BOUNCE, MONICA THE MUSICAL and WSS

[CJR]

Posted: 10/28/03 at 2:31am

It's been an interesting weekend of theatre for me. I can't guarentee coherency to the utmost degree at 2:35am, on 3 hours of sleep, but I will try my best....

BOUNCE

I saw Bounce at the Kennedy Center Saturday (October 25) evening. I had high expectations for the show due to the cast and the creative team. I'm sorry to say that most of my expectations were not met. Actually, the only one which WAS met was the fact that Michele Pawk was absolutely brilliant. If it weren't for her, I would have left at intermission with a slew of other people.

The story needs a great deal more work if they even want to THINK of bringing this to Broadway. It doesn't flow as well as it could, and while the way the show begins is fairly ingenius, the rest of the show falls short and fails to measure up. Today is Monday; it took me from Saturday till today to figure out the actual story line... and at present time I'm still not completely sure that I understand what I saw.

Michele was the only true standout for me, and I have to be honest and say that I didn't really pay attention to the scene if she wasn't onstage. Her character, Nellie, made the whole show. I wish she had been in more scenes!

If you have Michele Pawk in a show.... USE HER!!!!!

Details of the actual show (as in plot, character moments and storyline) are fuzzy at best. But if you ask me, don't see Bounce unless the only reason you WANT to see it is to see Michele.


MONICA THE MUSICAL

Bill Clinton -- Kevin Kern
Desire -- Angel Reda
Vernon Jordan -- Rashad Naylor
Hillary Clinton -- Shoshana Bean
Tom Jones -- Rob Evan
Janet Reno -- Donna Lynne Champlin
Geroge Stephanopoulos -- Josh Walden
Utility Woman -- Mary Faber
Utility Man -- David Josefsberg
Monica Lewinsky -- Christine DiGiallonardo
Ken Starr -- Scott Allgauer
Betty Currie -- Haneefah Wood

I attended the 2nd reading of Monica The Musical tonight at MTC. I have to admit that I went into this a little alarmed by the whole premise of a musical about Monica Lewinsky... moreso alarmed by the fact that I was about to watch Donna Lynne Champlin play Janet Reno -- who, in the show was played as Hillary Clinton's love interest. But, I must say... This show is the FUNNIEST thing I have seen in a long time. I laughed from beginning to end, till my sides ached, I was crying and hunched over in my seat in fits of hysterical laughter.

Of course this was just a reading, but I can only imagine how much MORE potential this show has and how much MORE fabulous it can become with actual staging, costumes, sets and the whole shebang. The casting was perfect; each a standout in their own way.

The show follows Bill from life as a young man, working on his family farm in Arkansas, all the way to the Monica Lewinsky scandal. He is guided through his life by his personal demon, Desire, who is behind all of his major decisions as well as the reason for his major public appeal. Angel Reda was PHENOMAL in this role. Her talent was matched only in her stage presence. When she opened her mouth to speak, you stopped, listened and absorbed every word she spoke. I can't think of anyone more perfect to have played this role.

While Hillary and Bill are in college, Hillary meets Janet Reno and the love affair begins. Donna Lynne was HYSTERICAL as Janet. Not only is DL incredibly talented, she has precise comedic timing, and an array of facial expressions which on their own could send a person into fits of laughter. Shoshana Bean was amazing as Hillary. Beautiful voice, wonderful comedic timing and great chemistry with everyone she played opposite. The standout song being Hillary and Janet's duet, "Things You Can't Imagine."

Somebody give Donna Lynne a starring role!!!!!

Another standout song was "Access Denied" performed by Betty Currie (Haneefah Wood) and George Stephanopoulos (Josh Walden). This song was done in the style of a god fearing preacher as Betty Currie tells Monica she no longer has access to the Oval Office. The whole rehearsal room was in hysterics and this song definitely most liked overall.

Monica the Musical has tons and tons of potential, and I really hope to see it brought to Broadway. Preferrably with the cast I saw this evening. It's dripping with satire and if given the right direction, there is a great possibilty for this show to be huge


WSS

Reminder to all -- West Side Story opens tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 28th) at Northshore. If anyone is seeing it, contact me, and scream loudly for Roxane at the curtain call!

~Heather

Updated On: 10/28/03 at 02:31 AM

[ShineOn]

Posted: 10/28/03 at 3:29am

Okay, this is going to be anything BUT coherent, but I just had to shout out some Donna Lynne love because the biatch is so far beyond underrated it hurts my bones. I'm really not quite sure there's anyone funnier. Her Janet Reno put Miss Neuwirth's Dr. Sternin to SHAME. (And we all know how much *I* admire Miss Bebe... hell, my cats name is Lilith!)

This musical was quite a surprise. I mean, what does one expect going in to seeing a musical about Monica Lewinsky? Obviously one would have their doubts. It's the kind of musical that's either going to be phenomenal or a big flop. Luckily, based on the reading, it's the first. It's very well written and the musical is highly ecclectic. There's something for everyone! Every character doesn't fall short of their shining moment. It's a great ensemble show! And all the performers tonight were beyond amazing. The voices, the comedic timing... and everyone did such an amazing job of capturing distinct characteristics of these people whom the actors portraying looked absolutely NOTHING like. At first thought I was like, "Shoshana Bean as Hilary?!" But she blew me away!

I just have to make special mention to the woman playing Linda Tripp (among many other roles in the show). That girl is GOING places!!! Hi, can we say the next Alix Korey? Very unique, but she screamed an Alix Korey quality to me... the little body with the big (and MANY) voice(s)... and the rubber face! Your eyes were just immediately drawn to her. (Even DL was practically rolling out of her chair whenever that girl was doing something!)


I can't wait to see what changes they make! It was a fun night!!!

[CJR]

Posted: 10/28/03 at 2:16pm

I just had to shout out some Donna Lynne love because the biatch is so far beyond underrated it hurts my bones. I'm really not quite sure there's anyone funnier.

I completely agree with that

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/28/03 at 2:45pm

So sorry to hear about BOUNCE. I was hoping it would be greatly improved by now. Did you like Richard Kind? Jane Powell? Gavin or Howard?

[CJR]

Posted: 10/28/03 at 2:58pm

Im not a huge Richard Kind fan to begin with.. I hate that he always plays that really neurotic character that you want to smack.

Jane Powell was okay, she was off key and flat in a LOT of her singing, so I was marginally happy when she was killed off -- as sad as that is to say.

Gavin was good, but the range of the songs he was singing seemed just a little too high for him. But I enjoyed his performance.

Howard was very good as well... He and Michele could have had a little more chemistry, but I'm not nitpicking a lot.

All the characters are underdeveloped, I'm sorry to say. I wish I had liked it more!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/28/03 at 7:29pm

Would love to see Monica the Musical & wanted to see "Watergate - The Musical " but unfortunately it closed on the road.

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 10/28/03 at 8:01pm

I think Gavin was outstanding in Bounce..Some of the only entertaining songs! Michelle and him were by FAR the best in the show!

[CJR]

Posted: 10/29/03 at 2:46pm

MTM was outstanding. I can see this show being a hit.

WDINWL I agree that Gavin and Michele were by far the best in the show.