Arthur Laurents on his WSS Revival, Spring Awakening and more.- Page 2

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 7:16pm

Lol. He says it in the interview. He wants the cast very young and all unknown. There will be Spanish speaking. And he wants the gang members to look, speak, and sing like actually gang members.

No words, notes, or moves will be changed.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 7:16pm

In response to Nick and Nora, I don't think that Laurents knows how to make a contemporary musical work as well because he's not as well versed in what makes our pop-baesed culture tick - man is old. I am wary of his WSS concept.

However, there's no one alive that understands how to take a classic American musical and make it work like he does. He understands how to properly structure a piece of classic musical material. That's why "La Cage" was such a triumph. It's a classic old time musical comedy.

He also knows how to direct divas and how to step out of his own work and direct these huge diva moments like "Rose's Turn" and "I Am What I Am" and make them fully realized and alive - he creates diva moments, rather than bending to them and building his work around them to "make them work".

I realize you don't hate Patti, Curtain, and you're very entitled to opinion that I respect - but I feel like this is her best performance yet in that it's real. "Evita", "Sunset Boulevard", "Anything Goes", and City Center were all performances of LuPone's in which her actions were shrouded by diva-isms and were less specific. I feel like she's foolin' ya. (which she can, beacuse, as a Patti fan, I can attest that I would watch her diva-belt her way through anything and love it, but I find it hard to believe taht you can't recognize her performance at City Center as her best.)
Updated On: 5/22/08 at 07:16 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 7:26pm

I think people are being quite unfair though. Everyone on here raved about LuPone's performance last summer, I understand that she has considerably improved (rehearsal time and doing a role in front of a live audience for 3 weeks will do that to you) but I saw her at City Center and while she was not my favorite role (I'm a biased, blinded Bernadette Peters lover) she gave an outstanding performance, her Rose was believable and her "Rose's Turn" was chilling.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 7:31pm

I loved her 'Rose's Turn' too at CC. But it's a completely different animal now. The only thing that really remained is her final scream. At CC, the number was REALLY angry. And it worked, but now the number is so much more psychological. It's almost frightening at times to watch.

Brantley explains it perfectly.

In “Rose’s Turn,” in particular, Ms. LuPone takes you on a guided tour of all Rose’s inner demons, from sexual succubus to shivering infant. (Be warned: they will live in your head for a while.)

- From his Broadway review.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 9:20pm

As much as some people don't like Laurents, he is certainly a Broadway classic. I can't wait to see his take on WSS. Those of you who are SA fans are likely to be very happy. There are several former and current castmembers who are in final callbacks.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 9:29pm

OK guys and gals, thanks for a calmer view.

I do find it interesting that when the critcs disagree with some people on these boards they vilify them to the high heavens, but when they agree with them they are absolutely correct and the last word.
We all have the right to agree or disagree.

I admit that part of my problem is that I have seen many Rose's, all the Broadway productions except Merman dammit.
Lansbury was a revalation, the acting was breathtaking, and the singing unexpectedly sublime, Jule Styne worked personally with her and she blew Laurents and Sondheim away with her interpretation. Tyne Daly acted the **** out of the role and what she lacked in pitch she made up in power.
And they were both directed by Laurents.
Bernadette brought a sexy playfullness to the part without losing the drive and passion and her vocals the nights I saw her were terrific.
So maybe I am Rosed out and for me I think Patti could play Rose with both hands and her tongue tied behind her back, was she born to play it? of course, is it her greatest challenge, for me no.
And yes the bare bones of the production does bother me.

Updated On: 5/22/08 at 09:29 PM

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 9:43pm

I wonder if Laurents will edit bits and pieces of WSS the way he did Gypsy. I wonder if he will ad a tag ending as he did in Gypsy. I know he said hes not going to change anything...but then some people do not believe Gypsy was 'changed' either.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 10:28pm

I have a lot of friends who have auditioned for WEST SIDE STORY in the last few days.
The sharks are all expected to be somewhat fluid in Spanish, if not, even the best dancers are being eliminated.
And yes, many of the SPRING AWAKENING cast are getting callbacks, which is interesting because I don't think any of them are Spanish and the others are great singers for the Sheik score but I don't really hear them doing Bernstein's score in my head.
And Laurents has also been eliminating people with too many theatre credits.
This will interesting to say the least.

[jv92]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 10:35pm

Here's the question of the day-
In this new West Side, will Sondheim FINALLY be able to rewrite I Feel Pretty?

[jake6970]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 10:46pm

Is the SA cast only going in for the jet and jet girl roles? I'm not sure whether people like Lilli Cooper or Eryn Murman could play one of the Puerto Rican girls, but they could pass.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 10:57pm

But can any of them dance the Robbin's choreography?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 11:40pm

There, I thought I was watching Mama Rose. On Broadway, I thought I was watching Patti.

That meme drives me crazy. CRAZY!

As if Merman had suddenly become some Method actress, burying her star persona in the role.

I was ALWAYS aware I was watching Angela play Rose.

I was ALWAYS aware I was watching Tyne Daly play Rose.

I was ALWAYS aware I was watching Linda Lavin play Rose.

I was ALWAYS aware I was watching Bette Midler play Rose.

I was ALWAYS aware I was watching Betty Buckley play Medea--I mean, Rose.

I was ALWAYS aware I was watching Bernadette play cutesy-poo.

And, yes, I'm aware that it's PATTI LUPONE PLAYING ROSE.

It's called watching a STAR PERFORMANCE!!! You should be so lucky as to see a HANDFUL of these in the course of your theatergoing lifetimes.

Watching Patti/Watching Rose--RIDICULOUS!

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/23/08 at 12:01am

PAL JOEY.

HOW DARE YOU INSINUATE ETHEL MERMAN PLAYED ETHEL MERMAN AS ROSE.

ETHEL WAS AN AMAZING ACTRESS. HOW DARE YOU!!!!!

THAT PATTI CHICK. BOY OH BOY... SHE CAN'T ACT TO SAVE HER LIFE. SHE CAN TAKE HER JULLIARD DEGREE AND YOU KNOW WHAT....