't realized that Matt Doyle was yet another SPRING AWAKENING cast member who spoke out publicly against Lea Michele's apparently terrible behavior and horrendous personality.

Which for me prompts the question: What can the atmosphere have been like during rehearsals for that SA reunion concert? From what we can see in the documentary about the show and the reunion, all went smoothly, but I wonder if the people who did speak out against Lea, including Gerard Canonico and Matt Doyle at least, just kept their distance during rehearsals and on the night of the performance?

And R219, thanks for your post as well. I had heard a rumor at the time that Sondheim had gone off on a star for offering criticism of the SWEENEY TODD movie, but the rumor I heard didn't name the star, and some people guessed it might have been Angela Lansbury. I'm really glad it wasn't her and was instead the notorious Patti Lu, which is not at all surprising.

Sondheim adored Lansbury. I cannot imagine him sniping at her.

He learned to.... um, like Patti over the years. I guess.

Remember, one rumor was that for the longest time, Patti was on SS' "DNU list." Actors he just didn't want to work with, for any number of reasons. Maybe he simply didn't care for her voice/vocal style (and notorious diction). Maybe her personality.

But then, she sang Fosca in a regional production, and then the Sweeney Todd revival. So there.

R235 Matt Doyle was not a part of the Spring Awakening reunion, as he wasn’t an ensemble member or swing in the original production, he was only Groff’s understudy. From what he has said in interviews, Lea hated working with any Melchior that wasn’t Groff so being his understudy was a nightmare.

Gerard Canonico was a part of the reunion as he actually was in the original ensemble, so he probably just kept his distance.

[quote]Sondheim was known to be very unwilling to hear criticism. Which I can understand to some degree - when one has a vision, you really don't want a sea of people trying to project their lack of imagination onto it. But it has its downfalls, for sure.

I can certainly understand Sondheim not wanting to hear any criticism of his work while a show was still in the birthing stages, which if I recall was the situation with Jason Robert Brown. But for him to become nasty and bitchy and to freeze people out for any criticism of his work after it had been finished, no matter how constructively that criticism was expressed, does seem like a major flaw in his character. Maybe it all stems from the fact that his work was either taken for granted or dismissed in his early years -- WEST SIDE STORY, GYPSY, and FORUM -- and that was compounded by the awful reviews for and the tremendous failure of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE?

Any excuse to repost this favorite Sondheim/Lansbury interview with Jesse Green.

[quote]Speaking of happy families, do you two recall ever having an argument? [quote]S.S.:No, but I don’t remember having arguments with any actor. I mean, I remember Zero Mostel having an argument with me, but I didn’t have an argument with him.

[quote]Sondheim adored Lansbury. I cannot imagine him sniping at her.

I know he adored her. But as per several recent stories, he was known to go ballistic towards and/or freeze out people he adored if they said anything critical about his work or about a realization of his work that he liked, and apparently, he LOVED the SWEENEY movie. So I thought it MIGHT have been Lansbury, but I'm very glad to know that it wasn't.

Thanks, R238. Do you know of any SPRING AWAKENING cast member other than Canonico who went on record about Lea's behavior before the reunion concert was planned?

Hard to believe he could LOVE the Sweeney movie but I imagine his ego might have been in the way of his objectivity where that is concerned.

R243. from all reports, he did love the movie, used to screen it for friends at his home. Apparently, he felt it worked beautifully as a movie and, believe it or not, for him that trumped the highly questionable singing of the elads and the elimination of all the choral parts.

Maybe I'll have to watch it again with the sound off and see how that feels.

I think he understood that choices were made to widen its audience...and it did.

R246, although I know what you mean, I think it's debatable how much the audience for the film was widened by having non singers in the leads and by cutting out the chorus. Because the film was not really marketed as a musical, I've heard stories of some people who attended because it was a Johnny Depp/Tim Burton movie but they left after the first two or three songs.

Many of the musicals Steve wrote by himself, the books are kinda shitty. And he seemed to not be able to see it. Or stop it.

r248

Is that translated from Mandarin?

Though I never met Angela Lansbury I have no doubt that she had the grace and intelligence to know when to keep her opinions to herself. Honestly, that's just common sense and an unwritten law amongst theater people of taste and discretion when they attend a friend's show. And that's why Sondheim was justifiably so enraged by Lupone's blundering and uncalled for criticism (whether she was "right" or not doesn't matter).

I think anyone who works in the professional theater can understand this. Most often, you really don't want to to know what your friends think.

Angela probably enjoyed it as much as Sondheim. She understood the business.

The Sweeney Todd film was originally going to be longer and include the chorus. Production had to shut down for a while unexpectedly because Johnny Depp’s daughter became gravely ill and was in a London hospital for awhile.

Production started again when she recovered but the film was shortened as a result.

Did the moron who posted the video on YouTube at R197 really call it "The Macy's Day Parade?"

[quote]Production started again when she recovered but the film was shortened as a result

Gone was the freewheeling patio number.

That sounds very inaccurate, R252. It may be true that Depp's daughter was gravely ill, but that wouldn't have affected the presence or absence of a chorus in the film -- especially since the orchestral music for most of the important choral sections is still in the movie, in the "Ballad of Sweeney Todd" at the beginning, "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir," and "God That's Good." So all they had to do was actually record the chorus in a studio, and obviously, Depp didn't have to be around for that.

I've read that the original plan was that the opening "Ballad of Sweeney Todd" would be sung by a chorus of Sweeney's victims, but apparently, at some point Burton decided he didn't want a chorus in the movie at all, and Sondheim bought his arguments.

I never miss a Tim Burton musical.

If the SWEENEY film was after the Doyle revival, maybe Patti felt because she had been a Lovett she had the right to comment and that Steve would have been interested?

But what was the point of commenting about the film? Did Patti think they would re-shoot it to her liking?

r230 After he died people started posting the letters they got from him, and the SondheimLetters account was created, with people continuing to send their letters in to it, to get some of that sweet sweet internet cred.

Though presumably the Patti one came from Patti.

Was Patti LUPone in some sort of trance? What would make her think that Stephen Sondheim would want to know why she hated the Sweeney Todd movie?

Rosie O’Donnell tells a similar story about how Marc Shaiman got furious with her when she similarly critiqued the Hairspray movie.

The Sweeney Todd film worked so much better than I thought it would when I saw it in theaters. The overall look and feel of the film was nearly perfect, and they didn't have to butcher the story to fit the screen. I didn't mind them cutting the opening number and all it's reprises, as those parts would've had to have been sung directly into the camera, which would've been weird and would've taken us out of the story with each reprise. And Depp's raspy singing voice didn't bother me; he sounded like a guy who'd really been through it "down in bloody Australia," like Lucy in Mame.

No, nothing would have had to be sung directly into the camera. You must have an extremely limited imagination.

R230, I don't recall the name of the person who began asking (on Twitter and probably other places) that people send copies of letters they'd received so they could all be published on Insta. In addition, this person nosed around and found copies of other letters that had already been made public--including a huge stash of letters that were about to be auctioned by some autograph dealer who somehow came into position of a lot of letters from SS to someone named Larry Miller (possibly from Miller's estate?). All of those appeared early on Insta. So a lot of people who had letters to share did so, and there you are.

er, "came into possession."

Why wasn't there ever a NY production of The Mousetrap before now?

Not sure this will be a hit, but maybe Christie's name will still sell it?

I didn't mind the Sweeney Todd movie. I saw it before I saw the show, though.

[Quote] Apparently he couldn't deal with criticism.

Totally beside the point. What possible benefit would there be to send criticism of a completed film after you have been a guest at a screening of sad film? No one asked you, everyone is nervous enough about how it will land, and shut the fuck up. That has nothing to do with somebody “being able to deal with criticism “. Total lack of class or empathy.

So Sondheim could be a bitch but not Patti...

Patti fired the first shot. And was a guest.

What about Sondheim telling Patti that she wasn't a star live across the British airwaves?

[quote]So Sondheim could be a bitch but not Patti...

Try and stop me. Just fucking TRY AND STOP ME!

The bigger question is how did Patti ever manage to get back into Steve's good graces?

That's not exactly what he said, and likely wasn't what he meant.

And on the Sweeney criticism, what's the point of it once the film's finished? At that point, you say "isn't it wonderful" and go on about your business.

Yeah, the whole saying she wasn't a star thing doesn't sound like it was intended as bitchiness, but a matter-of-fact description of her drawing power.

I suspect they had a "professional" friendship, but not necessarily a close personal one. They were near-neighbors in CT and apparently saw one another socially as part of a larger group. She's told stories about being in his company at parties.

Parade highlights, for those of us who missed it.

I had a personal encounter with Sondheim where he lost his temper with me (I was doing research in his home) and it came out of nowhere. Some time later he was over his fit of pique and he seemed to be sorry (without ever saying so). So I think it's possible that he wrote the letter to her in a flash of anger but ended up cooling down over time and letting bygones be bygones.

I wish I'd known Stephen replied to letters, shit.

It's absolutely true that, as creatives, there comes a point where we don't really want or need honest feedback. As a filmmaker, I definitely seek out opinions and sounding boards while creating, shaping and putting something together. I'm making it for others so I want to know how they react to it and if those reactions can help strengthen the piece (sometimes yes, sometimes no- the trick is learning how to figure that out).

However, once the piece is done and out there and i've either invited you to come see it or you've seen it on your own, I don't really need to hear any kind of criticism. There's nothing I can do about it at that point, and chances are I already am way ahead of you, know the fault(s) of the piece and, for one reason or another, this was the best I could make happen.

Of course, if I actually pin you down and say- Be honest and tell me XYZ, then no matter what you say, I cannot possibly be upset with you. I asked and brought it on myself. But that rarely happens at the finished stage. And if you don't like it, I can tell no matter what you say, and I will just gracefully accept the congratulations so as to not embarrass either of us.

Patti should have known better, except that as someone who doesn't create (as opposed to interpret), she can find herself easily off the hook for things that don't work. She can say- Hey, I gave it my all, but the director made me do x, or the score let me down and you can only do so much with the material, etc.

It's very possible she looked at this version of Sweeney Todd, assumed (likely correctly) that Sondheim had very little control over what they did to the material and how it was interpreted, and felt she was commiserating with a great artist and how dare they do this to one of his masterpieces, especially since she herself had participated in a very recently well reviewed production of the show. She may have momentarily forgot that Sondheim was still a creator and that she was insulting his creation, even if it wasn't her intention.

I'm not trying to get Patti off the hook; I still maintain that once it's finished, there's no reason to do anything more than smile and say congratulations if you don't like it, but I think she may have been looking at them as peer to peer and felt he needed the kind of bolstering a performer does when they're stuck in a dud.

Sondheim and LuPone had a very complicated relationship.

She auditioned to replace Bernadette in Sunday in the Park and was not hired.

She auditioned for Cinderella in Into the Woods and was offered the Witch in Into the Woods…but negotiations broke down.

She was offered Passion but had already accepted Sunset Boulevard.

She played Nellie Lovett 3 times in Sweeney Todd. This is when their relationship was warmest.

Sondheim ripped her to shreds during the rehearsal for the live PBS taping for Passion that her singing was “mush” and she has stated that anyone with less experience than her would have turned in her equity card.

Sam Mendes took LuPone out to dinner and offered her Gypsy. Arthur Laurents and Sondheim instead made the offer to Bernadette Peters, who accepted. Patti wrote to Sam and asked him what happened? According to LuPone, he wrote her a very cold letter back saying this was Laurents wish.

Sondheim publicly criticized her Gypsy performance in his book Look I Made a Hat. (Well….it was mostly at Arthur, but also her)

She privately criticized his Sweeney Movie and then he got really upset by that (hence the letter)

Sondheim gave her notes during the Company philharmonic closing party in 2011 that she found extremely hurtful and publicly said “I wanted to smack him”

Lupone desperately wanted to replace Catherine Zeta Jones in A Little Night Music and called Trevor Nunn twice (who did not return her calls.) Sondheim privately reached out to Bernadette Peters instead and offered her the role.

Sondheim told her to her face during a radio interview for the London Company that she wasn’t a name outside the theatre and theatre needs a name to sell tickets.

Sondheim wrote an email to LuPone towards the end saying lovely things to her about her singing and performance that she treasures.

That's a lot! Thanks, R280.

Those kids both sound pretty high maintenance to me.

So they're BOTH cunts.

Whether or not she "privately" criticized the Sweeney, she evidently also criticized it to him in the letter which is the subject of his to her. That's what upset him.

I would imagine they were both difficult people. And I'm sure Patti's alliance with Arthur complicated matters for Sondheim, since I think by that time that friendship was irretrievably broken. I'm sure he tried his best with Patti at the end of his life--hence, that email. But during his life, he was always going t prefer working with Bernadette.

Are you Sondheim's husband, r280?

[quote] Why wasn't there ever a NY production of The Mousetrap before now?

Because every high school, college, church, Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League and senior citizen center does it and everyone knows the ending already.

[quote]I had a personal encounter with Sondheim where he lost his temper with me (I was doing research in his home)

Shouldn't have opened that closet door.

Steve: What did I clearly say, guests, they must listen. What were you not to do? Open that door!

Goody. Another terribly clever dungeon joke.

[quote] She auditioned to replace Bernadette in Sunday in the Park and was not hired.

[quote]She auditioned for Cinderella in Into the Woods and was offered the Witch in Into the Woods…but negotiations broke down.

Roles she was nowhere near the correct type for. Dot in Sunday needs a bit of vulnerability, something that is not in Patti's lexicon. Cinderella needs to be beautiful and a bit naive, not a Long Island waitress screaming to the cook to double time it on her Turkey Club.

R265, there was an Off-Broadway production of THE MOUSETRAP.

Thanks, r289. I must have misread the article.

And Patti would only havd been right for Desiree in A Little Night Music if the character was a fishwife in Canarsie, not an actress in Sweden.

r260 Who would've thought that women from Long Island enjoy giving their unsolicited opinions?

r270 It was far more nuanced than that, though. He was talking about how now there are no Broadway stars who have mainstream appeal, like a Merman, etc. That Patti was a draw for the theatre crowd, but not for the mainstream audience.

It was actually an interesting discussion of the various eras of Broadway in terms of draws - from the writers, such as R&H, being the draw, to the talents being mainstream names, to now being Hollywood imports - both talent and the content - being the draw.

[Quote] It's absolutely true that, as creatives, there comes a point where we don't really want or need honest feedback. As a filmmaker,

Shut up

[quote]Was Patti LUPone in some sort of trance? What would make her think that Stephen Sondheim would want to know why she hated the Sweeney Todd movie?

Not "in a trance," but as is SO OFTEN the case, she made it ALL ABOUT HER (or largely about her), because I'll bet much of her criticism had to do with HBC's singing as Mrs. Lovett. Time has proven that Patti can be very nice and supportive of a project when she doesn't feel threatened in any way, and when there is no comparison to her own work and no possibility of a role for her in the new project. But when there is.....

[quote]Rosie O’Donnell tells a similar story about how Marc Shaiman got furious with her when she similarly critiqued the Hairspray movie.

I remember that, when the awful CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY was running on Broadway, Shaiman posted some very delusional comments about it on Facebook and also went off on anyone who criticized it. He really does not seem to have enough self awareness to know when he was written something great or something.....not great. On that note, though I've been reading nothing but raves for SOME LIKE IT HOT, someone did point out on social media that the title song bears a VERY close resemblance to the theme song for the old TV cartoon series HUCKLEBERRY HOUND. Search for them both on YouTube and I think you will agree.

[quote]someone did point out on social media that the title song bears a VERY close resemblance to the theme song for the old TV cartoon series HUCKLEBERRY HOUND.

I'm not seeing a problem here.

Signed, Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Music of the Night sounds nothing like Come To Me, Bend To Me from Brigadoon"

[quote]Why wasn't there ever a NY production of The Mousetrap before now? Not sure this will be a hit, but maybe Christie's name will still sell it?

How long until we get "The Mousetrap--The Musical"?

So "Parade" wasn't featured in the parade? I expect a full investigation -- by Parade Magazine.

R289, thanks for that link you provided, which actually lists TWO Off-Broadway productions of THE MOUSETRAP. Both of them had very short runs, but they do give the lie to the press release for the upcoming Broadway production, which states that the play has never before been performed in New York.

r297 = Ben Platt, a real Jew playing a Jew, not a half Jewess playing a full Jewess.

Speaking of Platt, I know he doesn't have a lot of fans around here, but kudos to him and Galvin. Beanie for best (wo)man?

[quote]but they do give the lie to the press release for the upcoming Broadway production

Is "never performed in NY" what the real press release says or is it just BroadwayWorld allowing their interns to write whatever without any research?

r261 those who would have sung the reprises most likely would have been singing to each other and to other townsfolk not to the camera.

r301 The official site says "comes to Broadway for the very first time" so seems you're right

R301, it seems to me that the "articles" on that site and some others are mere reprints of the press releases, sometimes with some minor rewording.

r301, it looks like others are repeating that, so it's either coming from the production or no one's doing the research (or both). Here's the BBC:

[quote]The show has been staged in the US before, but never in New York.

Which we now know isn't true.

Straight from the press release: "The legendary show – which has never been performed previously in New York – will open in 2023."

Some Like It Hot performance from the Thanksgiving Day Parade

Interesting to see who's just parroting the press release and who fact checked.

Deadline: "The play, a West End institution and popular tourist destination since 1952, has been performed in the U.S. before but never on Broadway or in New York."

The Guardian: "But her most famous play, which starred the married actors Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim when it opened in 1952, never made it to New York."

But Playbill limits the comment to Broadway, and appears to have done some research since it has more interesting info:

[quote]Since its premiere in London in 1952, the play has been performed regionally in America but never on Broadway. Christie and the show's original producer Peter Saunders did not want the show to go to Broadway, according to her grandson Mathew Prichard, who told The Times, "Those reasons are now long lost." Prichard has approved the play's transfer to Broadway.

Does this qualify as shade:

[quote]“There can be no better way to mark today’s milestone in The Mousetrap’s illustrious run, than to look ahead to a production in New York," said Spiegel in a statement. "I feel after the longest out of town try-out in history, The Mousetrap is finally ready to transfer to Broadway!” Spiegel's only Broadway credit is the 1998 musical Fame.

r306 Where's the link to the press release where it says that? Because Google shows only the BWW article says it

MOUSETRAP may have been staged by hundreds of community theaters or student productions in the US, but I've never seen it. Nor have I seen it in numerous trips to London. But I still have no interest in this new venture.

Patti speaks:

[quote]Dolls, I'm reactivating my MySpace and getting off this electric dumpster fire. You can find all future updates from me and what I'm up to on my Instagram and Facebook pages @PattiLuPone, while I patiently wait for my OnlyFans to get verified.

Patti LuPone making an OnlyFans joke is not something I ever expected. At least, dear god, I hope it's a joke

Here, 309. Are you satisfied now, or are you still going to continue to dispute this?

r312 Christ, you're a bit touchy aren't you? Hardly a surprise you're an ATC user

Ben Platt managed to take a pic where he looks vaguely normal for once. Also, Allison Janney's tits

Not an ATC user, R313, but unlike you, I know where to go to look for verbatim posts of press releases. Have a nice day.

Allison Janney looks like a drag queen version of Kim Cattrall.

[quote] Patti LuPone making an OnlyFans joke is not something I ever expected. At least, dear god, I hope it's a joke

She was willing to show her funbags in a Spike Lee movie. Anything is possible with her. Maybe she thinks she can make money in granny porn.

r307, I thought the first half of the performance was fine, but the tap-dancing in the second became pretty boring and went on too long. I'm not sure it sold many tickets (there's a lot of availability for this weekend).

I suspect there is very little "fun" in them bags at this point r317.

SLIH is good, not great. Some fun performances and Nicholaw's work has its usual admirable Broadway polish. The film still feels like an unnecessary idea for a musical (Yes, I saw Sugar) even with the new spin. This is the Shaiman of "Charlie," not "Hairspray," so expect another massive online meltdown when someone writes the truth. I felt for them because the effort and talent onstage is real, but it just didn't add up.

Is it still backwards?

R298, there weren't two productions. The show moved from the 42nd Street theatre to the 13th Street theatre. Same production.

Patti's son types her tweets, doesn't he.

Thanks, R322.

[quote] Interesting to see who's just parroting the press release and who fact checked.

Is it, though?

R325, it was to me, which is why I stated it as such. Whether it was to you is your business.

Hugh's back today.

What does John Palermo do these days?

Ben & Noah are the biggest meskites who ever lived.

Christian Borle better get used to the idea he will be relatively ignored in all the reviews of and articles about SLIH. He's a white guy with a modicum of talent, and critics will want to praise Ghee and Del Aguila to the skies and overpraise all the women. Borle stopped being interesting about 15 years ago.

There's a lid for every pot, r329.

R330 And Borle would give a fuck why, exactly? He has two Tonys already and never has problems booking gigs.

I doubt he took the role for the acclaim.

Why was Hugh out of his show? COVID? Injury?

So Evan Hansen is marrying Evan Hansen?

There will be notes to the maid about the temperature of the water for washing the sheets.

Isn't Borle re-writing the book? He's doing just fine.

Noah Gavlin looks like a toy but not a hideous toy.

Long ago it was said that the original West End agreement was that The Mousetrap couldn't open on Broadway while it was still running on the West End. 70 years later it's still running. What changed?

I'm wondering who they think is the audience for The Mousetrap on Broadway? There aren't enough tourists, and unless they get Meryl Streep to do it, no self respecting New Yorker will go near it.

There aren't enough tourists? Who's keeping CHICAGO going?

R333, his doctor put him on vocal rest. Happened after Saturday's matinee.

I think the success of the Knives Out movies has emboldened producers to take this Mousetrap shot now. If it's a limited engagement, hopefully they can get some names and not just try selling it on the show's history.

Thank you, R340.

They will NEVER get big names to do The Mousetrap on Broadway. In spite of its longevity in London, it's one of Christie's weaker efforts and word of mouth here will be awful. Also, the London physical production is cheap and unimaginative and if they expect to transfer and sell this as London's long-running production, it will be very disappointing. Also, who will direct? The original director (and designers) is long dead.

I assume Borle is actually in that title number for SLIIH? I know it was discussed upthread but now that I've seen the parade clip, it seems so odd that he's not there with them. I wonder if they want his drag look to be more of a surprise? Are there photos out there of him in drag?

And the number was nice but no great shakes.

No, he's not in that number in the show.

Was he ejected from it, like Dolores Gray in Destry's whip number?

[quote] The Mousetrap couldn't open on Broadway while it was still running on the West End. 70 years later it's still running. What changed?

Probably the bank account of Agatha's estate beneficiaries.

[quote]Long ago it was said that the original West End agreement was that The Mousetrap couldn't open on Broadway while it was still running on the West End. 70 years later it's still running. What changed?

Is it really so difficult to figure that out?

Some Like It Hot is supposed to be a hit? Gurl. That number on the parade would argue otherwise. And if you’re showing up to a TV audience of millions without a number for your major bankable stars, you’ve got a problem.

[quote]They will NEVER get big names to do The Mousetrap on Broadway. In spite of its longevity in London, it's one of Christie's weaker efforts and word of mouth here will be awful.

You seem awfully sure of yourself. On what basis?

[quote]Also, the London physical production is cheap and unimaginative and if they expect to transfer and sell this as London's long-running production, it will be very disappointing.

You sure are doing a lot of guessing and assuming as to how this production will be approached.

[quote]Also, who will direct? The original director (and designers) is long dead.

As if every subsequent production of a show in history has been directed and designed by the original people. What a ridiculous comment. Do you really think you have any idea what you're talking about?

R209 do you really think Christian Borle masturbates?

I know Agatha stipulated The Mousetrap cannot be filmed until it has closed in London, but not the same stipulation for a NY production. Anyhoo, it is the hot Grandson who has granted permission for the production to go ahead.

r349, who are the major, bankable stars in Some Like It Hot? I'm pretty sure Borle is not one.

One thing is for sure- The production of The Mousetrap had zero to do with the horrible movie that just featured it, See How They Run. Christ, what a piece of shit.

Needs more Elaine Joyce.

r350, I'm simply going by the Official Press Release, in which London Lead Producer Adam Spiegel clearly states: "I feel after the longest out of town try out in history, The Mousetrap is finally ready to transfer to Broadway."

Which indicates that the intention is to bring to Broadway a reproduction of the current production that's been running for 70 years in London to Broadway. There's NO mention of a new director, new set designs, new costume and lighting design, a new concept. The selling point, such as it is, is to show Broadway audiences what all the fuss has been about.

Of course, things could change once saner minds have reconsidered, but how else can the announcement be interpreted? But yes, I could be wrong, they may get some names to initially star in it, but I seriously doubt they'll be true ticket-selling names.

I'll just say it - I never warmed to LuPone's performances as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd. She, of course, has a better voice than Bonham Carter, but she was about equally as humorless and dull in the role.

Angela Lansbury said some positive things about Depp's performance in the film, but she wisely kept her mouth shut about Bonham Carter. She knew her legacy wasn't in any danger.

[quote]How long until we get "The Mousetrap--The Musical"?

I'm working on it!

[quote]The Mousetrap couldn't open on Broadway while it was still running on the West End. 70 years later it's still running. What changed?

The fact that it's still running 70 years later.

No Lea in FG today. Benko was scheduled to do the matinee anyway but Lea is sick and will be out tonite. Tovah is also out for both shows.

Who goes on for Tovah?

I assumed that’s why he was hired R353. Isn’t he one of those Broadway actors that brings in the locals? I honestly don’t give a shit, I think he’s barely mid on stage and his face is made for radio. The weird obsession with him here is… whatever.

Nah, he's hired for reviews and possible Tony nom/win, not because he makes a difference to the box office based on his name.

Taking the day after Thanksgiving off is shitty.

[quote]Angela Lansbury said some positive things about Depp's performance in the film, but she wisely kept her mouth shut about Bonham Carter. She knew her legacy wasn't in any danger.

Not true, she did comment on HBC's performance, but not surprisingly, Lansbury was very diplomatic about it. Apparently having read or seen interviews in which HBC said that she originally planned to play Lovett with a lot more comedy in her performance until Burton put a stop to that idea, Lansbury said in effect that she was very sorry HBC wasn't allowed to bring to the role all of the comedy that she could have brought to it. She did not, however, comment on her singing, as far as I know.

R362, the "weird obsession" with Christian Borle on DL is probably based on the fact that many people consider him a brilliant comic actor -- including Kevin Kline, who has been quoted as having said so.

Kevin Kline also said Phoebe Cates was talented.

Doesn't Borle have an enormous cock>

To this day, still the best play I've ever seen on any stage.

R369 I watch it every Christmas, it is amazing.

That Nickolas Nickleby was amazing! As was The Grapes of Wrath. Two of my favorites brought beautifully to the stage.

Would it kill someone to remaster the Nickelby DVDs?

There's also a currently running London production of Christie's Witness for the Prosecution, in an environmental style staging in a real court. It opened in 2017 and paused for the worst of the pandemic. It's back going into what they are calling year six of the run, but adds up to more like year 4 1/2.

Still an impressive tally for a revival of a large cast straight play.

The last Agatha Christie play on Broadway was...the original production of Witness for the Prosecution in 1954-56, which ran a year and a half and won the Featured Actor and Actress Tony Awards.

Why is Broadway so dismissive of Christie's plays, when they are so successful everywhere else in the world and continue to receive major adaptations in other media with big stars in the cast? It takes more than an aggressive set of heirs to make this happen, the public has to want it.

Every regional theatre in America seems to be working its way around to the Ken Ludwig Orient Express from a few years ago, for example, knowing that is sells well. Yet it is probably unlikely to see a Broadway run.

Sweeney Todd needs the comedy. Otherwise, it's a slog to sit through. That's why I find the movie really problematic. HBC was right. Tim Burton should have listened to her.

Mysteries and Thrillers for the stage have mostly gone the way of the dodo bird, DEATHTRAP being the last successful one on Broadway. I personally have a fondness for them and will certainly see The Mousetrap. I think a slightly tongue in cheek Christie production could be fun and maybe even successful as Knives Out has shown. A few past-their-prime stars a la Murder She Wrote in the cast could be fun.

The Mousetrap is still backwards.

[quote]hopefully they can get some names

I'm available!

[quote]Every regional theatre in America seems to be working its way around to the Ken Ludwig Orient Express from a few years ago, for example, knowing that is sells well. Yet it is probably unlikely to see a Broadway run.

Please don't muddy the issue. The names Agatha Christie and Ken Ludwig should never be mentioned in the same breath, even if that asshole did secure the rights to do a stage adaptation of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS.

Christian Borle's cock isn't as big as mine.

If we could have the same cast from the 1980s today, would David Threlfall, who played Smike, be cast, or would a differently abled actor be cast?

R380 And where did Timothy Spall go? And Ben Kingsley?

A Hallmark Channel Christmas movie premiering Sunday, titled "A Holiday Spectacular," centers around the Rockettes. The cast includes, in supporting roles, DL faves Ann-Margret and Eve Plumb.

r382, for a second there I thought you were saying "A Hallmark Channel Christmas movie premiering Sunday, titled "A Holiday Spectacular,"" was where Timothy Spall and Ben Kingsley had gone.

I'd like to see that movie.

[Quote] And Ben Kingsley?

That's Sir King Bensley to you!

Roger Bart: Prove it.

What happened then well that's the mooovie and he wouldn't want us to give it away.

did Sutton have both?

Yes, and Bobby Canavale's!

Mrs. Sally Adams meets Mrs. Sally Adams.

In the Broadway import of Nicholas Nickleby, there were a lot of "stars to be."

Roger Reese, David Threlfall, Alun Armstrong, Ian McNeice (the fat guy on Doc Martin), Jeffrey Dench (Judi's brother), Rose Hill ('Allo, 'Allo), Mark Tandy (Cecil Beaton in The Crown)

Sutton is a size queen?

[quote] Roger Reese

Ahem!

[quote]What happened then well that's the mooovie and he wouldn't want us to give it away.

That could have easily been changed. One possibility: "What happened then? We cannot say, 'cause 'e wouldn't want us to give it away."

So some fangirl posted on Facebook that she thought it would be a fitting tribute to Sondheim to have the music for the title phrase of the song "Company" tattooed on BOTH of her inner arms in LARGE format. So she did it, and posted the pix. Mind-boggling.

Was it Patti?

Ha! Nope. It wasn't Betty Buckley, either.

It was Kim Criswell!

Open up the Broadway Theatre for a limited run of The Hours". Considering how difficult it is to get a ticket at the Met, A savvy producer could clean up. And Joyce DiDonato would be assured a Tony.

No one is interested in opera. They want to see the Neil Diamond musical.

Fleming and DiDonato would not do anywhere near eight shows a week.

Presumably, R399 was joking about a Broadway run of THE HOURS. At least, I hope so.

Has anyone seen THE HOURS? Thoughts?

I'm not a regular opera-goer, but I liked the book, the movie, and those 3 ladies.

I hate all of Ken Ludwig's scripts.....

Lea out this afternoon. Back tonite. The tourists who are in town for the holiday and bought tix will not be happy.

Looking at photos of THE HOURS, I find it very hard to get a sense of it. I realize it takes place in 3 different time periods but there doesn't seem to any overall aesthetic visually. Each photo looks like it's from a different opera and much of it doesn't look pertinent to any particular time period (except for Kelli's 1950s dress).

Sorry not to provide a link but it's easily googleable.

Hard to believe the film version is 20 years old. Kidman really surprised me in this at the time--she's terrific.

I still listen to the Philip Glass soundtrack once in a blue moon.

Came home after seeing the opera last night, and watched the movie again. The opera of The Hours takes its cues from the book instead of the film. The movie has several bad choices, the biggest of which is Julianne Moore's wedding photo.

Do the opera singers hold back to aid Kelli?

Kelli outsings Renee, but DiDonato outsings them all.

"There's also a currently running London production of Christie's Witness for the Prosecution, in an environmental style staging in a real court. It opened in 2017 and paused for the worst of the pandemic. It's back going into what they are calling year six of the run, but adds up to more like year 4 1/2."

I saw this show and it's an excellent production - the story is a tad creaky but the acting and direction were really sharp and the location really works. Not really sure about the current appetite in NY for Agatha Christie though, especially on Broadway. I'm curious if they will relax some of the estate rules for The Mousetrap. In London, the estate doesn't allow people of color to perform certain parts, such as police officers, judges, etc. because it's not "accurate." Pretty silly.

Thank you r408. I would certainly rather see that than the Neil Diamond musical.

Beanie can do THE HOURS if they do a Broadway transfer, but she can only do a few minutes of those hours, those high notes are exhausting and a girl needs her rest!

[quote]Beanie can do THE HOURS if they do a Broadway transfer

Please, I got that covered! I will not get away from Broadway without a Tony!

R415! Hilarious! Thank you. And it’s funny, because it’s true. Maybe in 30 years Lea and Beanie can do a limited run of LEGENDS?

[Quote] Beanie can do THE HOURS if they do a Broadway transfer, but she can only do a few minutes of those hours, those high notes are exhausting and a girl needs her rest!

Oh, for fucks sake, give it a rest. Just saying “beanie” wasn’t funny. 40 threads ago.

R417 Fuck off, Ben.

The score of The Hours is far too heavy for Kelli who has no sense of legato at all, sings note to note, and struggles to be heard most of the night. She was fine as Despina in Cosi a few years ago, but she’s not an opera singer and her voice just doesn’t work in the house. It’s really as simple as that. Gelb has desperately wanted to integrate Broadway people into the house his entire tenure, and he’s using Kelli to fulfill whatever dream he had there. It’s an anomaly that won’t continue beyond her. Broadway singers don’t have the size of sound, the color, the legato, the squillo , the technical prowess or the language skills to sing in major opera houses. As far as the rest of the show, Renee should have stayed retired, Joyce is okay, but the top is thin and sharp as usual. The show itself is a bore, the staging a yawn and while it may have a brief remounting a season from now, it will never be seen in NY again like all new operas produced at the Met.

Hw dare you, r419?

Bart Sher loves my squillo.

I would love to beat the shit out of r419 after school

I dated an opera composer for several years. Thank you, r419, for reminding me why I have no regrets.

Marry me, 422

Beanie as Sally, Lea as Phyllis

Beanie's fangurls will attend Tuesday, Friday and Saturday matinees

Lea's fangurls will attend Wednesday matinee, Thursday and Saturday evening

Julie Benko for Hattie!

The only problem I see with all the Beanie jokes is that they are never even remotely funny or clever. R424, for instance.

Maybe they are not jokes ?

[quote]The only problem I see with all the Beanie jokes is that they are never even remotely funny or clever. [R424], for instance.

Scuse me, Dorothy Parker. I don't remember agreeing that my posts were required to be funny or clever. All that is required of me is pointless bitchery!

[quote]“The matter between myself and TDF has been resolved and both parties are satisfied with the discussions that ensued,” Wann wrote in a social media post announcing the settlement.

White interpreter for the deaf has settled his discrimination lawsuit.

Y’all joke, but a future FOLLIES revival starring Lea, Beanie, Groff and Platt is almost written in the stars at this point.

Lea and Beanie are both Sallys.

Saw that Sondheim is trending on Twitter. I'd forgotten yesterday was the anniversary of his death. Moment of silence at ITW.

Groff and Platt are both Buddys.

[quote]All that is required of me is pointless bitchery!

You've definitely mastered the pointless part.

However, your bitchery could use a lot of work.

[quote]Y’all joke, but a future FOLLIES revival starring Lea, Beanie, Groff and Platt is almost written in the stars at this point.

What could go wrong? Beane will be just dying to work with the woman who rescued the show that Beanie nearly destroyed singlehandedly.

A moment of silence? He didn't die in a war.

Dying in a war has never been a requirement for a moment of silence.

No shit, R437, but a moment of silence at a Broadway show for the dead composter, who died at nearly 100, is overdramatic as hell.

No, it's really not, r438. It's a simple gesture of respect for someone who has died, regardless of age or how it happened.

Unclench.

Oh R421, you were the pansy who got the shit beaten out of you at school every day. At 5’5” and 440 pounds, the only thing you’re doing today is fusing yourself to your couch, you clown.

R438. “Composter”? I didn’t know SS was an environmentalist!

@ r440. Read the room motherfucker.

It’s been read cunt. You’re getting ratioed. Bye.

Not eve close r440. I had a pretty great day actually, including getting my squillo sucked and topping my hot bf with a real sense of the size of my legato.

R435 Singlehandedly ? Have you SEEN the staging?

Stephen Sondheim, taken from us 1,000 years too soon.

Platt gets hired for Follies because a big star dropped out just before rehearsals were set to start. After a series of embarrassing public incidents (one after he walked out of his first rehab), no one is expecting much and his hiring is regarded as a joke.

Unexpectedly he triumphs. His Buddy makes self-loathing visceral and for the first time ever in a production of Follies, one of the husbands shines as much as (or more than) the ladies. He does a few film roles before playing the grandfather in a family drama that runs six seasons.

[quote]That's Sir King Bensley to you!

Or just Sir Kingsley.

Beanie as the new parking lot!

R447, if that’s the future asteroid do your thing.

[quote] Have you SEEN the staging?

Gotta hate how Mayer is enjoying the season's smash, and that Neil Fucking Diamond is doing well too.

[quote] Stephen Sondheim, taken from us 1,000 years too soon.

don't be a dick r446. Wouldn't you like to know that folks here on DL might be having a moment of silence for you on the first anniversary of your death?

I'll drink to that!

And one for... LINE!

I want an NBC live presentation of Evita with Lea Michele in the title role, Ben Platt as Che, Jonathan Groff as Magaldi and Beanie as Arminda, Eva’s fat and unattractive sister Erminda.

Someone bring Suzanne Somers' Broadway show back to the Great White Way - just so the Beanie obsessives have someone more inept to drive their little comments.

Lea as Evita, Groff as Peron, Platt as Che. Magaldi is kind of a nothing role after "Buenos Aires."

John Lloyd Young as Magaldi. Theo Stockman as Ensemble.

[quote]Evita with Lea Michele in the title role

I'm not having her steal my line readings like she does with Streisand.

Did Patti see SPRING AWAKENING? And did she have notes?

I saw Patti's notes for SPRING AWAKENING: "It's still backwards."

More on the happy couple, including engagement photos.

Cute!

[quote]More on the happy couple, including engagement photos.

What are their pronouns? Is Noah going to be the wife in the relationship?

Sweet, very personal tribute to Sondheim on the anniversary of his death.

Just when you thought that the Kimberly Akimbo ad campaign couldn’t get any worse, they commission a poorly drawn picture of Kimberly and the teens in a roller coaster. And for some unknown reason, they give Victoria Clark gray hair in the drawing!

[quote]His Buddy makes self-loathing visceral

Complete with tics!

Any trannies in Kimberly?

Well, there's this one.

You'll leave humming the hourglass timer!

Someone should adapt "The Hard Way" for the stage.

R429 liberals are such racists.

And hypocrites.

I feel bad for Victoria Clark

She got shit on by Nathan Lane I’m Guys and Dolls

She got shit on during How to Succeed

She got shit on during Sister Act

She got shit on during Cinderella

She got shit on by Sondheim during the Encores Follies

Now this.

What did Sondheim do to her?

Lin-Manuel and Andrew Garfield were spotted together at Merrily We Roll Along last night.

Brad Goreski and Brandon Flynn were also in the audience.

R471. When someone gets shit on that much you have to wonder if they might be the problem.

R474 Are they still dating?

[quote]What did Sondheim do to her?

He hit her in the head with a fondue pot, r472.

[quote]I feel bad for Victoria Clark

At least she made it into a lifeboat and survived the sinking of the Titanic.

Thanks, R476, that's what I thought.

Wasn't there also something about Bart Sher promising her Nellie in South Pacific only to see it given to her stage daughter instead?

Eldergay theatre queens, do you all remember lovely Peter Frechette, who seemed to appear constantly on Broadway and 0ff-Broadway stages of the 1980s and 1990s? I've recently become a FB friend and he often posts photos of his early NY appearances and I'm just bowled over by all the great stage work he did, much of it in new plays.

Of course, others may also remember Peter from the ensemble cast of Grease 2 and as David Marshall Grant's post-coital bedmate in 30Something.

It seems he went to LA to co-star in a TV series over 20 years ago, I think it was called The Profiler, and I don't think he's trod the NY boards since then, which is a shame. I'm not sure if he's still acting much or if he's still in LA.

Any other fans of Peter?

Peter Frechette gave a lovely Tony nominated performance in Eastern Standard. He was wonderful. I was watching First Wives Club the other day and he played a ‘blink and you’ll miss him’ role as a director. I wish I had seen him when he went on for Matthew Broderick in The Odd Couple because Felix seems like a great fit for him.

LMM posted screenshots of emails with Sondheim over the casting of TTB. Seems Steve had never heard of Bradley Whitford. Funny, you'd think he'd be a West Wing type.

Sara Porkalub has said she will appear in "The Hours," but only for 45 minutes.

Sondheim did not watch television, except for old movies on TV.

I don't imagine Sondheim watching network series TV at all. Maybe, had he been a little younger, he would have gotten into the some of the more provocative streaming stuff like White Lotus.

[r472] she said during her interview for the book of “Nothing Like a Dame” that he would come back stage after he show and tell her that she wasn’t doing “Losing my Mind” correctly until the final performance, when he finally told her she did it correctly. She later mentioned she has no idea what changed in her performance.

I've got no proof, but it would delight me if Sondheim was secret a fan of, say, Who's the Boss?

I think Danny Pinatauro sang "Send in the Clowns" in the school talent show episode.

Noah G.'s much hairier than I would have thought. But not at hairy as the Sherwood Forest on Ben's torso.

Any update on who's fucking Noah in those linked vids?

[quote] I think Danny Pinatauro sang "Send in the Clowns" in the school talent show episode.

I think he sang it while exposing his asshole online trolling for cock 15 years ago.

r489

what linked vids?

R486, she probably never got it right but Sondheim didn't want to leave her with the feeling that she failed.

R491 There are videos of Noah being fucked by a Grindr hookup in the Platt/Galvin engagement thread.

[quote]Any update on who's fucking Noah in those linked vids?

[quote]There are videos of Noah being fucked by a Grindr hookup in the Platt/Galvin engagement thread.

And there is your answer.

[quote]Wasn't there also something about Bart Sher promising her Nellie in South Pacific only to see it given to her stage daughter instead?

Victoria Clark was way too old to play Nellie at that point.

I never saw her performance live and I'm not sure which performance it's sourced from, but the video of Victoria Clark doing "Losing My Mind" at Encores has her doing the first part of the song as seductive torch singer which is a nice change from the weepier versions one usually sees. Was this the one Sondheim finally approved? Her performance from the L.A. production is completely different and more in line with what Bernadette Peters did.

R483 Kudos! That's a brilliant line!

Elizabeth Vincentelli has a theater review in Saturday’s Times. She is also quoted in the Kimberly akimbo ad for a review attributed to the New Yorker. Who works where and wtf is going on where

The next thread should be titled:

THEATRE GOSSIP #504: The "Kelli O'Hara's Beloved Squillo" Edition

So sick of Victoria Clark.

For a *very* different Losing My Mind, r496, go to 2:07:15...

Who can we get to do Miss Marple in the Margaret Rutherford mode if they ever made one of her Christie's Marple movies or novels into a stage property? I love the swinging music that accompanies the credits for her films! Starts at about 15 seconds in if you're in a hurry.

[quote] Sara Porkalub has said she will appear in "The Hours," but only for 45 minutes.

[quote] Kudos! That's a brilliant line!

Sadly, this isn't a brilliant line, even if it has the appearance of such. Two reasons why: 1) The timing is off. Porkakob is now a dated reference, even by DL standards. This perhaps would have been "brilliant" two months ago. 2) Porkabob has no relation to "The Hours," so the connection is lacking. The joke is interchangeable. For example, "Sara Porkabob has said she will appear in THE PAJAMA GAME, but only for 5 and half cents." or "Sara Porkabob has said she will appear in BALLROOM, but only for 50 percent of it."

How about:

Sarah Porkalob starring in KIMBERLY AKIM

R504, perfectly landed.

[quote]The joke is interchangeable. For example, "Sara Porkabob has said she will appear in THE PAJAMA GAME, but only for 5 and half cents." or "Sara Porkabob has said she will appear in BALLROOM, but only for 50 percent of it."

Actually, I think both of those jokes are quite funny. So sue me.

Noah is so out of Ben's league.

Nobody is in Ben's league.

Nobody is in Ben’s league because no one can reach his level of unattractiveness.

Noah looks like a child with a beard.

Sara Porkalob in "Love Me or Leave Me" - but she only charges 7.5 cents a dance.

Sara Porkalob couldn't star in "Rent" as her year is only 394,200 minutes.

When Sara Porkalob plays Madame Armfeldt, the moon only smiles twice.

Sara Porkalob only knows 37.5 ways to leave her lover.

Will Beanie be Ben’s ‘best person?’

K-FLOP:

Porkalob in FLOWER DRUM SONG, singing of "Seventy Five Million Miracles."

Porkalob in WONDERFUL TOWN, telling us "75 Easy Ways to Lose a Man."

Should I go on? Probably not......

Not really gossip, but I enjoyed reading about how Sondheim and Lansbury's cameos in Glass Onion came to be (that's been widely publicized over the past few months, so hopefully not a spoiler). There are spoilers about other cameos if you don't want them ruined for you, but if not, it's fun.

R517 Well, spoiled, but I shall still burst into tears seeing Steve and Angela.

The K-POP costumes have been lauded…but they are APPALLING.

You’re all just jealous that Noah gets to run his hands through Ben's luxurious shoulder hair.

Steve was a entitled unpleasant cunt.

From the EW article about Sondheim and Lansbury in KNIVES OUT:

[quote]"With Angela Lansbury, she's extraordinary in so many ways in her connection to the genre," Johnson gushes. "She's just a hero. And then Sondheim has a massive connection to the murder-mystery genre. He was a puzzle and mystery nut. He co-wrote, with Anthony Perkins, The Last of Sheila, which our film takes a huge page from in terms of the setup. And a lot of people don't know [it's] the only straight play he ever wrote that wasn't a musical was a whodunit."

In his last sentence, Johnson was not referring to THE LAST OF SHEILA, which of course is not a "straight play." He was referring to the Broadway comedy murder mystery GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER, which was co-written by Sondheim and George Furth. It rans for 31 previews and 17 performances.

[quote]"With Angela Lansbury, she's extraordinary in so many ways in her connection to the genre," Johnson gushes. "She's just a hero. And then Sondheim has a massive connection to the murder-mystery genre. He was a puzzle and mystery nut. He co-wrote, with Anthony Perkins, The Last of Sheila, which our film takes a huge page from in terms of the setup. And a lot of people don't know [it's] the only straight play he ever wrote that wasn't a musical was a whodunit."

And, umm, prior to that, she had starred in Sondheim's ANYONE CAN WHISTLE on Broadway, not to mention a revival of GYPSY. And after SWEENEY TODD, she co-starred in a revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. And so on.

Uggh, sorry. The second quote above was supposed to have been:

[quote]Lansbury is linked to the legendary lyricist and composer as well, having originated the role of Mrs. Lovett in Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. "I'm a musical theater nerd," Johnson confesses. "Sondheim's always been my guy."

Which prompted me to point out that, prior to SWEENEY, Lansbury had starred in Sondheim's ANYONE CAN WHISTLE on Broadway, not to mention a revival of GYPSY. And after SWEENEY TODD, she co-starred in a revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. And so on.

We know her credits, dear.

They weren’t giving full biographies, just some interesting relevant conversational references, you insufferable twit r522/r523

Mentioning only SWEENEY TODD as a Sondheim/Lansbury connection makes it sound like the author of the article was completely unaware of all the other stuff. She didn't have to give Lansbury's entire Sondheim resume, she could have written something like ".....among several other major projects."

And the author of the article's confusion over THE LAST OF SHEILA and GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER is just sloppy and ignorant.

What's the buzz off-Bway?

Oh, relax, r526.

With apologies for mentioning the dreadful ATC site, does anyone know who "Dale" might be? He made an astonishingly clumsy reference, by name, to a (very) former love interest of Sondheim's in a thread yesterday discussing Sondheim on Sondheim. He basically hijacked the discussion to drop this name--most unseemly for that site.

Lin referring to Andrew Garfield as “my leading man”…

Are these two fucking or what?

Or he just wants to remind everyone he made a film

So, the ever-busy Andrew Lloyd Webber and some producer named Michael Harrison have announced the formation of "a new musical theatre partnership to find and develop new musicals, and create new productions from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s momentous musical catalogue."

Momentous? I guess there are even some Brits who can't use the English language properly, not even in press releases.

Michael Riedel delves into the current overcorrection happening on diversity and inclusion mandates. Also goes into the very alienating WSYWAT manifesto and other areas that many are too afraid to speak out against. He might air on the cunty side, but man do I miss his reporting.

"These days it takes a while to get to that table read. After the meet and greet, there’s coronavirus-protocol training and testing. Then there’s sexual-harassment training, as mandated by New York State. And then there’s equity-diversity-and-inclusion training, which can run from four to eight hours. Faced with all this instruction, a writer of Broadway musicals says: “This may sound out of touch, but shouldn’t there be some training on how to rehearse and fix the show?” No kidding!

"With revolution comes excess. A playwright says four theaters have canceled her plays because, as a white female, she doesn’t check the diversity box. Another writer, helping to put together a panel on diversity in the theater, put forth the name of a young Black male writer whose work she admires. She was told that the panel already had two people of color, so what it needed were writers whose genders were fluid. “And then they ticked off genders, poly this and poly that, that I’d never heard of,” she says."

Is Lin hiding a double chin underneath that beard? Step away from the churros, papi.

"The cost of diversity coaches, intimacy coaches (you can’t have an onstage kiss without an intimacy coach monitoring every quiver of a lip), and diversity-training modules adds up as well. Hit shows such as Hamilton, Wicked, and The Lion King can afford it. But smaller shows—and struggling nonprofit theaters—are feeling the pinch.

“All of these things cost thousands of dollars,” says the head of a small nonprofit. “I had to spend $1,000 to create a ‘healing space.’ We don’t have any money as it is. I’m trying to get shows on, but I’m spending 40 percent of my time on human resources.”

Theaters are paying “diversity dramaturges” to vet scripts to make sure they don’t contain insensitive language or offensive stereotypes, a development that rattles some writers. “You can’t write with the idea that someone is looking over your shoulder,” says a writer who is not white but who is writing about cultures other than his own. “This is impinging on the creative process.”

That Riedel article is almost a year old! And still paywalled (I'd like to read it without subscribing).

[quote]He might air on the cunty side, but man do I miss his reporting.

Oh, dear.

Can I suggest "Airing On The Cunty Side" as our next TG thread title? I kinda love it.

It's better than Reba, Lea, or Beanie "jokes" at the very least.

That Riedel article is interesting, but note that it dates from January 2022.

OT this is television but Patti is Broadway

Much like last holiday season, Covid seems to be affecting Broadway schedules again. Some Like It Hot cancelled its performance tonight as of 4:30pm.

Patti has left Twitter. Good. Everyone should follow.

J Harrison Ghee is recovering from a pre existing injury and will return on Thursday. Tonite was cancelled to rehearse the understudy.

How does the understudy identify?

Some Like It Tranny!

I think Rosie left Twitter too, but can't confirm it....

FYI: I actually played the lead in “The Mousetrap” at, of all places, Idaho State University, in Pocatello, in the summer of 1972. A thankless role, the lead is the detective who’s arrived at a snowed-in country inn to investigate a murder. He’s constantly calling all the other characters into the single set, a living room. The supporting roles are much more fun, though the text is not particularly funny.

There’s one climactic twist, typical Christie, which is fun. But, overall, I’d say the whole endeavor is really little more than a trifle. Stoppard it ain’t.

Rosie did delete her Twitter.

What a mess

Ugh, I have TDF tix for SLIH for tomorrow night so now I'm hoping they cancel tomorrow night's performance with the understudy and cancel it early enough for me not to have to schlep into Manhattan in the rain.

Not to mention, now I'm reading so many bad things about SLIH on ATC.

[quote]J Harrison Ghee

Has anyone ever described him as "like buttah?"

[Quote] paywalled (I'd like to read it without subscribing).

Why do you think you should get to read someone’s writing for free?

If you post a link, the least you can do is make it available to read

R496

I saw a vid of the Follies that VC was in after Bernie left the part and honestly....she sung too powerfully to convey the shellshocked longing of Losing My Mind. I watched it going "oh...her Sally is sturdy enough to survive this."

I thought Bernadette was terrific. Incredibly raw, unsettling, lost, bitter, hopeless...and you could see that she was still this appealing woman who could have been enjoying her life instead of pining for Ben...but was waaaay too broken to be happy.

I really don't understand why people crapped on Bernadette during that Follies run. Honestly, please explain it to me because in my eyes she GOT it.

[quote]I really don't understand why people crapped on Bernadette during that Follies run. Honestly, please explain it to me because in my eyes she GOT it.

Maybe the explanation is as simple as this: Bernadette is well known for being a very inconsistent performer from night to night, so you may have just caught her on a really good night while others did not.

Because she started off depressive, r553. Listen to Collins do it. She comes in manic and happy and excited to be there. It would be understandable that a manic phase would have gotten Sally to head to NYC for the reunion.

How soon will K-POP post its closing notice? Tomorrow?

R554 I did not know Bernie had that reputation. Did she always? Before Follies?

It was my first time seeing her live and I could hear her voice was straining a bit with the score and from age too. I still thought she pulled through. No big mistakes or cracks or anything. She really sung well...but I could image she had rougher nights. So was it just Follies she was inconsistent with?

R555 That's fair I suppose. Is Sally supposed to be manic? I guess it could read that way. She seemed more desperate and sad and also a little giddy initially to me. Does the show really work better when Sally shows up and you have no clue she's dealing with melancholy?

I liked what Bernie did just fine.

I thought people disliked it because she looked too pretty or something. I remember reading a review about how she wasn't frumpy enough.

...see that's why I cannot abide Imelda S as Sally. I mean....are you kidding? It's ridiculous she'd show up, with thar face and body, thinking she could win back an old boyfriend who is now filthy rich with a glamorous life. Absurd. And it pushes the whole piece into a caricature or cartoon.

I prefer when a performance doesn't swing too wildly to extremes. I suppose if Sally starts off really happy and then has this terrible breakdown, audiences will go "WOW - what an EVOLUTION!1!"

Bernie's Sally was clearly a little sad from the start, but it still built. She cracked worse as the night went on. And the staging of her Losing My Mind was just brilliant.

People wereveven shitting on the staging of LMM though, with her standing and crying, which Bernie was so honest with. Meanwhile, with Imelda there's a vanity mirror and pill popping and a wig coming off....so much stuff that didn't need to be there at all. But she gets rave reviews apparently!

Weird.

[quote]Because she started off depressive, [R553]. Listen to Collins do it. She comes in manic and happy and excited to be there.

Dorothy Collins ran onto the stage, That's how excited she was to be there. Bernadette made the obvious (and inappropriate) choice of walking tentatively onto the stage, nervously looking around as though she were expecting at any moment to be hit in the face. A great actress she is not.

She also had dumb dumb as a director.

True, R559. Eric Schaeffer is a hack.

Every weekend I paint for umpteen hours = manic

And yes I miss a lot living like a shut-in = depressive

Bernadette’s Sally was very different in DC. She practically bolted onto the stage, wearing a much-criticized red dress that was clearly chosen to make Sally the center of attention. When she danced in Who’s That Woman, she also clearly stood out. This woman had been practicing her Follies dance steps for 30 years,

Broadway was much more on the depressive side. Her dress was replaced, and the dancing played heavily on the idea that none of them could remember the steps.

She certainly was not too pretty.

I remember Bernadette in DC. SHe was practically sobbing through "Losing My Mind." Not a good choice.

Losing My Mind by Bernadette was a genuinely awful performance. The worst kind of self indulgence. The performance was completely about how she felt about it with no space for the audience to experience it. I found it completely blinkered and appalling to watch, and was shocked that there was zero guidance from the director or that Sondheim allowed it. Given that Bernadette has given some of my favorite performances over the years, I was genuinely surprised at how awful it was. A textbook definition of how not to perform a song, or role for that matter.

Follies is like herpes

Sorry to break in to the Follies talk--I'm not really familiar with J Harrison Ghee, but after hearing the terrible version of "I Am What I Am" that's being used in Virgin Atlantic commercials, I went to Youtube to listen to better versions, and found this one. I don't usually like the disco and dance versions, because they tend to rob it of some of (or a lot of) the emotion, but I enjoyed this (even if I did end up rewatching the Walter Charles and Gary Beach versions, which I like more). It's fun and well done.

Never saw Follies until the most recent revival. Bernie’s first few lines and Danny’s reaction to her made me think she had either escaped from the loony bin or just went through extensive shock therapy.

For those who missed the latest Internet kerfluffle/proof why people shouldn't use Twitter, Jackie Hoffman made a joke about how much she paid for a glass of wine at Ain't No Mo and got it trouble for it. The tweet has since been deleted.

Perhaps the worst part is that it allowed people to spread the dubious claim that the playwright is the youngest ever. The BWW boards have already been dissecting that one. (Shelagh Delaney's A Taste Of Honey, staged on Broadway when she was 21, would seem to beat him by a wide margin. That production naturally starred...Angela Lansbury. All roads lead back to...)

I know it's too early, but this thread was started when the previous one was only at r570, so I went ahead and started a new one to head off the Rebas at the pass, using r538's suggestion.

For when the time comes:

When LaChanze and her daughter were both on broadway they were heavily publicized as THE FIRST MOTHER AND DAUGHTER APPEARING ON BROADWAY AT THE SAME TIME. Sorry, but Debbie (Woman of the Year) and Carrie (Agnes of God) were there first. No one cared. Just like no one cares if Delaney was the youngest. Rewriting history is becoming more and more common.

Weren't Debbie and Carrie together earlier in IRENE?

They were, r572. Carrie was in the ensemble of IRENE and stood out because she was so much younger and more petite than the other chorus ladies.

R557

"Does the show really work better when Sally shows up and you have no clue she's dealing with melancholy?"

Yes. Plays generally work better if the audience's perception of the character changed over the course of the action. Also, Sallys first lines, "Can I keep it?" "I'm so glad I came" and the fact that she is the first to arrives shows how excited she is. A depressive opening works against the script (and not in a good way).

"People wereveven shitting on the staging of LMM though, with her standing and crying, which Bernie was so honest with. Meanwhile, with Imelda there's a vanity mirror and pill popping and a wig coming off....so much stuff that didn't need to be there at all. But she gets rave reviews apparently!"

Wig coming off? Now, we know you did not see Staunton. You saw Joanna RIding, her replacement,. She introduced that piece of business.

Add me as another person who felt Bernadette was too depressed and quivery from her very first entrance in that abominable Follies revival. Shell-shocked is a perfect description. And her Losing My Mind was too one-note.

[quote] When LaChanze and her daughter were both on broadway they were heavily publicized as THE FIRST MOTHER AND DAUGHTER APPEARING ON BROADWAY AT THE SAME TIME.

Other examples long before LaChanze and her daughter, Celia Rose Gooding...

Rosemary Harris and daughter Jennifer Ehle were on Broadway at the same time in 2000 (in Waiting in the Wings and The Real Thing, respectively), and were both nominated for Best Actress, with Ehle winning. Tammy Grimes and Amanda Plummer were also on Broadway at the same time in 42nd Street and A Taste of Honey in 1981.

I totally agree r575. Since the original production it seems to have been forgotten that these are Follies numbers that comment on the characters' reality. They are not meant to be reality itself.

Which is one of the many reasons that to date, no production has surpassed the original.

[Quote] It's ridiculous she'd show up, with thar face and body, thinking she could win back an old boyfriend who is now filthy rich with a glamorous life. Absurd. And it pushes the whole piece into a caricature or cartoon.

What a moronic comment.

I was the opposite. My favorite performer is Bernadette Peters. My favorite show is Follies and my favorite song is Losing My Mind.

So I was in heaven when we saw Follies.

I’m sorry she wasn’t everything everyone wanted in the role…but for me…it was glorious.

r579, was that your first time at the Follies rodeo?

I can't believe someone just typed that Sally needs to be hot enough for the narrative to work.

[r580] yep! I live in Indiana so it’s hard to get to the coasts to see productions. I loved Marin Mazzie… but was bummed when she got Losing My Mind during Sondheim’s 80th. I was hoping it would be a surprise that Bernadette would get it. Then it was announced that she got the role at the Kennedy Center and we immediately got tickets. Even in 2011 it was difficult as the site kept crashing. I think we were in the queue for a full hour, but we got our tickets.

I may be an outlier, but I thought Bernadette actually sang quite well throughout Follies and was impressed by the strength of her head voice at her age, but didn't like the weepy take on "Losing My Mind." And I think, as others have said, her director probably left her rudderless throughout.

When Steve met Meryl, and other stories....

I imagine Sondheim was VERY involved in that production of Follies. I can't imagine he left anyone to just trust their own instincts. He wasn't exactly shy about giving his opinions and notes, even when he was dealing with Trevor Nunn and the like. If you didn't like Bernadette's choices, just know they were, at the very least, Sondheim-approved. If not Sondheim-directed.

This was posted in another thread, but it's such a lovely tribute to Mary Beth Peil and to the power of working in theatre.

Oh my god!!! I just found out Sondheim was dead!

Bernadette always cries so the audience doesn't have to.

Bernadette is one of those performers who isn't really an actor. She doesn't have a technique from which to draw so she tries out things throughout the run. Without a solid base, you end up with her willy-nilly choices.

[quote]Does the show really work better when Sally shows up and you have no clue she's dealing with melancholy?

Look up manic-depression, r557. The highs are as high as the lows are low.

Hogwash, r589.

"Rewriting history is becoming more and more common."

In an age when politicians refuse to concede defeat and others fly their freak flag in the face of science, gender, biology and truth, what else can you expect? Come back, George Orwell, we hardly knew ye.

"Theaters are paying “diversity dramaturges” to vet scripts to make sure they don’t contain insensitive language or offensive stereotypes, a development that rattles some writers. “You can’t write with the idea that someone is looking over your shoulder,” says a writer who is not white but who is writing about cultures other than his own. “This is impinging on the creative process.”'

What a tragedy, truly. We may as well be back in the Soviet Union, with the apparatchiks approving art by committee, while Stalin glowers down from a portrait on the wall.

People just don't care about accuracy anymore. In news, in advertising -- anything goes. As I mentioned in another thread, there's a commercial for the tour of "Mean Girls" that claims that Tina Fey was the "creator of Saturday Night Live."

FIRST MIDNIGHT!

Who wants to fuck up the next thread title?

Sounds like PHANTOM is extending into the spring, should be announced today.

It's not hogwash. Bernadette's line readings can veer wildly. That's not an inventine actor, it's someone throwing things at the wall.

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Bajour!

Hogwash, r596.