New York
New York
#1New York
Posted: 12/14/15 at 1:47pm
In New York at the moment and a third of the way through my trip. So thought I check in and give some feedback in case anyone is interested.
Here is what I have seen so far;
Finding Neverland***
Wanted a light easy going show after feeling jet lagged and tired, this was perfect, the show wasn't, but still let enjoyable, Laura Michelle Kelly and Matthew Morrison were very good, Matthew was virtually on stage for the entire show. Terence Mann and Carolee Carmello who I know from other shows are great actors, but terrible underused here, the score didn't serve them well, too many numbers that featured the ensemble and not enough solos.
Thought the show didn't have a wow moment, I was wrong.
Misery***
Obviously I knew the synopsis here, but didn't know the finer details, so this is great to fill this in.
Certainly not as bad as the press made this out to be, was Bruce Willis terrible? No he wasn't, falling out of bed and climbing from a bed to a wheelchair isn't easy to do, but still not a patch on Laura Metcalfe who is the star here. Not for the faint hearted.
On Your Feet*
Not one for autobiographies musicals, not really a great back catalogue and mainly padded out by Latino dancing, not really my bag.
The Phantom of the Opera***
Bonus Thursday matinee.
Not my favourite Webber show, thought James Barbour was serviceable. Thought Raoul was excellent.
American in Paris*
Another show that left me cold , had all the ingredients of a great show, another show that relied on choreography. Thought that Marguerite in the West End was a far better show, similar story lines.
Fun Home****
Loved the cast recording, thought the show to was really well done. Thought Michael Cerveris and Judy Kuhn and the 3 girls that played Alison were brilliant.
Sleep No More*
A show where you have to run up and downstairs for 2 hours, ain't my idea of fun.
Sylvia****
This was a hoot.
Annaleigh Ashford could possible win an award for her role only thing stopping this is, the show won't be around in June. Ironically Annaleigh plays the role that was originated off Broadway by Sarah Jessica Parker who is married to the star of this production Matthew Broderick who played his role with gusto, but not as sublime as the luminous Julie White.
Dames at Sea****
A musical all at sea, from yesteryear when men didn't use four letter words like navy or sing and they held the escape hatch open for women. Even though this is dated as hell, it was still pure joy to watch.
I had an Asian day today.
First up, down to Siam (Thailand).
The King and I****
This didn't blow me away as much as South Pacific, it really is a similar book, just the action has been moved from the Pacific Ocean to a palace in Thailand, however I did really enjoy this and was blown away by the Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles who domonstrated that if angels could sing, they would sing like her. Kelli O'Hara was good fun also.
I had 30 minutes to dash from Thailand to Jordan.
Aladdin*****
I saw this at the Elgin theatre in Toronto for a pre Broadway warm up, where it blew me away. At the time I said that the wonderful James Monroe Iglehart would walk away with a Tony in his back pocket, which he unduly did. Unfortunately he isn't coming to London as a again he was splendid, but boy London is in for a treat, my only gripe is it should have gone into a bigger theatre than the Prince Edward. If you love your special effects well Disney delievers its magic, that only Disney can.
Buy youth ticket now and get ready, after this you will never want to see a pantomime again.
Not much happens on Times Square Monday evening, think there were only 3 shows on. Which I saw 1 of them.
Spring Awakening***** ($35 lottery win)
Wasn't sure about sign language in a show, it distracts from the show doesn't it?
But Spring Awakening is a very emotional show anyway and the show just gets a whole lot more beautiful with the addition of sign, which was heavily persecuted and banned as Spring Awakening at the time it was done.
The best acting on Broadway at the moment in any show, most of the cast making their Broadway debuts, if this misses out in the Tonys, which is very possible, I hope Deaf West get a special Tony.
The School of Rock***** ($37 lottery losers ticket)
The kids just want to rock, so do the teachers and head teacher
Wow an incredible show, I was at the first regular show, my press night ticket got lost in the post.
Be good to see this in the Palladium, Alex Brightman is a star, give him a Gibson guitar and he just wants to rift, on stage for virtually the whole show.
Allegiance*** $71.50
Some of the most beautiful music, I've heard on Broadway, with a equally beautiful stirring and poignant story of Japanese US citizens who were interned in the Second World War, who were interned because of their race, very much shades of what Donald Trump with his vitriol against Muslims, hello Nigel Farage.
A well intentioned musical, that didn't seem to come together.
China Doll** $106
Oh well if anyone else was in this it would be done by now, but if has Al Pacino from the Godfather right, but if the play is a dud which it was here, as they say you can't polish a ****.
A Christmas Story The Musical* $106
Took the train over to Millburn, New Jersey for a Thursday's matinee of the show, which was very generic, basically a boy wants something for Christmas and can't have it, but guess what the end is? I won't give it away. In this case it was a rifle, by which time I was happy to blow my brains out.
Fiddler on the Roof*** $77.50
The last revival was better
However the beginning and end was memorable with the fiddler, the wedding scene is an excellent piece of theatre, the ensemble were brilliant, which medulla for an underpowered lead, who is a very good leading actor, but no way a lead too young and couldn't carry the comedy.
Elf** $29
A bonus Friday morning show at Madison Square Garden, however the London production is better, price withstanding, the sleigh ride in London is brilliant, however New York had Christine Noll who is a knockout. Love the Christmas song gives me goosebumps and a lump to the throat.
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder**** $80.50
Saw this 2 years ago here and enjoyed, wasn't going to see this again as this was linked to come to London vis Cameron Mackintosh, but things seemed to of gone cold now? The original cast are back for what is a very fun musical and would de well in London.
Something Rotten***** $102
Loved, loved, loved this.
William Shakespeare meets Forbidden Broadway, how do you exactly put on the musical 'omelette'?
So silly it is a ball, just hope this comes to the West End.
The Gin Game****$77
A two hander, one a octogenarian the other a septuagenarian what not to like here, 2 cracking actors, however my performances was bedevilled by technical difficulties. A thoroughly enjoyable play, that falls short on the excellent Driving Miss Daisy, which is one of my favourite play of all time.
Les Miserable**** $76
A miserable end, as so far been so lucky with all the people been in, in the 2 weeks I have been here, so got slam dunked here with Alfie Boe, Will Swenson and Gavin Lee all out, assume they buggered off to Foxwoods!!! Thank got for the excellent Montego Glover. Seen this production at the Barican and Toronto where I loved but yesterday afternoon if brought it home, that there is only one definite production at the Queens Theatre.
Bonus shows.
Saw 4 bonus shows at the Lincoln Center archieve on DVD, which never substitute for the real thing. But still;
The Bridges on Madison County****
Some haunting beautiful music, although the piece did plod in places.
If/Then***
Decent, but didn't set me on fire, love the score.
The Last Ship*****
Loved this, the score and the show brilliant, love thist to come to the UK.
The Normal Heart*****
This moved me to tears. Lucky now that this scourge is more manageable, it wasn't in the eighties.
.
Updated On: 12/14/15 at 01:47 PM
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#6New York
Posted: 12/15/15 at 5:30pm
Not seeing as much as in London, that's for sure. But, we get up to Chicago. Excellent production of Dogfight (didn't see it at Southwark). There's a Chicago group known as Q Brothers who do Hip Hop Shakespeare - their Othello The Remix premiered at the Old Globe in London and was a big hit and we have seen several of their shows. Their most recent was Two Gents - a version of Two Gentlemen of Verona which was terrific. Hoping to see Gotta Dance in Chicago before it heads to NYC.
I started a small theatre company - TwinCitySquared - and directed our first production Nunsense which was performed last weekend and will play again this weekend. Then I'm co-directing For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf. London's Union Theatre really inspired me as to what can be accomplished.
#7New York
Posted: 12/16/15 at 8:02pm
A Christmas Story The Musical* $106
Took the train over to Millburn, New Jersey for a Thursday's matinee of the show, which was very generic, basically a boy wants something for Christmas and can't have it, but guess what the end is? I won't give it away. In this case it was a rifle, by which time I was happy to blow my brains out.
Wait...You never saw the film? Because it's not really about whether the boy does or does not get a rifle. At all.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
kp
Understudy Joined: 8/14/04
#8New York
Posted: 12/18/15 at 9:39am
Thanks for the potted reviews. I did wonder about your comment about Dames At Sea being as dated as hell. It is one big pastiche of a rather bygone era so are younger dated is the right word? Haven't seen it on Broadway but have seen a couple of productions, which certainly didn't seem dated. It's a terrific little show.
