Do you need to read any more of Finkle's review than this line?
But to show her exclusively as a desperate pill-popping, booze-swilling, four-letter-word-spouting monster says nothing more than that a group of people (Quilter, director Johnson, the two handfuls of producers) have decided they stand a chance at making a heap of dough trashing the Garland name to a public assumed to want nothing more from their entertainments than something on a Jerry Springer level.
All he had left to say was that taking her name in vain is a sin. Or, "How DARE they!" He's obviously a GGB (Good Garlandian Bitch).
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Blogger Martha Wade Steketee provides an interesting analysis that concludes:
"...this is not Judy Garland but a fictional superficially researched version of similar character. This is one more use of the Garland persona that some will defend because it moved them, that others will defend by asserting that a fiction presenting a woman crawling on the floor is truer than the gossamer some Garland fans insist upon hearing....This may be Tracie Bennett’s diva. But there is no reason, based on available research, based on the words of the playwright himself, based on the legacy of recordings and filmed performances and conversations, that we should see this performance as Judy Garland."
meanwhile, is poor Isabel Keating still slaving away over to SPIDERMAN? and Adrienne Barbeau back in Cali?
Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys.
"I guarantee that we'll have tough
times. I guarantee that at some point
one or both of us will want to get out.
But I also guarantee that if I don't
ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for
the rest of my life..."
Thanks for that link, PJ. Steketee's review is exceedingly nuanced and articulate, and reflects the feelings of those of us who were repelled by the play.
"Hurry up and get into your conga clothes - we've got to do something to save this show!"
The New York Daily News didn't seem to get posted last night. It's negative:
"Tribute and trash collide uneasily in “End of the Rainbow,” a jacked-up portrait of Judy Garland....It is not a pretty picture. Or an illuminating one.
Before an inevitable big meltdown, Judy drools on herself — first water, then booze — begs for pills, tosses tantrums, spews vulgarities and scratches her private parts.
Most memorably she downs tablets she pilfers from Anthony’s satchel only to learn they were for his sister’s spaniel. She scurries on all fours and cocks her leg doggy style. She finally rolls over and the piano player rubs her tummy. I, meanwhile, scratched my head — Why?"
This is a play for TMZ generation. It's horrid. I don't mind a visceral play with primal performances, but this is just bad. There's no levity or balance.
I don't pretend to know what Garland was like behind closed doors, but I am intuitive enough to know that this play is very ugly and untrue.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
For the sake of balance the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS review also said:
Bennett is something of a saving grace. She certainly gives her all. And while she doesn’t look or sound much like Judy — she is too lean and mean to suggest her frailty — she evokes the right desperation whenever she sings.
That is quite often. The story regularly shifts to the club and Judy belts hits like “Get Happy,” “Just in Time,” “You Made Me Love You” and “The Trolley Song.” These are the moments when “Rainbow” beams brightest.
Definitely worth going along to see this performance!
"Your eyes..... they shine like the pants on my blue serge suit"
For anyone that is interested there is an interesting analysis on Judy Garland, her legend and the play by Jesse Green entitled, "Does Judy Garland Still Matter?" in the April 9. 2012 issue of New York magazine.
Unless you knew her personally, how would you know?
You don't have to like the portrayal or appreciate it. But don't pretend to know her when you didn't.
EDIT: PJ, I do realize that you knew people very close to her. (So did I.) Close relatives, even. That doesn't mean the information you've been given wasn't filtered. I know that if my mother had a dark and unpleasant side, I wouldn't be talking it up every chance I got to anyone who would listen. Especially if I were extremely proud of her and loved her and her accomplishments. I would be fiercely loyal to her memory and my love for her. I would make sure that whatever "truth" I said about her, even the "bad stuff," would end in a positive light. Would I tell you or anyone else absolutely everything? Would my own mother have shown me her darkest moments? Would I even want to admit to myself that she had this uglier side. Hell no. I'm not saying that's definitely the case here. I wouldn't know either. But what I am saying is that you don't know the truth, personally, and you never will. So no use pretending. You're a second-hand witness at best. And implying otherwise only rings false on her behalf and lessens the truth, whatever that might be.
I will add that I'm personally not interested in seeing a sensational portrayal like this. It is very much a TMZ approach. But i won't tell you what is or isn't the truth, because I wasn't there. Neither were you.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Carlos, thank you for posting that fascinating article. But I was pretty disturbed by Quilter's comments about young people not knowing, or caring, who Judy was and remains to be.
*I* know and *I* care. I'm 25, I've read tons of books, heard alllllllll the albums, seen allllllllll the movies and worshiped at the altar. And frankly, I think his tasteless play is a vile piece of sh*t and he should be writing for the National Enquirer. But hey, that's just me.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
I stand by what I said to Petal6 (Juggles): "No, it does not."
Getting on all fours and cocking her leg like a dog peeing was NOT Garland's sense of humor. It is Quilter's sense of humor and it is Bennett's sense of humor, but it was not Garland's. I stand by that statement.
You're a second-hand witness at best. And implying otherwise only rings false on her behalf and lessens the truth, whatever that might be.
This is exactly true--and it's the point I was making about what Petal6 (Juggles) said. Which is why I said "No, it was not."
Hard to believe, Besty ol' chap, but you're actually agreeing with me, as much as that must stick in your proverbial craw.
I do not or wish to explain myself to such people who know no better........... if you had American Talent, you wouldn't need a Brit to shake your tail feathers.......End Of Discussion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!