Three Penny Flop
Three Penny Flop
Bwayfan6
Swing Joined: 3/28/06
#0Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:01pmI just saw Three Penny Opera at Studio 54 and I cannot believe how bad it was from start to finish. First off Cyndi and Anna are good, but the show itself is so incredibly boring and bad that you over look them. The sets, which there are non of are boring as well and the costumes do not make sense in anyway. And Alan, who I'm a fan of cannot sing this material and he is far from convincing in the role. I am shocked that Roundabout has the gull to present this and to charge to see it, shame on them. The directing is a joke. The whole production comes across like a bad high school presentation. There is so much going on and none of it makes sense. It's not that it's high art, it just bad theater.
peggyandvelma
Broadway Star Joined: 9/4/05
#1re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:02pmWas this just a preview? They can change things before it opens you know.
No one is alone.
#2re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:10pmhi. can you be a little more specific about alan cummings? is the material too heavy for his voice? what's the prob.
Mind is Mantra.
#3re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:15pm
The show is incredibly boring and bad...to you, perhaps.
This show is a classic--and even if the production has bad direction, that doesn't make the show itself bad.
Just an opinion. I haven't seen this production. But unless it has been DRASTICALLY altered from previous scripts (I DO know it's a new adaptation), the show itself is in no way "bad."
#4re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:21pm
did you know anything about the show going in?
do you know about Brechtian form?
just asking, becuase I want to know where you are coming from with your point of view.
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
#5re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:29pmGuys, read the post. Clearly, he's young - he can't even type coherent sentences.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#6re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:32pm
Okay guys, lets start a pool. How many more "3peny oppersaa is soooooooo BaD i Am telllungb uuuuu" thread come in before official opening.
Betting is now open to the public.
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#7re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:33pm
Interesting that he just joined today for the sole purpose of slamming the show.
But FYI -- Regardless of the translation being used or directorial touches in any given production of Threepenny, people need to realize that this piece is not an "opera" or even a "Musical" as we have come understand the meaning of the term. It is best described a play with music -- about two hours of play (with LONG "book scenes") and one hour of music. That's what Brecht & Weill wrote. If you don't like that, fine, but don't blame the director or translator if you find the underlying show "bad" or "boring." If you go in expecting "Guys and Dolls" or "West Side Story" you're going to be disappointed -- this ain't that kind of show and never will be regardless of the translation or direction.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#8re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:35pm
I'm certain that there will be many...it just upsets me to think that young people are going to see this show primarily because Alan Cumming and Ana Gasteyer are in it, not for the fact that it is a classic musical with some pretty nifty themes.
I have nothing against young people attending it for the sake of seeing Cumming and Gasteyer--but I do have a problem with them bashing the show just because it isn't like CABARET or WICKED.
#9re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:40pm
It is funny because I think just the opposite of what StageDoorMatty said.
To me this is a fantastic production of a fairly weak show. The cast is top notch and for the amount of talent and effort that went into this show I think it deserved better source material. However, because of the great production values and there are indeed some good parts in this show, I think it is definitely worth seeing.
Also as I said before, this is a show that I believe people will either love or hate.
"The hallmark of aristocracy is responsibility. Oh brother, that got me, that did me in!"
Updated On: 3/28/06 at 02:40 PM
#10re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:40pmSpell check....check it out.....it's fabulous.
"Y'all have a GRAND day now"
#11re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:42pm
I am 14 and am seeing it because I am interested in becoming more farmiliar with Brechtian style, and following Margo's comments of the dress rehearsal, I am extremely interested in the visual elements of this production. Of course I am excited about Alan, and have not yet had a chance to see Ana, so both will be interesting.
p.s. that was to Matty
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
Updated On: 3/28/06 at 02:42 PM
#12re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:46pm
if the show is good and has the ring of truth to it, young people will like it very well --even if it's not WICKED. did you read the thread about the little boy, who on seeing SWEENEY turned to his sister and said, "I don't think MAMMA MIA is so great anymore." (after he had been obsessed with the abba show)
Mind is Mantra.
#13re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 2:49pm
Haha, that was my brother!
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
Updated On: 3/28/06 at 02:49 PM
#14re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:02pm
I know people who are seeing this show who range from complete theatrical novices to experts on Brecht and their reactions are all over the map.
Every opinion is valid. However...
I think we need to stop criticizing posters who don't like this production becuse they *clearly* "do not" understand Brecht's intentions, because some of the most vitriolic statements I've heard about Elliot's staging has come from people who understand completely brechtian concepts and think Elliot has failed miserably in his attempts to capture them.
Conversely, I've known people who know nothing about Weill or Brecht and thought it was a fabulous evening of theatre.
I think this show is going to continue to polarize audiences and most definitely critics and you know what? I think Brecht and Weill probably couldn't be more pleased at that...
Updated On: 3/28/06 at 03:02 PM
#15re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:05pm
I am not as farmiliar with Brecht as I'd like to be, which is part of why I'm seeing this.
What bothered me most was A) the poster joining to trash the show, and B) the mostly incoherent goblygook that followed.
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#17re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:12pm
"I used to shampoo with Brecht"
Ok..that made my afternoon.
Thanks handsome. 
"Y'all have a GRAND day now"
#18re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:13pmit's a show, not a term paper. the director must entertain. the audience doesn't have to "understand" brechtian staging concepts -- they have to be touched by the show -- or alientated by the show -- maybe the director wants the audience to be uncomfortable.
Mind is Mantra.
#19re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:21pm3peny oppersaa is soooooooo BaD i Am telllungb uuuuu
#20re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:26pm
Guys, did anyone bet on 1?
Any takers?
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
etoile
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/2/03
#21re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:36pm
If Bwayfan6 is a child then I applaud him for being the one to astutely note that the Emperor has no clothes.
I don't often comment on any production, especially during previews, but as my companion stated during intermission, "There is no fixing this."
Rest in peace, Iflitifloat.
beenthere
Understudy Joined: 8/22/05
#22re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 3:37pm
I haven't seen the show but just a note to the Poster,
you were so close to something funny if you just tried harder... why not a post titled "Three Penny Flopera" ?
just saying
leefowler
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/04
#23re: Three Penny Flop
Posted: 3/28/06 at 4:14pmSomeone mentioned that if you go to see Threepenny Opera expecting Guys And Dolls or Gypsy, you'll be disappointed. I agree with this. The problem is that if you go into the theatre expecting "Threepenny Opera", you will also be disappointed.
Behind the fake tinsel of Broadway is real tinsel.
etoile
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/2/03
