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Threaded Order Chronological Order
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | larry13 10:13 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | Isherwood Likes Fiddler - nyc23 10:05 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| Isn't Isherwood reviewing more and more shows that Brantley used to? Isn't FIDDLER exactly the kind of Broadway production that the chief drama critic of the Times would always have reviewed in the past? | |
| reply to this message | |
| Isherwood Likes Fiddler a surprise to me | |
| Posted by: | FinalPerformance 10:27 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - larry13 10:13 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| Did not expect this kind of review. I was disappointed by this version but to each his own. | |
| reply to this message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 10:24 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - larry13 10:13 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| I think they trade off a lot. Maybe Brantley saw it and didn't like it and thought Isherwood should do it. Isherwood review An American in Paris and loved it. Maybe Brantley is on vacation? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | larry13 10:30 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - lowwriter 10:24 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| The fact remains that Isherwood is getting more and more assignments that the chief critic used to cover himself. And if it is because Brantley didn't like it, this is outrageous: he will pan some shows he didn't like but give others a chance with Isherwood? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | Kimmelhisway 02:49 am EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - larry13 10:30 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| Then Brantley should step down - right now. Either he's the chief critic for Broadway shows or he isn't. A major musical revival and he doesn't review it. Can the guy. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 10:34 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - larry13 10:30 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| For the umpteenth time, Brantley is not assigned shows; all shows are his for the taking. They have been dividing shows on both beats for years. And the outrage is of your own invention. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | larry13 10:42 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - ryhog 10:34 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| I certainly never meant to suggest anyone but Brantley himself was doing the assignments. I'm only questioning these decisions, especially if--IF--he's refraining from publishing his negative reactions to certain shows. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 11:05 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - larry13 10:42 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| if your concern is that Brantley saw it and decided not to review it, I have a high degree of certainty that did not happen. I can't imagine that ever happening. if you have a problem with his passing on a show that, for one reason or another, he is biased against, I disagree with you. there are many reasons he may not have reviewed it. Sometimes we subsequently gain enough facts to say what that reason is (e.g., he is out of town) but I do think you are inventng outrage at this point. FWIW he did review the last revival that anyone could be forgiven for not loving. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 10:45 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - larry13 10:42 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| I was just hypothesizing. I do know Isherwood didn't love Hamilton and Brantley did so it's probably good that Brantley reviewed that show. But could it be possible that Brantley isn't a huge fan of Fiddler and deferred to Isherwood. I'm curious to see who will review She Loves Me! | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | larry13 10:56 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - lowwriter 10:45 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| I think your hypothesis about Brantley and Fiddler IS very likely the case. I suspect he likes She Loves Me more but, given his tone deafness to musicals that weren't necessarily trailblazers, maybe it would be better if he doesn't review that one either. As for it being "good" that he, not Isherwood, reviewed Hamilton, "good" for whom? The producers? Isherwood's reputation? The Times? Hamilton would still have been a mega hit, only maybe not as mega and without quite as many Times articles over the months. | |
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| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | owk 10:49 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - lowwriter 10:45 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| Amazing to me that anyone takes either of them seriously. Other than as a business matter, to whatever degree the Times critic still influences business. What a pair of coots. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 10:52 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - owk 10:49 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| I agree somewhat but if the Times likes a show that will cost me at least $100 to see and I'm on the fence, I am somewhat influenced about buying a ticket or not if the crtics are enthusiastic. I have heard mixed things about this production, though, and Burstein's performance, so I'm not convinced by Isherwood's rave. Espcially since he's steered me wrong on several plays. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 11:08 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - lowwriter 10:52 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| "I'm not convinced by Isherwood's rave." How about by the near unanimity of the raves? I think it is unwise to pin your decision on seeing a show to a single review, unless you are convinced it is someone you always agree with (and clearly that's not Ish for you) | |
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| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 11:37 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - ryhog 11:08 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| Actually I've read three mixed reviews already and several who found Burstein too low-key. And three friends didn't like it so much. I saw a wonderful production two years ago at Stratford so I'm just not running to see this. And it's playing in such a huge house that eventually I'll be able to see it more easily when the holidays die down. | |
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| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 11:58 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - lowwriter 11:37 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| >> I've read three mixed reviews already where? | |
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| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 01:42 am EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - enoch10 11:58 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In addition to the ever-controversial Matthew Murray (who I think of as something of a pushover), there are also Linda Winer (more positive than not, but certainly with reservations), Dziemianowicz (four stars out of five, but with enough reservations that I suspect his review won't make a lot of people get on the phone or online to buy tickets), and Rizzo in Variety. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 06:09 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - AlanScott 01:42 am EST 12/21/15 |
| Jeremy Gerard at Deadline didn't like it much either. But David Cote at Time Out loved it. | |
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| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 03:27 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - AlanScott 01:42 am EST 12/21/15 |
| well, i don't want to argue about it but i don't know of any review that doesn't contain some complaint about something. that doesn't always translate into "mixed" for me. i don't feel like going back to see what i may have missed but my impressions from what i remember reading is the reviews were very good. perhaps i got that wrong. wouldn't be the first time. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 03:43 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - enoch10 03:27 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| I read plenty of reviews that contain few or even no complaints. I'm sure I could make a list of recent reviews from a variety of sources on a bunch of different shows in which no important reservations (or even none at all) were voiced. But I also read reviews that contain complaints and yet I come away feeling that the review is nonetheless extremely favorable. I didn't feel that way about the reviews I cited of this current Fiddler. I felt that they were mixed to modestly favorable. | |
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| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | TheOtherOne 04:57 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - AlanScott 03:43 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| Agreed -- and Dziemianowicz actually gave it three & 1/2 stars, not four. | |
| Link | Fiddler On The Roof review |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 04:40 am EST 12/22/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - TheOtherOne 04:57 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| Ah, I read a cut and paste of it, I didn't actually read it on the site. The cut and paste listed four stars out of five. Thanks! | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | broadwaybacker 02:16 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - AlanScott 01:42 am EST 12/21/15 |
| Mathew is indeed "ever-controversial." However, I would not classify him as a pushover by any means. He appears to be more of a contrarian. Just recently, didn't he hate The Color Purple when most of the reviews were raves or very positive? And it goes the other way frequently as well. | |
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| I thiiiiiiiink Alan was being sarcastic. (NM) | |
| Posted by: | Seth Christenfeld (tabula-rasa@verizon.net) 02:37 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - broadwaybacker 02:16 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| Seth, who has a pretty well-developed Sarcasmometer | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| I was serious | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 03:36 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | I thiiiiiiiink Alan was being sarcastic. (NM) - Seth Christenfeld 02:37 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| You're usually right about these things, but I am serious about Matthew. Of course, pushover Is perhaps an exaggeration, but it's a word I've used here before to describe Matthew, and I kind of feel it's . . . more true than not. Every time someone here posts that "Matthew Murray doesn't like anything," and I go searching through his recent reviews, I'm started by the high percentage of favorable reviews. (Well, at this point I'm no longer startled.) People who don't read all his reviews but mostly read his reviews of high-profile Broadway shows, especially musical revivals, may have a skewed vision of him as a critic who hardly ever likes anything. But he likes plenty. He probably writes more favorable reviews than a lot of other critics, but I haven't done that kind of comparison. | |
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| I stand corrected and will recalibrate said sarcasmometer. (NM) | |
| Posted by: | Seth Christenfeld (tabula-rasa@verizon.net) 04:03 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | I was serious - AlanScott 03:36 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| Seth, fighting all sorts of lovely crap today | |
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| re: I thiiiiiiiink Alan was being sarcastic. (NM) | |
| Posted by: | MikeR 02:39 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | I thiiiiiiiink Alan was being sarcastic. (NM) - Seth Christenfeld 02:37 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| I took it as Alan admitting that he can be an even tougher critic than Matthew. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 11:57 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Isherwood Likes Fiddler the chief drama critic of the Times - lowwriter 11:37 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| I think the luxury of having an abundance of reviews is that we can assess them in a meaningful way, adding weight to those whose reviews we generally agree with and subtracting it from those we usually don't align with. | |
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