BYE BYE BIRDIE Reviews- Page 6

[bk]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 6:28pm

"Agreed. That OBC is terrific. I hope to heck that Kurt Deutsch isn't gonna preserve this one. I'd rather hear Ann Reinking and Tommy Tune."

Just as an FYI, labels are no longer preserving anything and that includes Kurt Deutsch. The producers are paying for cast albums and the labels are distributing them. So thank the producers of the shows because that's the only way these things are happening these days, save for shows like Wicked.

[jovie27]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 6:33pm

Well let's get excited...a new block of tickets have just been released till April, 2010.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 6:42pm

And isn't it ever so amusing that WickedRocks makes the comment about better sound and then never responds to any of the posts asking him what he means by that or what he's talking about? Typical, really.

First of all, what are you even talking about? Second of all, typical of whom? ME? You don't know me... So stop patronizing me. Third of all, grow up. Fourth of all, I don't sit in front of my computer reading EVERY SINGLE post made on BWW within a 24 hour period hence why I don't even know what the hell you're talking about. Maybe I didn't respond because I didn't read the posts you're referring to, not because I don't have an answer.

I seriously don't even know what you're talking about.
Updated On: 10/16/09 at 06:42 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 6:48pm

"The reviews came out like less than 24 hours ago...can they even put pull-quotes into a commercial and air it that quickly?"


Yes, they can. We used to do it all the time where I worked, for all the film studios. The spots can be cut, the graphics (sometimes elaborate) can be added in a couple of hours later (after they're designed and animated), the spots are onlined and QC'd often overnight, and the commercials air the next day.

Happens all the time, actually. Particularly during awards season(s).

Updated On: 10/16/09 at 06:48 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 7:05pm

Shocked that they have released the next block of seats! (At least in the timing of it.) If this does go on to financially succeed then we definitely can state that the basic public is hopeless. WSS continues to do well despite it's poor quality (no offense to those that like it, but you are in the small minority) now this might be successful? Ugh. Saddens me, really. (and before anyone yells at me for wishing any show to close -- don't....I just wish the cast had jobs in a production worthy of them.)

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 7:09pm

I've seen Academy Award nominations in ads on the same day they were announced.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 7:37pm

"I've seen Academy Award nominations in ads on the same day they were announced."

If the graphics are simple enough (like static cards) where they don't require long render times, then yes, it can air the same day. Also I've seen them built in advance, when it's "guessed" that something will happen, like a Best Pic nomination or a Best Actor/Actress nod.

It also depends on what time of day awards or nominations are announced.

But the time needed (and allowed) to get revised ads on air is getting shorter each year.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 7:53pm

Sorry but I can't agree that this show has one of the "strongest books" of Broadway musicals. If anything, I really think this production points out or highlights the major problems with the book of this show. Rose is a doormat at the end of the day, their relationship makes little sense, so it's hard to root for them. They are literally fighting since the show starts, and well, since Stamos and Gershon have no chemistry together, it's extra harder to buy this relationship. I agree with Brantley that it's impossible to believe that Gershon's Rose would have stuck around during all those years to wait for Stamos' Albert to commit. And as I mentioned before, the mother character is obnoxious even if Houdyshell manages to be pretty hilarious in the role.

[devilish23]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 8:04pm

What's the consensus on Doyle?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 8:06pm

Adam Feldman's Time Out NY review, with a memorable final line:
Casting catcall: Bye Bye Birdie

[bk]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 8:18pm

"I seriously don't even know what you're talking about."

Oops, you're absolutely correct and please accept my apologies. My post was directed at CATSNY or whatever the name was - the person who posted they wanted a new recording of Birdie with better sound quality. Again, sorry.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 8:19pm

PJ, if only I could use that last line as my signature ...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 8:29pm

No problem. I was just confused.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 8:35pm

Producers, heed the sad dying call of Bye Bye Birdie: When you play at star****ing, you often get ****ed by your stars.

Le-gasp!

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 9:38pm

Adam Feldman's take was hysterical, and terrifically well-written. Wordplay on the birdplay? Hee.

"Avian Fiasco?" Genius. Wish I had written it.

Thanks for posting.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 10:16pm

I have a crush on Adam Feldman's smarts. Anyone else?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:49pm

So to sum up, basically it looks like most of the reviews were mixed to positive. Looking forward to the Roxys seeing Birdie and telling us "it wasn't that bad."

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 12:23am

"I have a crush on Adam Feldman's smarts. Anyone else?"

Count me in.

"But friends do not let friends look so bad in public."

He's a freaking genius. Brantley was correct, but Feldman was hysterical.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 12:44am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMn-W_ZeSlY

I came across this and thought it was cute

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 12:47am

That's not cute, love. That's Dick Van Dyke. And that had more talent and charisma in one eyelash than Stamos will ever have in this and all his future lives.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 1:05am

Dick Van Dyke is cute. And I clearly meant the scene as a whole. It has become legendary and I thought this demonstrated why. It is a sappy, fun song and a great performance.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 1:07am

Among the principals, Nolan Gerard Funk DID get the best reviews, so it wouldn't be too hard to find quotes for him:

'[Funk] and his pelvis are having a good time, and his rockbilly intro [is] infectious.' - Variety

'He sings well and swivels his hips with just the right amount of lewdness.' - Associated Press

'Funk adds a bit of spice [to Conrad Birdie].' - Bergen Record

The Daily News called him 'entertaining,' and New York magazine says Funk was 'effortlessly hilarious.'

Gershon, Irwin and Stamos bore the brunt of the negative reviews, but even Stamos has got a good quote from John Simon, who largely enjoyed the show and called 'the elastic Stamos' a 'worthy successor to Dick Van Dyke.'
John Simon review of 'Bye Bye Birdie'

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 1:18am

Among the principals, Nolan Gerard Funk DID get the best reviews, so it wouldn't be too hard to find quotes for him:

'[Funk] and his pelvis are having a good time, and his rockbilly intro [is] infectious.' - Variety

'He sings well and swivels his hips with just the right amount of lewdness.' - Associated Press

'Funk adds a bit of spice [to Conrad Birdie].' - Bergen Record

The Daily News called him 'entertaining,' and New York magazine says Funk was 'effortlessly hilarious.'

Those are awful quotes. "He's having a good time and moves his hips to the music" - great...

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 1:23am

I also want to concur with Rayandallthatjazz about the book of 'Bye Bye Birdie.' It's no masterpiece. The characters of Rose and Albert are pretty bland, and there's no big rooting interest for them to get together. Also, there's not much going on in Act II. 'Spanish Rose' and 'Rosie' seem anticlimactic and tacked on to give Rose and Albert something to do. The old movie, with Ann-Margret, resolved this by having everything build up to Conrad's appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show.' The comic chaos that ensues there should be the climax of the show; instead, it ends Act I, and it's a tough act to follow. Instead of making Rose and Albert the leads, the better and more dramatic focus would've been Kim, who's torn between Conrad and Hugo. Does she go with the bad boy or the good guy? ... I agree: Rose seems far too strong to have hung around all these years waiting for a hen-pecked mama's boy.

As for Funk's quotes, they're still better than the ones you'd find for any of his castmates at 'Bye Bye Birdie.'

Updated On: 10/17/09 at 01:23 AM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 2:01am

So to sum up, basically it looks like most of the reviews were mixed to positive.

Not sure where you got that. I count 2 positive, 1 mixed and 11 negative reviews.

I'd say the reviews were predominantly negative.