Fosse

Rating:
Summary: There's No There There...
Review: For Fosse fans and Dance fans, this is a real dissapointment. Obviously fans will get it because it's all we can get. In truth it is NOT, repeat NOT a recording of the 1999 Broadway dance-muscial, Fosse. It is sections from a much later series of performances designed to accomodate a wonderful, if aging Ben Vereen. Neither Reinking, who barely dances in this (except for her only recorded version of Big Spender and the wonderful Cool Hand Luke) or Vereen were even IN the original. If you liked the original, what made if work were the sheer number of Fosse pieces and Reinking's crisp, As Fosse As Fosse Can Get choreography. By this date, the dancers are well aware of their status as fill ins in a the third or fourth rung cast and back up to two stars who have been brought in to boost theatre sales. Few of the young stars of the original cast are here. Their replacements try hard and are talented for sure, but it's just not here. This is something they threw together entirely to honor Vereen, who, lets face it, needs some honoring and clearly Reinking stood in the back to honor her friend. He is wonderful. And his performance is worth seeing - but this should be retitled "Ben Vereen's Fosse." Hopefully someday the tapes of the original production with the cast that is on the soundtrack will surface. In the meanwhile, true diehards have to go back to the footage from the films, Pajama Game, (steam heat) Sweet Charity, (Big Spender, Rich Mans Frug) Kiss Me Kate, The Little Prince, All That Jazz and listen to the soundtrack, to get the idea.

Rating:
Summary: Fosse
Review: Fosse is a truely magical musical revue highlighting all our Bob Fosse favorites from Damn Yankees in the 50s through Big Deal in the 80s. Ben Vareen leads and all star cast of Broadway veterans like Dana Moore, as well as new talent like Meg Gillentine and Rachelle Rak. The dancing is of course phenominal with Ken Alan and Edward Liang leading an all-star cast of dancers. Fosse godess Ann Reinking's re-creation of Fosse's original choregraphy captures that sense of vibration and sensuality so important to his shows. My only complaints: 1. During some spots, the dancing isn't sharp and crisp and the movement isn't together. 2. Ann Reinking should sing and dance more. Some memorable numbers include Steam Heat, I Gotcha, Big Spender, Mr. Bojangles, Mein Herr, Cool Hand Luke, Nowadays, Rich Man's Frug, and Sing, Sing, Sing.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing.
Review: Having seen the show 3 times (once in Boston before it hit Broadway and twice on the Great White Way) I was looking forward to PBS's production. I was greatly disappointed.

I agree with so many of the people here who commented on how the choreography was not executed with the precision and poise necessary to Fosse's work. The spark and energy seem to be missing from many of the numbers. Ben Vereen also makes it a different show. On Broadway it was truly an ensemble piece. Putting one large personality into the mix really changes the flavor of the whole piece.

I can empathize with those who cherish this as the only version of the show on record, but it's somewhat of a shame not to see the real thing.

Rating:
Summary: I wanna be a dancin man...
Review: I am completely appalled and angered by the previous review. Obviously this person understands little about the theater and should not be misleading those who do and have not seen this great film yet. Ben Vereen and Ann Reinking are THE original Fosse stars--they could come on for two seconds and wave for all I could care. They will always have that star aura and power about them, and they deserve credit for still getting up and dancing after so many years. I will admit Ann did only come on for a few performances, but she was not there to be the star of the show. I think her being in those few numbers was so she could dance them one last time--its time for her to pass on her knowledge to the next generation.
The costuming is authentic to the original shows/ movies and they capture the way Fosse wanted his girls : legs that went on for days. Granted Fosse's method's probably wouldn't have worked nowadays, but this show isn't about now: it is a showcase about the era when all of this was possible,and the man who took dance to a new level. Whoever wrote the previous review needs to take Bob's advice : "Life is just a bowl of cherries". Sometimes you need to enjoy "art for art's sake" and stop evaluating dance like you would with anything else.
All the numbers seem to brought to life again for the first time, including ones that can not be seen in his movie musicals. I once heard that Fosse claimed to have only used 10 steps in all his choreography and its interesting in the string of dances to see the similarities. Personally my favorites are "Steam Heat" from the Pajama Game and "The Rich Man's Frug" from Sweet Charity. The frug is especially well done and it is an exact replica of the movie, except of course Ben Vereen doing his little split and "oh yeah" like in the movie. I think it would have been a little bit much to ask him to try to do it again.
I highly recommend buying this performance, but please: before you knock it get some background of Fosse's work if you didnt like this performance. Sweet Charity, Pippin, and Cabaret are good movies to start with, and they capture the true heart of the world of Fosse. Hey but what do I know? I'm only a sixteen year old....

Rating:
Summary: Thank you Anne Reinking
Review: I have been having a wonderful time with the DVD version of Fosse. I saw it performed on Broadway, and enjoyed it greatly, but I love the DVD version even more. Seeing the entire production from beginning to end can be a little overwhelming. It's like overdosing on Fosse. When you see a play he choreographed, like Chicago, or Pippin, then you have those amazing dance numbers intersperced inside the book and songs. In the theater, an evening of all-Fosse-dance-numbers was like being a child at loose in a candystore. It's all delicious, but you end up with a stomach ache. On DVD you get to select the dances you want to see, and watch however much you want at a time, and it is absolutely wonderful. I never watch the whole thing, but there are sections I watched every morning upon awakening to give me a push to get on with the day. For this reason definitely buy the DVD version and not the VHS version. Also, in order to have it preserve itself for a long while. You'll want to watch this in another 50 years or pass it down to your children. I think that the camera was beautifully directed to really gives you a feeling of each number, and the dancers are absolutely superb. Ben Vereen is getting old and can't dance the way he used to, but it's a delight to have him around anyway, and thrilling to hear him sing again. The young dancers are astonishingly good. If you want to know what is amazing about Broadway dance, then buy this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: FLAWLESS FOSSE FOREVER:)
Review: I HAVE HAD THE LUXURY OF SEEING "FOSSE" ON BROADWAY ABOUT THREE TIMES AND ITS JUST A FOSSE THING---EITHER YOU "GET THE CHOREOGRAPHY" OR YOU DONT RECOGNIZE THAT "UNIQUE" FOSSE ALL THE WAY.
IF YOU ARE FUELED BY FOSSE AS I HAVE BEEN MAY I SUGGEST:

"ALL THAT JAZZ" MOVIE DVD ABOUT FOSSE'S LIFE.

"A CHORUS LINE" MOVIE DVD ABOUT FOSSE'S SUCCESS ON BROADWAY AND THEN THE SUBSEQUENT MOVIE.

"CHICAGO" WHICH I HAVE ALSO SEEN THREE TIMES ON BROADWAY AND NOW THE MOVIE DVD.

FOSSE FAN, OUT IN TINY WHEATLAND WYOMING:)

Rating:
Summary: Fosse
Review: I love musicals and this one was exceptional! I felt I was in the audience watching and listening to the dancing and musical arragements. This is a favorite and I recommend it to one and all!

Rating:
Summary: Fosse - What a Shame
Review: I purchased this DVD for my wife who loves dancing and theater. We had seen this production on Broadway and I was not impressed with it in person. This taped production has done nothing to change my mind.

Bob Fosse was a masterful director and choreographer. With such hits as Pippin, Chicago, Damn Yankees and How to Succeed, he had made a name for himself as a man with a different point of view to dance and theater. His work was new and exciting and often provocative and one would think that a show that showcases his work would be an incredible evening of theater. Unfortunately, more Fosse does not an evening of good theater make.

One of the first questions one must ask is why add Ben Vereen and Ann Reinking to the cast? While both performers are an important part of Fosse history, as they push into their 50's the movement required to perform Fosse's crisp dances is missing. And their time on stage (especially Reinking) is minimal. It is also strange that several of the dances that these 2 performers created are peformed here by other dancers. Didn't Reinking JUST star in Chicago a few years back? Then why isnt she perfoming Nowadays here? You want to see Ben Vereen perform the Manson Trip Dance from Pippin? Buy the Pippin DVD where is he is top form. His performance in Fosse is disappointing that borders on embarassing at times. Such a shame for such an incredible performer.

The dancers are uniformly good but some of the dancing seemed sloppy at times. Some of choices of songs performed are interesting and at other times strange. For instance...Glory is performed from Pippin, but not Magic To Do which was a fantastic opening for that show. A highlight of the show is "Hey Big Spender" from Sweet Charity and several numbers from Dancing. This producation was taped just prior to the closing of the Broadway production and the sound and picture quality is good, although there are sometimes too many close ups and quick cuts to get a full sense of what it happening on stage.

The point of Fosse is to highlight the career of a wonderful showman. Unfortunately this production is passionless, which is a disappointing legacy for such a passionate man like Bob Fosse.

Rating:
Summary: The Yanks does it better.
Review: I saw the London's show but the cast of this US production is way better.Apart from the cast, special praise to the director, Editor, Camera man who captured the show so brillantly at different angles. Just watch the number ' I wanna Be A Dancin' Man' and you will know what I mean.

I am sure Ms Gwen Verdon will be so proud about this production. What a way to show what a great talent Fosse is.

Rating:
Summary: The Yanks does it better.
Review: I saw the London's show but the cast of this US production is way better.I am sure Ms Gwen Verdon will be so proud about this production. What a way to show what a talent Fosse is.