Sound of Music brought to you by Walmart & Stouffer's Lasagna

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/5/13 at 11:36pm

While I am happy that some of our Broadway community got to be part of a national film, I hope it is another 50 yrs. before anyone tries to put something this lame together again!

The canned music, the cookie cutter cardboard sets, the forest looking like a cheap Arts and Craft store. The audio hissing sound throughout the show.. The screaming nuns...the poor Von Trapp bridesmaids looking like Mary Poppins chamber maids...the "clever" transition where Maria goes from the Von Trapp home to the Abbey, like her secret bat cave...poor Carrie Underwood totally out of her element.. let's start collecting money for her acting career..pretty bad when the strongest character is the Mother Abbess. Didn't the networks learn anything from Matthew Broderick's "Music Man"? May the hill swallow up this mess and vow never to attempt to take such a stellar film and try to re-create perfection.

Updated On: 12/5/13 at 11:36 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/5/13 at 11:40pm

I like potatoes.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/5/13 at 11:42pm

You must lead a very miserable life.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 12:56am

How can anyone be miserable in a country that's lousy with potatoes!?

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:41am

I think both companies finally did something good.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 5:53am

And, of course, a totally new thread was necessary.

[AlfredColo]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 6:21am

its a tv show get over it.

[suestorm]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 8:09am

Another reason to love and support Walmart!

Updated On: 12/6/13 at 08:09 AM

[anmiller07]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 8:19am

Cardboard sets? Really? I thought they were great.

[artscallion]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 8:58am

"clever"

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 9:06am

Say what you want about the performances..the sets were AMAZING and anything but cardboard.

And YAY to walmart for funding this.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 9:38am

and all the other advertisers.

Biggest applause for NBC.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 10:17am

Yay Walmart.

All is forgiven and I mindlessly worship you for bringing a musical that was done much better on film to our tee vees.

All is forgiven.

All is forgiven.

Worship Walmart.

Worship Walmart.

Worship Walmart.

Worship Walmart.

Worship Walmart.

Worship.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 11:36am

Unless something changed since I've been around 1. This is a public opinion board. I posted this after the show last night and prior to the "Review Roundup" went up. I'm not looking for people to agree with my opinion, just stating my view. I rarely visit here by choice. This is just my opinion like anyone else . Got a problem with that...that's a shame.

Admittedly, I was disappointed with SOM. I'm certain a lot of hard work went into this lavish production and I am thrilled that some of my Broadway colleagues, who imo, were the saving grace of an otherwise "community theater" quality production, had this opportunity to be part of this and that another Broadway musical was brought to life on film. Carrie Underwood is a talented star. She is not a film/stage actress and the proof was last night. She was the draw, but the producers should have picked up on the fact that her acting was lack luster and that would be a huge problem.

There were so many other changes (directional, musical) from the original "award winning, beloved" production that it sorely took away from this amazing piece of work. And WHAT WAS THAT STRANGE HISSING NOISE IN THE AUDIO throughout the show. Really NBC?

As a humble critic, having seen hundreds of shows I really wanted to enjoy this. Walnut St. Theater did SOM a few years ago, a faithful production to the original of course, and it was excellent. Why mess with success?
There's no getting around it. This was a bold step for NBC that yielded a disappointing product, imo. Happy that some will enjoy it, not happy that they messed with the original 'recipe for success' and this cake flopped.

** check ALL the reviews/opinions on other media sources too for a well rounded opinion of the production.

Updated On: 12/6/13 at 11:36 AM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 1:31pm

I am a bit perplexed by your comment that it was not faithful to the original production. In what way? Other than the switching out of An Ordinary Couple for the film's song Something Good, it seemed to stray very little from the original production. I did have the script by my side and was spot checking it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 1:37pm

Dramamama issues demerits, PB. We've all got them. I'm trying to come up with a way we can trade them as collectibles.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:28pm

@jimmycurry. I am basing my "opinion/observations" on the movie and the R&H rights to productions I've seen regionally. From a musical standpoint, I found the nuns singing "Favorite Things" pointless/irrelevant. I thought inserting "The Goartheard" song at the height of the thunderstorm scene instead of "Favorite Things" totally out of place as well. Since when would very loud singing and yodeling have a calming affect on frightened children? Plus when did they have time to rehearse that number theoretically? Carrie Underwood was often in "solo concert mode" which didn't help her character development which was obviously, painfully overlooked,IMO. But that's another topic.

These are just a few of my issues with this. I have other personal opinions about the direction as well. We all have opinions don't we? No I am not a singer/actor/director wannabee... I am a long time agent/local producer and BWW staff writer for Philly/NJ/NY. No better than anyone else...just feel strongly about what I saw last night and wished to exercise my right to post my thoughts. Namo, I don't even know who drammamama or many folks are on these boards anymore, so any stabs in my direction are pointless. I just not wired that way.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:30pm

I'm glad you started a new thread just for this.

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:47pm

PB, clearly you are very unfamiliar with the actual original production. The "changes" you note are true to the original production's script. The regional productions you've seen clearly must have interpolated the film's changes as is very common in modern productions.

I'm sure it was just an honest mistake on your part, but you come off as extremely foolish arguing so forcefully on a board where nearly everyone knows otherwise.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:49pm

Me too, even if only for people to add to it by complaining it exists!

[jemjeb2]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:56pm

Re: Walmart rant. Stupid stupid stupid stupid etc etc etc

[BillyButler]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 2:57pm

It was so bad that 20 million people watched. While I agree there were issues, (I could pick it apart for days), I am so glad that so many people who hadn't ever seen a musical got their chance last night. There is some awkward kid in a small town somewhere who was inspired last night to give musical theatre a try. You're not going to find a bigger cynic than I, but I commend them for doing great work in a world that was already tearing them down before it even started.

Lighten up, we put on shows.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:15pm

Mr. Norwak, I am not in a position to argue that an original/original production script exists. Happy that you have this information. But I will respectfully question your statement that "nearly everyone knows" of its existence and how the film or other productions have also made changes. I would venture to say that most people, like myself are not familiar with this information. I will not attempt to argue this opinion further.

I was comparing the "original" popular musical film starring Andrews/Plummer and the professional regional productions that are produced according to the R&H rights, which I believe most people are familiar with and that in my opinion those productions were a better representation of the overall work than what was presented last night. Not here to argue or defend opinions.

Updated On: 12/6/13 at 03:15 PM

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:38pm

I wasn't saying the nearly everyone in the general public knows it, just nearly everyone on this forum. It was also a mild hyperbole.

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 3:38pm

LOL, your lack of knowledge about something doesn't make you right. I don't know, but if I've falsely accused a production of making changes, and someone points out my ignorance of the original material, I'd probably either apologize or back off from the subject.

You have your right not to like it, but don't act smart about it, and speak for the majority, when you "aint".