Reviews from 1st NYC trip!

bwayrose7 Profile Photo
bwayrose7
#1Reviews from 1st NYC trip!
Posted: 5/22/17 at 4:21pm

So I know I'm not one of the most regular posters on this board, but those of you who know a bit about me know that I've had several almost-trips that have fallen through. I'm excited to report that I just got back from my first trip to NYC last week! I thought I'd share some thoughts on the shows I saw, in case anyone is interested to hear :)

Since I was in middle school, I swore my first Broadway show would be Wicked, and so I made that come true! I know there are better shows, I know some of you are probably rolling your eyes right now, but what can I say, I'm sentimental. I suppose what was most surprising for me, after seeing it many times on tour, was the difference in the set and staging. Just having those little details - actual trapdoors, the gears/vines out into the orchestra sides - really upped the atmosphere. The current cast really is quite good. Jennifer DiNoia has such a powerful voice, and a really fierce, wry take on Elphaba. I liked Kara Lindsay as Glinda well enough, but some part of her performance just seemed a little... forced, I guess? I know Glinda is a campy character, but some of her antics just felt unnatural (although her quieter scenes were really lovely). Michael Campayno's Fiyero seems to be on autopilot at first, but then really blossoms and wakes up, and he does an "up that I fell" riff that I've never heard before.

The next night I pulled off a doubleheader: Anastasia followed by the Actors' Fund performance of A Doll's House Part 2. It probably surprises no one that I really loved Anastasia. There are definitely some flaws in the book, and I didn't care for how generic they made "Paris Holds the Key to Your Heart," but the production was beautiful and the show overall was moving and a lot of fun. With all due respect to the ladies nominated, I really think the Tonys missed the boat by leaving out Christy Altomare. She's vulnerable and feisty, funny and hopeful, and I got chills when she sang "Journey to the Past." It's easy to see Dmitry as a weak role, but Derek Klena finds all the little edges on his journey from cynic to romantic - and his voice is just beautiful. They have clear chemistry, and the new staging of "In a Crowd of Thousands" and the finale really plays up the spark that Anya and Dmitry have in the movie. Mary Beth Peil was imperious and moving and everything I could have hoped, and I thought John Bolton and Caroline O'Connor really added a nice break from all the angst! Gleb is still underwritten, but Ramin Karimloo gives him enough quiet menace and inner turmoil to make you forget about that. The whole cast was also lovely at the stage door, took the time to chat and make everyone feel "special", rather than just signing automatically.

I was so lucky to get to go to the midnight show of ADHP2, thanks to a mentor and friend. It was an energy unlike anything I've ever seen - all the actors got entrance applause, and the reactions to every joke or gut-punch line were intense and vocal. Preshow was pretty much a game of people-watching and bumping into a ton of creatives, producers, and actors. The show itself is a masterclass in pure, simple playwriting (I may even try to find the script to use with teaching my undergrads!) which made it mildly predictable but paved the way for some stunning acting. Laurie Metcalf and Jayne Houdyshell were nothing short of spectacular!

I closed out my trip by rushing Great Comet. We ended up sitting in the orchestra, far house right, with one of the actor's stage-aisles right behind us. The view was partially obstructed by the stairs up to the mezz, but the couple next to us left at intermission (they "couldn't take another minute"Reviews from 1st NYC trip! so we moved over and had a great view for Act 2. Count me in the camp that absolutely loved this show! It's definitely not for everyone, it's definitely a bit on the weird side, but the experience of it was beyond anything else. I got a pirogi and an egg shaker, too! Denee Benton is just glowing. She seemed to be vocally "on" for our performance; though I've heard others say she can be inconsistent, she really soared, and played Natasha's youthfulness and innocent, accidental corruption so well. I haven't seen Dolly so I can't fairly compare, but I can't imagine anyone deserving the Tony more than Lucas Steele. You can't tear your eyes away from Anatole - he's so charismatic and somehow, even though he's despicable, you actually sense there might be a shred of genuine emotion in there. Josh Groban was in the show less than you'd expect going off the promo materials, but he didn't come off as a star "playing" on Broadway, but as an actor giving it his all and succeeding. The whole cast was incredible across the board.

I know I'm late to the party with all of these, but if you have any questions let me know! I also did stage door for all the musicals, so I can answer questions about that if anyone here is interested!

P.S. I didn't realize I was staying at the same hotel as the Drama League awards until I came down the elevator one day and saw half of Broadway there! Spoke to and/or spotted several folks there as well, who were all extremely gracious and kind.

Updated On: 5/22/17 at 04:21 PM

mar6411
#2Reviews from 1st NYC trip!
Posted: 5/22/17 at 4:46pm

What a wonderful post!  Thank you for sharing.  

I'm glad you finally got to NYC - I remember my first trip a long, long time ago.  And good for you for seeing Wicked as your first show - which is what you really wanted.  Never apologize.  Count me in the group that also really enjoyed Great Comet.

Sounds truly memorable - and how great to be at the same hotel as the Drama League Awards.  Your happiness and enthusiasm shines through.  

BroadwayConcierge Profile Photo
BroadwayConcierge
#3Reviews from 1st NYC trip!
Posted: 5/22/17 at 4:52pm

Ditto to everything mar6411 said.

Loved your reviews and love that Wicked was your first show (seriously nothing to apologize for...it's one of my favorites!). Also super glad you enjoyed Comet. Here's hoping for more happy NYC visits in the future for you! Reviews from 1st NYC trip! 

Keiichi2 Profile Photo
Keiichi2
#4Reviews from 1st NYC trip!
Posted: 5/22/17 at 5:09pm

Congrats on your first trip!  Hope there are more in the future.  Enjoyed reading this.  And as the others have said, no need to apologize for seeing Wicked.  Glad you got to have a long-time dream come true, and that is something no one should ever ignore or regret.

Updated On: 5/22/17 at 05:09 PM

Lot666 Profile Photo
Lot666
#5Reviews from 1st NYC trip!
Posted: 5/22/17 at 5:39pm

bwayrose7 said: "Since I was in middle school, I swore my first Broadway show would be Wicked, and so I made that come true! I know there are better shows, I know some of you are probably rolling your eyes right now, but what can I say, I'm sentimental. I suppose what was most surprising for me, after seeing it many times on tour, was the difference in the set and staging. Just having those little details - actual trapdoors, the gears/vines out into the orchestra sides - really upped the atmosphere."

You're no doubt right that there are people here who will roll their eyes at the notion that your heart was set on Wicked being your first Broadway show, but if and when they do, pay them folks no mind. Any show (or anything, for that matter) that you enjoy only has to work for one person - you. I'm glad your dream came true and you enjoyed it.

I first saw Wicked years ago when a touring production came to town and I wasn't particularly impressed by it. However, I saw it again in London a few years later and, like you, I found the resident production to be far superior to the touring version - so much so that I was motivated to see it again at the Gershwin, and I really liked that one as well.


==> this board is a nest of vipers <==

"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage

thebookofwhizzer Profile Photo
thebookofwhizzer
#6Reviews from 1st NYC trip!
Posted: 5/22/17 at 7:04pm

Thanks for posting this! I loved your reviews! As for Wicked I saw it last weekend and I loved it as well, nothing to be ashamed of. How were the stage doors at A dolls house part 2 and Great Comet?  Who came out at Wicked? When I went, almost everyone did. So happy you finally got to go to NYC!


“6 AM. The sky glows. Somewhere a bird chirps. I want to shoot it.” ~ Jonathan Larson, Tick...Tick..BOOM

bwayrose7 Profile Photo
bwayrose7
#7Reviews from 1st NYC trip!
Posted: 5/22/17 at 7:20pm

thebookofwhizzer said: "Thanks for posting this! I loved your reviews! As for Wicked I saw it last weekend and I loved it as well, nothing to be ashamed of. How were the stage doors at A dolls house part 2 and Great Comet?  Who came out at Wicked? When I went, almost everyone did. So happy you finally got to go to NYC!

I didn't actually stage door at DH, just the three musicals. Great Comet was crazy, but everyone except Denee came out. Josh's bodyguard came out early and explained that Josh would be signing and we could take pictures of him, but not with him. That said, he was really great about trying to "cheat" himself into good angles so that people could still get good pictures, and he was extremely kind. Lucas was on vocal rest so he wasn't saying anything, but he signed and took pictures and acknowledged everyone. There was one very pushy lady right behind me who kept shoving her poor little daughter (elementary school age) forward, and one rude guy towards the end, but otherwise people were pretty classy. Also, I believe it was Nick Choksi who came out with a half-finished bag of cookies and offered them to anyone who wanted them!

Wicked stage door was very quiet. Out of the main cast, only Kara, Zach, and Dawn came out, plus the ensemble. But I actually ran into Michael the next day (I forgot to take a picture of the marquee so I ran back up the next day and came around a corner and HELLO) and he was really sweet, took time to talk even though it was before a show, apologized for not coming out the night before (which was totally unnecessary, but a kind thought).

 

thebookofwhizzer Profile Photo
thebookofwhizzer
#8Reviews from 1st NYC trip!
Posted: 5/22/17 at 7:26pm

bwayrose7 said: "thebookofwhizzer said: "Thanks for posting this! I loved your reviews! As for Wicked I saw it last weekend and I loved it as well, nothing to be ashamed of. How were the stage doors at A dolls house part 2 and Great Comet?  Who came out at Wicked? When I went, almost everyone did. So happy you finally got to go to NYC!

I didn't actually stage door at DH, just the three musicals. Great Comet was crazy, but everyone except Denee came out. Josh's bodyguard came out early and explained that Josh would be signing and we could take pictures of him, but not with him. That said, he was really great about trying to "cheat" himself into good angles so that people could still get good pictures, and he was extremely kind. Lucas was on vocal rest so he wasn't saying anything, but he signed and took pictures and acknowledged everyone. There was one very pushy lady right behind me who kept shoving her poor little daughter (elementary school age) forward, and one rude guy towards the end, but otherwise people were pretty classy. Also, I believe it was Nick Choksi who came out with a half-finished bag of cookies and offered them to anyone who wanted them!

Wicked stage door was very quiet. Out of the main cast, only Kara, Zach, and Dawn came out, plus the ensemble. But I actually ran into Michael the next day (I forgot to take a picture of the marquee so I ran back up the next day and came around a corner and HELLO) and he was really sweet, took time to talk even though it was before a show, apologized for not coming out the night before (which was totally unnecessary, but a kind thought).

 


 

"

A bag of cookies, Wow!! When I saw Wicked Alyssa Fox was on as Elphaba (amazing!) and she stagedoored as well as Kara, Zach, Micheal, PJ, and Jody. None of the ensemble signed or came out and Dawn came but couldn't sign. But I was surprised, there was only around 7 people there! 


“6 AM. The sky glows. Somewhere a bird chirps. I want to shoot it.” ~ Jonathan Larson, Tick...Tick..BOOM

yankeefan7 Profile Photo
yankeefan7
#9Reviews from 1st NYC trip!
Posted: 5/23/17 at 7:27am

Sounds like you had a great time and thanks for sharing. Like others have said, there is no reason to apologize for wanting to see and enjoying "Wicked". 

#10Reviews from 1st NYC trip!
Posted: 5/23/17 at 8:09am

I enjoyed reading this. : )  Glad you had a great time on your trip!