Comments on: MEMORIES OF A GRAND NIGHT AT MAME

By: Diane C.

Diane C. — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 19:40:59 +0000

This is a bit outdated now but… my mother and I enjoyed MAME at KenCen despite nosebleed seats. Having missed Ms. Baranski in Sweeney Todd (thinking foolishly I’d seen that enough times), I wasn’t going to miss this. I’d also seen the interview with CB earlier at KenCen and find her to be an intelligent, warm, generous, gutsy actress who takes risk (dancing… which she did once upon a time). The sound system seemed a bit off and we couldn’t decipher some of the words tho the music was top-knotch and the set incredible — and yes, Lou A. is correct re absence of minorities in this show, esp when they could have been represented in one scene that displays how much of the world there is to learn about. I’ve taken swing dancing and Charleston — never saw those hand movements in this dance that Karen S referred to in a Footlights msg– but perhaps the choreographer exaggerated scenes from an old movie — or some “poetic” (?) license. Bottom line: I do find Christine Baranksi intriguing; when she was on stage, she totally captured my attention. As she said in her interview, she grew into the role and got bolder. I never saw this production “live” before but think this was a fine one. Worthy of Bway? I dunno. As a former NY, I admit to some snobbery in that dept but I’ll try to catch this wonderful actress in any future play.

As far as cafeteria costs at KenCen, I wish there were other options. Cuppa Cuppa doesn’t offer enough before a show, it appears. Can’t generally take adv of the half-price KenCen fare but nice to know about it for others. Two of us once split the hot meal (chicken?) and that worked. Best bet I think is the veggi wrap from the lobby carts. With all the construction going on, maybe they’ll install less costly vending machines with semi-healthy fare. Dream on?

Thanks for this forum, Joel.

By: ronnie

ronnie — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 00:31:00 +0000

Now days producers are lucky to know who is coming (grin)..

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 00:03:56 +0000

40 years ago, I understood that producers always knew when a review was being written & which edition of the paper would carry it; and that they got a copy from the newsroom as soon as the type was set. It should be even easier in the era of word-processing. Maybe producers here don’t maintain such a relationship with Mr. Marks.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 02:36:10 +0000

While I agree that Mr. Marks is not considering the casual theatre goer or audience reaction in his review; I don’t think he should be. I also think he becomes fixated on minor things that shouldn’t be. If the actress playing Mame in MAME is not up to the part; that is a problem with any production let alone one that has it’s eye on B’way. The fact that he finds the staircase rolling in on each scene that depicts Mame’s mansion bothersome and he gives that equal weight in his review is what I find unuseful and misleading. Audience reaction should not impact on a review other than as observation that would be useful for the casual theatre goer to know.

By: Paul Twohig

Paul Twohig — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 14:38:37 +0000

To be fair, I thought that in his initial review Marks said that Barnski’s performance might improve over the course of the run. I assume that he checked that prediction and was professional enough to do an update. As I said before, Marks is a type of reviewer that supposedly reviews aginst some high standards of the Art. And that is just the way it will be. He does enjoy a number of light works that he thinks are done well.

By: Joel

Joel — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 12:55:47 +0000

It’s too little too late. His initial review hurt Mame’s chances of transferring to NYC. I was in NYC this weekend and talked to 3 NYC producers who told me that they considered investing in a Broadway run, but Marks’ and Ben Brantley’s (NY TIMES)reviews had a major influence in investing in the show. This re-review is like pouring salt in an open wound-why write it? I don’t have that answer. Only Peter Marks can tell you. I don’t think "guilt" was on his mind. Personally, I think he should have never written it. It’s a shame that he and Brantley have so much power. The audience went crazy when I saw the show with you Barbara. I think it would have done very well on Broadway, but now we’ll never khow. They (Eric, etc.) should have waited a week until all the tech problems were solved before they allowed critics to review the show. It was a stupid move and it also hurt the show’s chances of tranferring.

By: Barbara Bear

Barbara Bear — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 12:23:22 +0000

Joel, I’m glad Peter Marks re-reviewed Mame - I’m just not sure I know why he did this re-review…The show was closing and it was too late to help the potential move to NYC or anywhere else. Maybe he just felt terribly guility. I wonder how many other plays he has re-reviewed after giving an unfavorable review.

By: Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Steve On Broadway (SOB) — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 19:22:12 +0000

Joel, Hopefully you were as happily surprised as I was that Peter Marks not only re-reviewed Mame, but he opened a new window in his thinking! Wonders will never cease. Let’s hope that some Broadway producer will show some class by transferring this show to the Great White Way where it belongs. Steve On Broadway (SOB)

By: Joel

Joel — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 15:09:43 +0000

Cheryl:

The cafeteria comment was a joke. I do think that charging $9.99 per b for their salad bar is a little too much. Thanks for the info on the 1/2 price sandwiches. I’ll make sure when I return to The KC that I arrive in time for the sandwich deal. And thank you for all your time and efforts to organize these trips to KC. I really appreciate all your efforts. Joel

By: Maggie

Maggie — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 18:02:57 +0000

Do you have more pics of Harriet Harris? I’ll run a website about her in July or August and look for every picture I can find! Please email.