Fiddler on the Roof is in town and when it was first announced, the brilliant Topol was set to reprise his signature role. I snapped up tickets and then was saddened when he had to bow out due to an injury. His replacement was the acclaimed Harvey Fierstein. As someone blessed with the gift of hearing, I'm here to tell you Harvey cannot and should not sing. Check this link out at the 1:50 mark and then get back to me. He's the one in the red dress.
It'd be hard to find fault with 'Fiddler' even it had been put on by Miss Thistletwat's third grade remedial class and this production had some truly lovely moments and great performances but please mister please - when it's a musical, hire a fecking singer and put a stop to the persecution!
A much more enthralling theatre experience I had recently was seeing the play August: Osage County - terrible name, brilliant play. The touring production features the exceptional Estelle Parsons chewing up and spitting out more scenery than anyone in my memory.
Everything about this show is on point from the crackling dialogue, the story and the fantastic cast. If I was ever to implore you and I do shy away from that sort of thing, it would be to go see this when it lands near you. I'll do a little of the work for you: check the tour schedule here: Have a look.
When I was headed to the theatre to see it (for the third time since they had cheap tickets available), I spied with my all seeing eye (the other one's only so-so for that sort of thing) Estelle walking up the street. I'm sure I scared her with my enthusiastic shouting that I loved her performance and the play. She thanked me and when I said I was back to see it a third time, she said WOW and hurried away with only a hint of fear trailing her.
In other news, it's the holidays! What are you doing here?! Ciao babies.
24 comments:
Yay! Merry Christmas to us! You're back!
And, OOF--Harvey Fiertein's novelty voice cannot carry him through a leading role in a musical! I've had nightmares that I was on stage and sounded like that!
I saw Harvey in Fiddler on Broadway a while ago. Don't you think he'd make a great Goldie?
Dale? You live! You live!
Harvey. Oy. I love Harvey, but no singing. In 1994 I attending the closing ceremony of the Gay Games at Yankee Stadium in NYC.
Harvey was the MC and he screamed himself hoarse (well, from the get-go actually) shouting out the teams. I am forever struggling against a particularly harsh earworm of him yelling "The Women's Softball Team from Sandusky Ohio" or something like that.
Thanks Dale. You ruined my Christmas! Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
(love you and so glad to see this post!)
P.S. I saw Alfred Molina as Tevye a few years back, fabuloso!!!
I have never seen Fiddler, but I have it on good authority that it's on at least the same level as our community theater production of "A Tuna Christmas," the very same theatrical production in which I proposed to my Viennese bride lo these many years ago... (Some of the older members of the audience thought my proposal to the costume lady was actually part of the play...)
In any case, whatever happened at 1:50 in that video was pretty quacky. I'm happy I got to see that! But I'm not sure I could put up with it for more than fifteen or twenty seconds... I'm sure Mr. Fierstein is a wondrous actor, but please don't sing unless as an aside or a novelty...
In any case, I hope you have a good holiday, eh!
(Oh, in case you were wondering, my word verification is "surese," which sounds like a laxative. Just thought I'd share.)
Happy holidays and a truly wonderful 2010 to Dale, Rizzo & Nigel.
Hi Dale, nice to see you out here! Merry Christmas, and here's to a Harvey-free new year!
Bahaha! Poor Estelle. Stalked by a rabid Canadian. :)
As for Harvey - lovely man but I agree. Singing (or indeed anything requiring vocal input) is really not his forte. He sounds like someone's great aunt with strep.
Oh. And hi! About time you showed up, slacker.
Hey!! Merry Christmas right back at you!! Hope your holidays are wonderful, Dale!
Oh you just make me want to see (and hear) Harvey as Tevye even more! I've seen him in 2 musicals: Hairspray, when he came back just before it closed, and A Catered Affair, where he had one song, which I liked, called Coney Island. I think he managed to tone down the graveliness a bit.
Anyway, merry Christmas and happy new year to you and yours!
I'm hoping to catch the August tour in Boston in the spring. Since I saw the original cast I'm really interesting in comparing it with the tour. I've heard Estelle Parsons is great.
You posted! It's a Christmas miracle!!
Merry Xmas .. Stalker, who'd a thought
Merry Christmas, Dale! Please, say that you will post at least once a month?
Hehehehe I could almost imagine Estelles face going from happy to terrified with your interface! lol you are a wonderful storyteller Dale!
What a treat... getting to see a show 3 times without breaking the bank AND meeting one of the cast!!
Happy Holidays!
Yoiks, he does sound like Donald Duck.
First you make my Christmas by reappearing in my life and then you ruin it by making me watch Harvey Fierstein. You are messing with my head, Dale!
Merry Christmas anyway.
I agree - Harvey has no business up there kvetching like Tevye. I saw Alfred Molina in the Broadway revival and while he wasn't shrill like Harvey, I found him completely uninspiring. I too thought about seeing Topol but I was wondering what he was still doing in that role...
Hey look at you. You're out of retirement. Welcome back.
They should just have the Mamma Mia channel. I swear it's on everytime I go through the channels.
My daugher loves Mamma Mia, unfortuntately. I guess it could be worse-- she might discover Clint Eastwood's travesty "I Talk To The Trees" in "Paint Your Wagon."
As a singer, Harvey Fierstein is undoubtedly a pretty good actor.
Well, my blog roll starts anew tomorrow. I'd be honored if you participate again in 2010. Leave a comment and you're on the blog roll! Thanks for visiting and commenting in 2009.
I love Estelle Parsons...ever since Bonny and Clyde.
Stalking is not socially acceptable no matter what the motives! I stalked Steve Earle at the airport baggage claim this week and he looked in shock by the time I was finished!
I can picture Harvey singing, "If I Were a Rich Man." That's why I'm not clicking on that link.
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變頻跳蛋,
跳蛋,無線跳蛋,
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自慰套,自慰套,
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角色扮演,
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情趣禮物,情趣玩具,
威而柔,逼真按摩棒,
情人趣味千奈,情人趣味用品,
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