Has anyone seen or is planning on seeing Cagney at the York Theatre Company? I will be in New York next wednesday for one week, and am already seeing seven shows all on Broadway. This sounds really interesting to me though, and can maybe make room for one more show. I would love to support off broadway shows as well. Any feedback is appreciated.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Alessio, I am in a similar position to you. Regarding off Broadway shows right now, the most buzz seems to be about The Flick at Barrow Street Theatre and The Clinton Musical. Some other shows I was thinking about are Permission, The Qualms, Atlantic's Guards at the Taj and Ghost Stories, and the Public's The Sound and the Fury. I like James Cagney, so I was thinking about the Cagney Musical as well.
I haven't seen any of these off-Broadway shows so I can't offer much advice other than the most popular off Broadway show right now is the Flick, as far as I can tell. I already bought tickets to that one.
I'm interested in seeing Cagney too. If you google it you'll come across a video with interviews with the cast and creative team. I think Robert Creighton looks enough like Cagney to put it over. It's apparently very heavy with tap numbers, which I love. I also enjoy Joshua Bergasse's work, so I hope TDF gets some tickets!
I have not seen it but think Robert Creighton is a very talented actor and really enjoyed him in Anything Goes when he went on for Joel Grey for several months as well as his role in Drood. Cagney is not just a role he was cast in but something he has played a large part in developing and has been performing over a number of years. It's a passion project for him. If the subject is of interest, I would be reasonably comfortable that he is going to deliver a fine performance.
I saw it yesterday and it was a lot of fun. Basically if you love the studio era you'll have a fun time. Bruce Sabath who plays Jack Warner is such a delight, and for such a small ensemble (6 actors) it was astonishing to see how many characters they played with such ease. The two ladies (Danette Holden and Ellen Zolezzi) were particularly wonderful!
The show borrows from films of the era and also from musicals like "On the Twentieth Century" and yes, there is SO MUCH TAP! I couldn't stop grinning from joy, the book was slightly repetitive and dragged at times (the framing device was quite inconsistent), but then they'd do this amazing tap number and I'd totally forget about it.