Thursday, January 10, 2008
Broadway Child Molester Update
After reading about Broadway child molester James Barbour last week I thought justice would be done and that he would never get to work again on Broadway. Not only isn't that true, but in his latest production they are going to alter the timetable so that Barbour can play the lead.
The NY Post ran an interview yesterday with Ron Sharpe who is the producer of James Barbour's new play Tale of Two Cities. Producer Ron Sharpe says the $12 million "A Tale of Two Cities" would "absolutely" open on Broadway with Barbour as Sydney Carton, a dissolute British lawyer who winds up rescuing a French aristocrat from the guillotine.
Jay Handelman, the influential critic for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, thinks Barbour is so good, he elevates the material. "If they took him out of it, I don't know how it would be," the critic says. "No one in the show is up to his level."
Last week in my post, I said that Barbour groped the 15 year old girl at his apartment after first groping her backstage after a performance. It turns out that groping was not the only thing done at Barbour's apartment. He also admitted to having oral sex with the girl, even though, he said, "I knew she was 15."
So, let's give the guy an opportunity to take advantage of the new teenage cast members on the show. What makes this even more disgusting is that Ron Sharpe has his own website, and on his website he refers to his daughter as his finest production. Wait until Barbour gets done with her.
On Sharpe's website, I think you should feel free to leave comments about his decision to retain the child molester and have him performing with teenage girls alone. I also encourage Les Suckno to comment or e-mail to his heart's content on Sharpe's website and everyone else who has an opinion as well. In case you are having trouble finding the e-mail address it is: info@russellsharpeproductions.com
Feel free to copy and paste.
Thanks to SKTR for the tip.
I hope EVERYONE boycotts and pickets this production
ReplyDeleteWith all the actors in NYC, this idiot couldn't find anyone to replace Barbour? Some father. Go Suckno. Have at him.
ReplyDeleteI'm not finding a place TO comment. Is anyone else?
ReplyDeleteFrom the "Tale" website:
ReplyDeleteRon Sharpe or Barbra Russell
E-mail at TaleMusical@aol.com
I don't care about this child molester. I'm more concerned about people posting others should leave because they have dissenting opinions (this is not about Les Suckno). If I disagree with you, live with it. It's not my fault that you are an uninformed idiot. Don't come on here and tell all the haters to leave. You leave if you don't like it. Grow a pair because people are going to disagree with you a lot.
ReplyDeleteI'm not insane enough to write a tirade and bore people to death like you did. I'm done. I said my peace.
Thanks, Judi. I saw the email address, but no place for comments?
ReplyDeleteYeah, didn't see any place either.
ReplyDeleteDo us proud Les Suckno! Is today a hate day? I'm all confused about that. My hours just don't work well with this site and I'm always trying to catch up!!
ReplyDeleteJust noticed something. Critic Jay Handelman wrote that Barbour's performance "elevates the material"? Um, unless the writer totally messed with it, it's Dickens!!
ReplyDeleteJudi, you're not kidding - what's to elevate??!!
ReplyDelete_-_=_, it's hate Twisty day. Have at it...lol.
Noooo, would rather hate on Barbour. Although things that people here think up are hilarious.
ReplyDeleteQuestion for Enty or anyone: Has this story appeared in the LA Times? Thinking of nice, wide circulation.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's late for me and I have to go. I'm just not up for any hate today. I'll try again tomorrow, thanks for keeping me current Twisted!! Hate ya later.......
ReplyDeleteEnt, I love that you are all over this guy. BUT i really wish you'd show the same passion regarding JLS.
ReplyDeleteThanks ENT. We, as a culture, need to stop supporting people who go after kids no matter how talented or influential.
ReplyDeleteR Kelly and certain GOP members, I'm talking about you guys, too!
I wouldn't exactly call this dude a child molester. I think it's called Ephebophilia (they like teenagers). But no matter what, he is a douchebag who should've been fired from this production. How can this not be bad publicity? He is disgusting.
ReplyDeleteSorry this is a couple days late, but you all could use some perspective from the Broadway community.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, the "Tale of Two Cities" musical is awful, and won't be coming to Broadway with or without Barbour. If it does, expect a "Pirate Queen"-level fiasco with $15 million lost.
Second, she seduced him, not the other way around. Obviously he is culpable and that's why he pled guilty. But Barbour has worked with plenty of underage actresses in his long career and never "gone after" any of them. He may be a perv, but he's not a "child molester." Who among us would turn down a BJ from a hot "19"-year-old? (Remember, his plea deal says that he knew she was 15, which doesn't mean he really did. Of course he should have checked her ID instead of believing her.)
And don't forget that the accuser waited almost five years to make this accusation, which is strange to say the least. It makes me queasy defending Barbour, and his career is pretty much over - at least in New York, where nobody will hire him - but ENT is being unfair. (I know, perish the thought!)
(To Judi's question about the LAT: No, and why would it? It's a NY story and the tabs have been all over it.)
"I also encourage Les Suckno to comment or e-mail to his heart's content on Sharpe's website and everyone else who has an opinion as well. In case you are having trouble finding the e-mail address it is: info@russellsharpeproductions.com"
ReplyDeleteHah! That is brilliant.
Wow this Ron Sharpe has had one hot entertainment career! From his website:
ReplyDelete"Ron a native of Oglesby, Illinois musical career began at the age of nine when he performed in the role of "Winthrop" in "The Music Man" at LaSalle-Peru High School in Illinois. Throughout his high school years he performed in the entertainment band "Directions" and was an accomplished trumpet player selected to be a member of the "All State Jazz Band". Upon completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, he performed professionally at "Opryland USA" in Nashville TN. Ron is the only actor to have played both male leads of "Marius" and "Jean Valjean" in "Les Miserables". Other Broadway credits include original productions of "The Scarlet Pimpernel", "The Civil War", and with Tim Rice and Alan Menken in Disney's "King David". He performed as "the stoker" Fred Barret in "Titanic" and off-Broadway as Patrick Finnegan in "Finnegan's Farewell". Ron's television credits include two appearances on "The Rosie O'Donnel Show", "The Tony Awards" on CBS, “The National Arthritis Telethon”, and halftime at the "NBA All Star Game" in Madison Square Garden."
Yes, Barbour is a molester (and technically a Ephebophiliac - thank you 'Ms. Lovely') as anyone who was ever in a show (prior arrest) with him can/will attest to... (What poor Ms. Schaffel had to witness. Here's a challenge, try and find a someone who worked with James - prior his arrest in '06 - who will deny this. Or find people who have a kind word to say about this scumbag.) The carnage this man has left is horrible.
ReplyDeleteThe big secret behind his miraculous 2nd chance with TALE is James is one of the producers. How does one know this? Well, his name has been erased from producer billing since the arrest, but prior to... He was calling NY musical talent personally, helping the casting agent, and stating, "I'm producing this new show...and I want you to come in..." He's given himself a second chance. He and his money.
One of the worst things about all this is it shows how flawed our justice system is. Thank God there are checks (innocent until...) in order to give those wrongfully accused a chance; but, in this case, if Barbour didn't have $$$, he'd be serving life as a registered sex offender.
Sorry Dan, but I respectfully have to disagree with you. You obviously have never been a victim of sexual assault. Whether the 15 year old came on to him or not makes no difference. Barbour should NOT have engaged in any kind of sexual activity with her WHAT.SO.EVER!!! She was underage and as such, this is ILLEGAL!!! As SKTR has said, if Barbour didn't have $$$, he'd be serving life as a registered sex offender.
ReplyDeleteAs for why the victim waited 5 years before coming forward, maybe she didn't have the support or ability to until now. I was repeatedly moslested by a family member growing up and I know for a FACT my parents were aware of what was going on even though they continue to deny it. I was told on more than one occassion by my father to "forgive and forget to keep peace in the family." I cannot forgive or forget, even after all these years and all the therapy. I've chosen not to take action against this person because he is no longer in my life. He lives 2 states away and I refuse to have anything to do with him. He has never reached out to me or even tried to apologize for taking my childhood away.
The 15 year old may not have had the support of her family and as such did not have the means to come forward until she was on her own.
IF this turns out to be a false accusation, then I will defend Barbour. However, I do not agree with people trying to turn the situation around to make it seem like it's the victims fault when it's so not. Been there, done that!