Man of La Mancha
Fri, 3 Aug 2001, 12:03 amToby12 posts in thread
Man of La Mancha
Fri, 3 Aug 2001, 12:03 amI'm not really sure where this post will lead, as I have a large number of ideas and arguments racing around in my head.
I went into Man of La Mancha somewhat hopeful - I knew that the score and script were strong, and that the director, Joe McCabe, was quite experienced with and enthusiastic over said script and score.
I emerged disappointed and confused - I was baffled over some of the choices made, but more importantly, I was astonished that such a wonderful story could be so mercilessly butchered by little more than what seemed almost exactly the WRONG venue for such a show. I am expecting protests and complaints, but if you want to send them, email them to me and I will respond in kind. I think the Old Mill is a nice little theatre - and I can see how many of the melodrama-style plays displayed in the foyer from over the years might have succeeded so well in there. It is a cosy, intimate space, and would be perfect for such things as Stoppard for example. I would LOVE to see 'The Real inspector Hound' or 'After Magritte' in that space!!
However. By putting on a show like 'Man of La Mancha' in such a small space, the action is cramped into tiny, convoluted groups on the stage, and such things as fight scenes (I was LONGING for an Andy Fraser touch in the few very poor fight scenes there were) were so limited by space they might as well have not happened, for the effectiveness of it all. Worst of all, however, was the fact that space limitations forced the elimination of an orchestra of any kind, and not only were they not replaced with an almost-passable piano backing, but became a tinny, horrible 'porn-film-sounding' tape of a dodgy old casio keyboard. Often levels of the casio were too high for the actors to sing over, and to make matters worse, the audience was cruelly teased with two instances of the Broadway cast recording underscoring the action. This turned what might have been a nice show into a bit of a mess.
Of the show - there were some bright spots - Hywel Williams was, as always, very strong as Don Quixote, and Danny Ellefsen was an entertaining and refreshing Sancho. The girl playing Dulcinea was in well over her head, and although she was just recovering from Laryngitis (so the grapevine told me after the show) she looked petrified at taking on such a gutsy role. The chorus were enthusiastic and took on their few opportunities with a gusto that is sadly rare in many choruses. However, strengths were overshadowed by such problems as shaky lighting, dodgy sound, and a curtain call that gave me a real giggle - which I don't think was the intention.
Look - I feel bad about saying so many negative things about the show, but I also feel that if this cast had have put on the same show at, say, the Quarry, or even Hackett Hall (as small as THAT is, Playlovers generally have strong MDs with strong orchestras behind them), with a full orchestra, they may have given 'Man of La Mancha a little more of a shake. The question I want to raise, however, is that of suitable spaces. I am not really interested in getting bagged about "you'rewrongIthoughttheshowwasbrilliantkeepyouropinionstoyourselfwearen'tinthisbusinesstogetcriticisedyouknow" (I believe I did read a ssimilar comment in a review reply last year!!) - by all means, I am interested to hear what others think, and of course am inviting extra opinions. I feel that the Old Mill bit off more than they could chew with 'MOLM', and am apprehensive about what they will do with 'A Chorus Line' in similar circumstances. Another rumour I hear is that a grant has fecilitated renovations, meaning that a pit will be added for a future opera season. Forgive my skepticism, but having seen 'play with music' have such trouble in such limited facilities, I must admit I have doubts.
I just feel that if you try to jam a square peg into a circular hole you will have greater trouble than if you realise that circular pegs are the ones you are after - and from the Old Mill's durability in drawing room drama (from what I gather by the foyer ads) - I imagine that they have found a nice niche doing the things that the theatre is best suited for. Trying to produce large musicals in a space smaller than my very tiny flat's very tiny lounge room seems like an avoidable folly. And while I am not saying that the Old Mill should not attempt diversification - I am sure that the company has done musical theatre in the past and will again - I would suggest (if $ allow, and the way theatre is these day, I doubt they will, but it's nice to pontificate) looking into what other companies regularly do - look for a larger venue for a single show, more suited to the show you have chosen. You couldn't do 'Guys and Dolls' in the Blue Room but you could conceivably try 'the Fantasticks' in there - it's just a matter of realising what you have to play with and being realistic, or it might reflect poorly.
This might sound insincere - (it's not) - but I do wish the cast and crew the best for the rest of the season. As I have said, I have a feeling that the problems came partly from infrastructure, and there was some enjoyable signs. I like Joe McCabe - he is a sincere guy and has a lot of talent and enthusiasm for what he does. I am just wishing he had have put it on in the carpark outside, even, with even a tiny orchestra, because I think those little touches might really have given 'Man of La Mancha' the grunt it needed.
Yours, expecting backlash, controversy and a minimum of abuse,
Toby
I went into Man of La Mancha somewhat hopeful - I knew that the score and script were strong, and that the director, Joe McCabe, was quite experienced with and enthusiastic over said script and score.
I emerged disappointed and confused - I was baffled over some of the choices made, but more importantly, I was astonished that such a wonderful story could be so mercilessly butchered by little more than what seemed almost exactly the WRONG venue for such a show. I am expecting protests and complaints, but if you want to send them, email them to me and I will respond in kind. I think the Old Mill is a nice little theatre - and I can see how many of the melodrama-style plays displayed in the foyer from over the years might have succeeded so well in there. It is a cosy, intimate space, and would be perfect for such things as Stoppard for example. I would LOVE to see 'The Real inspector Hound' or 'After Magritte' in that space!!
However. By putting on a show like 'Man of La Mancha' in such a small space, the action is cramped into tiny, convoluted groups on the stage, and such things as fight scenes (I was LONGING for an Andy Fraser touch in the few very poor fight scenes there were) were so limited by space they might as well have not happened, for the effectiveness of it all. Worst of all, however, was the fact that space limitations forced the elimination of an orchestra of any kind, and not only were they not replaced with an almost-passable piano backing, but became a tinny, horrible 'porn-film-sounding' tape of a dodgy old casio keyboard. Often levels of the casio were too high for the actors to sing over, and to make matters worse, the audience was cruelly teased with two instances of the Broadway cast recording underscoring the action. This turned what might have been a nice show into a bit of a mess.
Of the show - there were some bright spots - Hywel Williams was, as always, very strong as Don Quixote, and Danny Ellefsen was an entertaining and refreshing Sancho. The girl playing Dulcinea was in well over her head, and although she was just recovering from Laryngitis (so the grapevine told me after the show) she looked petrified at taking on such a gutsy role. The chorus were enthusiastic and took on their few opportunities with a gusto that is sadly rare in many choruses. However, strengths were overshadowed by such problems as shaky lighting, dodgy sound, and a curtain call that gave me a real giggle - which I don't think was the intention.
Look - I feel bad about saying so many negative things about the show, but I also feel that if this cast had have put on the same show at, say, the Quarry, or even Hackett Hall (as small as THAT is, Playlovers generally have strong MDs with strong orchestras behind them), with a full orchestra, they may have given 'Man of La Mancha a little more of a shake. The question I want to raise, however, is that of suitable spaces. I am not really interested in getting bagged about "you'rewrongIthoughttheshowwasbrilliantkeepyouropinionstoyourselfwearen'tinthisbusinesstogetcriticisedyouknow" (I believe I did read a ssimilar comment in a review reply last year!!) - by all means, I am interested to hear what others think, and of course am inviting extra opinions. I feel that the Old Mill bit off more than they could chew with 'MOLM', and am apprehensive about what they will do with 'A Chorus Line' in similar circumstances. Another rumour I hear is that a grant has fecilitated renovations, meaning that a pit will be added for a future opera season. Forgive my skepticism, but having seen 'play with music' have such trouble in such limited facilities, I must admit I have doubts.
I just feel that if you try to jam a square peg into a circular hole you will have greater trouble than if you realise that circular pegs are the ones you are after - and from the Old Mill's durability in drawing room drama (from what I gather by the foyer ads) - I imagine that they have found a nice niche doing the things that the theatre is best suited for. Trying to produce large musicals in a space smaller than my very tiny flat's very tiny lounge room seems like an avoidable folly. And while I am not saying that the Old Mill should not attempt diversification - I am sure that the company has done musical theatre in the past and will again - I would suggest (if $ allow, and the way theatre is these day, I doubt they will, but it's nice to pontificate) looking into what other companies regularly do - look for a larger venue for a single show, more suited to the show you have chosen. You couldn't do 'Guys and Dolls' in the Blue Room but you could conceivably try 'the Fantasticks' in there - it's just a matter of realising what you have to play with and being realistic, or it might reflect poorly.
This might sound insincere - (it's not) - but I do wish the cast and crew the best for the rest of the season. As I have said, I have a feeling that the problems came partly from infrastructure, and there was some enjoyable signs. I like Joe McCabe - he is a sincere guy and has a lot of talent and enthusiasm for what he does. I am just wishing he had have put it on in the carpark outside, even, with even a tiny orchestra, because I think those little touches might really have given 'Man of La Mancha' the grunt it needed.
Yours, expecting backlash, controversy and a minimum of abuse,
Toby
RE: Man of La Mancha
Sun, 5 Aug 2001, 08:02 pmWalter Plinge
At the beginning of this I will say that Man of La Mancha is not the most fantastic show in the world. But what I will say is that it did well given the circumstances.
I saw the show on the Opening night (which was infact the second performance) and listening to what people were saying to the reviewer from 927am, it seemed to be that people enjoyed the way in which the show was staged. Its small, intimate setting certainly left me uncomfortable during the rape scene; it hardly detracted from the show. If anything, I believe the setting made it all the more voyeristic and powerful. Sure the rape wasn't "hollywood style" but it certainly was realistic for me.
As for the critique on the fight scenes, I wish to remind Toby of the context of the show. The show isn't being performed in a Marquee on the Foreshore in the city, with a budget of millions of dollars, let alone hundreds of thousands of dollars. Old Mill is a community theatre group for those that like to act, and dedicate their own time, and I'm sure many forwent income in order to perform in the show, to add their artistical direction. Expectations for it to be an infallible glitzy and glamourous performance are a bit steep. The actors did well in a show with limited choreography (considering the omission of credit for teh part in the Programme). This is not to say that the actors didn't do well, or that they are 'second class'. As we all know, it is hard to get professional work in the field in WA, but the show still showcast some of WA's fantastic talent.
As for your singularing out only Hywel and Danny as carrying the cast? I believe that you oversaw many of the fantastic performances, such as the ones of Padre, Antonia, and ofcourse Aldonza. Hywel performed well, however, I do not think that he superseeded any of the other actors, especially considering that sitting second row from back you hear a prompt from off stage. That is hardly being strong. Aldonza did well considering she had Laryingitis and was still recovering, Antonia sung fantastically being thrown into the part; and Padre's portrayal was almost biblical.... In my opinion (which as you said we are all entitled to have).
It seems that in order to get a good review from yourself, you must work with you at some stage.
Mr Mouse...
By no relation to Madame Mouse
I saw the show on the Opening night (which was infact the second performance) and listening to what people were saying to the reviewer from 927am, it seemed to be that people enjoyed the way in which the show was staged. Its small, intimate setting certainly left me uncomfortable during the rape scene; it hardly detracted from the show. If anything, I believe the setting made it all the more voyeristic and powerful. Sure the rape wasn't "hollywood style" but it certainly was realistic for me.
As for the critique on the fight scenes, I wish to remind Toby of the context of the show. The show isn't being performed in a Marquee on the Foreshore in the city, with a budget of millions of dollars, let alone hundreds of thousands of dollars. Old Mill is a community theatre group for those that like to act, and dedicate their own time, and I'm sure many forwent income in order to perform in the show, to add their artistical direction. Expectations for it to be an infallible glitzy and glamourous performance are a bit steep. The actors did well in a show with limited choreography (considering the omission of credit for teh part in the Programme). This is not to say that the actors didn't do well, or that they are 'second class'. As we all know, it is hard to get professional work in the field in WA, but the show still showcast some of WA's fantastic talent.
As for your singularing out only Hywel and Danny as carrying the cast? I believe that you oversaw many of the fantastic performances, such as the ones of Padre, Antonia, and ofcourse Aldonza. Hywel performed well, however, I do not think that he superseeded any of the other actors, especially considering that sitting second row from back you hear a prompt from off stage. That is hardly being strong. Aldonza did well considering she had Laryingitis and was still recovering, Antonia sung fantastically being thrown into the part; and Padre's portrayal was almost biblical.... In my opinion (which as you said we are all entitled to have).
It seems that in order to get a good review from yourself, you must work with you at some stage.
Mr Mouse...
By no relation to Madame Mouse
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