5 shows in 3 days! NYC 11/11-11/13

[florida theatre kid]

Posted: 11/14/10 at 10:28pm

Just returned from my yearly trip to NYC. Here are some reviews:

-Promises, Promises
Thursday November 11th, 8:00
Understudies: Matt Wall as Mr. Dobitch, Ashley Amber as Miss Olsen, Sarah O'Gleby as Miss Kreplinski/Helen Sheldrake (Ashley Amber's usual track)

This was a show I was very much looking forward to. Not only because of the star-quality of the cast, but I greatly enjoyed the performances and other clips I have seen. I got to the theatre and realized that my seats were in Orchestra Row B on the extreme sides. I thought they would be in the second row, however that is the front row on the sides. Just a little note to people who think of getting tickets there, the stage is VERY high. Everything I saw was pretty much from the knees up.

Onto the show itself. Sean Hayes runs away with it. He delivers an incredible performance. He is charming, very funny, loveable, and aside from the overuse of his vibrato, I loved everything about his performance. Unfortunately, I was not as pleased with Kristin Chenoweth. It has been a "dream" of mine, so to speak, to see her perform live, and while she was not bad by any means, I did find myself disappointed. To me, she just had no grip on the role of Fran. The whole time I thought of her as Kristin, not once as Fran. It is Kristin Chenoweth playing Kristin Chenoweth. When she sang, it felt as though I was at a concert of hers rather than a Broadway Show. I not once felt for Fran during the show, because, like I said, to me it was more Chuck Baxter chasing after Kristin Chenoweth.

The first act is great. Amazing choroegraphy and talented dancers. I loved it! The second act (with the exception of Molly Shannon who brings down the house in the first twenty minutes) moves at a snail pace. It felt twice as long as the first. I found myself repeatedly looking at my watch. I did not care for Dick Latessa at all. I didn't really find the grumpy old man act funny, and everytime he came on stage in any second act scenes I could not wait for him to leave. Overall, Sean Hayes' performance was worth seeing the show alone for me, but there was still so much to be desired at Promises, Promises.

-Mamma Mia
Friday November 12th, 8:00pm
Understudies: Stacia Fernandez as Rosie, Brent Black as Bill Austin

My parents, who are not as into theatre as I am, choose a show every year to go to as a family. This years choice - Mamma Mia. I had somehow always skipped out on it over the past nine years, but was not completely reluctant to give it a chance. I ended up having a great time!

I remember reading an interview on Broadway.com with Lisa Brescia shortly after she joined the show. She said something about how she loves how it just has the ability to make people smile, and since it opened right after 9/11, it is a show New York needs. I just loved what she had to say about the show, and I thought about it the whole time. It's not a genius piece of theatre, nor is it going to change my life forever, but for two and a half hours, I was having the time of my life.

Lisa Brescia and Liana Hunt make a fabulous mother-daughter team as Donna and Sophie. Lisa knocks everything out of the park. Her "Winner Takes It All" was fabulous! She is georgous as well. Stacia Fernandez and Judy McLane were a riot as well. Clarke Thorell was the stand-out of the "Dad's". My only complaint of the evening was the audience. Oy vey. I never thought I would need to recommend an announcement saying "Please remember, for the courtesy of those around you, do not talk." I understand maybe making one comment about something you see on stage or something, but I'm talking about several people around me having full on conversations during the dialogue about nothing to do with the show. So frustrating! Oh well, I guess that's what you get when you see a tourist friendly show. Still not enough to ruin a wonderful evening!

-Freckleface Strawberry
November 13th, 11:00 am
Understudies: full cast

Being an Elementary Education major, an online ad caught my eye. What an adorable, fabulous show! Seriously, not a bad thing I can say about it. The music was so catchy and the book scenes very funny. I think I was smiling the entire show. The cast is uniformly very strong, with stand-outs being Hayley Podschun as Strawberry, Mykal Kilgore as Harry, and Kimiko Glenn as Emily, who is an absolute riot in everything she does. I could not stop cracking up everytime she said or did something. If you can tolerate being in a room where 90% of the people are under the age of 8, I highly recommend getting over to New World Stages and catching this show!

- A Little Night Music
November 13th, 2:00pm
Understudies: Kevin David Thomas as Henrik, Justin Patterson as Mr. Erlanson

Not going to lie, back in June I had absolutely no interest in seeing this show. However when Bernadette Peters and Elaine Strich were cast, something inside of me told me to take advantage of seeing such legends performing onstage together. I went into the show knowing absolutely nothing, aside from who the two leads were and that "Send in the Clowns" was from this show. Well, I ended up loving it. Just about every second of it. Such a brilliant piece of theatre with such a lovely score.I found the supporting cast to be very strong, particularly Stephen Buntrock as Fredrik and Leigh Ann Larkin as Petra. "The Miller's Son" received a very long and gracious applause.

Elaine Strich as Madame Armfeldt was mesmerizing. Yes she did have a few slip-ups here and there (mad props to Keaton Whittaker as Fredrika for handling this like a pro), but anytime she opened her mouth to speak, you couldn't help but truly believe every word that came out of her mouth. Her Wooden Ring speech was incredible. During "Liasions" I found myself getting a little giddy at the fact that I was watching Elaine Strich perform. Bernadette Peters as Desiree....well I really cannot find the words to describe. She is giving one of the best, if not the best, performances I have seen on stage. She makes you laugh, she makes you cry. She is so raw, everything about her performance was so true. From the zaniness in the earlier dressing room scenes, to bringing everyone to tears during "Send in the Clowns", I feel honored and privileged to say I have seen her as Desiree. A beautiful afternoon of theatre!

-American Idiot
November 13, 8:00 pm
Understudies: Van Hughes as Tunny, Corbin Reid in the roles usually played by Alysha Umphress

Being a life-long Green Day fan, I have been waiting to see this show from the day a Broadway run was announced. The anticipation leading up to this for me has been ridiculous. I went in with extremely high expectations, and they were surpassed.

Yes, the story is thrown together and at times confusing/stupid, but the music and performances absolutely blew my mind away. How this was not nominated for Best Orchestrations baffles me. Same with Best Direction, as well as a nomination for John Gallagher, Jr., who was stunning. The cast all around was AMAZING, with stand-outs being Ben Thompson, Andrew Call, Mary Faber, Christina Sajous, and Corbin Reid. The flying scene during "Extraordinary Girl" was so beautiful, and I had goosebumps during "21 Guns" as well as the whole "Homecoming" set. I jumped to my feet at the curtain call, and when they sang "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" after the bows, I lost it and started crying. Such a powerful cast performing such powerful music. I could not have asked for anything more.

[steven22]

Posted: 11/14/10 at 10:58pm

How was Van as Tunny?

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 11/14/10 at 11:07pm

I saw Van as Tunny last night and thought he was great. Vocally not as strong (IMO) as Stark, but his acting was spot on. Stark normally breaks during 21 Guns, and Van did as well, but it got me for the first time in a while.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 11/14/10 at 11:58pm

How was Thomas as Henrik? I haven't heard about him going on yet!

[florida theatre kid]

Posted: 11/15/10 at 12:35am

He was very, very good! Since I haven't seen the show before I don't have anyone to compare him to, but I was very impressed and he has an amazing voice!

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/15/10 at 12:40am

I know Thomas has been on at least two other times.