Unknown Soldier - Playwrights Horizons- Page 2

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 9:45am

^

Rotten lobster is rotten food whether you crack open the shell or not. Just as rotten chocolate pudding is going to be rotten even if you eat it only with a spoon.

Rotten food is rotten food, no matter how you cut it.

And so are rotten shows.

Don't blame the audience for rotten shows.

 

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 9:57am

But in this metaphor, "rotten" food would likely be the equivalent of a production with lots of technical mishaps (microphones not working, electricity is out, set pieces breaking, actors not knowing their lines), etc. While the actual quality of theatre piece equates to the food preparation (was it cooked all the way though, was it seasoned, etc). 

But I think this is where you and I will always disagree. And where you disagree with most people on this message board, and in the artistic community. Conventional wisdom says that all art is subjective. But you seem to think that your opinion is fact, which is why we've arrived at different interpretations of this metaphor, and this is a large part of the reason you ruffle feathers on this board.

But I know I'm unlikely to convince you to change your worldview, and you certainly won't change mine. 

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 10:26am

“But I know I'm unlikely to convince you to change your worldview,”

 

Unlikely? That's a certainty.

You're ABSOLUTELY not going to change my worldview.

And I am ABSOLUTELY not going to take the blame for a bad show's being bad.

And as for not changing your worldview, I wouldn't presume to try.  

 

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 2:21pm

I read this thread with amusement and I hesitated to chime in. After Eight and I had this go-round a few years ago about audiences doing the work, and I certainly won't go there again. It's a frustrating exercise in futility.

Many people have said harsh things to and about After Eight. I never have and never will. I defend everyone's right to their opinion, especially if it's unpopular.

For me, I see no point in attending live theater unless I'm involved. I watch very little TV, but when I do, like a Giants game, I have to do no work.

Live theater, to me, exists for an entirely different reason. While, occasionally, I'm just entertained and I can leave my brain at home, I would stay home if every piece of live theater were Aladdin and Hello Dolly!

While I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that After Eight actually sees all these shows, I can't recall many posts, from them, that listed specific details that would make me think it was from someone who actually saw the productions. But, I'll assume they're telling the truth.

Why anyone would attend Unknown Soldier after reading the description and think it would be fluffy entertainment is odd. Repeatedly attending serious theater, like this, and expecting a different outcome is certainly one's choice, but seems to be a waste of money and, more importantly, time.

When Harvey Fierstein did A Catered Affair, he was asked why he chose a more serious piece. He said (I'm paraphrasing), that musical theater is like dessert. Fun and entertaining is fine, but sometimes you want an entrée...something more serious and thought-provoking.

Why anyone would want to consistently attend live theater and never utilize their brain is a mystery to me, but, to each their own.

After Eight wants the lobster already shelled and served, perfectly cooked on the plate. I'm happy to throw out a lobster trap, catch my own, cook it, crack it open and eat it. There's nothing wrong with either. I just happen to prefer doing the work.

[Ledaero]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 3:21pm

Thanks for that response, wolfwriter. Couldn't agree with you more, and I'm sure you echo the thoughts of many others here.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 8:51pm

He doesn't just want it cooked and shelled, he wants it blended into mush with absolutely no texture.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 11:34pm

Wolfwriter wrote:

“After Eight wants the lobster already shelled and served, perfectly cooked on the plate.”

One could shell lobsters from dawn to dusk : bad lobsters are bad, period. 

“Why anyone would want to consistently attend live theater and never utilize their brain is a mystery to me, but, to each their own.”

Appallingly patronizing. What makes you think one doesn't use one's brain while seeing Hello, Dolly! or Aladdin? Being, touched, enchanted, amused, transported results from absolutely no stimuli to the brain? I don't think you know how the brain functions.

 

 

 

 

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 11:37am

This was absolutely beautiful. And hearing a "new" Michael Friedman score was emotional; for someone who really loved his contributions to The Civilian's and his boisterous Loves Labour's Lost, there's a poignancy that our journey with him ends with Unknown Soldier.

It would be really lovely if his work on the show received posthumous nods both with the Drama Desk's and Lortel Awards. In this instance, it's totally earned. But never could enough praise be heaped upon the singularity and humanity that his work carried.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 12:13pm

Falsettolands said: "It would be really lovely if his work on the show received posthumous nods both with the Drama Desk's and Lortel Awards. In this instance, it's totally earned. But never could enough praise be heaped upon the singularity and humanity that his work carried."

 

With such a weak year for new scores on Broadway, I can definitely see this getting a Drama Desk nod. I even think there's a world in which it wins; the high quality of the score, combined with the weak competition, combined with the voters' potential desire to honor Friedman, might just help the show overcome the Drama Desk's Broadway bias, and take it to the win. 

 

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 4:05pm

After Eight said: "Wolfwriter wrote:

“After Eight wants the lobster already shelled and served, perfectly cooked on the plate.”

One could shell lobsters from dawn to dusk : badlobsters are bad, period.

“Why anyone would want to consistently attend live theater and never utilize their brain is a mystery to me, but, to each their own.”

Appallinglypatronizing. What makes you think one doesn't use one's brain while seeing Hello, Dolly! orAladdin? Being, touched, enchanted, amused, transportedresults from absolutely no stimuli to the brain? I don't think you know how the brain functions.

Rather presumptuous to think I don't know cerebrum from amygdala. But, I digress.

Why not tell us what you thought about the bright orange set. And, what did you think about the way they handled it when Lucy shot Francis in the head? And, do you think Estelle Parsons lengthy nude scene was gratuitous or integral to the story?

Now, that's me being patronizing, sarcastic and condescending. Obviously, none of those things happen in the show, but I doubt you know that because, while I said I give you the benefit of the doubt that you actually see all the shows on which you comment, I don't believe you do.

It's unsurprising that you responded to a metaphorical lobster rather than actually pointed out specifics of the show that you disliked.

Why don't you enlighten us what was good or bad about it? "I hated it." or "I loved it," are not really helpful on a board where we all love theater and look to others to learn more about a show. Admittedly, we're not all Whizzer who is in a class alone when it comes to critiquing a play or musical, but most on here try to give some idea what they liked and didn't like and, I, for one, appreciate it very much.
 

I know you'll have to have the last word and that's fine. But, I would love it, if you went into detail about what you hate so much about the show. "A dud," doesn't really tell us anything.

[whatever2]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 4:18pm

Hey wolfwriter - I'm seeing this on Friday, and I'm pretty sure that in your pique you just dropped a major spoiler there ... WTF???

[Ledaero]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 4:48pm

whatever2 said: "Hey wolfwriter - I'm seeing this on Friday, and I'm pretty sure that in your pique you just dropped a major spoiler there ... WTF???"

He did not, the things he mentions do not happen in the show. He's just saying them to see if AfterEight can defend actually seeing the show or not.

[whatever2]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 4:59pm

Thanks, Ledaero!

[whatever2]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 5:03pm

LMAO ... I stopped reading at " ... shot Francis ..." for fear of more "spoilers." Had I gone one sentence further, naked Estelle Parsons would have set me right for sure!!!

[Melissa25]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 5:16pm

Yes, I stopped reading too for fear of further spoilers.

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 5:25pm

whatever2 said: "Hey wolfwriter - I'm seeing this on Friday, and I'm pretty sure that in your pique you just dropped a major spoiler there ... WTF???"

What are you referring to? There’s not a spoiler in anything I said, unless you mean Estelle Parson’s nude scene. :)

 

Nothing I said happened. I made all of it up except the character names, which you can find on their website and the casting of Estelle Parsons which is also on their website. 

 

I promise, I gave no spoilers. I hope you love the show as much as I did.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 5:26pm

@wolfwriter

Well, now you've spoiled the fact that Estelle Parsons doesn't have any nude scenes! 

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 5:39pm

Wolfwriter wrote:

” Now, that's me being patronizing, sarcastic and condescending.”

Yes. You might consider working on that.

“while I said I give you the benefit of the doubt that you actually see all the shows on which you comment, I don't believe you do.”

Then why did you say that you gave me the benefit of the doubt, when obviously, you didn't? And yes, much to my chagrin, I saw Unknown Soldier. Just as I see all the shows I comment upon.


“Why don't you enlighten us what was good or bad about it?”

I did. Can you not read clearly? I said it had uninteresting characters, story, music. What is there about that statement that is difficult  to understand? And to give credit where credit is due, I acknowledged that Estelle Parsons was able to score a laugh.


 I might also add that in an earlier post you asserted that unlike others, you would not say harsh things to or about me. I guess to your way of thinking, casting aspersions and doubting a person's veracity are not “harsh  things.”

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 5:40pm

JBroadway said: "@wolfwriter

Well, now you've spoiled the fact that Estelle Parsons doesn't have any nude scenes!"

She had one but they cut it when the crowd got too rowdy :)

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 6:28pm

After Eight said: "Wolfwriter wrote:

”Now, that's me being patronizing, sarcastic and condescending.”

Yes. You might consider working on that.

“while I said I give you the benefit of the doubt that you actually see all the shows on which you comment, I don't believe you do.”

Then why did you say that you gave me the benefit ofthe doubt, when obviously, you didn't?And yes, much to my chagrin, I saw Unknown Soldier.Just as I see all the shows I comment upon.


“Why don't you enlighten us what was good or bad about it?”

I did. Can you not read clearly?I said it had uninteresting characters, story, music. What is there about that statement that is difficultto understand?And to give credit where credit is due, I acknowledged that Estelle Parsons was able to score a laugh.


I might also add that in an earlier post you asserted that unlike others, youwould not say harsh things to or about me. I guess toyour way of thinking, casting aspersions and doubting a person's veracity are not “harsh things.”"

I do give you the benefit of the doubt. I just don’t believe you. You’ve engendered that doubt over many years and you know it, so it shouldn’t be shocking that anyone “questions your veracity.”

You’d rather deflect from the question and go into how offended you are rather than answer the question.

Yes, I can read and your initial post enlightened no one. If I were mean and horrible, I wouldn’t be asking you for more detail and more of your thoughts. But, you choose not to share, as is your wont. And, this conversation becomes circular as it always does with you and anyone who legitimately attempts to engage you.

You will have the final word, no doubt because you can’t help yourself and I do hope you enjoy it.

Have a nice evening.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 7:19pm

“Yes, I can read and your initial post enlightened no one.”

Actually, it was direct and to the point, and far more enlightening than some labyrinthine  word salad. 

”If I were mean and horrible, I wouldn’t be asking you for more detail and more of your thoughts.” 

Au contraire, since you state you don't believe I saw it, your questions were posited not in good faith, but as an attempt to “trap” me. Not terribly nice, I'm afraid.

”But, you choose not to share, as is your wont.”

I shared all that was sufficient to inform others of what to expect if they chose to buy a ticket to see this show. In so doing, I performed a public service, which is essentially why I post here at all.

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 3/9/20 at 9:52am

Very bland show, in more ways than one.

When I'm falling asleep in a musical, it's a problem.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/1/21 at 10:48am

Bumping this thread because the cast recording is now out. I actually had no idea it was recorded and there was zero promotion for the release.

[Pashacar]

Posted: 10/1/21 at 12:02pm

Yeah, I saw like one post somewhere. Excited to listen, and hoping it gets mounted somewhere else accessible. I could see it at one of the major Philly regionals.

[Pashacar]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 3:37pm

Has anyone heard anything on a future life for this piece? Have to imagine its creators want to try something out, somewhere....