10 days in NY

Posted: 4/21/14 at 9:50am

So, I'm in New York for ten days and wanted to share my thoughts on the shows I've seen so far.

If/Then
Well, this show upset me a bit, because it feels like the creative team did not do the best that they could. Overall it's not terrible, the cast is good, the music is not my cup of tea, but it's alright, the lyrics are not great, but not bad, I did not like the set, but what bothered me was the storytelling. There were moments that seemed so forced, as if the writers didn't know how to explain the next scene, so they put in a monologue (phone call in the beginning, song to kindergarten kids), which I guess can be ok, but to me these moments felt wrong.
There was a fun flub...Idina forgot her phone in the 2nd scene and had to ask LaChanze for hers, then couldn't stop laughing and had to ask sound to go back. It was a nice moment, the audience had a good laugh, as well as the cast.

Bridges of Madison County

Fantastic show. Enjoyed every moment of it, liked the music a lot, great cast. Got rush tickets, row O center block aisle seats, great view. I don't have much to say about it, but go see it if you haven't yet.

Mothers & Sons

I went because I couldn't miss seeing Tyne Daly on stage again (saw her in Master Class in London). So glad I went. Got a rush ticket, 2nd row center. Funny moments, upsetting moments, very touching in the end. Great performances all around. Fantastic audience as well. Don't miss it.

Bullets over Broadway

I went because I adore Marin Mazzie, and the trailer for the show looking interesting, but I did not enjoy it a lot. A few funny moments, lots of moments that were meant to be funny, but seemed like they were asking for the laugh and just didn't work for me. I have a hard time pinpointing anything bad, because I honestly don't think there were anything specific bad aspects. I just didn't enjoy it. The cast was very good though and most of the audience liked it a lot.

Thats it for now... Tonight I will see Heathers, tomorrow All the way. Other shows on my list are Pippin, Cabaret if I can get a ticket in my price range,maybe Act One or Sleep no more

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/21/14 at 10:08am

^ Enjoyed reading your post. Can I recommend, Here Lies Love. Its excellent and a lot of fun.

[WJR2]

Posted: 4/21/14 at 5:02pm

Sounds like a grand time! Thanks for sharing. I would also throw out a suggestion for "Buyer and Cellar"

Posted: 4/23/14 at 9:07am

Thank you both for your kind words and your suggestions. They look interesting, but I don't think I'll manage to squeeze in another show, but maybe I'll skip Act One and Sleep no more, I'm still not 100% sure I want to see them, which would open up one slot... You'd think 10 days should be enough time to see everything you want, but somehow it's not...there is just too much

Since last time I've seen

Heathers

Well, my sister, who didn't care for the movie enjoyed it a lot. I did not.
Heathers is one of my all time favourite movies and I knew that there had to be changes, which is alright, but what bothered me was that Veronica and JD became completely different people. They were both two-dimensional, uninteresting and had no personality, which kinda makes the whole story unnecessary. And Heathers is such a great, dark comedy and there is nothing dark about the musical, nothing at all.
I must say I was impressed by the actress who played Heater Chandler. Most of the cast was good, some alright. It's not a bad musical, the staging is good, the set is ugly, but it's the 80s, so what, the music is ok and the cast as well as the audience have a lot of energy. The audience loved it, especially quotes from the movie. So if you're a fan of the Movie, I suggest skipping this or at least go expecting something, thats not Heathers just has a similar plot.

Yesterday we went to the Easter Bonnet Competition and All the Way

Easter Bonnet was a lot of fun. We didn't know what to expect. I loved the Mothers & Sons Sketch as well as a few others. And hearing Fran Drescher laugh is Entertainment at his best.

All the Way

Great cast. Love John McMartin, he's fantastic. Bryan Cranston is amazing, though there were moments, where I wished he would have concentrated a little bit less on the way he talks and gone a teeny tiny bit deeper, but thats just nitpicking... he gives an great performance. The play was long. Too long. I think they could have easily cut 20min. I have to say though, that it was freezing cold where I sat, there was a draft or air-condition which probably had some effect on my mood. So, great cast, mediocre play for me.

Today I'll try to catch Cabaret and Pippin, of course depending whether I can get tickets.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/23/14 at 8:46pm

I pretty much agree with every review, don't miss Cinderella(if you can get tickets)

Posted: 4/26/14 at 10:26am

So thats it, leaving today... I did not manage to squeeze in any of your suggestions, but thanks for all of them.

I did get tickets to Cabaret and Pippin on Wednesday and was afraid that two musicals in one day would be too much, because I kept dozing off before I even made to Cabaret, but it turned out to be fine.

I had never seen Cabaret before, I don't think I even watched the whole movie. I like the idea of turning the orchestra into the club, but I was glad that I got an aisle seat, because there's very little space. I had a great time, Alan Cumming was great, Michelle Williams very good, though the constant vibrato was a bit too much for me. Rest of the cast was fantastic. I did have a hard time applauding though. I was really uncomfortable applauding someone with a swastika on his arm, maybe more so because I'm from Austria, I don't know. During the show its of course necessary, but I would have preferred it gone for the curtain call.

Pippin
That was just a whole lot of fun. The whole cast was great...Ciara Renee has room to grow, but I'm certain she will, because she's just so young, but she was good, just a bit more edge here and there, a little more presence and she'll be great. I was impressed by Kyle Dean Massey, because I saw him in Next to Normal last time I was in New York and remembered him as very bland. I thought he had charisma this time and his singing was better. Terence Mann and Annie Potts were both fantastic, great comedic timing and stage presence. The acrobatics are insane, the ending was a bit of a downer, though of course storywise it was right and probably had just the effect on us they intended.
What was great for me was that we took two friends, who just arrived in Nyc for their vacation. One of them has never been to a musical before and was like 'I don't know, singing and dancing all the time...' Well, they're here three days now and have seen three shows (Pippin, Heathers, Bridges) and enjoyed all of them.

Next I saw Act One. I almost didn't go after reading a lot of negative opinions on this board, but I couldn't miss out on seeing a play by Lapine and I'm so glad I went. I understand why it may not be for everyone, but I had a great time. The two leads are fantastic, the rest of the cast solid. To me the play didn't feel long at all, I was actually surprised how fast time flew by.

And last night I went to Annapurna. Wow, heavy stuff....but great play. I got a rush ticket for 21.50, which I was really glad about, because even though I got mostly rush tickets, this trip ended up being a bit more expensive than I hoped it would (should have done a little less shopping). Megan Mullally was good, Nick Offerman great, but he has the stronger and more thankful part. Maybe it's also her voice, because its so distinct, that left me feeling there was a bit too much of herself in that role, I'm not sure.
Anyway, don't miss this one.

That's it, back to Vienna now... I'll sure miss New York, had an amazing time, 10 shows plus the easter bonnet competition, I think I need vacation to recover from this one, but wouldn't have it any other way