Threepenny's Last Show Review

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 7:13pm

Just got back! What an amazing performance this afternoon. The show was completely owned by Ana Gasteyer. The whole audience was so full of energy. But, let me get on with it...

The show began with the ringing cell phones and the lady next to me screamed out loudly "You've got to be joking me!" She was quite pissed. Then John Herrera, who was in the back of the orchestra, stepped foward and said, "Ladies and Gentleman, that was not the Threepenny Overture. Please turn off your cell phones." That got a big laugh.

So the cast made there way and, I think, Cyndi was late. I don't remember her running to the stage.

MACK THE KNIFE was incredible today. Stand out performance by Terry Burrell - who played the sexy. And got a big "WOO." (Friends, maybe?)

Like I said, from here on, Ana owned every scene she was in. Jim Dale was also quite fantastic, as always, and Carlos Leon was playing with the audience so much. When he went into the audience and held his cup out to someone, the woman actually fake-dropped something in it. He looked into the cup and said his usual line.

PIRATE JENNY was awesome today. Nellie sang more of it, but spoke more of the ending which gave it a very..."artsy" feel. She also totally broke out SOME MORE German (she said "Nein" again in the NO SONG again) during the first verse:

...And you'll say a kindly word
To this poor creature out of hell
But you just don't know to whom you're speaking
Und Sie wissen nicht, mit wem Sie reden

All around, NELLIE has become quite a fantastic comedienne!

Christopher Innvar was totally hamming it up during THE ARMY SONG. He looked like he was having a ball! After the cast returns to the stage and are all dead, someone (was it Terry again?) screamed out something like "I'm dead." I don't remember, but it got a huge laugh.

Back to Ana! She made some of the most ridiculously hilarious faces during CERTAIN THINGS....IMPOSSIBLE. It was hysterical. And, of course, Nellie was perfect with her NO SONG.

During the Intermission I spotted Wallace Shawn in the house, watching the show.

The show began and Ana brought the house down with THE OVERWHELMING POWER OF SEX and her scene after THE JEALOUSY DUET was hysterical. She walked out on stage and "became" the scene. I also am not sure what was going on, because Cyndi was attracted to Ana's pink chanel suit jaket the whole show. The "modern day" day line also got a huge laugh.

Brian also received a loud applause after his Ha Ha Ha...Ha's in THE JEALOUSY DUET.

Jim Dale, again, brought the house down after his INADEQUECY song. Chris Innvar at one point jokingly looked at his watch.

It seemed that Nellie and Brian were having a lot of fun in the scene after the ARIA. It was hilarious, and Nellie gave Brian a lot to mock.

Brian's voice sounded pretty sore tonight. Good timing for a rest.

And to save it for near-last, SOLOMON SONG rightfully received a whole load of WOOP's! with her applause. I think most of the audience was in a daze as Cyndi was singing. I hope she returns to Broadway!

The show ended as usual and the actors left the stage. Then Alan motioned for them to return to the stage. They all did and Alan said that they don't usually take a bow after this bizarre show, but since it's the last one they wanted to thank some people. A lot of audience members did not know it was the final performance. Alan thanked the produers, Roundabout, and Scott Elliot and Wallace Shawn. The cast all waved Shawn, but he didn't get up. Then the cast finally got the stage crew, etc. to come on stage and Wallace Shawn finally went up there to a mini applause.

The cast members were all hunging each other and walking off the stage. But Nellie and Carlos started to bow together. Just the two of them, hand in hand. They did that for a good 20 bows. It was hilarious. Then Carlos started to walk away, but Nellie kept bowing. He finally dragged her. They were laughing, having a good time.

But, like I said, if we could name a VIP it was Ana. She and Jim make a fantastic duo. Cyndi is just such a haunting performer - it was great. Nellie is extremely gifted as a singer and an actress! Of course, the whole ensemble of this show is great!

I really do love this production. And, P.S. how the hell didn't Jason Lyons WIN a Tony for lighting? It's brilliant!

Oh, ALAN!

He was awesome tonight. He has so much control over his body and his motions. He has also matured into the role quite well...he isn't so EMCEE anymore (which was something he said he'd have to work on in an interview).
Updated On: 6/25/06 at 07:13 PM

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 7:17pm

I am so glad the last show was a success! I was so happy to have seen it wednesday! It is really a masterpiece. So brilliantly done and performed. Good Luck to the cast and crew!!

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 7:22pm

I'm so depressed I'll never see this show again.

Ah well, glad to hear it was a great performance.

*lusts after Alan Cumming*

EDIT: Actually.. wait.. what about Alan? You didn't mention him.
Updated On: 6/25/06 at 07:22 PM

[BluCat500]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 7:41pm

Ah, Threepenny your time with us was too short...


Ok, so I'm ready to go see Nellie and Brian's next roles...I recover quickly...

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 7:42pm

I <3 Brian!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 7:47pm

Traitor!

(cat)

I forgot to say Brian took a curtsey after flashing the audience and after Pirate Jenny Nellie did a champions bow, it was "quite fuuny." Updated On: 6/26/06 at 07:47 PM

[BluCat500]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 7:52pm

HEY...I traitored no one...direct your parenthesis at Kerrie "benedict"...

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 7:53pm

Bso- great little review. You must've had a blast.

Sounds like the show went out on a great note :). It was a fun few months.. best of luck to everyone from this incredible production.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 8:07pm

What a great show, it's a shame I had to miss the last performance and I wasn't able to keep the fight for a cast album up in the very busy last week.

[Freckles1329]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 8:12pm

Awesome!! I'm so glad the show was great!! It was an amazing way to end their run!!

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 6/25/06 at 10:24pm

So happy that it was an extraordinary performance. I can't say I'm surprised!

It's so incredibly unfair to everyone- the cast, crew, creators, and production team, along with the general public- that the show is not getting recorded. I'm sorry if this sounds dramatic, but I don't know how to be okay with the fact that this gem is going unpreserved. There's something so wrong when millions can be pumped into (AND lost on) such utterly disappointing shows, but $200,000 couldn't be mustered to record this phenomenal production on disc. It would have been, hands down, THE BEST English recording of the show. It's also not a hard sell; you've got a Broadway legend in Jim Dale, a cross-over talent (and star in some circles) in Alan Cumming, a comedy television name in Ana Gasteyer, and two- count them, TWO- recording stars in Cyndi Lauper and Nellie McKay. It's just always going to be a disappointment.

Congratulations and good luck to the wonderful talents that graced this amazing production!

[C is for Company]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:33am

Damnit! Whyyyyy did I have to graduate today and miss out on this performance?
When I saw it, a lady also did the "fake-drop" and just got cursed at right in her face. She could have at least had the decency to take out her money and put some in! Lol, I'm just kidding, although I did give Gary Coleman money at Avenue Q during the Money Song and she started dancing for me to give her money.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:37am

Great review! I really enjoyed reading it. It was surreal seeing Alan Cumming in this show, and I actually loved how Emcee-ish he was. Only because I never got to see him in Cabaret.

I'm wondering, do you think it will be a long time before Alan comes back to Broadway? I mean, it was a long time between Cabaret, Design For Living, and Threepenny. I certainly hope he comes back soon. I also lust after this man.

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:39am

I really wish I had seen this revival, or it had been recorded. Oh well, I wish the cast luck in future ventures.

[EltonJ]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 7:42am

Awesome review... It was a great show yesterday. Glad I had the chance to experience it!

Saw ANNE HATHAWAY outside with her mom at intermission. She was loving it too! She was so gracious and beautiful!!!

[hauntedcoffeepot]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 8:18am

It was an amazing show with incredible cast and audience energy. I'll miss this show.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 1:57pm

The good thing is, Alan is always doing something...so he's never out of sight too long.

I forgot to say - during one of the last scenes someone took a very obvious photograph from House Right. I think of Cyndi and Alan together. Updated On: 6/26/06 at 01:57 PM

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 2:32pm

Anne Hathaway was there?
Wow, why couldn't I be there...?

that is sooo cool!

[EltonJ]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 4:00pm

ANNE WAS AWESOME!

[ThreePennyJennyxo]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 7:26pm

im soo happy the last show was hit! Im glad it went out with a "Bang" Its just sad its gone...gone forever *tear* i miss it already...oh guys Mac the fish is in fishey heaven! Oh god isnt it odd i got Mac just when 3Penny opened and now that its gone so is he! this is odd haha! But yeah im glad everyone did awesome!

[ThreePennyJennyxo]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 9:02pm

im so BUMPING this post! =]

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/27/06 at 12:20am

ha, thanks.

[hauntedcoffeepot]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 9:20am

Hopin for a minor miracle here. . .

I had my photo taken with Alan Cumming and Brian Charles Rooney after the last show, thanks to Scott and Andrew (two nice guys I met at the back stage door with the camera). If you guys read this post could you PM me, I'm worried you lost my email address.

Otherwise I'll be one sad gal without photos.


Updated On: 6/29/06 at 09:20 AM

[tabbynyc]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 1:13pm

Thanks for the great review. I loved this production and am glad I got to see it twice. Thanks to the cast, etc & good luck to all of them. Sorry to see it go.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 11:47am

hauntedcoffeepot - I wonder if you were the person I saw at the stage door...

I just want to clarify that Brian's singing was amazing as usual (maybe Michael Longoria helps him...BURN!). He really went all out. His "sigh" (the world will sigh....) was and is always so incredible. His speaking voice with Nellie after the Aria sounded a bit hoarse. But, hey...it just made it more reminiscent of Bea Arthur.