Craig Bierko as the Trunchbull

[NotTheComfyChair]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 11:50am

Picking up from the deleted thread...
I'd love to hear people's impressions of Craig Bierko as the Trunchbull. The previous thread was interesting and troll-free and it would be good to hear more from those who've seen him.

[Johnnycantdecide]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 12:49pm

Is Craig Bierko the new Kerry Butler and is now above criticism on BWW? What the hell, mods? Wizzer gave an honest review of a performance. Are we not allowed to give honest reviews of performances anymore? What utter bullsh*t

[BL5965]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 12:55pm

From someone who hasn't seen the original thread, what was the general vibe?

[rorschach37]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 1:23pm

Does anyone have an honest review of his portrayal? I'm not asking for anyone to bash him, I just want to know if he was good or bad. I saw a comment in the other thread they had to make some temporary changes due to his injury?

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 1:31pm

Bad.

[rorschach37]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 1:40pm

Could you be a bit more specific?

[Someday]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 1:41pm

Just chiming in to echo the confusion about why the other thread was deleted. Did it violate policy somehow? It actually seemed pretty evenhanded to me.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 2:11pm

The OP erased their entire original post and then changed the subject to "DELETE." I hope they didn't get harassing PMs or something.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 2:23pm

Maybe OP reconsidered, thinking the review was too harsh. Don't know, didn't see it. In any case, it was apparently the poster's choice.

Updated On: 9/19/13 at 02:23 PM

[Craig]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 2:37pm

Is Craig Bierko the new Kerry Butler and is now above criticism on BWW? What the hell, mods? Wizzer gave an honest review of a performance. Are we not allowed to give honest reviews of performances anymore? What utter bullsh*t

I see you're blaming the mods. And LizzieCurrie just wrote that the OP requested the thread be deleted. I have NO idea who the mods are these days and I doubt you'll recant your statement or apologize. Bull**** indeed.

Updated On: 9/19/13 at 02:37 PM

[TimmyJ51]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 2:52pm

Aw, boo. I had posted on the original thread, so I hope nothing I said was out of line (I don't think it was). I saw Bierko at the Wednesday matinee, and I have to preface anything I say with the fact that I’m generally a fan of him, and thought his casting sounded brilliant when it was announced.

My general take was that the show, the cast, and the shadow of Carvel loomed over Bierko's performance. Everything else is great shape - Jill Paice is a touching replacement, stronger than Ward, sweet as peaches and in fine voice, and forging a great connection with the Matilda who was on (Oona Laurence). The adult and youth ensemble are still spot on, the design elements as beautiful as ever (how affecting “When I Grow Up” remains), and Ebert and Margherita are still bringing down the house. There’s also a show curtain now.

With all that said, Bierko's performance leaves a void that affected my opinion of the show overall. I'm not sure how I would feel had I not seen Carvel, but having seen him, all the nuance and brilliance he brought to the part is magnified by how little Bierko does with it. It's not a disastrous performance, but the most damning thing I can say about it is that it's serviceable.

It’s noticeable that Bierko didn’t change his voice, but it’s also the lack of small touches that Carvel brought to the part – an occasional pause, a glare, etc. Carvel etched out a large, looming presence for Trunchbull, and it never really felt like a man playing a woman – and you really got the sense that Trunchbull is a sadistic sociopath. With Bierko, who lumbers across the stage, you’re always aware that it’s a man playing a woman, and it feels like a gimmick – and the character never really feels like a viable threat, which weakens the dramatic stakes that Matilda faces. Bierko doesn’t really interpret in degrees – it’s more loud or soft, with no in between. Some of the jokes that I assumed were foolproof land with a dull thud, and I’m not sure there was a single belly laugh regarding anything the Trunchbull said or did.

**MINOR SPOILER ALERT**

Somewhat minor points that annoyed me: due to Bierko’s injury, he has two (quite obvious) body doubles in “The Smell of Rebellion.” Also, Trunchbull doesn’t throw the girl with pigtails – I can’t remember specifics, but some lines were added about some random bully coming in to throw her. Both of these only serve to weaken the physical presence of Trunchbull – I mean, so much is emphasized about Trunchbull being a champion hammerthrower, and then she doesn’t throw the girl? Makes no sense. Also, the ribbon got wrapped around Bierko during “The Hammer,” so he finished the song by sitting down with the ribbon wrapped around him.

**END SPOILERS**

I have hopes he’ll improve, but I’m not sure he’s ever going to be a replacement that is in any way on par with Carvel. Bierko comes off as underrehearsed, and perhaps most obvious, miscast. Something doesn’t quite gel about the performance, and it’s disappointing. I'd love to hear other people's thoughts - I can't imagine I'm being too unreasonable or harsh, but perhaps I am.

[broadwaymarty]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 10:22pm

My opinion, for what it's worth is that Bertie was great playing it funny, Craig actually is slightly more a tuned to the book, plays it dark and scary and it makes a wonderfully dark show darker and I like that. About the voice, we're asked to believe a lot of things in MATILDA.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 9/19/13 at 11:44pm

Wait, they removed the....

*SPOILERS*

PIGTAIL SCENE?!

*END*

[broadwaymarty]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 12:17am

No, right now, because of Bierko's injury he can't spin her around so he tells someone else to.....he says "dispose of her, which is wonderfully creepy...it really fits in with Bierko's dark interpretation.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 8:45am

The idea that Trunchbull herself doesn't do that is utterly absurd and completely defeats the purpose of the moment.

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 10:17am

It goes to show you how special Carvel was in the role and so deserved the Tony over Billy Porter, who gives a wonderful performance, but is nothing so out of the ordinary that it couldn't be easily replicated.

[darquegk]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 11:30am

On the one hand, I think Carvel definitely deserved the Tony, and I also believe Matilda to be a fantastic, well-written show. On the other hand, my structuralist/writer side also strongly believes that if a part is written so specifically around one performer's talents that it cannot be well replicated (not even improved upon, just played by anyone else), you've got a big problem. It means that not only does the production depend on that performer, but the existence of the entire SHOW does as well.

It's the reason "Little Me" exists in so many variant versions- it was written so specifically for someone who could do exactly what Sid Caesar did that the production team has to retool the show every time it was revived. And I'm almost certain Carvel is one of the only quadruple threat actor/dancer/singer/stuntmen working right now.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 1:04pm

Yeah Carvel was special and he should have won a Tony. Too bad the Matilda people got greedy and nominated him in the wrong category.

[beagle]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 1:19pm

They've had good replacements in the role in London (first David Leonard and now Alex Gaumond). Maybe they're not as great as Carvel, but they have been well reviewed and the show is doing well. I saw Leonard and thought he was very good in the role.

If they've been able to find successful replacements in the London production, I don't see why they can't do so on Broadway. If Bierko is having trouble, maybe just needs some time to settle into the role.

[newintown]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 2:22pm

I wouldn't say that Trunchbull was created so that only Carvel could play her; I'm sure many people would be excellent in the role; they just need the ability to be a character actor, rather than a charm/looks actor (which is how Bierko has always struck me).

Updated On: 9/20/13 at 02:22 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 2:39pm

"Too bad the Matilda people got greedy and nominated him in the wrong category."

You're aware that's not how it works, right?

[KirbyCat]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 2:59pm

Kad, what I think Kathy meant to say was that the producers petitioned for him be eligible for the Leading Actor category, so they could get another potential nomination with Gabe Ebert in the Featured Actor category. Greedy producers, indeed.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 3:27pm

Carvel would have won the Featured Actor Tony for sure had been put in that category. However, since he won as Lead Actor at the Olivers in London, evidently the producers thought he should be considered Lead at the Tonys too. Oops.

Anyway, I hope Bierko isn't as bad as people are saying he is and that he settles into the role.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 3:58pm

When I saw the show in London, the understudy was on. He was terrific and received hoots, hollars, standing ovation and stole the show. Don't know who it was but he was terrific. Yes I know... I should know his name. It was the summer of 2011. Point being there are many people who can play this role.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 5:33pm

I saw it for the the first time this week and I thought Bierko was fine. I have nothing to compare him to thought. I was absolutely blown away by Jill Pace she was just wonderful.