Comments for Theatre Aficionado at Large

Comment on On the Town: The January Edition by Kevin Daly

Kevin Daly — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:15:47 +0000

Agreed re: electric guitar. It seemed to be that Tunick was adapting the revisions to match the originals. Also, he was planning on brushing up a few things along the way. We’ll know soon enough!

Comment on On the Town: The January Edition by KDT

KDT — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:59:14 +0000

I forgot!!! I forgot she was in the show!!!

And I agree… the overture MUST have electric guitar.

Comment on On the Town: The January Edition by David Levy

David Levy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:46:03 +0000

My biggest question about the new Merrily charts is whether nor not they will restore the electric guitar. The overture isn’t complete without it!

Comment on Patricia Neway (1919-2012) by William Oser

William Oser — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:03:18 +0000

Thank you for this nice tribute. Pat Neway was also an important part of the Broadway production, first in the USA of Ben Britten’s Rape of Lucretia. I know this because Kitty Carlisle told me about it and she was there as the alternate Lucretia. Kitty’s voice wasn’t really trained to sing real opera, and she always felt that she was not good enough to have been among that cast. She was very complimentary towards Patricia Neway, and I observed and had others tell me that Ms. Carlisle was not always kind in her assessment of others. Anyway, sadly another great one has passed. I snagged a mint copy of Maria Golovin about 8 months ago, and it has sat unplayed. I had access to this recording as a child, from my local library and listened to it several times. Guess it is now time to sit down with it and reacquaint myself with another teriffic Patricia Neway performance. RIP

Comment on Patricia Neway (1919-2012) by Ben Williams

Ben Williams — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:27:56 +0000

Thanks for this, Kevin. I have scoured all the major English newspapers for an obituary of Patricia Neway, but have found nothing. Yours appears to be the only one on-line, so am grateful to have had the opportunity to read this today. I thought Ms.Neway had a terrific voice, and her “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” was definitive.
Best regards, Ben.

Comment on “And Eve Was Weak” by SarahB

SarahB — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:23:14 +0000

For all of the craziness, the music is stunning though. Even better are Betty Buckley’s stories about the show when it was on Broadway, which she sometimes tells at her Broadway cabaret acts. Her telling of the stories are so funny, she will have you crying and holding your sides.

Comment on “Chinglish” by Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:48:57 +0000

Hey check out (and like) an awesome video interview with the talented playwright of the Broadway play “Chinglish” David Henry Hwang at: http://culturecatch.com/vidcast/david-henry-hwang

Comment on “Matilda” – Original Cast Recording by Vicky

Vicky — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:44:25 +0000

If you go and see Matilda, SarahB, you’ll see why Bertie is the perfect ‘Miss’ Trunchbull! His acting and comic timing together with the dark lines / lyrics all add up to perfection. The whole show is awesome – we went on the very first preview night when the musical was still three hours long, enjoyed every minute of it and there was no surprise at all at the full standing ovation – it was lovely to see Tim, sitting just behind us, overawed for once!

Comment on Carole Demas: Summer Nights by Von Ann Stutler

Von Ann Stutler — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:10:34 +0000

I have heard Carole before at the Beechman and she is simply terrific – so glad this reviewer appreciates her amazing talent. He is so right about Meadowlark – no one sings it like she does. I do hope she records it.

Comment on “Matilda” – Original Cast Recording by Kevin Daly

Kevin Daly — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:54:41 +0000

One of the many unique things about “Matilda” is its casting. Taking its cue from Roald Dahl’s description, Miss Trunchbull is known to have more than a few masculine qualities and they are playing with that idea. The non-traditional casting doesn’t stop there: there are many child roles in the show. However, the young children are played by young children while the older students (including Matilda’s brother) are played by adults.

It’s a very unique piece and I don’t think Bertie Carvel, who is fast turning into the West End’s go-to chameleon, is keeping any actresses out of work. The role has specific demands (style, ability and physicality) that the creative team felt would work best with a man in drag. From what he’s created on the cast album, it’s an extraordinary performance that I think will be the talk of the West End.