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I had such high hopes when I heard this show was being done. A gorgeous score, some marvelous parts and songs for actors--it could not miss.
Except it did.
Now this was not nearly as egregious as when they did "A Chorus Line" in 2013, which should never have been done in this venue, and, except for the Cassie, was atrociously cast and staged.
Thank God for the Ensemble, the chorus kids, darlings, who lend this show a bigger sound, because most of the leads could not put the score across. This show needs voices, and save for the Ensemble, and Amanda Duisenberg as Smitty, Sean Costello as Bud Frump and David Kurnov as J.B. Biggley, the singing and musical direction were substandard.
Rosemary's opening number, "Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm," should soar, especially at the end. But Dorea Slagle's performance reduces it to whimsy, not the determination of a secretary who wants out of the Sixties pool. Same with Victor Gorlach as Finch. Oh, he projects someone who has a high opinion of himself, which he probably does in real life. Too bad his voice is not up to the role; his exuberant opening is stunted by his inability to project, and in the triplet "Rosemary," only Sean Costello's voice soars.
One more thing about Gorlach as Finch. The audience, on some level is supposed to find him likable. But his arrogance makes him come across more like Frump!!!!!!!!!!
Was this the best they could get? Better not to do the show. As for the Music Director, Anne Rebold, honey, why change the tempo on some of the numbers? Couldn't you have worked vocally with the leads to make their voices soar? Either that or get a new Finch or Rosemary. I would be happy to step into either role.
Girls, Bob Fosse choreographed this originally, in 1961, and it marked the Broadway debut of Donna McKechnie. Need I say more?
For some reason, the second act was better than the first. Either I had gotten used to the subpar quality of the actors' voices, or they were saving themselves for the bigger numbers, like "Pairs Original" and "The Brotherhood Of Man." Again, they delivered, but did not soar.
As for Marie Ingrisano Iser's direction, couldn't you have found a way to get Gorlach to modulate his performance as Finch, and give Dorea Slagle some tips on how to make Rosemary soar? What kind of director are you? And the way you cast--OMG, horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had such high hopes for this show, but they were quickly dashed.
Girls, this 'How To Succeed' does NOT succeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 comments:
how NOT to succeed.
what a shame.
was it the acoustics perhaps?
I don’t know much about the show, only that it has been revived over the years, with such big names as Matthew Broderick and Daniel Radcliffe.
Victoria, The venue, which is a small arena stage, definitely did have something do with it, Like ACL, this show should not have been done here. But the cast was not up to its demands either, and the choreography was terrible.
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