Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 08:42:08 -0700
From: Allan Fetherolf <stage@getnet.com>
Subject: Boy Friend
To: mspt@asu.edu
Reply-to: stage@getnet.com
Organization: private
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Hi Mark,
I may disagree now and then with your review of our productions,
but you usually are pretty accurate. I can't argue with much of
anything you said about The
Boy Friend. Overall, I feel 3 1/2 stars was very fair.
It's a young cast and they can drive you nuts now and then but
they are energetic!
I did feel that Madame Dubonet was "over the top" but am glad you thought it worked. Some nights the audience really laughs at her and other nights she doesn't get any response at all so you never know. Anyway, you are always welcome at Stagebrush and unless you turn into Chris Curcio you always will be!
Come see Dangerous Liaisons--it should be interesting.
Allan Fetherolf
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 09:25:30 -0700 (MST)
From: mspt@asu.edu
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Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 09:25:23 -0700
To: stage@getnet.com
From: "Mark S.P. Turvin, M.F.A." <mspt@asu.edu>
Subject: Re: Boy Friend
Allan,
As always, I thank you very much for your continued and unwavering support. I do enjoy seeing theatre at your company, and while I may, from time to time, have a negative review of one of your productions, or might not agree with a few artistic choices and/or personnel policies, I still consider your company and Theater Works as the standards of community theatre companies in the Valley.
As for Ms. Dubonet's "over the top" performance, this type of charicature, especially when most of the rest of the cast is more evenly "modulated," can polarize an audience. I was reminded of the wonderful, though flawed musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which I saw on Broadway while still in high school. It is, in many ways, similar to The Boy Friend, since it is also set in a British Music Hall, though thirty to forty years earlier. In that show, an over-the-top female comic relief, Princess Puffer, is played in a very similar style as was this choice for Ms. Dubonet. I saw the show a few times, and it, too, either worked to high effect, or fell flat on its face.
I'm glad that my soapbox statement has not banned me from Stagebrush. I am a fan of the generously talented T.J. Weltzein, and only wish that he would watch how much he over-extends himself, and give opportunities to others who may be better-suited for singing roles.
Chris Curcio! Very funny. It's tempting, but I won't even touch that one, out of professional courtesy.
I'm certain I'll be reviewing Dangerous Liaisons. After hearing about and witnessing the successes of your previous costume dramas Amadeus and The Elephant Man, I'm looking forward to seeing what your company has up their collective sleeves.
Cheers,
Mark S.P. Turvin, M.F.A
Theatre Critic for Aisle Say--The Internet Magazine of Stage
Reviews and Opinions
http://www.escape.com/~theanet/AisleSay.html
Arizona Regional Reporter for Back Stage Newspapers®
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