Post by Aiken4ClayInSeattleWA on Sept 21, 2008 21:48:58 GMT -8
The new King played it more goofy than Jonathan Hadary. He had a flare for dance and looked to be enjoying himself. Though I must say I enjoyed Hadary's 'I'm the sane one in a sea of goofy' approach which featured the silliness of the others all the more. Stephen Collins was similarly goofy but he had more of a balance with the dry, sane approach. Lady Of The Lake has a beautiful voice and played it more sultry and less goofy than Hannah. She's played more dramatic roles and I think she tried to play it more serious and less broad. I think she needs to find that eye wink that says we know this is one big joke. Clay's on stage along with the fine, funny men. She'll learn from the master of goofiness.
I saw a few shows in the summer. The summer Sir Robin (Robert Petkoff) and Patsy (Drew Lachey) didn't have the physical comedy or zaniness. And they didn't intertact so much with the others. Without folks to play off of - even amazing, comic actors like Rick Holmes and Tom Deckman had a harder time. You could see the change tonight. Rick Holmes just lit up. He danced and added little moves and hip shakes....he was so happy to have a live audience and just fed off us. Tom Deckman had put less into the tower scene during the summer. This time he fish faced away. And he bent back and literally collpased to the floor in that scene. Clay and his energy and ours just inspired everyone.
The new King plays enjoys the dancing a great deal but I feel he overuses it and puts that into scenes where it doesn't work as well. The King's dancing in the Laker Girl scene is fun. But he does that in the Black Knight scene and during All Alone while Patsy is singing and that I think is a bit too much. He slurs his speech alot in a way that sounds almost drunk and I'm not sure about that either. Hadary also had this warmth and interaction with the others. Stephen Collins had that very much. Drew Lachey I think had a tough time adjusting to the role and Collins really looked at him and worked to involve him. This new King doesn't look at the other actors much. Hopefully over time we'll see that relationship with the others on stage develop. Bradley Dean has improved alot, especially since the summer. He's really getting the laughs now. His timing is right on.
The guard scene was quick and the ribbons went braidless. Galahad's exit before Clay calls him back was a bit rushed. Initially Bradley Dean has some issues with timing and the others were getting cut off. Maybe with Bradley's timing so much improved they feel they don't need the ribbon and spear stuff as much. I think maybe they didn't want to add time as the cheers would be huge and long. Initially Bradley Dean has some issues with timing and the others were getting cut off. Maybe with Bradley's timing so much improved they feel they don't need the ribbon and spear stuff as much. And Galahad rushed his exit some. Still Clay's up and down wobble as he tried to be 'serious guard' got laughs. Those expressions are priceless. Doing the 'wave' with Guard 2 (David Hibbard). Drew Lachey couldn't play drunk (I saw his first show) so they had him imitate Guard 1 and do some 'ribbon braiding'. I think the other actors might have gotten used to a different scene and are now having to adjust to the long, forever laughs.
As for the Beamon blog, all I can say is I think this guy was at another show than I was at. Clay's interpretation rocked the house. The fan response was electric and inspired the non fans to cheer and laugh and applaud all the more for everyone. That brought up the energy for the whole show and David Hibbard and Rick Holmes and Tom Deckman (not there Sunday) lit up. They loved it. When it comes to reviews, positive or negative, what I respect is honesty. To be able to put aside the stereotypes and pre-conceived notions and give a fair review. I have a sense Mr. Beamon reviewed his pre-conceived notions about Clay and maybe his wish he was on Broadway instead of the show he actually saw.
Earlier this summer and you could see how much the cast missed Clay and the fan energy. Even the ushers commented on it to me. Everything was more 'by the book'. There was a loss of spontaneity and excitement where everyone was having a blast and that's back. Over the summer I actually heard people at the ticket booth telling others not to see Spamalot. Today I heard non fans leaving the theater saying how wonderful the show was.
I saw a few shows in the summer. The summer Sir Robin (Robert Petkoff) and Patsy (Drew Lachey) didn't have the physical comedy or zaniness. And they didn't intertact so much with the others. Without folks to play off of - even amazing, comic actors like Rick Holmes and Tom Deckman had a harder time. You could see the change tonight. Rick Holmes just lit up. He danced and added little moves and hip shakes....he was so happy to have a live audience and just fed off us. Tom Deckman had put less into the tower scene during the summer. This time he fish faced away. And he bent back and literally collpased to the floor in that scene. Clay and his energy and ours just inspired everyone.
The new King plays enjoys the dancing a great deal but I feel he overuses it and puts that into scenes where it doesn't work as well. The King's dancing in the Laker Girl scene is fun. But he does that in the Black Knight scene and during All Alone while Patsy is singing and that I think is a bit too much. He slurs his speech alot in a way that sounds almost drunk and I'm not sure about that either. Hadary also had this warmth and interaction with the others. Stephen Collins had that very much. Drew Lachey I think had a tough time adjusting to the role and Collins really looked at him and worked to involve him. This new King doesn't look at the other actors much. Hopefully over time we'll see that relationship with the others on stage develop. Bradley Dean has improved alot, especially since the summer. He's really getting the laughs now. His timing is right on.
The guard scene was quick and the ribbons went braidless. Galahad's exit before Clay calls him back was a bit rushed. Initially Bradley Dean has some issues with timing and the others were getting cut off. Maybe with Bradley's timing so much improved they feel they don't need the ribbon and spear stuff as much. I think maybe they didn't want to add time as the cheers would be huge and long. Initially Bradley Dean has some issues with timing and the others were getting cut off. Maybe with Bradley's timing so much improved they feel they don't need the ribbon and spear stuff as much. And Galahad rushed his exit some. Still Clay's up and down wobble as he tried to be 'serious guard' got laughs. Those expressions are priceless. Doing the 'wave' with Guard 2 (David Hibbard). Drew Lachey couldn't play drunk (I saw his first show) so they had him imitate Guard 1 and do some 'ribbon braiding'. I think the other actors might have gotten used to a different scene and are now having to adjust to the long, forever laughs.
As for the Beamon blog, all I can say is I think this guy was at another show than I was at. Clay's interpretation rocked the house. The fan response was electric and inspired the non fans to cheer and laugh and applaud all the more for everyone. That brought up the energy for the whole show and David Hibbard and Rick Holmes and Tom Deckman (not there Sunday) lit up. They loved it. When it comes to reviews, positive or negative, what I respect is honesty. To be able to put aside the stereotypes and pre-conceived notions and give a fair review. I have a sense Mr. Beamon reviewed his pre-conceived notions about Clay and maybe his wish he was on Broadway instead of the show he actually saw.
Earlier this summer and you could see how much the cast missed Clay and the fan energy. Even the ushers commented on it to me. Everything was more 'by the book'. There was a loss of spontaneity and excitement where everyone was having a blast and that's back. Over the summer I actually heard people at the ticket booth telling others not to see Spamalot. Today I heard non fans leaving the theater saying how wonderful the show was.