Stage Right

Critics Say: “Ferrell is right, Bush is stupid.”by Stage Right

I know what’s going on in the advertiser’s office for “You’re Welcome America, A Final Night With George Bush“. Every morning after a show opens the producers assemble with the agency and dissect the reviews pulling out the best quotes to be used in ads, posters and banners on the theatres doors and marquee. Based on the raves, I’m sure they’re having a pretty fun time.

But, as your trusted, center/right theatre observer here at Big Hollywood, I read the same reviews and pulled out my own quotes. You see, the content of the reviews I’ve been reading reveal less to me about what’s going on up on the stage at the Cort, it’s says more to me about the bias of the critics. They are taking the opportunity of this show to send their own, gratuitous shots at “W.”

Here are the quotes I’d like to pull for a poster proving theatre critics are leftists:

“The days when criticism of Mr. Bush could be censured as unpatriotic may be
long gone…” - Ben Brantley, NY Times
“Right in line with Bush’s reinvention
of himself as a tried and true Texan—who happened to have been born in
Connecticut and then went to Yale University…” - Michael Kuchwara,
AP
“Chronicle of a political career carved out of nepotism, cynicism,
chutzpah and careful management, and marked by a series of colossal blunders and
false achievements.” - David Rooney, Variety
“…the prospect of spending an
evening in the company of George W. Bush hardly sounds appealing…” - Frank
Scheck, NY Post
“…right on time for both silly fun and smart summing-up of an
epoch the country just voted overwhelmingly to change.” - Linda Winer, NY
Newsday
“…reflects all of Dubya’s key traits—it’s tacky, cocky, defensive, a
little half-assed here and there, utterly full of itself … ” - Scott Brown, New
York Magazine

It makes you wonder if the anticipated critical reception is one of the reasons more conservative plays aren’t produced on Broadway.

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AMEN, Brother Krauthammer!

Charles Krauthammer - The Fierce Urgency of Pork: "'A failure to act, and act now, will turn crisis into a catastrophe.'
-- President Obama, Feb. 4.
Catastrophe, mind you. So much for the president who in his inaugural address two weeks earlier declared 'we have chosen hope over fear.' Until, that is, you need fear to pass a bill."

Trickle Down Economics on Broadwayby Stage Right

It’s no secret that Broadway theatre owners are generally members of the Democratic Party. The late Gerald Schoenfeld, long-time Chairman of the Shubert Organization had the honor of certifying the ballot for then-Gov. Clinton at the 1992 DNC in New York. Rocco Ladesman of the Jujamcyn Theatre chain is a big contributor to Democratic nominees as is James Nederlander (although he has spread a little bit out to some GOP causes).

So, given their party affiliation, it was surprising to see them make a pilgrimage to Albany to protest a proposed tax on theatre tickets on Broadway.

“The theatre leaders, according to the Times, argued that the taxes would
not only hurt ticket sales but could set off a chain reaction that would affect
other tourist-related businesses, including restaurants and hotels, as well as
such theatre-dependent businesses as carpentry shops, costume makers and even
dry cleaners, who handle theatre costumes.

Landesman, testifying before the Assembly and Senate leaders, said, ‘With
the ongoing demise of the financial sector, policy makers must fight to nurture
and protect industries, such as Broadway, that have been proven to generate
tourist dollars . . . . I ask you to also recognize the dire consequences this
tax proposal may have on the hard-working men and women employed by Broadway, as
well as the thousands of other businesses that rely on Broadway
spending.’”

Is it me, or does this sound like a better argument for supply-side economics then Jack Kemp could make? I thought “trickle-down” concepts like giving tax relief to a strong, big, corporate business like Broadway Theatre owners would in turn benefit the middle class economy by helping the “hard-working men and women employed by Broadway, as well as the thousands of other businesses that rely on Broadway spending” was an old, tired idea from the past.

Why would Rocco Landesman not embrace a tax on large corporations to help fund … no, wait … to INVEST in important programs that the Democrat controlled government will impose on the willing and grateful citizens of the Empire State?

I’m looking forward to next season’s new hit: “NIMBY, The Musical!”

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NPR has a great article showing that actual TEACHERS spent more money to support Prop. 8 then the Teachers' Union spent in opposing it... When will union members stop allowing their leadership to continue funding issues that they are against?

Teachers' Union, Members At Odds On Prop. 8? : NPR: "California's legal and cultural conflict over same-sex marriage played out this fall, the state's teachers union put up $1.25 million to advocate against the gay marriage ban.
But at the same time, individual public school teachers in the state were giving more money to enact the ban than to defeat it, according to an NPR analysis of Proposition 8 contribution data recently released by the California secretary of state.
Teachers, aides and counselors in California public school systems gave about $2 to support the marriage ban for every $1 they gave to oppose it. The educators gave some $450,000 in individual contributions to advocates supporting the ban and about $210,000 to those opposing it, according to the NPR analysis.
Proposition 8 passed on Nov. 4, overturning a California Supreme Court decision that allowed same-sex marriages in the nation's most populous state. Gay-rights supporters quickly challenged the measure's constitutionality. The state's highest court will begin hearing arguments in the case next month.
Disclosure Comes Against A Bitter Backdrop
During and after a campaign that cost tens of millions of dollars and featured incendiary rhetoric on both sides, arguments over financial support for and against the ballot initiative have been intense.
Supporters of Proposition 8 sought to keep secret the names of those who gave less than $1,000, but were rebuffed by a federal judge. The ProtectMarriage.com - Yes on 8 committee argued that previous disclosures had exposed donors to harassment, intimidation and death threats.
And responding to reports about an investigation of its expenditures, the Mormon church said this week its support consisted of in-kind donations of about $190,000.
On the other side of the debate, th"

Oh Please... PLEEEEEEAAAAAASE. Do it, Val. We're waiting for you..... I have about ten posts ready to go exposing you for who you are.....

PLEEEEEEAAAAASE run for Governor, I DARE YOU.

Val Kilmer contemplates run for governor of New Mexico in 2010: "Fresh from the inauguration, actor Val Kilmer is pondering running for governor in 2010, when Democrat Bill Richardson's second term ends.
'I'm just looking for ways to be contributive,' Kilmer told The Associated Press on Thursday. 'And if that ends up being where I can make a substantial contribution, then I'll run.'"

Frank Rich Is a Big Fat Liarby Stage Right

Before Frank Rich used his arrogance to tell us who we should vote for, he used it to tell us what plays we should see. Rich was, arguably, the last uber-powerful NY Times Theatre Critic. Unless a show had a huge advance and a great resume of talent behind it (”Cats,” “Phantom”) a pan from him would severely threaten a show’s future. Meanwhile, if he and he alone liked a show, he had the power to keep it afloat much longer than natural market forces would have allowed (”Sunday in the Park”).

Now theatre-boy Frank is an op-ed columnist and is known for erudite and vicious slams at all things Republican. This week, in trying to support President Obama’s disastrous spending bill, he not only assails the House Republicans, but takes frequent shots at the former President.

As classless and cheap as it is to continue to beat President Bush up, I am especially nauseated by this passage:

No one should expect the Republicans to give the new president carte blanche,
fall blindly into lock step or be “post-partisan.” (Though that’s exactly what
the G.O.P. demanded of Democrats with Bush: You were either with him or with the
terrorists.)

President Bush NEVER, and I mean NEVER said or even implied that if the Democrats were not with him they were with the terrorists… NEVER!

There is only one time where President Bush came CLOSE to uttering a phrase like this. Here is the context and the passage of President Bush’s speech from September 21, 2001:

Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes.
Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other
we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert
operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn
them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no
refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to
terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you
are with us, or you are with the terrorists. (Applause.) From this day forward,
any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the
United States as a hostile regime.

It is clear who President Bush is talking about, and what he means by “With us.” And, by the way, this is still our policy, and it SHOULD be. If we find that a country is wilfully harboring Bin Laden, they are our enemy.

By the way, I hope you click on the link I provided for the full text of this speech…. it’s from the New York Times. Theatre-boy Frank’s very own web-site has the actual information that exposes him for what he is: A Big Fat Liar.

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Jane Fonda: New Play, New Blog, Same Attitude Towards The Troopsby Stage Right

Just when I thought I might run out of ideas for blog posts, I get a gift from God… Jane Fonda has started a blog in conjunction with her return to Broadway in “33 Variations!” The play, by Moisés Kaufman, sounds absolutely fascinating and when I first heard about Fonda’s casting I didn’t think I’d have much to write about since on the face of it the play doesn’t seem political. But now that her friends and fans seem to have talked Hanoi Jane into sharing her personal thoughts in a blog every day… Well, this is going to be a target rich environment!

Jane says that she was in part inspired by none other than Rosie O’Donnell to do the blog and if her musings are anything like Rosie’s, let’s just say I owe that dame a big thank you hug for influencing Henry’s daughter (I don’t usually use the word ‘dame’, but I’m hoping it annoys Rosie if she ever reads this).

A quick overview of the blog gives us an eclectic view of Jane’s days as she prepares for the previews to begin at the beautiful Eugene O’Neill Theatre. The posts range from sweet, nostalgic personal thoughts…

Today, during lunch break, I took my dog, Tulea, for a walk and it really hit me
how much I miss my dad. When he returned from his stint in the Navy after WWII
he went straight to Broadway to star in “Mr. Roberts.” He played that role every
day for four years, never missing a performance! It was not customary in those
days—the 40s and 50s—for movie stars to go back and forth from Hollywood to
Broadway. But theatre was Dad’s great love. My brother and I grew up knowing and
respecting this about him. He loved the immediacy of playing before a live
audience. The instant feedback. He was meticulous, always doing exactly the same
things, the same moves, the same inflections, every night. I have heard this
from so many of his fellow actors.

…to downright strange revelations about dreaming of Robert (Bob, don’t ya know) Redford…

Couldn’t sleep. When I finally did I dreamed of my pal, Bob Redford. He showed
up just when I needed him: I was supposed to catch a plane but discovered I’d
forgotten the bag I have to carry Tulea in. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get her
on without it. Bob devised a way to sneak her on and then snuck himself on as
well. I remarked to myself how playful and happy he seemed and that made me
happy.

…to creepy, Shirley MacLaine style, new age clap trap…

Eve also brought me a gift—it is a rock from the Moroccan desert that has been
split open and when you look inside the two halves, you see a glistening,
shimmering miracle of crystal and mica. “This is how we are when we are broken
open,” she said. ‘We’ means we women, artists, warriors. It the perfect Eve
gift—I will keep it on my dressing table. A constant reminder to allow myself to
be broken open.

…to her embracing her inner “Hanoi Jane” by blogging about the current anti-Iraq war movement:

Joining us was Marlisa
Grogan, Captain in the US Marine Corp (29 UES). I had never met her before
and was very impressed. She has such a deep understanding of why it is important
for us to support active duty members of the military who are anti war or, at
least, anti a war they feel is wrong and ill-conceived. She herself has been
involved in an anti war show that has performed for active duty personnel. She
said that it is the soldiers who have seen active duty who tend to be anti war
more than the ones who have stayed stateside. “They just don’t know,” she
said. She talked about the similarities that exist between today’s
military and those of the Vietnam era but also pointed out the profound
differences, citing in particular, the fact that so many recruits are confronted
with the choice between jail or military. For many it’s a much needed job.

Read that second sentence again. She almost tricked you, didn’t she? “It is important for us to support active duty members of the military…… WHO ARE ANTI WAR” I thought the lefties supported ALL the troops… but, according to Blogarella, it’s only the anti-war types that require our support! And, as usual, the anti-war crowd reveals their condescending attitude toward the military with statements like: “So many recruits are confronted with the choice between jail or military. For many it’s a much needed job.”

She also, unintentionally, reveals the results of her fine education at the Greenwich Academy:

Then we had another session with the music director before staging the scene
where we all sing the Kyrie Eleison from Beethoven’s Mass in
C….. ….I never realized that “Kyrie Eleison” is a plea to God
to grant mercy.

Oh boy, this is going to be fun! And the show is only in tech rehearsals… Just wait until she gets closer to opening!

Fair warning to all you other Big Hollywood bloggers: Theatre is MY beat… back-off… she’s MINE.

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