I thank Mr. Green for his very off the mark review. I read it before seeing the show and went in expecting the worst. What I saw and heard was much better than what I was warned to expect in Mr. Green’s merciless trashing of the show.
I’m not suggesting that Mr. Felder’s Berlin was an award-worthy acting performance, but it certainly wasn’t as awful, uninformed, or lacking in entertainment value as Mr. Green’s scathing review deemed it.
It seems somewhat irresponsible to report so inaccurately. I went in expecting a full show narrated by an old embittered Berlin. I was told that the audience would receive no more biographical information about the composer than what’s available on Wikipedia. Neither statement was true.
Mr. Green’s negative animus towards the show seemed based upon something beyond the show’s merits or lack thereof. I don’t think I will trust his reviews of future shows.
6
It's possible Mr. Green may find everything about a show distasteful, but using inaccurate, exaggerated statements to support his opinion is simply unprofessional. His review makes no attempt whatsoever to identify the artist's intentions in the work or to measure how well the artist succeeded in that pursuit. It merely delves out negativity in churlish fashion, frequently distorting or disregarding what’s taking place on stage.
The level of vitriol is so wantonly disproportionate that one has to ask why? Irrespective of whether he liked the show or not, much of what is described in the review, is simply not what happens on stage.
In a recent Times’ article moderated by Editor, Scott Heller, Mr. Green was clear about his distaste, bordering on hatred for bio-musicals, and it’s apparent that he is incapable of putting aside those preconceptions and impatience with the genre. That said, why would Scott Heller assign the review of a Hershey Felder show to someone who admittedly hates the genre?
If Mr. Green is going to hold his subject up to such extreme levels of scrutiny, demanding excellence in every aspect of a production, it is reasonable for the artist to expect the same level of professionalism from the critic.
Whatever antipathy Mr. Green holds for this genre, whatever personal hostility he holds towards Mr. Felder, this malicious attack does a disservice to readers. Speak your mind, but be honest. The artists deserve at least that much.
4
I saw the production and didn't find it especially enjoyable. But I am appalled at Green's nastiness and expressed anger. He seems to make a concerted effort to find words that are as excoriating as possible. This nasty spirit is more and more prevalent in public discourse these days. Where is courtesy and balance. Green reminds me of Brett Kavanagh.
I'm adding my voice to the supporters of Mr. Felder and this show. I thoroughly enjoyed his creation and performance, as did the rest of the audience. As a former theatre professional, I am appalled at this vitriolic review that veered into a personal attack on the performer. The review will deprive many New Yorkers of the pleasure in attending this entertaining, moving and well-constructed portrayal of the life and contributions of Irving Berlin to our cultural history. And I admire Mr. Felder for his grace in responding to this undeserved and unprofessional review.
11
I don’t know what show Jesse Green saw but it most assuredly was not the one thoroughly enjoyed by my wife, my friend and me. Felder does a wonderful job in channeling a loving husband and father, a patriotic, proud American and one of the world’s greatest songwriters. Felder’s Berlin is just what one would want to present a history of 20th century Tin Pan Alley and entertain the audience along the way. Green must have had either indigestion or some unexplained grievance with Felder. The review is inaccurate and unfair. See the show. Decide for yourself.
8
enjoyable. audience participation, nice songs and music what's not to like?
8
Just enjoyed and was moved by this wonderful show.
Mr. Green has an ax to grind. His review was nothing and was so off the mark. He went after the performer with cruelness as his agenda. Will be hard for me to take Mr. Green serious in future. Maybe NYT needs to find a less mean replacement.
Anyone who likes Irving Berlin's music will love the show and the one man two hour performance.
9
@L. Clements - For many years, I’ve followed all the New York reviews in the main papers and a lot of the reviews of shows outside New York. For all of the theater critics here at the Times now, in terms of getting really "mean," nothing compares to some of the darnedest stuff that came from Walter Kerr when he had a bad time at the theatre. And Walter Kerr has a Broadway theatre named after him!
That said, I really loved Mr. Felder's Bernstein show. And whatever the reason, seeing him here in the comment area is exciting, in the New York way of spotting performers in a restaurant and wondering whether it's "cool" to say hi.
2
For the many readers and audience members throughout the country who don't know me personally but have contacted me in various forms since this review emerged, please know that I support everyone's right to an opinion, whatever it may be. The freedom of the press is extremely important and it is always interesting to read what professionals and audience members have to say. Thank you.
10
Kudos to you Mr. Felder for trying to be socially conscious, but really, this "Green" (to say the least) review does not resemble in any way what I saw at the La Jolla Playhouse several years ago. What a lack of understanding of both intent and execution. My how the mighty NYT has fallen. Shame.
4
@Hersh Felder myself and two theater companions love your performance and show.
7
@Hersh Felder....we just saw the show and loved every minute. want you to know this. highlight of our ny trip.
I saw the show at the Berkeley Rep last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. So did my Mother.
This nasty review misses the heart of the play.
5
It played in Seattle. I enjoyed it. It was a coming-out for the Jewish community here (moderate sized) and IB's music is still pretty amazing.
We take whatever Jewish culture we can get here. Fiddler on the Roof always sells out if one of the biggie performance venues hosts the traveling show (last time Fierstein played Tevye and everyone loved it).
3
Here in NYC, where we consider ourselves the epicenter of American Jewish culture (whether or not that is actually true), I also loved Fierstein as Tevye...
1
A scathing review. I was planning on seeing the show in early October. Ordinary people seem to like the performance. Who do I listen to? A tough call.
@Milton Lewis The show is terrific; the review is way off base. Don't hesitate to see the show.
4
@Milton Lewis. I guess it all depends on how "ordinary" you feel. (We loved it.)
2
Saw this at Portland Center Stage and this review is spot on.
2
I too saw this at Portland Centre Stage with a fully sold out audience in a sold out run for what was apparently the biggest success Portland Stage has had. It was difficult for me to get tickets for my family next to one another. I also visited Portland Stage's Facebook to see if other audience members agreed with you, and the love for this production was overwhelming by many patrons who adored it. More relevant however is that this review could not possibly be "spot on," because it is replete with misrepresentations. The production I saw never had anyone "shrieking," it did however warmly invite audience members "into the home" to share stories, didn't discuss the "pain" behind all of the melodies, but the context of their composition (some being extremely funny), was not sour or cynical, rather the opposite in that it explained very clearly why Irving Berlin became a recluse in his old age (after 90 minutes of laughter and tears), and "Ethel Merman" had the entire audience laughing and applauding in admiration not only after the imitation, but during it! Above all, this was an American story about an immigrant - who made his way in America and actually gave us our folk songs. Very strange how none of that important aspect of the piece is mentioned in this review, but it was in all the Portland reviews, (all favorable) and also in general audience responses that I saw on facebook. Sorry but you here are an outlier just as I suppose this nonsensical review is in New York.
6
I saw his Leonard Bernstein show and basically thought it was awful, even though most of the crowd loved it. He went for the cheap shot over and over again. It was torture.
1
Jesse,
I don't know you but ... I love you. So far you are 3 for 3 in sharing 'totally' my opinion about these shows: Margaritaville, Summer and Hershey Felder (I saw a version of this or maybe about a different songwriter in SD).
They are not bad people and the shows are not harmful but they are just not good.
You are doing your job. And, doing it well. Thank you.
1
Living in San Diego myself, and having actually seen this particular piece about Irving Berlin at the La Jolla playhouse, and well, overstating the obvious - how can this bizarre and irresponsible review (others here mention the false reportage) align with your own if you don't remember what show you actually saw, if it was this one at all, or some early version, or some other person entirely? Now people align with "mean, nasty" and as described above even unfounded without even knowing what they are aligning with. Completely nuts.
6
Thoroughly enjoyed this show when it was performed in Seattle. Green's review does not describe the show I saw.
8
This is such a weirdly hostile review. It's odd enough that Mr. Green complains that there is too much music and biography in this musical biography, but, in his effort to convince us that the show is completely worthless, he makes factual errors about it. Mr. Felder doesn't maintain that Irving Berlin was embittered "all his life," just at the end. And the songwriter's attitude towards those carolers is not so black and white. Yes, the 100-year-old Berlin complains about them, but the whole frame of the show is that the younger Irving Berlin invites the carolers into his home to chat with them. We the audience are those carolers as he tells us his life story.
9
I saw this show a few weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed it as did the sold out crowd who sang along. Jesse Green's review is simply mean-spirited and nasty. Too many snippets of Irving Berlin's songs? Really? For me, the show also had the flavor of the Borscht Belt from long ago, something I expect Green never experienced. Don't let this nasty review put you off. Go.
14
I have not seen this show, but I have attended two of Mr. Felder's similar shows in LA. This review is harsh and certainly does not reflect my opinion. (I am a professional musician.) I found the shows refreshing and really enjoyed Mr. Felder's interaction with the audience.
9
Seconding others' observations... I'm sure the full house on its feet with me last night on East 59th Street must be stunned this morning by this dyspeptic review.
It so reminds me of another Times critic's dismissal of the fabulous Berlin vehicle "Top Hat" in London a few years back, a review that concluded, "Obviously, I do not have a theater producer’s instincts for the public’s taste, since the matinee I saw was chock-full." Perhaps so, and perhaps we need more reviewers with the base taste of us commoners. I suspect Mr. Berlin would have agreed.
10
Many of the (mostly) men responsible for the American Song Book had the misfortune of being in their 60's or 70's when rock became ascendant. They had to spend their later years in a rather sudden obscurity after incredibly productive careers lasting decades. Their world wiped away, it must have been heartbreaking. Berlin's misfortunes were multiplied that much more by the number of years he continued to live, known only by a couple of songs at best, after composing over a thousand. Ultimately, according to his biography, this became self-defeating as he so jealously guarded his legacy that even fewer people were exposed; he even refused Steven Spielberg's request to use a tune!
One benefit of YouTube is the pure number of recordings from the first half of the 20th century, many of incredibly high fidelity. Occasionally, young commenters say they were brought there by the often extremely eclectic soundtracks to video games and are quite enthusiastic - and amazed - by what they heard, so there is yet hope!
5
Interesting take. But this show was completely sold out to an enrapt audience when I saw it last week. Not Mr. Green's taste but clearly thousands of New Yorkers, like me, enjoyed this lovely romp down memory lane.
Most of the audience was, as I like to say, younger than Mick Jagger, but they reveled in being brought back to the music of their grandparents.
Well done, Mr Feilder.
13
@David B NYC
Mick Jagger is 75 years old...
Well, I guess Mr. Green didn't like the show. I saw this show here in Chicago and, like the other biographical productions Mr. Felder has presented, found it to be musical, educational and entertaining. Must be something about our lack of sophistication here in the midwest. Mr. Green complains about too much music and too much talking, although what he expects from a one-person show about a musician I don't know. Still, he's entitled to his opinion. For a different one, I suggest checking out Chris Jones' review in the Chicago Tribune, November 4, 2015.
11
Why do producers keep giving Felder a stage (and money) to produce these ego driven/no talent pieces of drivel? Go on you tube if you don't believe me (my mouth was on the floor when I saw how bad he is). Ok he can play the piano pretty well, but THAT'S IT. All the rest is so cringeworthy you may have to avert your eyes. They should give someone with actual talent the money to produce something with substance about our great composers and let Felder play in the pit.
3
And I paid lots of money to see the acclaimed Book of Mormon which, after many years of Broadway shows, I found derivative and boring. That’s why the great variation of theatre production is such a virtue! Now if it only wasn’t so darn expensive!
yes, do go to youtube. I insist. I discovered Mr. Felder's work in San Diego at the Old Globe many years ago and have seen 6 of his n9 pieces. He is a national figure. and respected as such. YouTube will easily prove that this commenter above has some kind of unusual personal bone to pick. Further, how does one make judgement on an entire body of work based on snippets of less than 3 minutes, along with what appears to having not seen any of the pieces live? Having looked for them on film, there are no complete versions of any of them. I am an unabashed fan, but also a professional musician who is studied in the actual biographies of these characters. Mr. Felder brings them to us with extreme craft and intelligence.
4
One would think that producers and theatres produce these events because they fill theatres with intelligent well spoken individuals (look above ) and I suppose, a side result is that those filled theatres produce a huge amount of money for these theatres. What is curious however is like the other who comments here, you are judging any of this on a few youtube clips that are barely two minutes long and mostly edited bits here and tehre - you tube clips of theatre pieces? Really? Which producers have turned down your work to yield such strange commentary?
1
Reading this about Irving Berlin’s longevity, and also about Dame Olivia de Havilland starting a potentially-landmark lawsuit at 101 (she’s now 102), makes me wonder. Is it having fight in you that keeps people going, or just having any projects you really want to see get where they’re going, whichever way they end?
There’s also Herman Wouk, who at 102 was pushing his new book, and is still going at 103. But he co-wrote a musical with Jimmy Buffett when he was 82, which I think would extend anyone’s life, hit or not (barring illness of course.)