Theatre Talk's Spring 2016 Season Preview

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 9:17pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdgqRYQy858

[ViniFromBrazil]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 9:39pm

Oh, I really thought Riedel wasn't going to be there...

I like Green and Pacheco. Musto is a good comic relief and Riedel, well... he's just a child.

Updated On: 2/6/16 at 09:39 PM

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 9:41pm

They're so negative about mostly everything.  I get that they're critics, so they're supposed to be critical, but it's difficult to watch people be so snarky and hoity-toity. vThey haven't even seen the shows yet!  I'm looking forward to a few shows this spring, so we'll see!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 9:43pm

Looks like little Mikey is not bowled over by "The Show"

 

Not a big fan of Green . Pacheco is fine & Musto tries to be a little to cute & snarky.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 10:03pm

They're so negative about mostly everything.

 

That's kind of how I feel about you guys.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 10:07pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "That's kind of how I feel about you guys."

 

Yes, there is lots of negative talk here, but it's easier just to continue scrolling past and skimming.  There are still some positive people on this site.

 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 10:18pm

Hard to believe Riedel wrote a very good book in Razzle Dazzle

[carolineorchange21]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 1:15am

Mr Roxy said: "Hard to believe Riedel wrote a very good book in Razzle Dazzle"

 

It's not so hard to believe.

 

Riedel's self-satisfaction and overall off-putting persona overshadow his talent as a writer. I don't agree with 90% of his reviews or enjoy any of his articles blatantly sucking up to industry big-wigs, but his style and technique is engaging and precise.

 

I look forward to his leaving criticism (don't we all) and writing more wonderful and accessible theater histories like RAZZLE DAZZLE.

 

[macnyc]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 8:15am

I don't know why you would describe Riedel's style as precise, when quite a few people have pointed out serious factual errors in Razzle Dazzle.

 

 I laughed out aloud when the conversation turned to Hamilton, and Riedel's hatred for the show practically caused smoke to come out of his ears. He's so predictable! I don't have a problem if he dislikes or even hates Hamilton. But I can't stand his attitude that anyone who likes Hamilton is pretending to do so just to appear hip. He's so misguided, on so many levels.  

 

 

[carolineorchange21]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 9:34am

@macnyc

I described Riedel's style as precise because he manages to accurately document concurrent events in a non-confusing way. I never lost track of who was who in the Shubert organization or the Nederlander office, or any of the many, many other personalities Riedel profiles in the 80 or so years this book chronicles.

 

If anyone in RAZZLE DAZZLE, or a member of their family, has publicly refuted any claims made by Riedel, then please, respond with links to their released statement(s).

 

If by "quite a few people" you mean BWW message board members who haven't read the book and/or hate everything Riedel-related on principle, then I can only paraphrase Mankiewicz via Margo Channing:

"...those little beasts that run around in packs? They're not people...they're juvenile delinquents, mental defectives..."

I can't believe you made me defend Riedel! I do NOT care for him but RAZZLE DAZZLE is a top-notch work, despite the more gossipy parts about affairs and drug use, because they are discussed in the context of how it affected the work and business relationships of the people discussed in this book. 

Updated On: 2/7/16 at 09:34 AM