Reviews

Gramps · Veteran Member

Reviews

DogsandBirds · Guru

Think this is a great idea, but shouldn't we limit the reviews to the Broadway show? Hard to compare a performance with a different cast, director, production values, in a different city to NYC and Broadway, with this cast and with Tony award winning creative people. Makes the reviews of the different productions sort of apples and oranges.

There will be enough to fill many pages from both the media as well as quoting individuals who post on other boards. Let's hope the reviews are mostly positive!

-- Edited by DogsandBirds at 17:08, 2007-07-13

Gramps · Veteran Member

I strongly agree about limiting the content of this topic to reviews of this one show. That will make it ever so much more easy to refer to later.

Stan/gramps

Gramps · Veteran Member

DogsandBirds wrote:

Think this is a great idea, but shouldn't we limit the reviews to the Broadway show? Hard to compare a performance with a different cast, director, production values, in a different city to NYC and Broadway, with this cast and with Tony award winning creative people. Makes the reviews of the different productions sort of apples and oranges.

There will be enough to fill many pages from both the media as well as quoting individuals who post on other boards. Let's hope the reviews are mostly positive!

-- Edited by DogsandBirds at 17:08, 2007-07-13

This is exactly what I had in mind and I just did not make it clear. I will start a new topic tonight limiting it to reviews of the 2007 Broadway production.
Thanks B&D for catching the oversight.

Stan

-- Edited by Gramps at 02:48, 2007-07-18

Gramps · Veteran Member

Reading this is not going to make any Grease Forum member very happy, but nevertheless it is out there. The one good thing I can say about it is that the photograph is nice. The rest is sad and a little scary.

See:

http://nymag.com/arts/theater/features/34974/

Stan/gramps

liz · Member

Oh, let them say what they want, we all know how good they are! It is sad how cruel people can be, like the person that came up to Max and told him he didn't like him. I guess it just shows how strong these kids are. They know they're good and they'll be great on stage. All of us love them and for those who don't they're just jealous. Don't let the clueless get you down, Max and Laura. You'll do great! Loved the pictures and thanks for the link gramps!

greatwhiteway · Senior Member

Looking at the bright side... he is at least giving them a chance, in a left -handed compliment sort of a way. I think he liked them on a personal level and is obviously hoping their chemistry will shine through.

cpathens · Veteran Member

Gramps wrote:

Reading this is not going to make any Grease Forum member very happy, but nevertheless it is out there. The one good thing I can say about it is that the photograph is nice. The rest is sad and a little scary.

See:

http://nymag.com/arts/theater/features/34974/

I enjoyed that article. It provided a different perspective. I didn't find it negative at all, just realistic.

Paikea · Veteran Member

cpathens wrote:

I enjoyed that article. It provided a different perspective. I didn't find it negative at all, just realistic.

I have to say that I enjoyed it as well. I thought it was honest and thorough and even a bit optimistic. Max and Laura are adorable, as always, and it really sounds like none of this has changed them. And the pancake story? Too cute.

MissKay · Member

Gramps,
I didn't really think the article was all that bad. I do think, however, that there are some critics out there who already plan to give this show a bad review because of the reality show. But remember, there are many movies that have started out with really bad reviews that did extremely well at the box office.
I think that America will love Max and Laura and come out to see the show, regardless of the reviews and all the broadway politics. I hope I am right.
Kay

Kait · Senior Member

I found the article interesting, and not as negative as the headline might suggest.

I adore the pancake story. For me, it always comes back to this. When YTOTIW started, many viewers had favorites who weren't Max and Laura. Max and Laura both had to perform well each week and change enough voter's minds to win. They did that. When I review my YTOTIW tapes, I feel absolutely confident (again) that the pair have something very special.

Edwardian · Veteran Member

Actually, I thought it was an excellent article, fair, balanced and well written. It sets out the very real challenges that Laura and Max face as well as the strengths that they possess to overcome them.

Laura Mom · Senior Member

I thought the article was actually very fair and pretty right on target! There's no doubt Max and Laura are the "new kids on the island" and they got there in a very untraditional, and to some--unappealing way. Everybody is going to be watching to see if they can really handle it. Indeed there are some synics who hope not, but people like this author may have their legitimate doubts but sort of...hope so! I think Max and Laura are both going to blow people out of the water and erase all doubts. Laura has done several shows in Minneapolis that had as many as 10 or 12 shows per week and she "held up" just fine. Grease has 8. I also think people who know Laura would say she will be a leader and can carry the show. She has such a gracious personality and along with it has such a passion for her work that on both sides of that coin people love her and love working with her. And she's not a diva who thinks she's all that's important in the show. She gives great credit to other cast members and is even often one of the few who goes down and thanks the orchestra for their work or who will acknowledge all the technical workers. Obviously I don't know Max like I know Laura but talk about another person who has people skills...as well as very genuine talent. Broadway's doubts about the new talent are fair, but I hope they'll also recognize that they've put Max and Laura under an extremely scrutinizing microscope and that they'll give them credit when credit is earned and due! And one more thing...Max and Laura will work their tails off to get "You're the One that I Want" just the way Kathleen Marshall wants it. People something think all acting is so "natural" but some scenes take a great amount of work. You have to dig into the charcter and try to grasp who they are in each scene you're playing. And you have to sometimes become something you're not and learn how to express that. Sometimes it's hard work. But as has been said elsewhere on this forum, both Max and Laura take direction well. They will work hard. We're going to see a great show!

Gramps · Veteran Member

I was surprised to read everyone's positive responses so I went back and re-read the article. Lo and behold I had somehow missed pages 2 and 3 and had been left with the closing phrase of page 1, "...we're going to be gunning for the production."

Having read the whole article I feel about the way everyone else does.

I am reminded of a phrase that I used to often say to my college students, "If at first you don't succeed, read the directions." I should have followed my own advice. Give me a "D" for a grade.

But give me an "A" for how much I want this performance to succeed.

Stan/Gramps

-- Edited by Gramps at 16:27, 2007-07-21

Kait · Senior Member

Well, that explains it, Stan, but I give you an A for sharing the story in the first place. Thanks.

AZN Danny · Veteran Member

If Matt didn't want to be in the show, why did he take the role?

Also, I wonder why Max had a bad experience at the Olive Garden. And it's nice to see Laura took her lasagna home instead of letting it go to waste!

cpathens · Veteran Member

AZN Danny wrote:

If Matt didn't want to be in the show, why did he take the role?

Matt said his initial response was that he didn't want to be involved. He must have changed his mind somewhere along the way.

reniefran · Senior Member

Well if the mom of one of the principal players thought it was fair then I guess I shall just have to read it again. I guess the part that bothered me was the part about how they got their roles. It just seems like that keeps surfacing over and over again. But like I posted over on Max's website even negative publicity can be a shot in the arm becuase people read the articles and want to find out for themselves what it's all about. And Im not saying this article is negative I'm just sayingthey're getting publicity and that's great! I know that when a critic gives a review of a movie or play or book I like to check it out for myself to see if I think they're right.

cpathens · Veteran Member

reniefran wrote:

......I guess the part that bothered me was the part about how they got their roles. It just seems like that keeps surfacing over and over again.....

But you know this is only the beginning of this, don't you? The reality show factor IS the hook for this show. It's only natural that it's going to be the focus of the articles and reviews. Those connected with the show seem to be pretty accepting of that and appear to be tailoring their expectations accordingly.

reniefran · Senior Member

You're right. I guess I should look at it this way. Those who review it will say this and then when the show happens they will be forced to admit that this may not be a bad way to find undiscovered,gifted young people. In any case we only have to wait a few more days until the first performance. I am so excited for Max and Laura that I can't stand it!Wow! Their first brodway opening as the stars of the show! smile

Gramps · Veteran Member

Here is a prime example of a bad review (Xanadu, not Grease). It also gives some insight into how much different critics can disagree.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20047764,00.html

Stan/gramps

1956cookie · Member

I saw Xanadu this past weekend and found a 1 1/2 hour show of pure fun and enjoyment. The actors were great and seemed to be having as much fun as the audience.

All I have to say is that some CRITICS think they know all, and seem to have preconcieved ideas of what should and should not be put on stage. I think the best example of that is they were not impressed with Wicked when it first came out, but it has turned out to be one of the hardest tickets to get on Broadway.

Gramps · Veteran Member

It is certainly true that some critics have preconceived ideas. However, so do those who go to see the show. We on this list, including me, are a good example of that.

Stan/gramps