TOOTSIE Reviews- Page 11

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 1:33pm

well Boys Don't Cry now joins the list of things transgender activists are offended about:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/movies/boys-dont-cry-anniversary.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Farts&action=click&contentCollection=arts&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 2:21pm

I’ll never dictate to someone their own life experiences, but I don’t know if I get the outrage. Brandon is treated with great humanity in the film and he chooses (as he did in real life) the best of several ****ty options that were afforded to him at the time. It’s not a comment on him that he lived a life that required some subterfuge. It’s a comment on our effed up society then and now.

As far as a cisgender heterosexual female playing the part, I agree that the main problem is that it’s not an even playing ground for transgender and non-heterosexual people being cast either as characters that resemble themselves or as cisgender heterosexual characters. Having said that, a brilliant performance is a brilliant performance. Swank gives a stunning performance and proves she was the right casting choice for the movie.

Some of my favorite movies are Milk, Philadelphia, The Normal Heart and Longtime Companion. Movies in which either some or the majority or all of the gay characters are played by heterosexual cisgender males. I can acknowledge the unfairness in the industry yet those moves and those performances still affect me deeply.

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 2:29pm

Miles2Go2 said: "I’ll never dictate to someone their own life experiences, but I don’t know if I get the outrage. Brandon is treated with great humanity in the film and he chooses (as he did in real life) the best of several ****ty options that were afforded to him at the time. It’s not a comment on him that he lived a life that required some subterfuge. It’s a comment on our effed up society then and now.

As far as a cisgender heterosexual female playing the part, I agree that the main problem is that it’s not an even playing ground for transgender and non-heterosexual people being cast either as characters that resemble themselves or as cisgender heterosexual characters. Having said that, a brilliant performance is a brilliant performance. Swank gives a stunning performance and proves she was the right casting choice for the movie.

Some of my favorite movies are Milk, Philadelphia, The Normal Heart and Longtime Companion. Movies in which either some or the majority or all of the gay characters are played by heterosexual cisgender males. I can acknowledge the unfairness in the industry yet those moves and those performances still affect me deeply."

I agree with every single thing said here. I also think its good that heterosexual cisgender males take on these roles, in hope to bring more people into the performance/movie/work of art they are participating in. I know a lot of my straight male friends who admire some actors, especially some from the MCU like Chris Evans, RDJ, Hemsworth, etc. Id love for one of them to play a gay character someday as my friends honestly might be more into it. That may speak to my friends and where we're at as a country, but gotta make steps somehow. 

I think if the people outraged over this show saw the show for themselves, they'd laugh at themselves for ever complaining in the first place. Its probably the "lightest" show on Broadway right now other than maybe Lightening Thief. 

[Kad]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 2:29pm

poisonivy2 said: "well Boys Don't Cry now joins the list of things transgender activists are offended about:"

Kind of a grossly reductive way to put it, particularly the day after those Supreme Court cases were argued. 

[Zion24]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 11:11pm

Jarethan said: "Not sure I understand your point, but I would say that the Lilli Cooper song you referred to (started in the subway) was IMO one of two good songs in the show. The other was the comedy number by Sarah Stiles, but it was played one too many people times for me. I dint think Tootsie had one good song.

I would have loved a straight comedy in an 800 - 1,000 seat theatre.

"

lilli cooper has a lovely voice; we disagree on that song. My only point there was that i found the staging of, even in the inclusion of it, as completely out of left field, extraneous to the plot (if not confusing) --- none of which was done "intentionally" by the production. if the above poster thought that this was done on purpose to be underwhelming, then they, not i, missed the "point of the show."

its a good book undone by wide-eyed producers who tried to make it bigger and splashier than it ever should have been. liked the cast. wish it nothing but the best.

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 11:39pm

JDonaghy4 said: "Jarethan said: "Not sure I understand your point, but I would say that the Lilli Cooper song you referred to (started in the subway) was IMO one of two good songs in the show. The other was the comedy number by Sarah Stiles, but it was played one too many people times for me. I dint think Tootsie had one good song.

I would have loved a straight comedy in an 800 - 1,000 seat theatre.

"

lilli cooper has a lovely voice; we disagree on that song. My only point there was that i found the staging of, even in the inclusion of it, as completely out of left field, extraneous to the plot (if not confusing) --- none of which was done "intentionally" by the production. if the above poster thought that this was done on purpose to be underwhelming, then they, not i, missed the "point of the show."

its a good book undone by wide-eyed producers who tried to make it bigger and splashier than it ever should have been. liked the cast. wish it nothing but the best.

Agreed.

 

 

[dfrillsnedit]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 7:26am

I saw Tootsie yesterday during the 2pm matinee, and overall (despite an underwhelming score) I really enjoyed it. Sure, the songs aren’t the most memorable of the decade but the book is quite charming.

Yet what wasn’t so charming was the audience. I’ve been going to shows since I was 6, and never in my almost 30 years of living have I experienced a more awkward audience. People seemed like they had either never been to a show before (not knowing when to clap or cheer on a character when the spotlight is on them) or were just plain rude. I get not being into a show, but if you see the lead protagonist come on stage in a big glittery dress, maybe clap for them? The show wants you to acknowledge them in a pleasant manner at least.

From long pauses of no claps after a song, to very few audience members (including yours truly) in an almost packed house, making little joyful exclamations, it was a sad moment on Broadway for sure.

As I later tweeted, the whole thing felt like going to a middle school winter formal and the cast could feel it too. Lilli Cooper in particular looked so disappointed, which was a damn shame. The whole cast was wonderful, and deserved a much better crowd than what they got. You don’t have to like the show but at least be respectful in the most basic of ways.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 8:55am

"Yet what wasn’t so charming was the audience. I’ve been going to shows since I was 6, and never in my almost 30 years of living have I experienced a more awkward audience. People seemed like they had either never been to a show before (not knowing when to clap or cheer on a character when the spotlight is on them) or were just plain rude. I get not being into a show, but if you see the lead protagonist come on stage in a big glittery dress, maybe clap for them? The show wants you to acknowledge them in a pleasant manner at least.

From long pauses of no claps after a song, to very few audience members (including yours truly) in an almost packed house, making little joyful exclamations, it was a sad moment on Broadway for sure.

I feel bad for the performers that crowd did not seem to enjoy the show but they paid their money and if they did not feel like clapping I am not going to give them a hard time. From your post, it appears they were not rude they just did not like "Tootsie". 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 9:39am

Im sorry, when the heck did appearing in a "big glittery dress" become a mandatory applause marker?

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 8:52pm

"Im sorry, when the heck did appearing in a "big glittery dress" become a mandatory applause marker?"

Maybe it should have gotten a standing ovation - lol.

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 11:23am

dfrillsnedit said: "The whole cast was wonderful, and deserved a much better crowd than what they got. "

Or maybe they deserved better material than what they got?

I disagree with you about the book being charming. I felt it was severly lacking compared to the movie.

I saw the show in Chicago and I laughed a LOT! But schtick has a shelf life. It's like a comedian performing the same material over and over. After a certain amount of time, you know the jokes and even though they're funny, 'ya just don't laugh anymore.

RE: the dress, I wonder if the creative team overestimated how "iconic" it might be (in terms of making a connection to the original movie)? When I saw the show, I was underwhelmed by its appearance. Hoffman had the advantage of "movie magic" (i.e., not needing to recreate the look repeatedly, as a quick-change). He look GOOD (well, as good as possible) in the dress. But it only needed to be done ONCE.

In contrast, Fontana looked like the very handsome man he is - in a dress. Not so much like a woman, and not to the degree that Hoffman was able to carry off, because of very different circumstances.

Updated On: 12/28/19 at 11:23 AM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/30/19 at 12:04am

yankeefan7 said: ""Yet what wasn’t so charming was the audience. I’ve been going to shows since I was 6, and never in my almost 30 years of living have I experienced a more awkward audience. People seemed like they had either never been to a show before (not knowing when to clap or cheer on a character when the spotlight is on them) or were just plain rude. I get not being into a show, but if you see the lead protagonist come on stage in a big glittery dress, maybe clap for them? The show wants you to acknowledge them in a pleasant manner at least.

From long pauses of no claps after a song, to very few audience members (including yours truly) in an almost packed house, making little joyful exclamations, it was a sad moment on Broadway for sure.

I feel bad for the performers that crowd did not seem to enjoy the show but they paid their money and if they did not feel like clappingI am not going to give them a hard time. From your post, it appears they were not rude they just did not like "Tootsie"."

I think they just were disappointed that they spent hard-earned dollars on such a lousy show.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/30/19 at 8:48am

"I think they just were disappointed that they spent hard-earned dollars on such a lousy show."

Yep. I did not see it so I can't make a personal judgement but from everything I read the score was not good and isn't that one of the main reasons of seeing a particular musical.

[mikey2573]

Posted: 12/30/19 at 12:32pm

The problem is with the show TOOTSIE, not with the audience.  The actors are giving it their all, but the musical numbers are just bland, uninspiring, and unmoving.  I felt uncomfortable too when Dorothy rises out of the floor,center stage in a sparkling red dress (clearly meant to be a BIG moment) and there was only tepid applause. The problem there is that the audience had already seen Michael in various dresses throughout Act 1 so this "BIG ENTRANCE" seemed out of place and unnecessary.  And it was in a very weak Act 1 closer that was clearly inspired by a much funnier bit in THE PRODUCERS.  I enjoyed most of the show while sitting in the audience but it was completely gone and out of mind by the time I reached the back of the house and exited the theater.  If you are going to take a great movie and turn it into a Broadway musical, you want to make sure your musical is at least equal to,if not better than, the movie that inspired it (BILLY ELLIOT is a good example). This one was nowhere near as funny or as moving as the movie TOOTSIE which I confirmed this past weekend by watching the movie again. 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/30/19 at 1:39pm

"This one was nowhere near as funny or as moving as the movie TOOTSIE which I confirmed this past weekend by watching the movie again. "

I would also think the "reveal" moment was much better in the movie than the show.

 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/30/19 at 1:56pm

I saw the show yesterday afternoon because Nick Spangler was going on as Michael. I hadn’t seen the show since the first preview and the audience was enthusiastic but obviously less insider-y and of course, less of a sense that they rooting for everything. (Though Spangler had a large number of friends/family/fans scattered throughout, so that was nice. And he was fantastic.)

My opinion of the show itself hasn’t changed in that everyone around Michael is more interesting than Michael, and so much of the show feels like a vehicle for some pretty great one-liners. I did notice weird hesitation in applause if only because there weren’t buttons to some of the songs and the audience wasn’t sure what to do. But as the show went on — especially in act 2 — applause for the red dress appearance and for any zingers was fast and earned. There was only a scattered standing ovation, though, which surprised me.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/30/19 at 3:28pm

Standing ovations mean nothing these days, so a scattered ovation to me means that the audience couldn't even bother getting out of their eats for such mediocrity.

I have rarely had such negative, nasty comments about a show which I actually laughed a lot while viewing.  But I keep remembering that I metaphorically shuddered every time a new song started.  And it may have had the worst Act 1 closer I have ever seen.

 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/30/19 at 9:20pm

Saw yesterday's matinee with Spangler who did an outstanding job, and boy can he SING!!!!

I have to agree that the score isn't too notch but I did enjoy the orchestrations.

I sat in the front mezz and it seemed as though Nik got a full standing ovation from that section of the theater.

Would I rush to see the show again? Not really.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/30/19 at 11:05pm

"Standing ovations mean nothing these days, so a scattered ovation to me means that the audience couldn't even bother getting out of their eats for such mediocrity."

Very true, almost any show now gets scattered standing ovation and from all we know it may be the family/friends of the cast.