LEAP OF FAITH to Close on Broadway Sunday, May 13

[SHER12]

Hyperbole - you might be sad about the show closing, but you certainly show no class speaking of someone as talented and amazing as Raul like you have. It only shows your envy at not being able to approach his achievements even in your dreams. Let's keep it professional, so LOF closes there will be other shows in the future. Not that many actors get nominated for every role they do on B'way. there is a reason.

[newintown]

SHER, I know you're new here, and probably quite young, but you'll find as you read on (if you read on), that one can have a lot of class and still loath Esparza (or The Cuban Goat, a name I've never heard, but adore).

There's no need for you to appoint yourself the Goat's Defender. If you disagree, say so. But calling someone else's class into question - well, that's just tacky.

[SHER12]

well, newintown since you seem to agree with Hyperbole, here's my answer. Yes, I'm new to the board as a participant, though not as young as you think. Class is in question because no one that has it insults a fellow actor by calling him names, which is something this board seems to enjoy. No, I don't agree with the post. Anyone is entitled to loath anybody they choose but by calling Mr. E a 'Cuban Goat' he showed no class. Does he have anything against cubans? Again, Mr. Esparza is a triple-threat if there ever was one and he has shown it again and again. He has a right to be proud. I am not anyone's defender as you say, I just simply am tired of people of this board to bad mouth someone whom they don't even know just because he has the talent Mr. E does.

[dramamama611]

Envy? Why does it have to be ENVY? I can dislike someone and not envy them at all. They don't go hand in hand.

Not everyone will agree with your assessment of his talents. That doesn't make them wrong. It's called an opinion.

I loved Raul in Speed the Plow. He has not managed to wow me in anything else. How am I wrong? (And note, I'm not telling you that you are wrong.)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Look up triple-threat before you use it.

[newintown]

SHER, my wee tot, if you're going to use horrid sentences like "I just simply am tired of people of this board to bad mouth someone whom they don't even know just because he has the talent Mr. E does," you're going to lose any cred you might be trying to accrue...

[tazber]

I just asked this board if it enjoyed insulting actors and it didn't even have the class to reply. (I think it might be inanimate).

Also, nothing against you SHER, in fact welcome to the boards (sincerely), but saying this:

It only shows your envy at not being able to approach his achievements even in your dreams.

followed directly by this:

Let's keep it professional

is a bit contradictory, no?

[Broadway Joe]

I saw the show last night. I fully admit I'm not as critical as most around here but I enjoyed the show and thought it was fun.

Raul totally reminded me of Joel Osteen(that preacher from Texas who is on tv) lol

[Rainbowhigh23]

Glad I got to see this show. It was totally fun. I felt for the people who were really having a good time and weren't comped. It was a good idea that didn't have time to be realized right.

[bwaylvsong]

I was also there last night and really, really liked it! Sure, the story was predictable and the music not particularly catchy (but still good), but the cast was so committed it didn't matter.

[Mister Matt]

"You're just jealous!" is never a good defense. Ever. There are times when it may be true, but it just smacks of smug immaturity. It's very hard to take anyone seriously who accuses anyone of jealousy or envy as the sole reason for not liking a performer. There's nothing classy about that, either.

[EatTheBrownie]

"Again, Mr. Esparza is a triple-threat if there ever was one and he has shown it again and again."

A lot of people don't think he can act, are annoyed by the vibrato-filled wailing he calls singing, and don't find his lifeless "deadpan" way of delivering every comedic line of a script funny. I giggled when Brantley called him a second-rate Tina Turner impersonator... BECAUSE IT'S TRUE!

There is nothing sexual, awe-inspiring, or praise-worthy about what he passes for singing high notes on a Broadway stage. They're loud. That's about it.

[Arthur Mervyn]

As bad as Esparza may be in Leap of Faith, he couldn't possibly be as tiresome or offensive as the two or three posters who spew derogatory and homophobic bile about him in thread after thread.

[EatTheBrownie]

Maybe he shouldn't have lied to that woman he called a "wife" for 10 years while he knew he was a homo. Just an idea.

[Arthur Mervyn]

"Homo?" Nice choice of words there.

If you're not gay, you have issues. If you are gay, you still have issues. He is nothing more than an actor - certainly nothing to get so worked up about over the course of dozens of rabid posts spread over several weeks. You appear to be obsessed with the ethics of a person you will never know on a personal level - and one who has little to no effect on your life. It's tedious to wade through these silly rants.

You've said some intelligent things on other threads(about Into the Woods, for example) and I don't see the merit in continuing the Raul Esparza bashing. It just reads as a juvenile bid for attention. And that goes for similar attacks on any actor, director or writer. Criticize their acting choices - but leave the sexual and racial politics - and discussions about lack of masculinity - out of it.

[SHER12]

Amen to your comment Arthur Mervyn. In answer to a previous comment, i do know what a triple threat is and Mr. E. has proven himself to be one - in more than one language by the way. How many of us can say that?
Someone may not like his vibrato or acting style but to those who know the business and have given him all the nominations, including for Leap of Faith, he certainly has shown his talent. Attacking any actor on a personal level on whether he is gay, cuban or whatever does show a lack of maturity. Also, how do we know he has lied to 'that woman whom he calls a wife'? Maybe love has a lot to do with their life, we don't know their private life and we should not offer an opinion about it.

[CurtainPullDowner]

A "triple threat" is one who excells at Acting, Singing and Dancing. The Raul does two of those things (excell is a matter of taste) but I'm not sure which of his talents is more threatening.

[uncageg]

He did a very nice job in the dancing department in Leap of Faith. We had no clue he could move like that.

[GatorNY]

I finally saw GHOST tonight and I enjoyed LEAP OF FAITH much more than I did GHOST. I think Bonnie and Clyde was better than both however.

[FindingNamo]

My god, I so easily surpass Raul's achievements in my dreams.

[GatorNY]

Raul has not appeared in my dreams as of yet, but there is always tonight.

[dramamama611]

BTW, Sher, Raul did not get a nomination for Leap of Faith. He didn't deserve one. He is unlikable in a character that needs to be liked.

[GatorNY]

I thought he was VERY likable. That's only MY opinion though.

[Ejm105989]

I mean, I liked him.

[dramamama611]

(Of course, my comment was based on my opinion as well.)

[GatorNY]

I wish I had tried to go to the show today. I need to see something that I enjoy after being so disappointed in GHOST last night. We opted to take naps; only one of us is overly enthusiastic about theater.