Comments for Houstonartsweek's Blog

Comment on Our Review of TUTS ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ by Abby

Abby — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 04:09:36 +0000

This is a great review. I saw the show a few nights ago front row, and, at intermission, all I could say was “that was intense.” I felt almost too visually stimulated and,musically, everything was over the top. I must admit I enjoyed every minute of the Electric guitar and power filled voices, but if there is something to critique I suppose this is it.

Comment on Our Review of TUTS ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ by John DeMers

John DeMers — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:24:18 +0000

Thanks for expressing your opinion. This critic – a.k.a., I – DID indeed see “Wicked. And Wicked is the perfect of example of everything “Jekyll & Hyde” is not, with its rich, multi-layered characters and wide array of song styles that advance the story and reveal character. I wouldn’t be surprised if as many people leave “Wicked” singing “Popular” as “Defying Gravity.” Musicals need many songs, many sounds and many emotions – going back bto Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and of course Rodgers and Hammerstein, not one. No one should ever “care” what the citics say enough to not like something they like, and yes, “J&H” has a long history of being hated by critics and loved by many in the audience. Nothing strange about that, really. Fact is I not only saw “Wicked” but I saw and loved “J&H” many years ago starring Robert Cuccioli. You wanna see what we were all missing last night, check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ5iKRpE41E

Comment on Our Review of TUTS ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ by mims carey

mims carey — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 17:16:12 +0000

Did this critic even see Wicked? There are more great songs besides “Defying Gravity!” And Jekyll and Hyde is a musical. So… there should be one good song and the rest should be something else? Jekyll and Hyde has some great music in it and the songs do NOT all sound alike. The good thing about reading this review is knowing that the very happy audiences who have been free with their standing ovations and praise do not care what the “critics” say.

Comment on Review of Carrie Fisher’s ‘Wishful Drinking’ by 5usan Blair

5usan Blair — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:15:39 +0000

Thank you for your thoughtful and excellent reviews!

Comment on Our Review of ‘Love Never Dies’ on Film by Pat theckston

Pat theckston — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:01:07 +0000

Hope to see it on broadway. Loved seeing at the movie theater and absolutely love the soundtrack very gripping

Comment on Our Review of HGO’s ‘The Bricklayer’ by critic of the critic

critic of the critic — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:36:11 +0000

Re: DeMeer comments on music and family snapshots:

—the arias and ensemble parts of the score, hardly atonal, are part of the overall composition. Do you separate them from the accompaniment portions of the score to attempt to justify your characterization of the composition as …atonal, modernist?

—do you think that Persian modalities must be presented only by Persian musical instruments?

—regarding ‘family snapshots’–all opera (with the possible exception of Wagnerian opera)’ consists of ‘snapshots’–family and otherwise

finally, operettas and grand opera are different, in scope, orchestration, casting. Should a competent critic acknowledge this and evaluate operetta by its own standards?

Comment on Our Review of Chekhov’s ‘Seagull’ at the Alley by Renee Smith

Renee Smith — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:53:51 +0000

This is a very generous review. Having seen the last performance of The Seagull, I was disappointed by the poor quality of acting on the part of all the females (except the servant’s wife/Masha’s mother). I very much agree with your estimation of the play, as a piece of literature, but I feel the Alley fell far short of meeting the mark in conveying the complexity of the relationships and the individual personalities of the women. The performance was rocky at best.

Comment on Our Review of HGO’s ‘La Traviata’ by John DeMers

John DeMers — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:04:01 +0000

demerswrites@gmail.com should work…

Comment on Our Review of HGO’s ‘La Traviata’ by Bill Haase

Bill Haase — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:51:28 +0000

Agree wholeheartedly with Traviata review, especially finale. How dare Slayer rob Verdi and the audience of this moment!

Bill Haase

PS what is your email? DeMerswrites @gmail was rejected.

Comment on Our Review of ‘Christmas Carol’ at the Alley by Pat Cooper

Pat Cooper — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:52:34 +0000

My 2 children are part of the cast in The Christmas Carol – I agree with the reviews that the cast is marvelous and the story is both humerous and redeeming.

Jeffrey Bean, Chris Hutchison, James Belcher and David Rainey are suberb!!!!