RANT: Broadway Bullying and Bad Cinderella

It seems like every season these days someone decides that one show will be hated - cancelled, if you will - before the show even loads into a theater. Sometimes, it's because whoever these keepers of "good taste" are, they have decided that the show is "unnecessary." Their signal is always something along the lines of "Who asked for this to exist?" or "Did we really need another [fill in whatever current trend they have to bash]?" (Honestly, when it comes down to it, is any musical necessary?) Sometimes, it's one of the regular whipping boys, or one of those deemed to be "over-exposed." You know, the Wildhorns, the Mirandas, and the like. 

This season, this honor has been given to Bad Cinderella by another of the Main Stem's perennial love/hate generators, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Granted, ALW has done himself zero favors by calling his show Bad Cinderella. The jokes write themselves.

Before I go any further, I'd like to preface all of the rest by saying that I feel everyone has the right to their opinion and their expression of it. And, how anyone chooses to spend their time and money is their choice alone. That said, I have a real problem with uninformed opinions, hypocritical opinions, and those who call themselves Broadway "fans," yet go out of their way to prove they are anything but.

Not everyone likes Sondheim, Herman or chocolate ice cream, so it stands to reason that not everyone will like the billionth take on Cinderella, Webber or mint chocolate chip. Especially, I guess, in this case, his egregious behavior upon the closing of the West End production of the show was an issue. When that all went down last year, people were legitimately upset with his Lordship; oaths were sworn to never support him, blah blah. Cut to today, to many of those same oath-makers who have now secured tickets - many to the first previews. What could possibly be the reason to do a 180 on this issue? I mean, surely these arbiters of taste and justice know that buying tickets is in no way "sticking it to Andy." They must know that ticket sales only help fatten his wallet. So what could their hypocritical motives be? They'd never admit it, but many of these people are, well, bullies. 

The truth is, the "thrill" of social media outrage fades quickly, and gives way to the more "fun" and "social media bolstering" need to be a first-night naysayer. And so the "I won't support hims" and the omnipresent "first preview vultures" have blended into a perfect, nasty storm. Together, their entire reason for being centered on February 17th at the Imperial Theatre.

These are the people who like to Tweet that they are "taking one for the team," or try the old self-deprecating routine, along the lines of, "I couldn't help myself! I have to see just how bad it really is," while a few are at least honest and admit, "I hate this already, so it'll be fun to report back at intermission." No matter how these takes are worded, they all have two things in common: predisposition to dislike the show, and a priming to formulate the wittiest (read "snarkiest?) barbs they can muster. And for what? A few extra likes? Ratios? 

What's worse, in this case, is the low level to which they have sunk: the girls are all too skinny, the star is "too pretty," "the men were only hired to show off their bodies." Body shaming is not just shaming when it is aimed at people of ample girth, folks. Just as people struggle with too much weight, so too do those who struggle to maintain weight. Or maybe they have been critically ill recently? Isn't commenting on beefcake as wrong as commenting on cheesecake? How do any of us know what any of these cast members are going through?

Then there are the "list-ers," who apparently took comprehensive notes on everything they perceived as a problem. It's worth noting that it's the FIRST preview, and things are bound to happen. But these lists are unreal: how dare cast members and stage hands try to avoid catastrophe by wiping up spills on the stage during a show!; how dare the lights come down a little too slow (or up a little too fast)! 

But the one that really gets me is the thread-creating complaint that the tape marks don't match the set and actually glow in the dark! Seriously?! If you did know anything about marking a stage - everything from where a set piece goes, to a mark for a soloist, or the grid numbers across the front of the stage for the dancers - then you'd know why they are different colors, and why they glow in the dark. There are several reasons why they look like they do - chief among them safety. And the show is not set. Maybe when the show is set, and when the marks are deemed permanent, they'll match the set. Maybe they won't. 

Being a real Broadway fan doesn't mean automatically loving every show that opens. It doesn't mean sharing only positive comments. But it does mean trying to go to each performance with the mindset that you owe it to the art form you purport to love to have an open mind about it.  Like it or dislike it, but at least give all involved the respect to say why and then let it be. 

Simply put, when a show has been seen by fewer than 1,000 people after a single preview, it shouldn't be enough to make it a trending Twitter topic. And it certainly shouldn't result in cast members having to take to social media to beg people to see the show for themselves and form their own opinions. Perhaps, most importantly, would you say any of these things directly to the creative team and company? Would you like it if someone said those things to you? And NO, it is not their job to take your nastiness. Try being thoughtful in your criticism, positive and negative; contribute to a more comprehensive discourse.

Finally, as a very seasoned theatergoer, I can assure you that I, too, have strong opinions about shows. But here's something to consider: if you really love the theater, go into each new piece with the idea that there is always something to appreciate about every single show. That's as true for every show I've loved as it is for every show I've disliked. Hard as it is to believe - it sounds counter-intuitive - it is possible to learn more from a show that you hate than one you adore. Every experience will only make your love for theater grow and change. That is what a true fan knows.

UPDATE: Your Disappointments... and Favorite Broadway Couples

Well, I asked, and you answered... A LOT of you answered!  Thanks!  Recently, I posted two blogs: one about favorite Broadway couples, real-life and in shows (HERE), and the other about shows being disappointments after hearing all the hype surrounding them (HERE).  Several of you emailed and Tweeted about your favorites, and here are some of the most popular responses:

YOUR FAVORITE BROADWAY COUPLES (FROM SHOWS)

Some classics you mentioned:

• Anna and the King (The King and I)
• Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide (Guys and Dolls)

• Marian Paroo and Harold Hill (The Music Man)
• Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski (Grease)
• Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque (South Pacific)

Some more modern couples you mentioned - The Top 5:

5.  Raoul and Christine Daae  (The Phantom of the Opera) (The Phantom and Christine got some votes, too.)

4.  Boy and Molly (Peter and the Starcatcher)

3.  Princeton and Kate Monster (Avenue Q)

2.  Elphaba and Fiyero (Wicked)

1.  Marius and Cosette (Les Miserables) (Marius and Eponine got a few votes, too.)

Honorable Mention: Sky and Sophie (Mamma Mia!) and Link Larkin and Tracy Turnblad (Hairspray) 

YOUR MOST DISAPPOINTING SHOWS:

@BBwithPickles: The revival of A Chorus Line "uninspired, boring and drawn out"

@kevinddaly: Clybourne Park "I expected to be wowed, instead I was let-down and a bit bored."
(@ydavey and @tapeworthy agreed)

@TwoShow Days: "Priscilla & Kinky Boots were both extremely tame for shows about drag queens. And the acclaimed War Horse bored me."

@mrtylermartins: "Definitely Golden Boy"

Some of you asked what current shows disappointed me. Hmmm... Big Fish and Jersey Boys for sure!

Keep sending in your choices for future blogs!

Jeff
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Happy/Sad: Of Mormons, Hardbodies and Broadway Stud Muffins

DON'T FORGET TO TAKE THIS WEEK'S "HOT OR NOT" POLL - 

WEEK ONE OF MOTOWN!

As the spring season really gets revved up, this week had two major previewers, one major musical opening, and one colossal hit anniversary.  It's been a pretty happy week!  And it's just a pet peeve, really, that has me down at all.  I'm sure I'll get over it.  How was your theatre week?

Pet Peevish-ness: Buzz Kills:  I've harped on this before, and I know I need to get over it.  But nothing ruffles my feathers more that the absolute joy people seem to get from shows that are struggling or knocking down something that brings so many others happiness.  It seems that certain Tweeters and message board dwellers - all of whom claim to LOVE theatre - want it both ways.  They want to tear down the troubled, and they want to tear down the successful.  There's a lot to be said for everyone's right to share an opinion about a show, an artist, a performance.  Whether I agree with those opinions is not relevant; I respect everyone's right to say what they think.  But where I take issue is when 1) these people lurk around shows and "the theatre scene" looking for and joyfully reporting on any everything that goes wrong; and 2) these people say what they feel, and then refuse to let it end there.  Either they re-hash (over and over) the negativity and/or tell anyone with an opposite or more constructive opinion that they are wrong, lesser, or "stupid shills" because they don't share the same negativity.  And worse yet, when people that have positive points-of-view try to re-hash the positivity, the nay-sayers attack even harder, all under the guise of "having a meaningful discussion."  A discussion means both sides/parties share equally and agree or agree to disagree.  It certainly not nasty attacks on taste, or even worse, on people themselves.  I'll give you an pair of examples.  Apparently, during the intermission of the first preview of The Nance, Tweeters could not wait to report that the show is in need of work, a sentiment shared, apparently, by two patrons at the Lyceum who got into a loud argument, another thing that lit up the Twitterverse.  The vultures were gleefully circling, already forecasting a fast closure, the end to Nathan Lane's career, etc.  And woe to anyone who defended the play or Mr. Lane.  You guessed it - defenders were dismissed as shills, and told that if a show has people arguing in the lobby it can't be good.  One preview... Then there is the other first preview Tweet incident.  This time people were rejoicing that at the first preview, Andrea Martin got a standing ovation after her number in Pippin.  It rarely happens and it is an exciting, positive thing, right?  Well, again the vultures attacked, dismissing the positive people with such things as "I heard it really isn't all that special," and "of course they stood - it was friends and family night at the show," and the really shitty thing... the vultures responded by then telling anyone reading the thread what circus trick Martin performs without so much as a Spoiler Alert.  (Kudos to the monitors at BWW for quickly taking that down.) I should note that over the years of reading this stuff and watching it escalate, it is the same 5 or 6 Tweeters and dozen or so message boarders that I refer to here as "the vultures." It is to them I emplore: have and share your opinion, but allow others to have theirs.  And don't ruin it for everyone else.  Loving theatre doesn't mean loving everything that is bad and mocking everything that is good.

Rant finished.

Happy Hardbody!:  SO GLAD Hands on a Hardbody finally opened!  It was so difficult to keep my mouh shut about this special, challenging and unique show.  Before the opening, it was fun to highlight some of the cast members, like "Face of the Future" Jon Rua (HERE), "Mr. March 2013" Jay Armstrong Johnson (HERE), and "Ms. March 2013" Allison Case (HERE). But the day finally came and I got to share my thoughts!  My review is HERE. March 21, 2013 was a terrific day on Broadway!

Once Turns One and Mormon Says, "Hello!" to Two!: March 18, 2013 was also a big day on Broadway, with 8 time Tony-winner Once turning one year old.  With four of the leads about to depart the show, the celebration, led by the soon-to-depart Cristin Milioti, was bittersweet.  The good news is that the audience was treated to an encore of a song cut from the show.  Lucky them!  A few days later, like TODAY, March 24, 2013, The Book of Mormon celebrates its 2nd Anniversary on Broadway.  But the good news for those Mormon boys is that the London version opened on 22 March 2013, to mixed to positive reviews, and looks set for healthy run - tickets are already booking there through January 2014!  AND both productions set new box office records to boot!

And Finally... Hot Broadway Boys in Magazines!:  It is always good news when the other media highlight Broadway and its performers.  It is a happy bonus when the young, up-and-comers are the focus.  This week, Jay Armstrong Johnson was featured THREE times: The Last Magazine, Backstage, and Buzzfeed.com!  He shared the pages of Backstage with Betsy Wolfe (The Last 5 Years, The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Valesia Lekae (Motown: The Musical), and Pippin's Matthew James Thomas.  Thomas joins Armstrong on Buzzfeed.com's "The 33 Hottest Hunks of Broadway."  The articles are interesting, and the pics are... well... pretty nice, too!  Here are a few, plus links to the full articles - just click the title.

The Last Magazine (Photo by Charlotte Wales)

Backstage (Photo by Chad Griffith)

Buzzfeed.com (Photos from Buzzfeed)

Have a great theatre week!

Jeff
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Amazing What You Can Learn on Twitter: A Sort of Tribute to Ryan Steele

Like anything else in life, everything has its good points and bad points.  But in the balance of things, for Broadway fans, Twitter is a mostly good thing.  I mean, it's a lot of fun to read what show folk blog about their shows, to their friends in other shows, and about their every day lives.  At first, I'll admit, I was a gleeful voyeur of Broadway's current who's who.  It was like being a hidden camera - especially when they ad pictures to their Tweets.

But then, it was nicer when you realize they are just like everyone else, just with way cooler jobs.  Over the time I've been on Twitter I've been through shows opening and closing, marriages, happy and sad, and a ton of backstage gossip with a few.  And it has been super nice to even chat with some of them and even get to know a select few.

Of course, you also get to see some super weird stuff...there's a Tweeter who Tweets as Aaron Tveit's hair in the Les Miz film!  And speaking of Mr. Tveit, he has some SERIOUSLY stalkerish fans.  No wonder people in pop culture run screaming from social media.  But mostly, I'd have to say Broadway fans are, by and large, respectful and thoughtful.  And many Broadway celebs respond in kind - Alex Wyse, Eric Sciotto, Audra McDonald, Steve Kazee, Max Von Essen, most of the Newsies, and Telly Leung to name a few!

Today, January 20, 2013, has been especially fertile...

• Newsies' Ryan Breslin is a Falcons fan (sorry, buddy), and Newsies' Julian DeGuzman is a happy 49ers fan.
• Jake Boyd made his Broadway debut in Rock of Ages this afternoon.  Congratulations!
• Steve Kazee fell getting out of the shower today.  I assume he's fine, since he continues to Tweet. 
• There was much love between fans and cast members at the closing show of Peter and the Starcatcher.
• Fans and participants alike are unanimous in feeling that Not at This Performance at 54 Below was a huge hit, particularly Jay Armstrong Johnson's take on songs from Catch Me If You Can.
• And over at Bare, Taylor Trensch apparently fell ill between acts, and Alex Wyse started the show as Alan and finished it as Peter.  (I wish I had been there!)

Ryan Steele: From early rehearsal to final performance...

BUT the BIGGEST news by far is that today was Ryan Steele's final performance in Newsies.

My love for Mr. Steele (and Newsies in general) is well known by those of you who read my blog regularly. So I mean absolutely no disrespect to Mr. Steele when I say this: GET A LIFE NEWSIES FANS!  All day long, there has been a steady stream of fan Tweets regarding his departure.  They range from tearful eulogy-like Tweets to pictorial tributes (he is very good to fans, apparently having taken HUNDREDS of post show pics with said fans) to actually ugly Tweets of betrayal.  Looks like some of the "Fansies" have lost touch with reality.  Ryan Steele did NOT die.  He got another job. And, NEWS FLASH: at tomorrow's performance of the show, a NEW actor will play Specs.  Specs didn't die either.

I only bring this up because I can't believe that out of all of his so-called fans (and we all follow each other), NOT ONE Tweeted to wish him well with his new job at Matilda.  Not a single fan.  One did recognize that he was moving on, but Tweeted that she would no longer be attending Newsies because his departure has "ruined the show." And, get this, wouldn't be seeing him in Matilda, either, because she "can't imagine him in any other role."  Really?  Wow.  You are missing out; Ryan is a brilliant dancer no matter the show - you should have seen him in West Side Story...

Sad Newsies

On the other hand, the Tweets from his cast mates and the creative team were moving and entirely appropriate.  They shared memories, some fun pictures, and a ton of best wishes.  You can tell he is loved by everyone at the Nederlander Theatre.  How lucky he is to get to hear/read such nice things!  And what a nice testament to talent, a superior work ethic, and professionalism.  Clearly, the world is a better place because Ryan Steele is in it.  I'm even more glad that he didn't die.

Man, I feel bad for whoever takes over his track tomorrow.

Jeff
4.140

I Am Sick of Broadway! (#SickofBway)

A NEW ROUND OF "HOT/HOTTER" WILL RETURN SOON!  

THANKS FOR PLAYING EACH WEEK!

Over the past few days, news has broken about a potential revival of Les Miserables on Broadway.  First it was The Hollywood Reporter interviewing Alfie Boe, a former/current/sometimes Jean Valjean, who told the paper that he "was in negotiations to play [the role] on Broadway in 2014."  The Internet was abuzz.  Then Cameron  Mackintosh responded that, in fact, the new staging was something he had always thought of bringing to New York.  BUT he also said it wasn't even in the discussion stage, as the touring company was going gangbusters with bookings into 2014, it would be at least 18 months before it could happen, anyway.  As for casting, he hadn't given it much thought, but that Boe would always be considered along with a handful of others.

Or is it a nightmare?

Add to all of that the news that the film version of Les Miserables would be pushed back to Christmas Day (big shock there, right?) AND the release of an "extended look" at the film, and Les Miz is EVERYWHERE these days.

And then, yesterday, I finally had enough of the news, the Tweeting (does Aaron Tveit know he has Twit-stalker??) and the endless debate about who should be in it, what theatre it will go in (18 months out, and people are SURE it will be the Winter Garden), and blah blah blah.  I came to a very blunt and, even for myself, surprise realization:

I AM SICK OF LES MISERABLES!

Oh, I'll go see the movie - a shirtless Hugh Jackman, and counting all the furtive glances Aaron Tveit gives to Eddie Redmayne's crotch and ass (it's in all of the movie stills), plus the lovely Anne Hathaway are enough to keep me entertained.  But I am DONE with the show.

So I quickly asked the Twitter-verse, "Are there any Broadway shows you are sick of?"  I got a few responses - not enough to be scientific - but the 8 or so I got were all the same shows.  Here they are in alphabetical order, along with some comments I got:

1.  Grease  I'm guessing the title speaks for itself?

2.  Gypsy "It is a great musical, really.  But they revive it like every 3 years or so.  At least give us a decade before Sutton Foster gets her shot at it!"  Hmmm.. maybe 2 decades?

3.  Into the Woods "Enough already!  The first revival was too soon.  The second even more too soon. And I'm tired of hearing it will/it won't come to Broadway."  "As the song says, 'Please...NO MORE!'"

4.  Love Never Dies I found it interesting that none of the responses I did get said The Phantom of the Opera, but that 2 of less than 10 mentioned the ill-fated sequel.  "Let it die!"  "No one cares about what happens to these people - a murderer/terrorist, a marginally talented diva, and what turns out to be a drunk aristocrat!"  Ouch.

5.  Mamma Mia! "It has become a joke, just like Cats and the original Les Miz.  Let it go with some dignity."  "When most of the audience doesn't even speak English, it is time to close the show."  Harsh!

6.  Wicked "I am more sick of the fans than the show itself, I guess.  Tired of hearing who went on as the 4th student at Shiz at the matinee." "Funny, for a show that doesn't send out much more than casting news, it seems like it's all u hear about."

7. ANYTHING by Tennessee Williams  "What next? An all-Martian cast of The Glass Menagerie?"  "Didn't he write more than 3 plays?"  I laughed my ass off at those Tweets!  Thanks!

So, what shows (and why) are you SICK OF HEARING ABOUT!!??

Tweet me: @jkstheatrescene and use #SickofBway in your Tweet!

You people are a riot!

Before you go...

• ...have you ENTERED TO WIN tickets to Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  You have until NOON tomorrow!  CLICK the liquor bottle at the top of the left hand column!
• ...have you checked out this week's FACE OF THE FUTURE?  CLICK HERE.  He's a cutie!
• ...have you checked out MS. BROADWAY SEPTEMBER 2012, CHRISTIANE NOLL?  CLICK her picture in the right hand column to see more and to hear her sing from Ragtime!
• ...have you VOTED in this month's THEATRE POLL? CLICK your answer on the poll in the left column!

Jeff

4.023

Comments? Questions? @jkstheatrescene (Twitter); jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com (Email); or leave a comment below and check a box!

"If Life Were Made of Moments": Your Favorite Broadway Moments

FOR YOU TO DO AT JK'S THEATRESCENE:

• TAKE THIS MONTH'S THEATRE POLL - TO YOUR LEFT AND DOWN A BIT
• "HOT/HOTTER": BRING IT ON EDITION! VOTE TODAY BY CLICKING THE CHEERLEADER TO YOUR LEFT! POLL CLOSES THURSDAY!

"Oh, if life were made of moments...," ponders the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods.

A few days ago, I blogged about some of my favorite Broadway moments (HERE) - those specific moments from shows when I realized I was seeing something extra special.  And I asked you for your moments.  Here a few of your responses from Twitter:

Donna Murphy in Wonderful Town

• @ChaoticCorey: When Girl says "I love you." to Guy in @OnceMusical in Czech and he doesn't know what she said.
• @Itsdlevy: October 14, 1930. A secretary walks onto the Alvin Theatre stage, opens her mouth to sing "I Got Rhythm." A legend is born.
• @leeheek: My fave #BwayMoment was Donna Murphy's "Conga!" in Wonderful Town. Her humor & physicality were astonishing & hysterical! Saw her 4 times.
• @leeheek: Janet Mcteer + rain in MARY STUART...Magnificent doesn't even begin to cover those magical moments. Will never forget.
• @TwoShowDays: It's too hard to pick a favorite #BwayMoment. But the most literally breathtaking one so far is the canvas priming in Red.
• @midtownNY: The best #BwayMoment- Harvey Fierstein in La Cage Aux Folles, singing "I Am What I Am," 3/29/11
• @NewYorkTheater:  Intermission?  Seriously. In Albert Innaurato's Gemini, audience watches a tent for a LONG time, thinking 2 characters are having sex in it

Janet McTeer in Mary Stuart

Eve Best in A Moon for the Misbegotten

• @GratuitousV: A fave #BwayMoment and my 1st: Eve Best barging out the door of a dilapidated shack at the start of A Moon for the Misbegotten.
• @GratuitousV: Well it would be hard to beat getting up on a Broadway stage to join the hippies the end of Hair!

• @BroadwayMouth: Seeing Carol Channing leading "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" in HELLO, DOLLY! and "96,000" on tour in IN THE HEIGHTS.
• @kevinddaly: Opening night August: Osage County. The Act 2 dinner scene and audience pandemonium that ensued when the act ended.
• @kevinddaly: The Light in the Piazza opening night when the audience refused to stop applauding until director and authors took a call.

Tony Award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda Tweeted:

• @Lin_Manuel Favorite all-time Broadway Moment?" Closing night Heights, the whole night.

Xanadu and West Side Story star Curtis Holbrook Tweeted:

• @CurtisHolbrook: when I got to kiss my future wife on stage :) (She's Lysistrata Jones/Wicked (Tour) star Patti Murin!)

Broadway favorites and friends of JK's TheatreScene  Teddy Toye (Bring It On) and Alex Wyse (Triassic Parq), plus @Lyssie Jones had this to say:

• @TeddyToye: When @alexwyse took his clothes off in@LyssieJones
• @alexwyse: when @TeddyToye watched me take my clothes off in @LyssieJones.
• @Lyssie Jones: that might be everyone's favorite part! #Holdon

But I think Broadway legend Betty Buckley put it best for all of us Broadway fans when she Tweeted:

• @BettyBuckley: Sooo many... : )

Share your Favorite Broadway Moment via Twitter (Use @jkstheatrescene and #BwayMoment) or email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com.

Jeff
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Question?  Something to say? @jkstheatrescene (Twitter); jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com (email); or check a box and leave a "Comment" below (Blogger)

Should Broadway Actors Tell Us How They REALLY Feel?

\YOUR VOTE IN THIS WEEK'S "HOT/HOTTER" IS VERY IMPORTANT!

THIS WEEK YOUR VOTE WILL DETERMINE 
THE 2 FINALISTS IN OUR SEARCH 

FOR BROADWAY'S MOST UNIQUELY HOT GUY!  

VOTE NOW BY CLICKING ON THE ICON TO YOUR LEFT!

UPDATE: Since I first posted this blog, Morgan James took down her original Tweet, and has issued an apology Tweet of sorts (Click HERE to read the Playbill article.  As I say below, I think HOW she stated her opinion was questionable.  But I still respect her right to say it.  Did she need to apologize?  In my opinion, no.  If anything, an "I could have said it better or more like a theatre professional."  I wonder what the reaction will be now.  Aren't actors always among the first to cry "foul!" when our right to free speech is in question?

MY ORIGINAL BLOG POST:
My father always says, "Don't shit where you eat."  Not the most tactful way to put it, but lesson learned.

I was going to write about something entirely different today, but I just couldn't resist talking about this!  And let me first state that I did NOT see the first preview of Shakespeare in the Park's Into the Woods, and I am not commenting on that.

Apparently, shortly after the performance was over, actress Morgan James (Godspell) took to Twitter with this little gem of a Tweet:

Question: HOW can you **** up "into the woods"?? I fear musicianship is dead in musical theatre. And acting, for that matter. #horrified

Of course, it wasn't long before people responded.  Actor Matt Doyle (Bye Bye Birdie, War Horse) really got the ball rolling with:

Really don't like seeing Broadway actors trashing other shows on twitter. Have a little tact. We're all in this together.

Mayhem ensues... other Broadway folk had plenty to say.  Miss James tried to do damage control by trying to explain, only to be dressed down by Scott Alan (an up and coming composer of musicals and original compositions) :

@morganajames

And note: supporting my theatre community--which I DO--does not mean I have to *like* everything.

@ScottAlanNet
@morganajames but you shouldn't tweet about it either. We should support one another in this industry & that tweet was disgusting. sorry.

@morganajames
@ScottAlanNet I'm sorry to offend. It's not about 'not supporting'. The prod/dir was offensive (sexually) and it just wasn't for me.

@ScottAlanNet
@morganajames then don't tweet your opinions, love. it IS about supporting. It's a FIRST preview featuring FRIENDS and IDOLS we respect

@ScottAlanNet
@morganajames people read your tweets & you need to be apart of this industry & be respectful & feel honored to be working in it.

@ScottAlanNet
@morganajames it disgusts me to see performers judging art. Theatre is already judged by so many. WE are the ones who need to SUPPORT

TOP: Morgan James

BOTTOM: Matt Doyle and Scott Alan

And so it went.  

I was not witness to all of this first hand, but rather it caught my eye as a thread on BroadwayWorld.com.  Always a study in human idiocy tempered by the occasional moment of insight, this thread was not a disappointment.  I read with great interest as some BWW Message Boarders took Miss James to task, while others supported her right to Tweet her honest opinion. (I had to laugh as some of the very people chewing her up are the very same ones who take nothing but pleasure in tearing apart every first preview they get into - or not.  But I digress.)

This is my Blog and I'll say what I want to (sorry for the Baby, It's You flashback).  Here's what I think:

• Morgan James has as much right to Tweet her opinion, even a negative one, as anyone else does.
• Matt Doyle and Scott Alan (and others) have a right to respond.
• Ultimately, I think this is more about tact than it is her actual opinion.  There are ways to express your opinions without offending friends and colleagues.  I'd probably have to quit my job if I publicly aired my true feelings about my bosses, co-workers and potential future colleagues.
• Perhaps if she had started with her statement about why she found the show offensive...
• The Twitter-verse is full of actors Tweeting about other shows than the ones they are in. Neil Patrick Harris is a master at tact.  He only Tweets about a positive aspect or two about everything he sees.  Read into it what you want about what he DOESN'T say.  He gets his opinion across and no one is offended.
• Sometimes the truth hurts.  We still have to respect the opinions we don't agree with, whether they are about "friends and idols" or not.
• On the other hand, hypocrisy is just as offensive to me.  I seem to recall a HUGE number of actors "in the community" being less than kind about the previews for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.  And I don't mean the public outcry about the safety issues.  I mean the gleeful Tweets about being glad that it was "them" and not "us" from people in other shows.  Or the "Man, I'm glad I didn't get cast in that 'hot mess'!"  And the rest of the lot.  (Kudos to Patrick Page, Jennifer Damiano and Reeve Carney, by the way, for not responding in kind at the time.)

Like I said, it really boils down to a lesson in tact.  Though I seriously doubt, as some have suggested, that one Twitter rant will cost Morgan James employment, any more than Scott Alan or Matt Doyle will gain any from this.  And let's be honest... what Morgan James or Scott Alan think about anything isn't quite as newsworthy as the same comments would be from say, Angela Lansbury or Kander and Ebb.  Of course, none of them would have thought to say such things in a public forum.  (Everyone concerned should heed my father's words...)    Rather, a history of a lack of tact and decorum will be what does any of them in.  And I give it 24 hours before the Broadway community rallies behind another cause, and all of this will be but a memory.

As @BroadwaySpotted Tweeted: "If people have split views about your work, I think it's flattering. I'd rather have them feel something about it than dismiss it"-Sondheim  What a great quote!

It seems, in the midst of all the hubbub, that Miss James missed one of the chief lessons to be learned from Into the Woods: "Careful the things you say, children (and actors) will listen." 

Jeff

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