Smash: The Cost of Art

Ivy is turning into a diva now that she has the part of Marilyn.

In the first rehearsals for the workshop Ivy is upset that no one told her Karen would be in the ensemble. She complains that Karen is singing too loud and dancing too big, so she gets Karen kicked out of a bunch of numbers. Her goal, I'm sure is to get her kicked out of the entire workshop. I'm surprised she has so much power over Derek and Tom. It's not like she's a big name star they could lose if she doesn't get what she wants. I mean, who's in charge here? Seems like it's Ivy.

So, anyone who's done any Broadway shows help me out here. How many actors audition for a leading role (trying to get out of the chorus), and they are cast in the chorus because they'll take any role? I've only done community and semi-professional theatre, and it happens all the time. I'm just surprised that Ivy would be shocked that Karen was cast in the ensemble. A job is a job.

This show is getting so heavy handed in telling us who we should like and who we shouldn't. It's so blatant how horribly Ivy is treating Karen. And then she gets Tom into her "hate Karen-fest." There is no subtlety. I don't want to dislike Tom. I like Tom.

Julia is trying to avoid Michael, and he is not trying to avoid her. We know where this is going to lead. I don't want her to hurt her husband, Frank. I like him. Look how we get so involved in the fictional characters on shows we like.

Karen is so upset about being kicked out of the numbers that she sounds off to one of the ensemble, Jessica, who is a good friend of Ivy's. Karen tells her she should be helping her. So Jessica does help her, along with two other members of the ensemble, Bobby and Sue. They give her a "chorus makeover." It's nice that Karen is finally making friends after everyone treated her like crap at the first rehearsal.

Derek is throwing a birthday party for Lyle West (Nick Jonas), a famous young TV star who was in a show Derek directed many years before. Tom is upset that Derek is telling people he discovered Lyle, because Tom says he discovered him. I'm not really familiar with Nick Jonas, but I think he actually has a nice voice.

Eileen is still trying to get the two hundred thousand dollars together she needs for the workshop, and tries to sell a Degas Jerry gave her. But she finds out that because the bill of sale is in Jerry's name, she can't sell it to an art dealer or auction it off. Julia tells Eileen that she should go to Derek's party for Lyle, and she mentions that he is a millionaire. Light bulb! Eileen goes to the party and brings the Degas along with her. You never know when someone would want to buy a Degas.

Nick is interested in putting money in the show, but he wants to see a number from the show first. Ivy sings "I Never Met a Wolf Who Didn't Love to Howl." She has her impromptu chorus: Julia, Michael, Ellis, and a couple of servers. In true musical theatre fashion, they all know the words and dance steps. Lyle even joins in. A Degas is sold, and Eileen gets her money.

Karen's new friends teach her how to blend in with the rest of the chorus, and they all go to a bar so she can practice in front of an audience. In the middle of the song Karen has her own diva moment when she breaks away from the chorus. We have to be reminded that Karen is really a star too, and she will probably get her chance to be in the starring role.

Observations:

Eileen has a poster of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying with Daniel Radcliffe.

I want to eat where Tom and Ivy had lunch, right in the middle of Time Square.

Derek and Tom used to be best friends. When are we going to learn this story?

Quotes:

Julia: First days, I love first days.

Julia: Drop it, drop it, drop it.

Eileen: I know about his family and their stupid money.

Derek: The road to Broadway is exceedingly long.

Derek: Nobody's anybody until we start rehearsing.

Karen: I'm an actress, I'm not supposed to keep my head down, I'm supposed to play to the balcony.

Lyle: Only $200,000?
Eileen: For those of us not in syndication, it's quite a lot.

Derek: There's nothing safe about being a star.