Bumpy Angels
Sun, 2 July 2000, 12:07 pmWalter Plinge27 posts in thread
Bumpy Angels
Sun, 2 July 2000, 12:07 pmHello everyone! Well, lets see if we can cause some more controversy!(not that that's what i set out to do)
Bumpy Angels is a strange mish-mash of song, personal revelation (and even) game show. Unfortunately I was put off from the beginning with the intolerably long procession of "brides" which had no relevance to any later scenes - merely some sort of masque to get us in the mood (and failing). Firstly the backstage crew were laughable - taking ages just to move a cupboard and later making mistakes (coming in and off in half light) and then very audiblely chastising/discussing backstage - to was so bad the audience couldn't help but giggle. Mind you, we were already in a bemused state after being subjected to various snatches of song which are incredibly cheesy and I think lent nothing to the play - they could all be cut and play would lose nothing (might even gain a bit of dramatic credibility). By the interval I was pleased with the dramatic tension set up between characters and the audience was certainly emotionally involved - some of us rather uncomfortably so! But then it just kept coming! Coral and Felicity-Elizabeth's monologues were quite touching and well performed - but then everybody had to get in on the act, confessing every dark secret and troubled soul. Destroying most of the poignancy and subtlety of the play we were sledgehammered with emotion until the unsatisfying conclusion. High praise must goto the Mother Superior, who showed excellent charactisation and crystal clear vocal technique. Singing numbers were a little ragged and out of time and of course not all of us can be singers (Angela and Amy's song certainly made us long for a chorus number) but Your CHeatin' Heart was an absolute delight. All in all an emotion packed and interesting show, which cheapens itself through lack of any subtlety and its silly songs.
Bumpy Angels is a strange mish-mash of song, personal revelation (and even) game show. Unfortunately I was put off from the beginning with the intolerably long procession of "brides" which had no relevance to any later scenes - merely some sort of masque to get us in the mood (and failing). Firstly the backstage crew were laughable - taking ages just to move a cupboard and later making mistakes (coming in and off in half light) and then very audiblely chastising/discussing backstage - to was so bad the audience couldn't help but giggle. Mind you, we were already in a bemused state after being subjected to various snatches of song which are incredibly cheesy and I think lent nothing to the play - they could all be cut and play would lose nothing (might even gain a bit of dramatic credibility). By the interval I was pleased with the dramatic tension set up between characters and the audience was certainly emotionally involved - some of us rather uncomfortably so! But then it just kept coming! Coral and Felicity-Elizabeth's monologues were quite touching and well performed - but then everybody had to get in on the act, confessing every dark secret and troubled soul. Destroying most of the poignancy and subtlety of the play we were sledgehammered with emotion until the unsatisfying conclusion. High praise must goto the Mother Superior, who showed excellent charactisation and crystal clear vocal technique. Singing numbers were a little ragged and out of time and of course not all of us can be singers (Angela and Amy's song certainly made us long for a chorus number) but Your CHeatin' Heart was an absolute delight. All in all an emotion packed and interesting show, which cheapens itself through lack of any subtlety and its silly songs.
RE: Secret Squirrel
Tue, 4 July 2000, 01:43 pmWalter Plinge
You don't get it do you?
I am more than happy to hear THE TRUTH about my performance. But then, if it is in fact THE TRUTH, I'll usually know it already. I am not so much of an egomaniac that I can't tell when my work was sloppy and sub-standard so telling me how BAD I and my show was is of absolutely NO USE WHATSOEVER.
If one wants to be CONSTRUCTIVE in their criticisms one must offer advice on how to IMPROVE, not merely trash it. You don't have to insult people to do this. How stupid must you think we are if you assume we weren't aware of our own stuff-ups (cast and crew alike)? That does not make our crew 'laughable' or our actors incompetent; it makes us HUMAN. It also does not mean this will happen EVERY night. Welcome to the world of live theatre.
Although I think the whole issue of your pseudonym is a little trivial, I will say this: If I knew who you were and I had little regard for your opinion either because you had no knowledge or experience in theatre, I would more than likely disregard your opinion without bothering to respond.
However, if I knew who you were and if I had great respect for you because of your proven knowledge and experience I would thank you for your ADVICE and ACT on it, thus improving my future perfomances (as you seem to feel this is the function of a review, and I agree with you on that point).
BUT because I do not know who you are and because you stooped to MERELY INSULTING our performance, Butterflies Are Free and the other subscribers to this site (who DO know what they are talking about) I'm afraid I cannot summon up any respect for you at all. I instead feel that I must let you and certain other visitors to this site know that you are annoying, you contradict yourselves and if you do have any knowledge of the theatre at all, it is swallowed up by your egotistic attacks at other people and their work. (We - and I do include myself - are fools for bothering to respond to you). No one will listen to what you say if you attack them, no matter how valid your statements are. Try some TACT. It's just common courtesy, not merely a matter of tip-toeing around performers and their fragile egos.
I'm fed up with people who feel they have the right to attack others just to make themselves feel good. I see it all the time, even amongst my own friends. Yes, everyone has the right to an opinion and while no one's opinion counts for absolutely nothing, at least educate yourselves before you dare insult people on their own turf (and I do not and never will claim to be an expert myself but I do have an education and about 10 years of experience). Sure, put your two cents worth in, have your say, but don't be so bloody rude and arrogant. If you respect your peers and learn from them you will improve your own knowledge base and eventually people WILL respect YOUR opinion and you won't need to hide your identity.
I am more than happy to hear THE TRUTH about my performance. But then, if it is in fact THE TRUTH, I'll usually know it already. I am not so much of an egomaniac that I can't tell when my work was sloppy and sub-standard so telling me how BAD I and my show was is of absolutely NO USE WHATSOEVER.
If one wants to be CONSTRUCTIVE in their criticisms one must offer advice on how to IMPROVE, not merely trash it. You don't have to insult people to do this. How stupid must you think we are if you assume we weren't aware of our own stuff-ups (cast and crew alike)? That does not make our crew 'laughable' or our actors incompetent; it makes us HUMAN. It also does not mean this will happen EVERY night. Welcome to the world of live theatre.
Although I think the whole issue of your pseudonym is a little trivial, I will say this: If I knew who you were and I had little regard for your opinion either because you had no knowledge or experience in theatre, I would more than likely disregard your opinion without bothering to respond.
However, if I knew who you were and if I had great respect for you because of your proven knowledge and experience I would thank you for your ADVICE and ACT on it, thus improving my future perfomances (as you seem to feel this is the function of a review, and I agree with you on that point).
BUT because I do not know who you are and because you stooped to MERELY INSULTING our performance, Butterflies Are Free and the other subscribers to this site (who DO know what they are talking about) I'm afraid I cannot summon up any respect for you at all. I instead feel that I must let you and certain other visitors to this site know that you are annoying, you contradict yourselves and if you do have any knowledge of the theatre at all, it is swallowed up by your egotistic attacks at other people and their work. (We - and I do include myself - are fools for bothering to respond to you). No one will listen to what you say if you attack them, no matter how valid your statements are. Try some TACT. It's just common courtesy, not merely a matter of tip-toeing around performers and their fragile egos.
I'm fed up with people who feel they have the right to attack others just to make themselves feel good. I see it all the time, even amongst my own friends. Yes, everyone has the right to an opinion and while no one's opinion counts for absolutely nothing, at least educate yourselves before you dare insult people on their own turf (and I do not and never will claim to be an expert myself but I do have an education and about 10 years of experience). Sure, put your two cents worth in, have your say, but don't be so bloody rude and arrogant. If you respect your peers and learn from them you will improve your own knowledge base and eventually people WILL respect YOUR opinion and you won't need to hide your identity.
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