Is It Just Me, Or...(Part II)
Is It Just Me, Or...(Part II)...Do we really need a sequel to The Phantom Of The Opera? I thought Cats were supposed to have nine lives, but isn't two phantoms one too many? What can Sir Andrew possibly do for an encore? Implode the opera house? You can weigh in via the new SOB Poll found on the right-hand side of the site.
...Wasn't it a relief that temperatures finally began to warm up and inspire more people to go to the theatre last week? And how about Spring Awakening's amazing bump up at the box office! Not only has the tuner finally scored a capacity of over 90%, but it's also among the top five Broadway shows in that category. The great word of mouth is finally catching up with the show.
...Isn't the prurient interest in all things Daniel Radcliffe just a little bit unseemly for someone who's still 17 years of age? If I have to see one more picture of his bare bum, I'm going to turn myself in. With talk that his full frontal turn in Equus might transfer to the States, hopefully Radcliffe will have the temerity to first celebrate a birthday before an official Broadway mounting.
...Don't all those Olivier Awards for Sunday In The Park With George make you wish that its Broadway transfer were sooner than later? And wasn't it amazing how two Tony Award-winning Best Musicals -- Avenue Q and Monty Python's Spamalot -- were snubbed in honor of Caroline, Or Change, which despite being Tony-nommed, it ultimately lost to Avenue Q.
...Can the already announced Xanadu musical really find the appropriate mix of tongue-in-chic relevance with Kristen Bell, now that Jane Krakowski won't be riding her roller skates across a Broadway stage this spring? Thankfully, we can still see the latter on "30 Rock" -- arguably the most hilarious show on television.
...Isn't Rocco at What's Good/What Blows In New York Theatre just about the funniest theatre blogger around? Today's entry on "What My Mom Says About..." is priceless. Rocco, I think our mothers would get along just fine (and by the way, that's a great wide-eyed photo, presumably of you!).
...Why do directors and/or producers think that a novel winning formula for one show will work for another? John Doyle has already been burned for attempting to parlay his success from Sweeney Todd in requiring his actors to double as musicians one too many times (read: Barnum) even after the novelty wore off with critics via Company. But now, Doug Hughes appears to be copying Spring Awakening's unique onstage audience seating formula for his upcoming revival of Inherit The Wind. Still, I guess it would be rather cool to be able to say you were on stage with Brian Dennehy, Christopher Plummer and Denis O'Hare, now wouldn't it?
Tell me what you think!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:
Is It Just Me, Or... (June 24, 2006)
Labels: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Box Office, Broadway, Daniel Radcliffe, Equus, Inherit The Wind, Is It Just Me, John Doyle, SOB Poll, Spring Awakening, The Phantom Of The Opera
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, February 21, 2007
7 Comments:
I'd be way too self-conscious to sit on stage, thinking about how everyone in the audience was looking at me. It must be a little strange for the actors, too, although I guess in a courtroom drama like Inherit the Wind, it fits.
I do give Daniel Radcliffe credit for wanting to be taken seriously as an actor, for wanting to challenge himself, but it seems like the whole marketing campaign for this play has been focused on, uh, things other than his skill as a thespian. And you're right, that focus is a little creepy.
I agree with everything Esther said--I do think that they are marketing the wrong things about Equus. It has, now, become about the wrong thing.
SIGH! I don't care if I am onstage or hanging from the rafters...Inherit The Wind with those three actors! SIGH! Heavenly.
Esther, You're right that the courtroom angle might make it work for Inherit The Wind, and Ste, I agree that those three actors (plus the rest of the terrific cast) will likely make the show well worth seeing.
Caroline or Change, although not my favourite was certainly of more enduring quality and impact than Avenue Q...one would hope?!
Rather disappointed with the results on many fronts.
Hope all is well with you though SOB!
CS, I'm with you on Avenue Q. I didn't think it deserved the Tony it won in 2004 (and personally, if I had been voting the following year, Spamalot would not have been my choice, either).
I had the privilege of seeing "Caroline" twice - at the Public and on Broadway. It STOMPED "Spamalot," which I wish would simply go away.
As for the "Phantom Part Deux," I predict a pre-quel: how he got disfigured, how he came to haunt the opera, blah blah blah..
Like "Wicked," but no fun.
Call me WRONG! Kerry Butler, not Kristen Bell, will take on the Olivia Newton-John role in the Broadway mounting of the camp flick Xanadu.
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