Sounds like all the problems he's listing are fixable and characteristic of first previews. Even with the bad word of mouth I'd be surprised if there isn't a transfer, but I gues Riedel wouldn't be himself without some death knell to sound.
"On a brighter note, Amy Adams is turning in a winning performance as the Baker’s Wife, even if it looks as if she’s wearing a giant squirrel on her head."
"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-
Donna is wearing clawlike gloves firstly...talons, I suppose, and then the canes/crutches, which are covered in roots and tendrils- the implication being that the curse on the Witch is slowly turning her into a tree. Hardly an out-there concept for the Witch- we've seen productions in which she is basically a garden herself out there.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
How is he a real columnist? It sounds like he visited here to write that.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005
"You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.
Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates
He's also oddly had his sights on the Public for a while. He's been on Oskar Eustis' case for a while for some reason. I guess someone wasn't invited to see Meryl Streep as Juliet.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Riedel is so awful. One could put together a far better article with better "sources" just by pulling posts from here. Honestly I think he just reads somethings and makes up sources. No one said anything that hasn't been said before, none of it's behind the scenes insight, it's all just nonsense. I really wonder if there's anyone out there that takes him seriously.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
I just find using the words "sources" odd. I guess you don't have to tell where you got them from, but this sounds really secretive and bitchy the way he writes.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005
"You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.
Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates
He's also wrong about the show wanting to move to Broadway in the fall. The Public is exploring option to move INTO THE WOODS to a Broadway theater in the Spring. They are inquiring about 3 theaters: the Al Hirschfeld, the Lunt-Fontanne, and the St. James. The Lunt-Fontanne, I'm told, is booked with a show in the Spring (presumably JEKYLL & HYDE). Of the other two, I think the Al Hirschfeld would be the better option.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
He makes a valid point about the need for a conductor monitor. Of all of Sondheim's shows, this one definitely demands it. The entire score is vamps and the orchestration is quite difficult to follow. And a conductor monitor is such an easy fix. I'm really surprised that wasn't one of the first things installed.
I thought she was meant to look like a spider because her "doll" is a spider or something with tentacles. But the crutches are a bit strange. Kind of makes her look like she's auditioning for the giraffe in The Lion King.
I'm all for a transfer. For those who have seen the show live either here or in Regent's Park, do you think the physical production could work the same within the confines of an indoor proscenium versus an open air theatre?
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "