tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4086785865075888285.post5345537756052965211..comments2023-10-21T04:14:48.896-07:00Comments on Chicago and New York Theatre Reviews by John Clum: Harvey Fierstein's CASA VALENTINA at Manhattan Theatre ClubJohn Clumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16385433641458851179noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4086785865075888285.post-76848697072131348592014-05-22T14:57:48.041-07:002014-05-22T14:57:48.041-07:00Actually I do reference the final scene between Ge...Actually I do reference the final scene between George and Rita that comes after the scene with the judge's daughter.John Clumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16385433641458851179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4086785865075888285.post-79686779881512949772014-05-16T07:30:26.152-07:002014-05-16T07:30:26.152-07:00Excellent review. Saw the play last night and woul...Excellent review. Saw the play last night and would only take issue with the blogger's displeasure with Mr. Birney's character - presumably, more the writing than the acting. Heaven knows, there are people who have an agenda and pursue it with unseemly fervor in this world. By making it clear that this character is moneyed (used to getting his way, among other things), the author makes the behavior very plausible, even if there ARE some clunky plot points in Act II. Remember, even if one does not judge these people beyond saying that "They're different!" when one adds in the early-60's "context," you quickly get into territory where "motivation" has a great deal of "Says who?" about it. In particular, the blogger referencing Shaw is only slightly less off-the-mark than were he to have wondered how would sound if blank verse was added. And one minor point - perhaps Mr. Clum let too much time elapse between seeing the play and writing about it - the "final scene" was DEFINITELY not the one he references, not even close. The one he mis-identifies WAS extremely powerful, but I'm afraid it also exemplifies the "kitchen sink" - "try anything to move the plot forward now that the fun-and-games part is over" - nature of Act II.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com