Favourite show?

[Yonkers]

Sally, I think I'm going to have to take you under my wing and educate you about how great musicals can be! I've just read you saw Eureka 17 times ( I hope you got lots of comps). This really isn't a good example of the form.

There is a terrific book called Broadway Musicals - 101 greatest Shows of All Time by Ken Bloom & Frank Vlastnik. It is fairly new. It's a coffee table book, sells for about $59 here, though amazon has it for US $19 at the moment ( I found it in Dymocks). It's full of the best photo's and stories. Get it, you'd love it and it's an education!

[Sally]

I could surprise you at how much I know about musicals in general

And I saw Eureka from the 2nd preview, through to the closing show: I know how great musicals can be. I'm not widely travelled yet, but I've seen a fair few shows, and if in my opinion, Eureka has been the best of the lot, then I'm sticking with it. Everyone has different likes and dislikes. I like a show that entertains me, but love one that also moves me and gets me interested in the subject matter

[lazyboy]

Yonkers, I wish you would stop going on about all the cuts made to the script in They're Playing Our song because there simply were none. the show was performed in its entirety. This show would probably have been the hardest to pull off for a PC show because it is essentially a play - a very wordy play that is carried by only two performers on that vast stage. In many of their shows they get away with just moving the actors around the stage while they deliver their lines, stick in a few bright production numbers, call that direction and bobs your uncle. But to direct a Neil Simon play (as well as deliver production numbers) in a week and expect to be able to do justice to the script is a little ambitious. having said that i thought the cast did a superb job under the circumstances.

[Yonkers]

Lazyboy, there were cuts made to They're Playing Our Song, the first noticeable one was in Sonia's apartment after they had been to Le Club, cuts and additions during the second act I Still Believe In Love (recording studio) scene, and the scene when Vernon is in hospital. Ian Stenlake did well as Vernon, but sadly Sharon Millerchip (though performing valiantly) seemed to have been misdirected. Choreography was inappropriate for that show, Chicago yes, Song no.

And what of the Hello, Dolly! cuts additions? These shows are those that I noticed the most damage was done. All I ask is that the powers that be there get musical theatre people in who can get a show on without having to 'doctor' the material to make the a musical their ideal. The source material is already a success why fool with it?

[lazyboy]

ok, don't want to get into a slanging match with you over this although if you ask anyone who had anything to do with TPOS they will tell you that there were no cuts made to the script. I also have to say that I really enjoyed Sharon Millerchip's performance so perhaps we should agree to disagree and leave it at that.

[Yonkers]

As one who had involvement with the original and attended with another, trust me there were cuts.

[mothercabrini]

as a new wayakka member it would seem to me that many of its members are happy to settle for mediocre productions and this thread is a prime example...have seen a majority of production company presentations...it is clear to me that mediocrity is rewarded in australia...i too agree with yonkers...hello dolly {originally a farce} was made unintentionally into a farce thanks to rodeny fishers direction....brecht and jerry herman collided into an vomitus mess....the production company was set up to copy the success of new yorks encores series, a series that was set up to give people the oportunity to see show that might not get to see the light of day due to a bevy of reasons. costs, casts, tastes changing etc etc...unusual shows not seen in many yrs...why then does the production company feel the need to produce half baked productions of shows seen less than 10 yrs ago here {sunset blvd} why then do they feel the need to chop and change shows that had enormous success in their original form {hello dolly, theyre playing song}...for those of those that feel yonkers is being unduely harsh...i say....POO! thank you for yonkers for holding up the flame to profesionalism

[Yonkers]

Mother Cabrini, you are obviously a Sister of enormous good taste! Why aren't there more people like you here on this messageboard? It seems that most do settle for mediocrity as God, judging by some of the remarks made about TPC efforts. Too bad eh?

[Talissa]

You know, perhaps it's not so much a matter of taste, but of stepping down off one's high horse and being willing to see the good in things, especially things that are on the whole beneficial.

Look at what TPC and Jeanne Pratt do. Through the three musicals staged each year, they give work to a hundred or so actors. Fleeting work, yes, but in a time when an actor can go from accolades in leading roles one day to waiting tables the next, anything that keeps their eyes on the stage and gives them hope to keep them from giving up helps. And look at the opportunities it gives the young actors who win supporting roles to prove themselves and be seen.

Then there's the Pratt Prize, and the work done with the winners. We've seen how thankless it is for writers trying to get their works on stage and thriving in this country. Sure, Sideshow Alley was a bit of a false start (although I still want to see it), but the thing is that they're trying. That's more than an awful lot of this country other than Magnormos can say.

As for 'mediocrity', for goodness' sake, look at the conditions they have for rehearsal and performance. Two weeks of rehearsing at break-neck speed, one run on the stage, and then they've suddenly got an audience. I'd like to see you produce a masterpiece under those conditions. It's utterly exhausting and doesn't leave time for anything fancy. Yet look at what they manage in those two weeks. I think they do pretty darn well. Yes, some of their shows turn out to be better than others, and I'm looking forward to Sunset Boulevard less than the other two this year, but that happens, and I'm still going to give it a chance and see what good comes of it. If there are aspects I don't like, I won't lie about them, but my criticisms will be intended to help, not wound. How about you try some of the same. I've already asked you to tone down your comments, and if you can't focus on the good instead of tirelessly harping over the bad, I might have to start deleting or editing your posts until you can show that you're not just here to give everybody a hard time.

[Yonkers]

As I said, it's good to see someone here (Mother Cabrini) who isn't just another gushing fan. Other theatre boards such as Broadwayworld.com allow pro and con discussion about all manner of things theatrical making it a terrific site to visit. Whereas this forum seems very much geared to one way traffic, so what's the deal?

Once again I have to say that TPC over extend themselves. You don't need a lot of costumes, you don't need to learn the script, do it like Encores in New York, carry the scripts then lose them when you get to the numbers etc. Do this and you'll end up with better presentations. Yes, the Pratt Prize is good, maybe that's where there energies should be directed. OK?

[Talissa]

I don't get it. Some people complained when the Eureka cast were carrying scripts at Hats Off, even though they'd been integrated into the performance, and then others suggest using scripts for TPC. Now, I'd rather not see that. I don't see what would be gained that way.

And pros and cons are fine. It's just when people seem to be putting all their energy into saying how awful something is, even if it might have its redeeming qualities, that it gets tiresome. I put the board in place to support the industry, and while criticism is healthy, remarks that are on the verge of flames are not.

[Yonkers]

By carrying scripts, less time is spent on learning dialogue and more time can be spent on presentation of the music/dance which is often a weak spot with TPC shows (whole dance breaks have sometimes had to be cut).

[Yonkers]

Earlier today there was a reply here from Mother Cabrini, now I check the site mid afternoon and it has disappeared.

There was nothing offensive in the posting I read. If a forum is set up you have to expect pro and con opinions to be aired. Surely all opinions promote healthy discussion providing there is no offensive language etc. Obviously free speech isn't an option here.

I'm all for celebrating good work as much as criticising poor work. It seems that most on this board are somewhat blinkered. Not everything is that good.

[Buff]

I've only ever seen one post from Mother Cabrini and it's still there. Was there another one?

If there was, I know I didn't delete it.

Buff

[Sally]

I'm all for celebrating good work as much as criticising poor work. It seems that most on this board are somewhat blinkered. Not everything is that good

There's a difference between constructive criticism, and mindless bashing. And if I don't like something, I'm gonna be the first one to say it, as Julia can vouch for my doing a few days ago while still in the theatre This is getting quite boring - we are here to celebrate and support the good, hence this topic in particular is called *favourite* show, not least favourite But, if you want least favourites, then I'll go ahead and say I'm not looking forward to Sunset Boulevard, but that's because I don't like Sunset Boulevard itself in general. But I'm also very sure I'll end up loving it and eating those words, because TPC can work wonders with shows I don't like, as proved to me several times in the past.