tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post2994425655997281..comments2023-11-16T17:25:53.045-05:00Comments on My Theatre: Singing Schmuel Songs to Vetoed ProductionsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-35946372505115406852010-05-31T15:44:08.166-04:002010-05-31T15:44:08.166-04:00Emily Kassie here. I just want to say that I am so...Emily Kassie here. I just want to say that I am so grateful that this piece has got people talking, if anything that was the point. I can whole-heartedly say that my production was flawed, as is any production of theatre. I am glad that Kelly took the production so seriously as to write such an eloquent and thoughtful review. In the theatre world, everyone sees a project differently, and this particular review was fairly complimentary. Another reviewer might write the opposite about Kate and Julien, and then different people would be frustrated. The point is we all care, and that is fantastic. Thank you all for coming to see and support this project, and continue to discuss. On behalf of the cast and crew, we do not take any offense to this critique, and welcome it in our post-show reflections. It has a been such a wonderful and exciting experience for all of us, and I can't express enough how much it means to me that people have connected to this piece and want to say something about it. <br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />EmilyEmily Kassienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-22449290977966931352010-05-30T22:51:11.334-04:002010-05-30T22:51:11.334-04:00Keep writing reviews! :)Keep writing reviews! :)Kate Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-60458217016179204332010-05-30T22:50:31.004-04:002010-05-30T22:50:31.004-04:00Great comment, Kelly.Great comment, Kelly.Kate Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-41229181478217915722010-05-30T22:29:25.880-04:002010-05-30T22:29:25.880-04:00Wow, I'm not really sure what happened here. I...Wow, I'm not really sure what happened here. I think there was some fundamental misunderstanding of 1) what I was saying and 2) what the task of a reviewer is. <br /><br />I really love The Last Five Years. I think it is a brilliant piece of theatre and the barrel of a gun comment was me saying that it is incredibly risky, that's all. In a million years to suggest that I would ever disrespect JRB's work is a misreading of... did you even read this review?<br /><br />Actually, did you? Because I liked this production. I said it was ambitious but ultimately successful. I said it was flawed but meaningful. Emily (whom I have actually met, by the way,and appreciate that she is a very driven and accomplished girl) navigated it well, the actors held their own (I happened to prefer Kate, since as Kevin commented, she was stronger on Friday night, when I saw it, but I said Julien did a decent job) and I made a point of saying that the show is impossibly hard and it's remarkable that the young company did so well with it. <br /><br />It is a learning experience for students to put on theatre. It is also my duty as a reviewer to tell the truth about what I saw in the production. I did, as fairly and considerately as I could. <br /><br />Also, to say that these kids don't deserve to be harshly criticized (by the way, have you never read an actually harsh review? I liked this piece a lot, this was NOT harsh)is to undermine their accomplishment. Vetoed Productions strives to be professional and they put on professional caliber productions, therefore they deserve to be treated as such. Off with the kid gloves, a performance of this caliber deserves not to be patronized. I think reviewing this piece as I would any professional production pays all those involved much more respect than a belittling review of "they tried really hard so it was perfect" ever would. <br /><br />And one final thing, if you'd like to express your opinion (something you are absolutely entitled to do, I did after all) please put your name on it. A signature of "Anonymous" does nothing but make your point sound petty when it indeed began as an honest reaction that deserves to be expressed. <br /><br />So I guess misinterpret me all you want. Make me out to be a close-minded theatre-hater who knows nothing about the production or the people involved or the outrageous commitment and passion it takes to put on a play. I stand by my review. And hey, at least I got you talking.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12248733134677641570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-39112923299372043392010-05-30T21:16:11.615-04:002010-05-30T21:16:11.615-04:00For those of you who thought this review was in an...For those of you who thought this review was in anyway uncalled for or required screening by the artistic team I believe you are in the wrong.<br /><br />Myself being one of the students who was heavily involved in the mounting of this production, I found this review realistic yet simultaneously inspiring and complimentary.<br /><br />Yes, the author had a bone to pick with almost everyone, but she also had positive feedback for everyone and she made sure to include things that could be taken away and reflected upon for the next artistic approach.<br /><br />Thank you very much for this review.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-76858615685610253822010-05-30T20:50:11.661-04:002010-05-30T20:50:11.661-04:00I don't think that this critique is in any way...I don't think that this critique is in any way harsh. Kelly states that it was a "surprising success." I completely agree that this is an incredibly challenging musical. I know that both actors struggled with their roles and worked hard to encompass Kassie's vision. I believe that Kelly has hit the nail on the head with her review and has acknowledged both the successes and failures of the performance. Let's not forget that this is a review, and this was Kelly's interpretation of the performance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-75300554612502871022010-05-30T20:45:38.001-04:002010-05-30T20:45:38.001-04:00Heh. What part will I play here? I was the guy t...Heh. What part will I play here? I was the guy that one of those anonymous commentators sat next to who cried 6 times on opening night and laughed with extreme enthusiasm. I returned on Friday to cry and laugh a similar amount. It is, then, that I feel quite comfortable commenting on this production. On opening night I felt almost the reverse of your review: that Julien was incredibly strong, emotionally and vocally, and that Kate was under. However, when I returned to see the show on Friday, I found myself leaning more toward your review. Julien had not changed emotionally, but was noticeably vocally exhausted. Kate, meanwhile, had dropped in over the first two performances and was emotionally spot-on. I think, when we watch this show, we must temper our shortcomings with our victories. Is it true that there were several directions that seemed unsolved by the performers leading to what appeared to be unmotivated actions? Sure. Is it true that they haven't quite achieved vocal consistency in their performances at this point in their career? Certainly. However, no matter how many times we point fingers and demand a perfect performance (as we feel we are all entitled for our $20, or in my case, $40), we must remember the director's words at the beginning of the show: This is a student production. Julien Cyr BEGAN singing a year before the production. He has managed to conquer a range and tone that most struggle with after decades of training, and has achieved an emotional consistency unseen in many productions. Kate, simultaneously, is in her graduating year in highschool: she does not have the life experiences you would think one would need to play this role. Couldn't possibly. But manages, somehow, night after night. I don't say this to rush to their defense, but rather to put things in perspective. For all who saw the show, remember what you've seen is a fine art. Remember it as a vision that was put together by students. Remember it as an educational experience created by individuals who will, one day, change our lives. And support them in that endeavor.Kevin Leasknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-2426183587005680152010-05-30T17:02:22.534-04:002010-05-30T17:02:22.534-04:00As much as I agree with many of your points Kelly ...As much as I agree with many of your points Kelly (such as the incredible talent of young Kate Ryan and the great work of Director Emily kassie)I strongly believe that many of your comments were not only shamefully erroneous, but completely out of context (it makes me wonder if you actually watched the performance). To say that any director of the Last Five Years "is starring down the barrel of a gun the minute they decide to produce the play" is both insulting to all cast members of the production, and to the brilliant composer Jason Brown. I have been to hundreds of plays in Toronto, in The US, on Broadway and off, and I can say with great confidence that the superiority of the directing, the talent exhibited by the actors AND the pit band were inspiring. I was moved to tears on many occasions, forced into convulsions of laughter, and by the end, was left emotionally torn between Jamie and Kathy's characters (achievable only by the sheer talent of both actors). The set design was creative, the directing perfectly understated. This is a great production, one that would hold up against any professional, seasoned, company. Great Job Guys!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-71331999693017384182010-05-30T16:47:28.861-04:002010-05-30T16:47:28.861-04:00Ok Kelly, you give it a shot.Ok Kelly, you give it a shot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-59996717488949591862010-05-30T16:39:34.290-04:002010-05-30T16:39:34.290-04:00This was too harsh a critique for such a talented ...This was too harsh a critique for such a talented group of people who embarked on this project for the first time. Most professionals would not dare to touch this musical so kudos to everyone involved in this production! And as for the "hand gestures", HAVE YOU SEEN THE ORIGINAL? They do it all the time. And the acting was very dull in the original (for the most part). It also depended on what performance you went to go see. Towards the end of the week, both actors were exhausted (and rightfully so). The opening night show was absolutely phenomenal. I sat next to some guy who cried 5 or 6 times during the show and laughed so hard I thought he would fall over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-36294171391763167522010-05-30T16:28:38.342-04:002010-05-30T16:28:38.342-04:00I saw a rehearsal of the show on video and I know ...I saw a rehearsal of the show on video and I know that the actors added those "over-directed bits (air quotes, mimed jokes and emphatic hand gestures were a bit too prevalent)" were an onstage choice of the actors out of Emily's control. Also to note- as a friend of Emily's, I know that she has never seen a production of the show, and wanted everything to be fresh and new, therefore whatever was different than the original production was due to the fact that she has never seen the original production - maybe you should've spoken to Emily or Scott before writing thisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-48077026261063941092010-05-30T16:21:09.900-04:002010-05-30T16:21:09.900-04:00I suggest you speak to someone involved in the pro...I suggest you speak to someone involved in the production to find out the full story of why things were the way they were before passing certain judgements. I happen to know, for example that cast wise the director had to find two available actors who would do this production for free and were students. That is very difficult to do in this city. As well, the director of the show was also the lighting designer, set designer, costume designer, makeup artist, stage manager and calling cues - all for the first time. This show was a great opportunity to showcase young talent and initiative. It doesn't deserve such a harsh critique.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4045985106822031857.post-58156278124501279642010-05-30T16:16:23.147-04:002010-05-30T16:16:23.147-04:00It looks to me, Kelly, that you had indeed been fa...It looks to me, Kelly, that you had indeed been favoring the female lead in this production. I found many flaws in her performance as much as the male lead, the director, and the musical director. Even the original cast of The Last Five Years had trouble with this musical. I actually found the directing and acting choices to be very creative and it brought something new to the piece. I believe you feel that this musical (characters, music, etc.) should be done only one way and it's stuck in your head. Probably the most interesting thing about this particular production was that they put their own spin on it and I found it more interesting than the acting choices made in the original production. I am amazed at the talent and hard work that they brought. I am amazed that the lead male, Julien Cyr, had only started singing last year, Kate Ryan is only in her final year of high school, Scott is only turning 18, and the director Emily Kassie took on her first directing piece.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com