Stuffguys

• 1 year, 9 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater review part deux: Satyricon at Addison Theatre Center

  I know this is a reprint from the Examier article. Please note in the original he headed the review by giving it "4 Stars".

  
  
• 2 years, 3 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  UPDATED: Theater preview: Sex & War in Addison February 4-19

  Because of the inclement weather we are postponing the opening of Sex & War till Friday February 4th. The weather sprites have forced us to make this last minute decision.

  
  
• 3 years, 1 month ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Jesus Christ Superstar

  Brilliant show! My reveiw for JCS hasn't posted yet, but it is a MUST go see. Do not miss this.

  
  
• 4 years, 2 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Last Lists of My Mad Mother

  Thank you for catching the error! My oops!

  Mark-Brian

  
  
• 4 years, 4 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Reviews: The SantaLand Diaries and A Bur-Less-Q Nutcracker

  Mr. Garcia has never reviewed a prodcution at MBS Productions before. And no, he didn't have a family member in the cast. FYI: The play in question went on to receive a Column award for best new play of the year in 2008. But as it is with all theatre and all arts: not everyone will enjoy it.

  
  
• 4 years, 7 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Losing Daniel

  I am one of the reviewers for Pegasus. I was going to review this play, but I was unable to due to some other commitments.
  

  I can see the predicament Mr. Rice found himself by simply reading his review and knowing that he was friends with Lon Rogers the playwright. I've faced this too quite a bit.

  I agree that he failed to mention the playwrights name and it is important, but to me it reads as an oversight versus as an intentional act/bias. This said, because the theatre community is so small I as a critic have found myself in the unenviable position of having to give a negative review or mixed review to a fellow collegue. Or on the other end of the spectrum I give glowing review to a collegue. Regardless of my affiliation, my good review or bad review will get critiqued as being biased because I know the person. *By now it seems there are fewer people I don't know in the theatre community then I do know.* So what to do? Give your honest opinions, mention your possible bias so the reader can be aware, and be as objective as possible. In these three areas, from reading this review Mr. Rice's review succeeds. Why? In most of his objections he is very detailed, he mentions specific things.

  I know Mr. Rice and consider him a friend, but the one thing I can say about him is he is honest in his opinions, ther isn't a malicious bone in his body. I know he's heaped praise on me in the past, but he has also pointed out flaws. I didn't always agree (though I did at times, darn it!) with his "negative critiques". I also know from personal experience that his opinions were sincere, honest and well expressed. If I'm going to take the good praise, I must take the negative.
  

  Even though this review isn't overall positive. I am much more intrigued in seeing this play based off of this review, AND the susbsequent comment listed.

  Whenever I see responses I am always curious to know the relatioship of the writer to the production: an audience member? Involved with the theatre? friend of the Playwright? First time theatre patron? Regular? I also love reading a detailed counterpoint to the review: why something specific worked or didn't work, etc.

  Mark-Brian Sonna

  
  
• 4 years, 8 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Changing Ross Avenue to Cesar Chavez makes logical sense

  I don't get it....Ross Avenue is named after the Ross family who contributed greatly in their own way to the formation of Dallas making it the city that it is. Without people like them, and the Akards, and Ervays, etc. Dallas would not be Dallas. These early leaders (business, political, etc.) helped plant the seed that became our city like it or not. Without them Dallas would not have started its evolution to what it is now which means there wouldn't be a desire to do this name change ona street. In a way, Ross' success is what is causing his namesake downfall.
  

  Perhaps 100 years from now Cesar Chavez Ave (if it does have the name change) will fall out of fashion as p[eople forget who he was and a new name will be given to it. Very Orwellian.

  I still can't fathom why they don't want to change the name of Live Oak where the Latino Cultural Center, which is supposed to be the pride of the Latino community, to Cesar Chavez. There was no Mr or Mrs Live Oak.

  
  
• 4 years, 8 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  DFW musicians to protest Texas Ballet Theater

  If you perform a classical ballet like Swan Lake or Coppelia it's expected that you have a live orchestra, BUT if it's a modern ballet it's usually OK and more acceptable to have canned music. The trap TBT has fallen in to is that they usually only present classical ballet instead of modern ballet and audiences are tiring of it. Most large ballet companies spend most of the time presenting modern pieces and relegating the classics to a "treat" where they bring out all the stops (and the orchestra).
  

  Of course to do modern ballet you need good modern day choreographers, and while Ben Stevenson is good he is highly stylized. There needs to be more variety. Their (TBT) idea of modern is Balanchine who now has been dead for over a generation, and while Balanchine is genius the dance world has moved on, and I suspect so have the audiences!
  

  This by the way is coming from someone who used to dance ballet for a living!

  
  
• 4 years, 9 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  UPDATEDX2: Plano-based Bennigan's chain shuts down

  Honestly as someone who has gone to Bennigans, Chilis and TGIF I can see why Bennigans closed. The last three times I went there (and it was to three different locations) the food wasn't very good, there was issues with cleanliness, and then I had a lovely 6 legged creature in an entree and they handled that one disastrously:
  

  I called the waitstaff immediately back to the table (i had yet to take a bite) and pointed out the brown critter traipsing through the lettuce. She removed the entree, which was appropriate and didn't return. After I flagged a waiter down and told them of what had happened I was informed that their kitchen was approaching closing time (it was nearly 10 PM)so I wouldn't be able to order anything else. Not a problem, I was no longer hungry due to the ick factor but we had dinning companions that wanted refills on drinks and water and perhaps a bill. I didn't expect to have to pay for my food but we were a large group, surely they weren't going to comp all of us? That would have been the grand gesture but I relaized my situation was probably a freak incident and I was willing to cut them some slack. The bill came, and my entree was on the tab. I informed the waiter that perhaps it shouldn't be on it seeing that I was unable to eat it when a live animal stared back at me from my plate. By that point the manager became involved and informed me that I had to pay for it since I had ordered the entree. Surely the staff person had informed him that I had a live cockroach in my shredded lettuce on my plate of nachos! He told me he'd have to go verify the story with the waiter. He came back, the waiter had been cut for the evening, and he begrudgingly said "well I guess I have to believe your story. People are always trying to pull st like this by putting bugs in their food so that we comp everyone's meal." I informed him I was not asking for him to comp everyone's meal but only my entree, and that I usually don't carry live bugs with me. He sighed, grumped, and then obliged.
  

  Chili's at least reinvents their menu with some degree of frequency as does Friday's. In fact, Friday's as a chain has expanded as of late because they keep re-inventing their menu. I used to seldom go to Friday's but their customer service has become top notch (at least at the few I've frequented) and their food actually is good for the price.
  

  So nope, I won't miss Bennigans.
  

  Resquiecant in pace.

  
  
• 4 years, 10 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Mr. Pim Passes By

  Yeah...I have an unhealthy obsession with wigs...I guess 'cause I lived for so many years with a guy who dressed mannequines, and styled wigs for them!!! LOL

  Say hi to the Omega's folks for me! Is my pic still up from my Mexican soap opera days????

  
  
• 4 years, 10 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Dallas gay bar to ban drag queens on "Trashy Tuesday"

  I wonder how they'll handle Halloween?

  
  
• 4 years, 10 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Mayor Leppert's Deep Ellum Town Hall meeting draws crowd, answers prefab questions

  I used to own a business in Deep Ellum in the 90's and through the first part of this decade. I loved the neighborhood. I used to hang out in the early and mid 80's in DE too. Every two years people have cried out "Deep Ellum: is dead. I served as a board president of the DEA about a decade ago. The probelm with DE is multifaceted. Most of the property owners, would look out for themselves first, which is understandable. Because there wasn't one major investing group it was hard to build any sort of consensus and develop the neighbrohood. Also the demographics changed. The biggest culprit in the de-evolution of DE was gross neglect by the city. Ron Kirk payed lip service to the nieghbrohood, Laura Miller ignored it, and their attitudes influenced all aspect of city services, police, zoning, etc.
  

  On an average Saturday night there's be 60K people patronizing the neighbrohood, but we'd get assigned maybe 4 police offciers max. Where else would you have that many people, many of them drinking, and have THAT little coverage? Especially with the number of bars and people drinking? Crime became an issue.
  

  A social trend developed too: people quit supporting small independent businesses. This phenomena has been reported widely in the retail and restaurant industry. Closures of independent retail/restaurants didn't just happen in DE but everywhere in the city, and across the country. This would challenge any neighborhood that was this eclectic.

  Then DART made it's plans...access to the neighbohood would be cut off. Yes, you can get in and out but it's not easy. I knew then that with the neglect of the neighborhood by the city, the neighborhood having a hard time uniting, the trends of consumers, and then the main inflowing and outflowing arteries being cut off or causing major detours, the neighborhood would go into cardiac arrest.
  

  So what now?

  Not much can happen then until DART is finished. Any smart biz owner is going to be hesitant to open a biz if their consumers can't get to it.

  Perhaps one real estate group buying much of the property will make the city take notice, and re-focus their attention to the neighborhood. By the time they redevelop the buildings DART should be done with its messy construction.
  

  There was always fear of one major stake holder in the neighborhood. But most major developers are smart, they realize they must create a destination. Putting another Chili's will not be a draw, but a mix of old and new, independent and corporate might just work. Haight Ashbury in SF is that way, Melrose in LA is that way, The East Village in NYC is that way.
  

  I do think Deep Ellum will survive. But folks, it won't be the same as it was in the 80's. It wasn't the same in the 90's, but it prospered. The 00's have been very rough, but hey, the neighbrohood has been called dead plenty of times...even back in the 50's! But it will change...and I have a feeling it might be for the better...especially for the new youth that will enjoy the 'hood. I may not enjoy it as much -perhaps because I've outgerown it? Hopefully not!

  
  
• 4 years, 11 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Homeland Insecurity: or How I Learned to Love the Patriot Act

  gosh Jason, I guess my postings must be coming across as much more serious then I am intending. I'm actually laughing here while I type! didn't mean to sound so dour!

  
  
• 4 years, 11 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Homeland Insecurity: or How I Learned to Love the Patriot Act

  I know I just said night ya'll but I do need to clarify one thing implied as to why I got a good review from Mr. Soden:

  I did have an artistic relationship with Mr. Soden...Over a year ago he hired me to direct a play of his. He owes me no favors nor do I owe him any favors...

  But if that implies the motive for a good review then in the true interst of disclosure the reviewer should have stated that she's worked for differnt theatres that are in DIRECT competition with my theatre group.

  The theatre world is a bit incestuous. If having a previous association disqualified critics, ther'ed be none in this town!

  
  
• 4 years, 11 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Homeland Insecurity: or How I Learned to Love the Patriot Act

  Yes, Scott, you made my point. Thank you!
  

  You were a teen back then, and I'd venture to guess you were probably living at home for most of the years prior to 9-11. Were you clued into the world and understand it? Yes, but unless you were emancipated at an early age you hadn't lived for YEARS experiencing the freedom of going into concerts without being frisked or wanded, been able to walk into airports without having everything double and triple checked, having to have extensive background checks for passports, or even needing a passport to be able to leave the country, or going into most government building without having to go through metal detectors, or even carrying pliers or a box cutter on a plane. 9-11 happened and so many of our freedoms went away. Yes, you may know about it, and experienced it some, but you did not have a lifetime of experiences in this area to have it abruptly change thanks to the Patriot Act and post 9-11 paranoia. This play is about how even now our freedoms are slowly and methodically being removed right in front of us and no one is questioning it.
  

  And I know you'll hate me for saying this becaue you might perceive it as a personal attack, but it really isn't: The implication in this play by having Corporal Jenkins be young (he's 24 in the play) is that because most young people have not fully experienced the changes they aren't clued into them and the ramifications of ignoring what is happening and they will allow it to continue and grow. By jenkins being young it also implies that young people aren't as tolerant to having an open discussion and take it personally when a contrarian viewpoint is presented. It's not a pleasant message. Debatable? yes. But nonetheless these are some of the points this comedy is making.

  By the way...ANOTHER review came out and it's also a good one....it gave me a chance to send out a funny email press blast:

  "Reviews are in and MOST critics love the show. In the American tradition of government censorship we won’t quote from the single negative review..."

  And we quote the good reviews!

  LOL. So see even a bad review helps! I've barraged and terrorized this page long enough. It's time to put it to bed.

  Night ya'll!

  MB

  
  
• 4 years, 11 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Homeland Insecurity: or How I Learned to Love the Patriot Act

  You make a good point Morrison, perhaps clarification is needed:

  The comment about the younger people is not condescending it's a fact. I've had other young actors who are friends of mine come and tell me that the show itself doesn't seem relevant to them because while they understood it it didn't connect to them because of the enormous shift this country has gone through after the post 9-11 experience, and they too fouind it tedious. They weren't old enough to grasp on a personal level the change. I can tell you I can't relate to the Kennedy assasination in the same way that someone older then me because I didn't experience the shift the country went through after that event. I understand that the people in the country began to truly distrust its government after the way the assasination was handled and thus fueled conspiracy theories that would never have been spoken out loud before that. So a play based on that shift wouldn't hold my interest because I wouldn't relate to it, especially a play where there is a lot of discussion. I too would probably find it boring, just like Homeland Insecurity didn't hold the reviewer (and as we've now discovered other young people's interest).

  We've stated in the publicity that this show isn't really for all. This show is definitely targeted to an older demographic.

  As far as the productions values...curiously enough while she criticized it, other reviewers applaud it....

  ANOTHER glowing review has come out. This reviewer is older (which follows the pattern I mentioned). Check out:

  http://www.edgedallas.com/index.php?c...

  You know, you can't please everyone!
  

  But all this furor over this review is helping ticket sales! So thanks!

  Mark-Brian

  
  
• 4 years, 11 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Homeland Insecurity: or How I Learned to Love the Patriot Act

  Uh oh...so NOW he yawns and the lights come ON, but you said in the review he yawns and the lights turn OFF. Which is it??? HMMM...I guess she must have not really have been paying attention to the play, for the play SKEWERS the media that alters facts to make a point!
  

  Moving on....

  Kay is right, this is not a show for everyone, and people have had extremely opposing reactions to it.
  

  We've noticed a couple of trends because of the nature of the show. This might help you decide if you want to see it or not:
  

  People who are younger tend NOT to enjoy it (under 25); they either aren't able to grasp the concepts or they don't enjoy it because it is a dialogue heavy play, they tend to want more action, and this is definitely a play about ideas. The humor is also very sophisticated in this piece. An example being there's a references and a joke about the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to 9-11, so if you are unfamiliar with the SEC, or you were not yet an adult when 9-11 happened and didn't experience the political landscape shift of the country because you were still a kid or a teen then, you won't get the joke.

  Older people (25 plus, but mostly 30 and up) are thoroughly enjoying it and laughing because they find it intellectually provocative and engenders lots of discussion. It's almost like you have to have had first hand knowledge and experience of the politics in this country pre 9-11 to fully be able to enjoy this satire.

  This said, a few found it so provocative they STORMED out seething in anger from the theatre for they found the play outrageously politically offensive to their sensibilities and shared their beliefs with everyone as they were leaving.

  So there you have it: some find it boring, others find it stimulating, and others react nearly violently to it.

  It's amazing what words can do and how people differ upon hearing the same words. Just look at the two polar opposite reviews.
  

  In my opinion, the fact that people are reacting so strongly to it suggests it's hitting a nerve. We've also now experienced people returning to see it a second time and bringing their friends to see it, and that says more then any good or bad review could ever give us.

  The bottom line is most of the public is loving it. And yes, some like this reviewer hated it.

  And we are cool with it...

  Mark-Brian

  
  
• 4 years, 11 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Homeland Insecurity: or How I Learned to Love the Patriot Act

  I believed your review and that you didn't like the show till I got to the end...then you threw your review out the window by doing a no no on the part of a critic or any kind of reporter: you invitend something that doesn't exist in the show and then negatively criticized it in an attempt to create humor. Reviewing should not be confused with creative writting. LOL

  Yawning sounds?...hmmm...I really don't mind critics bashing but you must tell the truth when you do and you know very well that there are no yawns used as cues...it's just a cheap made up shot. And when you take cheap shots by making up something that isn't in the play then it tends to invalidate the whole review.

  To see other reviews that are very opposing to this be sure to visit the glowing review given to us by the Dallas Voice at www.Dallasvoice.com

  This play isn't for everyone, it isn't a fast paced romp, it's a very intellectual satire.

  Mark-Brian Sonna, Director of Homeland Insecurity.

  
  
• 4 years, 11 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Gilligan’s Island: The Musical

  I want my mug! LOL.
  

  I know I dinged it with some negative comments, but I did have lots of fun which for this kind of show is goal numero 1.

  You know it's good when I bumped into TWO different people who caught it last week were raving about it and they had no clue who I was, nor was I soliciting their input. Both also were newbies to the theatre! That this show has made them want to return to experience theatre is something that amy theatre company should take pride in. I always say we need more converts!

  But the main reason I'm writting in, besides responding to Mr. Rice's comment about the mug he owes me, is....

  Looking back at the review I didn't mention one other important fact: For their high production standards and talent, Rover charges ridiculously little for their seats! Most theatres in town charge in the $20 plus range for seats on the weekend, while they are still in the teens. This makes them quite a value, and comparable to movies in price once you factor in the concessions (they charge $1.50 for candy and or soda, -when's the last time you paid that at the movies, 1977?) I guess I should have mentioned it in the review because families will want to see this show, and the show is priced VERY afforadably to bring the kiddos. And is well enough done that the kiddos will be amused and pee in their pants laughing (hopefully not literally!). This is truly a show that kids will adore, and fortunately, parents will be entertained by it.
  

  Mark-Brian Sonna

  
  
• 4 years, 11 months ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Citizens' vote for new name for Industrial Boulevard a sham

  ...Crack Street, Desolation Boulevard, Street of Broken Dreams, Urine Dallas Way, Churchless Place, Massage Parlor Parkway, Hooker Highway, Calle de Negocios Hispanos Ave...

  
  
• 5 years ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Mr. Pim Passes By

  Wow, I didn't realize they sold that type of wig there, for I see those types at Norcostco and Texas costume. About the wigs: don't get such shiny wigs!!! Nobody's hair shines THAT much. LOL

  
  
• 5 years, 1 month ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Dante: Inferno

  After re-reading and careful analysis I was able to a quote out of this! Thanks for the creative input Mike! Check it out at www.DanteInferno.Net

  Mark-Brian

  
  
• 5 years, 1 month ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Dante: Inferno

  Marie thanks for your input, and your compliments. I'm glad you liked my gassy awards. I tried writting them in the spirit of fun, and I knew all the people named and I knew they could handle the ribbing -even HSM.
  I truly thought it was an overall positive review till the mind blowing comment about the beginning middle and end. It stopped me in my tracks. I mean, if you don't like those parts, what's left? The drive to the theatre? the drive home? How nice the outfit my boxoffice manager wore the day he came to see the play? The intermission? What he had for breakfast? ROFL.

  I'm not the only one who has reacted with shocked laughter. We all in the cast have had a ball over the "lacks a strong beginning middle and end" line Mr. Jones wrote, especially paired up with his later reply. Being goofballs that we are we have grown to cherish this review.

  We have joked about making a tshirt quoting it (with some splicing as Mike suggested): "this production...lacks a strong beginning middle and end...but I did enjoy the performance. - Chad Jones, PegasusNews.com"
  I think Becket or Monty Python would appreciate this. And as I write this I'm still giggling.

  I almost felt like asking, "Considering everything else, how did you enjoy the performance Mrs. Lincoln?"

  Mark-Brian

  
  
• 5 years, 1 month ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Dante: Inferno

  I'm laughing re-reading these threads....Chad, If you enjoyed the performance I wish you had mentioned more clearly in the review! I know you give us some compliments, and I thought the review was a mixed bag till you mention the play lacking a "strong beginning middle and end". So what whats left?! LOL

  But thank you for clarifying and thanks for the laugh. And I'm not being sarcastic, I'm being genuine.

  I was trying to see if there was something good in your review to quote from for our website but not a single sentence worked, thats when I realized you attached a caveat to every positive comment. And that sentence I keep quoting from you gives me the gigggles every time I think of it.
  

  I'm glad you enjoyed the play after all. And thank you for responding and being a good sport.
  

  Jason, you have been a champion of mine, and I appreciate your kind words. For those of you unfamiliar with our "relationship": while we work together in the same field as artists, he is one of the people I know who can be brutally honest and tell me "that doesn't work," or more succinctly, "that stinks".

  I know being a critic what it's like getting razzed by people who write in. But I also realize (and this is a self critique since I double up as a critic so it's not aimed at you), the main purpose of a theatre group be it mine or Dallas Theatre Center or Theatre Three, etc is to please their patrons and their respective audience, not the critics. I'm very blessed by having very educated, open minded audiences that love being challenged, and in return challenge me to provide them with the entertainment they crave.
  

  I do love the fact that Pegasus News allows these threads and commentaries, it makes the website so much more fun to read!

  Cheers to PegasusNews.com!

  And thank you again, Chad, for coming to review the play. Even though I can't quote you! ;-)

  Mark-Brian

  
  
• 5 years, 1 month ago
  Stuffguys's comment on:

  Theater Review: Dante: Inferno

  Wow, I'm floored.

  He's really didn't like the play...Especially seeing that I have a bunch of people coming back to see the show and bringing others with them for the second time. "It lacked a strong beginning, middle, and end"???? WOW!
  

  Maybe the clue in his review and his bias is in the fact he admits he was "forced" to read the book, that indicates he doesn't care for the original material, so presenting it on stage as written would be troublesome.
  

  But HOW he could loose attention span during it is beyond me. I hate to say it, because I don't want to give away some of the effects we create on stage, but this is not a show you lose attention with the action hurtling at you 100 mph. I can't imagine what would we have to do on stage to keep his attention beyond people suspended in the air, blood erupting, rivers of fire, headless bodies talking, and other acrobatics never seen on a stage of this size in Dallas. This production has been called by others as "monumental" and another critic called us a "triumph in theatrical imagination." Talk about diverging opinions!

  Oh well,the fact is we are extending the run because audiences are LOVING it and referring everyone to us. And honestly, the show is done for the audience's enjoyment and not for the critics.

  LOL

  Mark-Brian Sonna, Director and Choreographer for "Dante: Inferno."

  
  

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