tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post2892350146297370836..comments2023-04-11T10:26:47.795-05:00Comments on A Follow Spot: "Promises, Promises" = Mad Men + How To Succeed + Burt Bacharach - Robert MorseJulieKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12521424567356348282noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-21011851160806190102010-05-23T15:48:39.111-05:002010-05-23T15:48:39.111-05:00He definitely has the voice. Yes, I think he would...He definitely has the voice. Yes, I think he would be an excellent choice. Good one, Jon. And thanks for the link to the video. There are other nice ones there, as well.<br /><br />Euan Morton FTW!JulieKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12521424567356348282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-48540334798711501052010-05-23T12:57:39.004-05:002010-05-23T12:57:39.004-05:00PS: I tried to embed a URL there between pointy br...PS: I tried to embed a URL there between pointy brackets, but the posting simply stripped all that info out. Here it is as just text.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElCsLypGuk0&feature=relatedJAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942256334004773509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-33696137138998310612010-05-23T12:56:35.442-05:002010-05-23T12:56:35.442-05:00Maybe (now that we have seen him in person) Euan M...Maybe (now that we have seen him in person) Euan Morton? He's got the funny-little-guy thing going, along with a good voice.JAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942256334004773509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-67055181468602925892010-05-23T11:57:40.572-05:002010-05-23T11:57:40.572-05:00I've seen that video of "Turkey Lurkey Ti...I've seen that video of "Turkey Lurkey Time" with Donna McKechnie's mysteriously rubber arm before. How <i>did</i> she do that?<br /><br />At least now I've seen the whole show, too, so I know how "Turkey Lurkey Time" fits. Sort of. I mean, it's a pretty goofy number any way you slice it.<br /><br />Jason Alexander, huh? I wonder if Nathan Lane ever played the role. :-) And Fred Willard. That's a hoot. I love Fred Willard. Not sure what I think about Alan Thicke. He certainly has the unctuous part down. But attractive? Hmmm...<br /><br />Trying to think of the perfect C.C. Baxter isn't getting me anywhere. Peter Scolari would've been nice about 20 years ago. Ditto Rick Moranis, although maybe he's <i>too</i> nerdy. Gavin Creel would be okay now, and yes, I know I bring him up for everything, but his voice is so amazing (as evidenced in another Seth Rudetsky video on youtube) and I think he can play nebbishy if he tries. No Hunter Foster, please.JulieKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12521424567356348282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-68933799269562103982010-05-23T11:34:15.270-05:002010-05-23T11:34:15.270-05:00More data points on casting possibilities: "P...More data points on casting possibilities: "Promises, Promises" was, I think, the first production (1997) in the LA Reprise series (which began as an Encores! knockoff, if cut down, but now favors full staged productions). Its C.C. Baxter was Jason Alexander, another likely-to-be-overlooked type.<br /><br />Its Fran was Karen Fineman (unknown to me); Sheldrake: Alan Thicke!; Marge: Jean Smart; Dr. Dreyfuss: Barney Martin; and the 4 execs were Paul Kreppel, Cliff Bemis, Charlie Robinson, and Fred Willard. Adam Shankman choreographed. <br /><br />And speaking of choreography: Watch Seth Rudetsky talk about "Turkey Lurkey Time."<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4u70p_SSi0JAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942256334004773509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-89750768317920380852010-05-22T22:26:11.375-05:002010-05-22T22:26:11.375-05:00I also think that the success of "Mad Men&quo...I also think that the success of "Mad Men" has helped make a revival seem more palatable. (Note that this production is set in 1962, prime "Mad Men" territory, when the original "Promises, Promises" was set in 1968.) <br /><br />All they need to do is bring John Slattery in as Meldrake and the circle will be complete. Don't know if he sings, either, but he would make a dandy Meldrake acting-wise.*<br /><br />*That's a little joke for any "Apartment" lovers.JulieKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12521424567356348282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-91010532155729612592010-05-22T21:19:23.586-05:002010-05-22T21:19:23.586-05:00When I started teaching my History of Musicals cou...When I started teaching my History of Musicals course in 2000, Bacharach was also an easy sell to high-school kids because the Austin Powers movies were current and they'd all seen them and knew the music. Now I don't even bother to mention the show (though maybe I will in the fall, if this production is still running).<br /><br />On why no previous Broadway revival of it: I know it's been contemplated once or twice (including a transfer of the Encores show), but always seems to fall apart. I get the impression that its gender politics make producers nervous -- they're afraid of massive critical disapproval of a story that blithely takes bosses sleeping with their secretaries et al as a given. (I'm not sure why, as producers seldom seem to have deep principles about anything.) Anyway, it's set so firmly in its period, audiences never seem to have a problem with it.JAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942256334004773509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-47941465959652710062010-05-22T20:13:48.138-05:002010-05-22T20:13:48.138-05:00I think Martin Short is useful in a discussion of ...I think Martin Short is useful in a discussion of the role. Newsweek guy only talked about Jerry Ohrbach, and I can see where his sad puppy face could work, but to me, the Martin Shorts and Sean Hayes(es) of the world are better for the role, just because we expect them to be overlooked when it comes to getting the girl. <br /><br />Thanks for the link, Jon, and also for the note on my math. It's fixed. :-)<br /><br />One thing that was interesting to me was that the two pre-teens sitting next to me were excited about "A House Is Not a Home." Turns out they saw Kristin Chenoweth sing it on "Glee" and loved it. So at least "Glee" is doing that much of a public service, and good for Kristin for promoting Broadway with her guest stint.<br /><br />It's funny, because she has a different hairdo on the poster (the one I posted with this review) than she did in the show. Some pundit opined that she was trying to look like Angie Dickinson (Burt Bacharach's ex) with the tan and the long blonde hair. I didn't think that, really, but she doesn't look like my idea of Fran Kubelik, either. It's really hard to get past adorable Shirley MacLaine, with her little red pixie cut. I wonder if Anna Friel can sing. She's more the right type.JulieKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12521424567356348282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-22342793631884358932010-05-22T16:43:04.710-05:002010-05-22T16:43:04.710-05:00I just watched the video again myself for the firs...I just watched the video again myself for the first time since hearing from Julie about the current production, and whaddaya know! there's Seán Martin Hingston! This being 1997, he's still in the chorus -- he has his arm around Christine Baranski for a stretch when the chorus first breaks in.<br /><br />Hingston, by the way, has been totally out throughout his career. I wonder if Newsweek approves of his playing a straight lecherous businessman.JAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942256334004773509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-22982174845462913332010-05-22T16:25:59.017-05:002010-05-22T16:25:59.017-05:00It's a tricky role, isn't it? She has made...It's a tricky role, isn't it? She has made terrible choices and has a suicidal episode; and she has to make us understand why all that might happen, and want her and our protagonist to get together. I like Chenoweth, and I do believe people can be what they're not through the power of acting, but she does seem like the opposite of what the role calls for in almost every way.<br /><br />Here ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0TYj1Hvc9U ), by the way, is the scene and song with Marge (the Katie Finneran character) as performed by Martin Short and Christine Baranski at Encores some years back. Among other things it lets us hear the quality of Neil Simon's contribution to this show: some of his best work ever, I think, in terms of comedy craftsmanship.JAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942256334004773509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816366806127608207.post-25178276803058632972010-05-22T14:00:41.345-05:002010-05-22T14:00:41.345-05:00I love the singing Callaway sisters!
I love Cheno...I love the singing Callaway sisters!<br /><br />I love Chenoweth, too, so I'm sorry to hear you don't think she's right/good in this role. Too bad. Watch out, though. You know how mad she got at that Newsweek guy!Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06559881249054540947noreply@blogger.com