The House of Blue Leaves- 1st preview- Page 2

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 9:59am

I had seat thru TDF last night and was in the center mezz Row C, the people next to me and the couple in front of me got their tickets thru TDF as well. Since they went up for sale so close to the date it sounds like they are offering their remaining seats in the mezz thru TDF.

Not knowing much about the show going I enjoyed it. I am going to see it again next mont, I am sure it will only get better. My seats then will be closer to the stage so it will be nice to see all the facial expressions.

Falco is definitely the wow in this show, she is awesome. thismyshow, Allison Pill does not play a big part, but I thought she played it well.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 10:28am

Both boards can be toxic, especially for the preview period when shows are at their most vulnerable. General observation is that the most vitriolic posts usually include the sentence "My TDF seats were located ..."

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 10:52am

I believe that I am more critical of revivals because the actors have already had time to "digest" the characters. This script has been available for more than 20 years and so the actors participating in this revival have had time to think about their characterizations. It's not like a brand new play where dialogue can change daily.

It would be very hard to mess up the character of Bunny because the humor is written into her dialogue. If you just read from the script without characterization, the lines are hilarious. The whole monologue about "Sandra Dee's Night of Hell" is hysterical. How can anyone mess that up?

[pennydreadful]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 11:38am

"Sandra Dee's night of hell" sailed by in relative silence!!! There was a smattering of laughter, but she never got the big laughs she should have as Bunny.

As for the boards being toxic, I don't think so! I'm a longtime lurker, and I enjoy hearing everyone's opinions. A thread on here has never stopped me from seeing a play or liking an actor.

And I don't get the dig about TDF. Because I work for a nonprofit I'm vitriolic? That doesn't make any sense. I'm thrilled that TDF exists, and I've enjoyed myself at every TDF show I've gone to - even the bad ones! And there have been lots more good ones than bad ones. I go into each play/musical rooting for the actors! I just thought that Leigh was really poor in this.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 11:52am

"Sandra Dee's night of hell" sailed by in relative silence!!!"

So I'm wondering if the director is not understanding the piece? The thing that makes that monologue so funny is that Bunny tells it like she was right there in the room with Sandra. And the actress has to nail that monologue so that in Act 2 we understand Bunny when she reacts with Corinna Stroller.

Also, can anyone comment on the pacing of the show? There are moments when it needs to have the pacing of a farce (fast and furious).

[pennydreadful]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 12:07pm

It was way too slow in parts, which didn't help. But it was the first preview, so I'm sure it's gonna tighten up.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 12:22pm

Toxic, schmoxic. There are a small group of loud individuals on both boards who seem to have a physical allergy to negative comment. The sources of this allergy can be traced to one of two things:

1) Their mothers smacked them whenever they said anything negative during childhood (and possibly later, as well), or
2) They're marketing interns, assigned to monitor chat rooms and make a stink when anyone criticizes a show their employer handles.

If a show isn't clearly on the road to being great at its first performance, chances are that it won't become terrific within the next few weeks.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 12:35pm

For some reason i didn't pay attention to the entire cast listing and didn't realize Pill is in this. Even if she has a small part, I am even more excited about seeing this next week.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 2:07pm

It's usually #2, newintown. I've been told as much by people who used to be assigned to do just that. When I used to write for a blog, we would get particularly nasty, sometimes profanity-laden, always anonymous comments from people obviously associated with the PR machines of certain shows.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 3:50pm

Pennydreadful, thanks for your optimism.

As for my being a shill because I used the word toxic, umm, I know there's little I can offer to convince except that I've been posting here for years and wrote nothing about the merits of the show. One other time I wrote something mixed about a show that'd been deemed a flop here, I was discounted as a shill, a day after I was pilloried as unworthy of the description "theatergoer" for walking out of Tale of Two Cities. I was not beaten by my mother - coddled is closer to the truth - and am disappointed by a lot of what I see, though usualyy stick it out to the curtain.

I am not tarring the 2 - count em, 2 - posters who've seen the show - one of whom was negative, one mixed - with being unfair or mean. The toxicity I was referring to was the resulting drumbeat that WOM on the show is downbeat, cited even on "the other board," within an hour of this thread's first entries.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 4:24pm

Personally, I applaud you for walking out of Tale of Two Cities - that was mindless claptrap for lowbrows who think Phantom of the Opera is opera.

But it's a chatroom - negative and positive are two sides of the same coin. Calling one "toxic" is as futile as calling the other "saccharine."

The people who I suspect of shilling are those who criticize the criticizers for criticizing.

[egghumor]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 4:37pm

Wow, I love this play and was lucky to see the original production with Anne Meara and co. Unlike so many others on this board, I was not in love with the Broadway revival in the 80s. I always thought Bunny was a foolproof role, and that Bananas was ths more difficult one to pull off. I'm not surprised that Edie Falco is wonderful (isn't she always???). I never been a fan of Jennifer Jason Leigh on film or on stage. Bunny needs to be played with abandon and Leigh seems far too self-conscious and calculating as an actor to make Ms. Flingus fly. Hopefully everyone will slowly rise to Falco's level in time. Thanks for the comments attendees!

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 4:37pm

Again again, I've got no problem with ppl being negative about a show they've seen. That's not at all what I find toxic. It makes some sense to suspect those who criticize criticizers for criticizing but that's not what I did.

I was commenting that the word of two posters, one negative, one mixed, led to several readers deciding that the show at the very least needs work and that WOM was downbeat. That process seems unfortunate to me.

But again again again, I do solemnly swear I believe this is definitely an appropriate place to criticize a show or performance, especially if you've seen it.
Updated On: 4/5/11 at 04:37 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 6:10pm

We all know the play, but what did Cromer do with the production?

[beetlebrox]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 8:27pm

My friend and I DID walk out...well, didn't return to our seats after intermission....it was that bad. Tediously slow pacing. Miscast actors (except for Falco). Stiller's performance was described by my friend as "twitchy." Leigh was just unbearable and unfunny. Ran into another couple at the nearby Starbucks who also decided they couldn't bear to return after intermission either.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 11:36pm

Doesn't surprise me that this had walk outs. I think the play is very funny and from what I've seen of the 86 revival telecast I think it can be brilliant.

Unfortunately this has almost everything going wrong for it. Ben Stiller is near painful. If you are unfamiliar with the play it will be mind boggling to learn that this is a Tony-winning role.

Jennifer Jason Leigh can't find the laughs either, but at least she has more of a character developed. I mean I get that it's the second preview, but those jokes should be fairly fool proof. Often they are simply met with a resounding silence.

Oddly Alison Pill was a huge disappointment. That role of the deaf actress is like a cameo scene stealing role. Hagerty killed it in the last revival, but here the lines are delivered in such a serious, subtle manner it loses the humor. I mean her exit line is SPOILER******"Thanks! I can't wait to open it!"*****
This should get a huge laugh. I have a lot of faith in Pill as an actress. I can only think it was Cromer who directed her this way.

I think much blame needs to placed at Cromer's feet. Loved his Our Town and Brighton Beach Memoirs, but perhaps this was an ill match for him. I really wanted to like this more. I truly am disappointed I didn't.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 12:00am

I should have walked out at intermission tonight...it was that bad. Stiller was awful, as were all of the other actors and the production itself. Very sad given the talent involved. Steer clear of this one...not worth your time or money.

[Tom-497]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 1:45am

I didn't dislike the show enough to consider walking out. However, even taking into account that this was only the second preview, tonight's performance was pretty weak. I seem to remember reading once that Orson Welles said, more or less, "You've got to play The House of Blue Leaves for the comedy. If you do that, you'll still get the drama. But if you play the show for the drama, you'll lose the comedy." At the moment, the cast seems largely to be playing the drama, and it seldom works.

There was also another sort of odd problem. As the play opens, Ben Stiller's character is supposed to be bombing as a singer at amateur night, but a large portion of the real theatre audience applauded the performance of his first song, basically ruining the entire scene, and at least slightly undermining a lot of what follows in regard to the development of his character.

[littlepaperstars]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 2:27am

I saw the show tonight. I went in not knowing anything about the show, so I really had no expectations. (The previous productions occurred before I was born/before I started becoming a serious theatergoer so I have no frame of reference) but I really enjoyed the show.

I loved Jennifer Jason Leigh as Bunny, though in hindsight I'm not sure if that's just because of the role, not the actress. Ben Stiller surprised me - I went in expecting his usual schtick, but I really enjoyed him. The rest of the cast was fine...I've seen Christopher Abbott in quite a few odd-bway shows, and I thought he was a stand out (as Ronnie). As a whole the chemistry was a little off, but I didn't think it was bad enough to leave.

The couple next to me left at intermission, as did two other people in my row. I think it needs some tightening up, but I didn't hate it as much as others here seemed to...

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 9:20am

Tom- I'd never heard that Welles quote about this show, but I completely agree with it and your assessment of what's going on. They are playing it like a drama, I assume at Cromer's direction, and that's why it's mainly not working. The comedy needs to be broader, and the second act needs to be a giant farce. I think it should play like an absurdist Boeing-Boeing rather than what is happening now.

Interesting point about Stiller getting applause as well. For me he was just so wrong in that role. For someone who has such a history with the show he seemed very lost at sea to me.

[dave1606]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 9:45am

This was one of those nights of theater that as soon as I walked out of the theater, I felt like I was already forgetting what happened. I didn't understand why the play itself was so highly regarded, and certainly didn't think this production helped in any way.

I will say I actually liked Ben Stiller. I thought he gave a decent performance. Jennifer Jason Leigh has the best part in the play with all of these really funny lines, and does nothing with it. I really do wish Edie and Jennifer had switched parts.

I thought Edie Falco was fine in her role, but not spectacular.

I think the real issue with this whole thing is David Cromer. He didn't seem to add anything to the play, and definitely didn't justify to me why this should even have been revived in the first place.

Also, I hated the final dramatic touch. I actually spent more time watching audience members in the front row (spoiler) picking up the blue leaves than paying attention to what should have been quite the dramatic moment.

I think the ultimate problem here is what everyone keeps touching on. If this is going to be a comedy, then make it one. With the small exception of the farce in the second act, I didn't find the play remotely funny. I kept asking myself, is this a comedy? I laughed more at Baby, It's You the night before than this. (More because of the camp value, but still.) I will take Good People over this for comedic drama any day.

Overall, it was a supreme disappointment. For those of you who want to know, my TDF seat was Row G in the mezz second row from the last, all the way over to the side. The view was perfect, and I did like the set if nothing else.

I did stage door, and Edie and Ben came out, but I didn't see Jennifer Jason Leigh. Edie was incredibly gracious, especially when dealing with the Ebayers. Ben signed, but was a bit all over the place.


Updated On: 4/6/11 at 09:45 AM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 5:27pm

What's the show curtain like?

[dave1606]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 5:50pm

Non-existent. Just the set. (which I did like)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 6:46pm

THAT'S WHY THE SHOW'S HAVING TROUBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT NEEDS A SHOW CURTAIN!

GET WITH THE PROGRAM, FOLKS!

[thismyshow]

Posted: 4/6/11 at 11:14pm

how is the door does everyone pretty much sign and take pictures?