425 posts
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Post by dlevi on Aug 17, 2019 11:24:03 GMT
I think the whole series is terrific. Sam Rockwell is ok - he lacks that certain charm that Fosse possessed ( how else could he be such a monster and get away with that behavior?) but Michelle Williams is giving a performance for the ages. She's done that thing - which Helen Mirren was able to do with The Queen - and that is, she becomes who she is playing and when you see the real one , they're a disappointment because they aren't the star who has embodied them. I was lucky enough to see Ms Verdon a fair number of times, and so I had a chip on my shoulder about Ms Williams - but she's astonishing. And in the episode in the beach house she and Mr Rockwell ( with full credit to the writing and direction ) actually help you understand the complexity of their relationship. There's so much they get right in the serious that it seems bitchy to complain about what they've gotten wrong. ( Fosse, Chayefesky and Herb Gardner were inseparable and the series has eliminated Gardener from the equation. ) . So let's just say that for folks on this board - it's pretty much essential viewing. As is Merely Marvelous - the Gwen Verdon documentary currently on BBC 4
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Post by tommy on Aug 18, 2019 16:38:00 GMT
I've done that, utterly loved seeing all of the old performances and the stars who originated these classic roles. YouTube is awesome for that (and for bootleg recordings, which of course I don't condone but have spent many an hour watching!) 😇Yes, such a thrill to watch some true legends in actions. I’ve now got my partner watching them, but his main thing is either googling when such and such died(!) or doing Carol Channing impersonations. While I am often drawn to IBDB to look up more details of some of the more obscure shows. Also great to discover how in this series the choreography of Damn Yankees scene almost seemed exactly the same as in the original version with Fosse and Verdon themselves! |
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Post by partytentdown on Aug 18, 2019 17:49:14 GMT
Weird question about the Damn Yankees/Who's got the Pain routine for one of you experts! In the Fosse/Verdon show and the classic clip they make the noise 'ERP!' but I've also seen versions where they say 'UGH!' and I think the libretto also uses the latter. What's going on with that ERP noise?!
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513 posts
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Post by Deal J on Aug 19, 2019 11:35:39 GMT
Funnily enough I was looking into this over the weekend - I'd never seen the Who's Got The Pain routine before, and I think I've watched it about 50 times now  I thought they were saying "ERP!" as well, but I read somewhere that the closed-caption subtitles showed "UGH!" as per the published lyrics. The same source suggest that it might be because "UGH!" isn't easily projected. This is too cute... my husband said to me "You really love that Penguin song, don't you?" - he thought they were saying "Who's got the penguin" and that the "ERP!" was them making penguin noise! |
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on Aug 22, 2019 12:36:34 GMT
Some terrific acting in this series, the dialogue so natural despite the need for heightened language and her undermining at the dinner party, well, wow.
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Post by ruthieh on Aug 24, 2019 16:45:41 GMT
Just finished it. Really enjoyed this series.
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3,321 posts
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Post by david on Aug 26, 2019 16:44:10 GMT
With nothing else on TV today, I decided to binge watch it and what an absolutely fantastic series this was. Both Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams were both brilliant, though for me Michelle WIlliams as Verdon was the standout for me and hopefully she will win an Emmy award next month for her role as its thoroughly deserved. The musical numbers were a joy to watch in each episode.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2019 19:25:32 GMT
Bit behind on this, just watching episode 5 (the one in the beach house). As in previous episodes I'm intrigued by the parallels between the Fosse/ Verdon story and the plot of Merrily We Roll Along.
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1,863 posts
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Post by NeilVHughes on Sept 5, 2019 19:34:46 GMT
An excellent series, the closing montage outside the theatre was particularly emotional, watched the documentary first which I found helped as had little idea who Fosse and Verdon were, (even though by cultural osmosis found I knew all the shows) and could appreciate the superlative acting all the more.
Would not have considered watching without the Musical Theatre education I have received on this site.
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on Sept 5, 2019 20:51:32 GMT
Funny how Verdon isn’t so well known here in UK. Or am I wrong?
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8,162 posts
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Post by alece10 on Sept 8, 2019 19:06:47 GMT
Funny how Verdon isn’t so well known here in UK. Or am I wrong? She is known to die hard MT fans of a certain age but dont think known by the general public. |
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8,162 posts
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Post by alece10 on Sept 8, 2019 19:08:41 GMT
Just watching the Chicago episode and Gwen's vocal problems.
Could you imagine being in the audience the night they said "the role of Roxie Hart tonight will be played by Liza Minnelli" I would have literally had a heart attack.
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524 posts
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Post by callum on Sept 8, 2019 19:59:54 GMT
Watched MARVIN’S ROOM a few weeks ago - starring Verdon in one of her final roles. It was the first time I’d actually seen the real Gwen on screen - she reminded me so much of Williams’ portrayal of her, obviously showing what a good job Williams did
Interestingly, in the film, she’s made out to be an extremely doddery and unglamorous old lady - even though Gwen was only 70 at the time, the same age that Meryl Streep is now!
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Post by justfran on Sept 8, 2019 21:15:58 GMT
I’ve been watching this on BBC2 and found it ok but quite distracting how it jumps about in the timeline. The onscreen countdowns seem a bit gimmicky. Agree that Michelle Williams is excellent.
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2,412 posts
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Post by theatreian on Sept 8, 2019 21:19:05 GMT
quite distracting how it jumps about in the timeline. I agree but a great series giving an insight that dispels what I may have thought Bob Fosse was like. |
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916 posts
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Post by karloscar on Sept 9, 2019 7:21:45 GMT
Having watched the whole series and the Verdon documentary and lots of YouTube clips, I was very impressed over all by the writing and performances, but it was so dark and bleak that I felt the joy and energy that Verdon exuded as a performer, and the pleasure they found in the creative process was totally missing. Having said that, the scene where Gwen turns on Bob for daring to make Nowadays a duet should win an Emmy for Williams. ( The fact that his instinct was correct, and the show works better when Velma has equal billing with Roxie makes it all the more painful.)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2019 7:56:00 GMT
I’ve been watching this on BBC2 and found it ok but quite distracting how it jumps about in the timeline. The onscreen countdowns seem a bit gimmicky. Agree that Michelle Williams is excellent. I think the jumps in time work, they're supposed to be distracting. In my interpretation the non-linear timeline allows you to see Fosse as he is from the start. With a linear timeline we'd see Bob as a child being taken advantage of, then Gwen helping him out get work, then his success, etc. The audience could then be compelled to feel a sense of plight for Fosse, which is not what the director wants. You're not supposed to feel sorry for him. He's a piece of work. By presenting Fosse as he really was straight away, with jumps in time unsettling the audience, you're prevented from significantly empathising with Fosse at any point. |
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