tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post657030860045878374..comments2024-01-14T02:18:59.832-08:00Comments on "Bitter Hack": Jesus Christ SuperstarBev Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16794928133704720689noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-26110938782538899722009-05-12T14:43:00.000-07:002009-05-12T14:43:00.000-07:00I appreciate your kind comments about the choreogr...I appreciate your kind comments about the choreography. I have been remiss in clarifying the record: the number you called "a lot of fun" (which is actually called "Simon Zealotes" in the score) was choreographed by my superb colleague, Pam Lourentzos, and it is indeed a lot of fun. She was a great teammate in all of the choreography.Rand Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-23526296602114659302009-05-09T17:21:00.000-07:002009-05-09T17:21:00.000-07:00this is all entertaining but a tad ridiculous, the...this is all entertaining but a tad ridiculous, theatre is subjective, we all have our opinions, so let Bev have hers.Mr. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12539059564994044915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-49729691900794938432009-05-09T17:03:00.000-07:002009-05-09T17:03:00.000-07:00Dear anonymous who posted above:
This is Steve Is...Dear anonymous who posted above:<br /><br />This is Steve Isaacson, Co-Producer of DMTC, I will never post a comment on any site without giving my name. To "Wow..." your comments look very similar to the comments on seeaplay.com, perhaps you are the same person, any rate, if you have the courage to post your name please do so, or you may email me directly at: steve@dmtc.org<br /><br />we can Steve Isaacsonhttp://www.dmtc.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-21671229519562654972009-05-09T12:37:00.000-07:002009-05-09T12:37:00.000-07:00Wow. What is most amazing to me is the level of u...Wow. What is most amazing to me is the level of unprofessionalism from the cast or crew of the DMTC production in responding to an unflattering review. Folks, for better or worse, you chose to be in the production. You chose to be on stage and in doing so, your performance will be critiqued. Take your criticism and grow up! Otherwise, you will never get off the DMTC stage and on to anything Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-43146438093628392072009-05-03T16:18:00.000-07:002009-05-03T16:18:00.000-07:00There are enough differences between university an...There are enough differences between university and community theater shows as to make comparisons hazardous. Although the university students are generally not paid, they are surrounded by professionals who are (and they have bigger budgets, etc.)Marchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03785152329271982791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-91346073727077460272009-05-03T05:44:00.000-07:002009-05-03T05:44:00.000-07:00I wish my "bitter hack" Anonymous commentator coul...I wish my "bitter hack" Anonymous commentator could have seen last night's opening of "Oklahoma!" on campus to see what a bunch of full time students, many of whom aren't even theatre majors could produce, for free, for the love of theatre. There wasn't a single member of that cast who was looking for an excuse to give a poor performance because they were "tired."Bev Sykeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16794928133704720689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-71055588594412697902009-05-02T00:34:00.000-07:002009-05-02T00:34:00.000-07:00Someone's Review on See-a-PlaySeems like the "bitt...<A HREF="http://www.seeaplay.com/productionsReviewsJC.htm" REL="nofollow">Someone's Review on See-a-Play</A>Seems like the "bitter hack" held back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-80440794327294202562009-05-01T15:02:00.000-07:002009-05-01T15:02:00.000-07:00Wow. I've learned so much from these comments. I...Wow. I've learned so much from these comments. If it's opening night, it's not fair to expect a good performance. Vocal quality in a rock musical is supposed to be unpleasant. You can't blame a performer for choosing to interpret a role poorly. Fascinating.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-56960577096726330502009-04-30T15:15:00.000-07:002009-04-30T15:15:00.000-07:00I have been a performer, board member, and patron ...I have been a performer, board member, and patron of DMTC since 1996. Additionally, my husband and I have donated a lot of money to the theater (and we will continue to do so). <br />A bad review hurts (like the time my husband had "windmill arms" grrrr!), but it usually doesn't effect the one thing that counts:<br />Season Ticket Holders.<br />This is where the majority of the funds come from. Noelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-1345309042357267452009-04-30T15:11:00.000-07:002009-04-30T15:11:00.000-07:00Wow Bev, did you forget this is a community theate...Wow Bev, did you forget this is a community theater with actors working FOR FREE and the love of theater? Your review just makes you sound like a bitter hack.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-104881877885735612009-04-30T14:05:00.000-07:002009-04-30T14:05:00.000-07:00I would like to state that I was there on opening ...I would like to state that I was there on opening night. The voices of Judas and Jesus did not fare well that evening. In contrast was the superb voice of Mary Magdalene.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-63048302532113484632009-04-30T13:10:00.000-07:002009-04-30T13:10:00.000-07:00I have a few things to say about this.
Firstly, B...I have a few things to say about this.<br /><br />Firstly, Bev is correct for the large majority of her reviews and responses. Opening night or not, performances should ALWAYS be at their best - audiences shouldn't expect less simply because it's the casts first time through. In fact, they should expect more.<br /><br />And yes, Nick WAS off-key at several instances for the opening performance - Elizabeth Madronenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-54517299112909130802009-04-30T11:50:00.000-07:002009-04-30T11:50:00.000-07:00I think everyone was so quick to jump to my defens...I think everyone was so quick to jump to my defense because the review was intentionally set apart from a normal, everyday bad review by omitting my name. I have never seen that before, and I fear that the uniqueness of this review may have cost the rest of the cast the chance to perform in front of the packed houses that their talent would otherwise dictate.<br /><br />That said, I have set a Nick Thompsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-89151272731257633152009-04-30T10:53:00.000-07:002009-04-30T10:53:00.000-07:00Having not seen the show, I can't comment on the a...Having not seen the show, I can't comment on the actor who plays Judas. I am shocked, though, by comments from the cast and other persons involved in the production in response to a negative review. Bad reviews happen. As one commenter said, they are one person's opinion. Why people think it's appropriate to leave message after message on this forum - challenging and calling out the reviewer Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-32351807960504427172009-04-29T23:13:00.000-07:002009-04-29T23:13:00.000-07:00Question: what is the relevance of pointing to a p...Question: what is the relevance of pointing to a previous review that just happened to be positive? When you've published negative opinions in the past, those opinions were at least backed up with why you had them. And in those cases, you had no problem with printing names, as well you shouldn't. <br /><br />This time, not only have you not justified such a radical opinion (you may have done Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-45234975434602255932009-04-29T22:58:00.000-07:002009-04-29T22:58:00.000-07:00I'll be another anonymous poster--
I have sung mo...I'll be another anonymous poster--<br /><br />I have sung most of my life--in choirs, solo work, barbershop quartets, operetta (and I'd like to do more opera!).<br /><br />To begin: there may be a few moments where Nick is a bit flat, but I've found the majority of his performance to be fine. <br /><br />It should be noted that the "feet and hair" note is sung from his knees--this should give Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-41225602101159825422009-04-29T22:44:00.000-07:002009-04-29T22:44:00.000-07:00.....once again, in your opinion......once again, in your opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-54629438697549098982009-04-29T19:07:00.000-07:002009-04-29T19:07:00.000-07:00Nick, you were off key. Consistently throughout t...Nick, you were off key. Consistently throughout the show. The more emotional you became, the farther off key you went. It was painful to listen to.Bev Sykeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16794928133704720689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-41363170958853480402009-04-29T18:55:00.000-07:002009-04-29T18:55:00.000-07:00Bev,
I have read your review of DMTC's 2004 produ...Bev,<br /><br />I have read your review of DMTC's 2004 production of Superstar. In fact, upon reading it, I e-mailed Steve Isaacson to ask if there is a tape of that show.<br /><br />His response was, "I don't want you to change a thing."<br /><br />It is clear that Brian McCann (2004 Judas) and I have different singing styles. Unfortunately, I can't determine if that is the main reason for the Nick Thompsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-8099711522657771702009-04-29T18:19:00.000-07:002009-04-29T18:19:00.000-07:00The comment was clearly an attempt to excuse thing...<I>The comment was clearly an attempt to excuse things that sound bad as an artistic choice appropriate to the medium. I think Bev is qualified to discern the difference between bad and "rock".</I>I'm not excusing a "bad" performance. I just feel that "bad" and "good" are relative. If they weren't and the world was black-and-white, we wouldn't need critics in the first place.<br /><br />Bev may Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-11228594591563742112009-04-29T18:06:00.000-07:002009-04-29T18:06:00.000-07:00For comparison, please see the rave review I gave ...For comparison, please see the rave review I gave the last DMTC production of Jesus Christ Superstar.Bev Sykeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16794928133704720689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-42637287165476211372009-04-29T17:48:00.000-07:002009-04-29T17:48:00.000-07:00You show me where I said that in my comment. It's ...<I>You show me where I said that in my comment. It's not a matter of unpleasantness. </I>Okay. Please see here: <I>using descriptors like "shriek" and "shrill" to disdainfully review a rock opera? Frankly, the more shriek, the better. It's not supposed to sound pleasant.</I> The comment was clearly an attempt to excuse things that sound bad as an artistic choice appropriate to the medium. I Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-36005768315559634402009-04-29T17:33:00.000-07:002009-04-29T17:33:00.000-07:00Anonymous said...
The idea that the lead vocals n...<I>Anonymous said... <br />The idea that the lead vocals need to be unpleasant to hear because it's a "rock opera" is absurd. I think the review is fair.</I>You show me where I said that in my comment. It's not a matter of unpleasantness. It's a matter of dissonance and rawness, of which slightly wrong notes and shrillness can be factors.<br /><br />I merely said that rock operas and garden Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-3203893696992277192009-04-29T16:54:00.000-07:002009-04-29T16:54:00.000-07:00"'Do you charge less on opening night' was the per..."'Do you charge less on opening night' was the perfect response."<br /><br />Perhaps it was the wittiest possible response, but it was far from perfect.<br /><br />I agree with Bev on the sentiment of it: actors are obligated to be as strong on opening night, as they are going to be for the entire run. The statement in the first comment, while misguided, appeared to be a harmless disagreement Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20039312.post-57026916824675700422009-04-29T16:05:00.000-07:002009-04-29T16:05:00.000-07:00The idea that the lead vocals need to be unpleasan...The idea that the lead vocals need to be unpleasant to hear because it's a "rock opera" is absurd. I think the review is fair.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com