I Promise(s Promises) that Ramin Setoodeh is Wrong

Much as been said about Sean Hayes' performance in Promises, Promises and the subsequent Newsweek article panning his performance because of his out sexuality. Forgive my tardiness on the subject, but I didn't feel it was safe to destroy Ramin Setoodeh's argument in the article "Straight Jacket" until I'd seen the show myself. And now I can!



While in New York (full blog coming soon) Mikey and I got a chance to grab tickets to aforementioned musical. Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth in the musical version of The Apartment? Sure!

I'll divert the subject for a moment to commend Kristin Chenoweth's powerhouse performance. Girl is incredible. She has so much power and such stage presence that it is impossible to take your eyes off of her.



Thought I stopped talking about the article? Think again. It is because of her power (not Hayes' sexuality) that the two don't have the chemistry they should. I honestly think this is neither of their faults, its just that Kristin Chenoweth needs to be put against other powerhouse belters (Idina Menzel, perhaps). Notice that Setoodeh left of Hayes chemistry with Marge (Tony Award winning Katie Finneran), instead criticizing her "drunkness". The two were spot on because they were on equal playing ground. Putting Hayes in a musical with Chenoweth and expecting him (and not just him-nearly anyone!) to be at her level is tough. She's too good to a fault.



But Chenoweth is not the only reason Setoodeh was wrong. He says Hayes isn't a leading man. Of course he's not! The character is a giant goof. He's silly. He's slapstick. We're not talking about your hyper-sexualized Danny Zuko here- this is Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors territory. This character doesn't have super manly traits. That's not Hayes fault.



And you! Audience member sitting in Promises, Promises, stop bringing Jack to the performance! Hayes isn't. It's got to be on close minded audience members who can't shake his previous work. I wasn't staring at Chenoweth and seeing April Roades. Unfortunately after successful TV shows, you can get stuck in a character. This is the audience's fault for bringing it with them- not your own.

So, bravo Sean Hayes and suck it Setoodeh.