67 replies to this topic

[StephanieL]

Went to the first preview performance last night. My judgment may have been clouded by my ongoing cold and the fact that the balcony overhang cut off part of my view, but I was somewhat disappointed. Don't know what I was expecting, but the parts taken directly from the movie worked the least. The line readings weren't as funny and it was odd to hear the audience cheer for the appearance of things like Tim the Enchanter, the Knights Who Say Ni, etc. On the other hand, I did like the spoofings of Broadway musicals, and the female lead has a terrific voice and great comic timing.

I don't know how much the show will change, if at all, between now and opening night. No one flubbed their lines and there were no technical difficulties other than some mike static during one number.

[Wilfrid1]

It's been doing huge box office, I hear. How was Tim Curry?

[StephanieL]

Yes, the advance sales have been huge. Tim Curry was very enjoyable--a perfect blend of bombast and smarminess, with the only genuine British accent in the whole cast. Singing voice was pretty good too.

[GG Mora]

Seems the whole experience could be compromised by phony British accents.

[Daisy]

Seems the whole experience could be compromised by phony British accents.

The accent thing is a killer. And the Brits have as much trouble going American as the Americans do with the English accents. A few years ago I dragged my then boyfriend to a production of Hurly Burly in London which had an all British cast and starred Rupert Graves, who I happen to think is a terrific actor. About ten minutes into it, the bf whispered to me,"What are all these Canadians doing in this play?"

[flyfish]

I hope Hank Azaria doesn't drift into his Blue Raja accent (Mystery Men)...

Does Neil Innes (or Idle's co-Pythons) get any credit for the songs from the movie?

Flyfish

[Wilfrid1]

I once took my (Dominican) Beloved to a production of West Side Story in London. After about ten minutes, she turned to me with a quizzical look and muttered "These people no puertoriqueno!"

How right she was.

[StephanieL]

Hank Azaria's accent was fine; David Hyde Pierce's kept drifting.

[omnivorette]

I´m seeing it on April 1st. No giving away too much.

[g.johnson]

The accent thing is a killer. And the Brits have as much trouble going American as the Americans do with the English accents.

Both are getting better. Renee Zellweger and Gwyneth Paltrow both do pretty good English accents (though Zellweger's oscillates between the classes) and Jude Law and Christian Bale (American Psycho) are competent at American ones (or am I wrong about that?).

[GG Mora]

No, I'd agree with you. It took me several years to realize that Bale was, in fact British.

Cate Blanchett makes a pretty convincing American, too. And Rachel Griffiths (though she's Australian) and Charlize Theron (South African).

Edit: duh, Blanchett's Australian, too.

Edited by GG Mora, 16 February 2005 - 09:30 PM.

[Wilfrid1]

I´m seeing it on April 1st. No giving away too much.

You never saw the movie?

Anyway, it's not exactly densely plotted.

[Wilfrid1]

Naomi Watts is a persuasive American, isn't she? Well, I find her persuasive.

[g.johnson]

Nichole Kidman does good English and American accents. But then, if I had an Australian accent, I'd do my best to hide the fact.

[Daisy]

Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron, definitely. I do think it's easier for Aussies than Brits---Aussie pronounciation is more nasal than British, a quality it shares with most American accents. Rachel Griffiths I think goes a bit overboard with the nasality. Bale is great, Law slips a bit sometimes.