Week of Theatre: In Review

[WJR2]

Posted: 3/6/14 at 7:58am

After saving my pennies for a very long time, I was able to come to NY for 11 days and see A LOT of theatre. For those interested, this is what I saw and what I thought!

Monday
NEWSIES
I was able to get an excellent seat (5th row back, dead center) at TKTS. Pretty good view, though for this show, I think I would've preferred front mezzanine. The choreography was absolutely amazing (of course). All of the leads were great. I was happily surprised to see that Ben Fankhauser was still incredibly emotionally invested in the show, even after being in it for so long. Really enjoyed the show. Thought it was a lot of fun.

Tuesday
WAITING FOR GODOT
Wow. Sat middlish row, a little house left. This was an absolutely incredible show. Ian and Patrick were incredible, obviously. Their chemistry was such a treat to watch. Shuler and Billy were equally fun to watch. I really liked Shuler's take on Pozzo. I was laughing hysterically through most of the show, and then when the show turns in act one, the house was dead silent. It was incredible. The group I was with were fortunate enough to have a post-show talkback with Shuler. After awhile both Patrick and Ian stopped by momentarily. All three were incredibly gracious, kind, and insightful. A wonderful evening.

Wednesday
MATILDA (matinee)
Sat middle of the house, a little to the left. Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of the trip. The show had some really nice moments (When I Grow Up, My House, among others) but as a whole, it just didn't work for me. I was really disappointed, as this was the show I was most looking forward to. John Arthur Green was on for Mr. Wormwood (which I was very excited about). He was absolutely wonderful (and incredibly nice at the stage door). Lesli (as Mrs. Wormwood) started a little wooden, but warmed up as the show went on, eventually really winning me over. Jill Paice was wonderfully perfect as Ms. Honey. Colin Israel was on for the Doctor, and he was great. Chris Hoch, as Trunchbull, was good. His acting and singing were all very great. The only thing he was missing was the feminine quality. I think he could've been a little more feminine, but hey, that's just me.

KINKY BOOTS
WHAT FUN. Sat front of the mezzanine. This show was an absolute treat start to finish. Billy Porter and Annaleigh Ashford walk away with the show. I really don't have any qualms about this show. I genuinely had an absolute blast the entire time!

Thursday
BOOK OF MORMON
Another absolute blast. Ben Platt was amazing. He added a bunch of hilarious riffs to all of his songs. I really enjoyed his portrayal. Syesha Mercado was a little...bland as Nabulungi. I didn't hate her, but she didn't really do anything for me? Daniel Breaker was WONDERFUL on stage, and a treat at the stage door. Super genuine. Overall, really loved the show!

Friday
A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER
Went into the show knowing nothing about it. Went out LOVING it. While the score is definitely more fun to watch than to listen to, I still enjoy listening to the cast album. Bryce and Jefferson were WONDERFUL. I so enjoyed Bryce's voice. Reminded me a bit of Bobby Steggert. The show was outlandish, hilarious, sweet, charming, and had a lot of heart. Jefferson Mays will no doubt be nominated, if not win the Tony. Lisa O'Hare and Lauren Worsham were equally wonderful as Bryce Pinham's love interests were HILARIOUS and wonderful A+++ So fresh. Wonderful fun.

Saturday
WICKED
On a whim, I decided to do the Wicked lotto (if only for Mary Testa) and won!! I was so excited! I hadn't seen the show since 2008. While I enjoyed the show, I don't really feel the need to see this again unless someone comes in I really need to see. However, there were many aspects I really enjoyed. Christine Dwyer was perfection as Elphaba. She did a few small riffs I was absolutely obsessed with (ones I've never heard before). She was sweet and sassy and incredibly talented. She was also the absolute best at the stage door, stopping and chatting with every child there. The actor playing Boq was fun. Very talented. Mary Testa was a hoot (as always). Wish she had more to do in the show!! I really loved her take on the role. Overall a fun time. Worth the $30, but don't think I need to go again any time soon.

LES MISERABLES
I was SO excited for this first preview, and I was not let down. It was a beautiful production. I should precursor by saying, this was the first time I had seen Les Miserables live. Andy Mientus, Ramin Karimloo, Keala were all wonderful. It really was a beautiful night at the theatre.

Sunday
BEAUTIFUL
Originally I was gonna catch Aladdin, but this ended up being wayyyy cheaper. So I did this. Didn’t really know what to expect going into it… I am familiar with a lot of the Carole/James repertoire. When I arrived at the theatre, I was a little nervous as I was probably one of about ten people who were younger than the retirement age; However, I was very pleased once the show started. Pleased with the audience, and the show itself. The audience was very responsive and the show was an absolute treat. I had a ball. The show is hilarious, crushing, and heart warming. Jessie Mueller is a tour de force. Hitting all the comedy and drama with finesse. She sounded absolutely marvelous. My only qualm was that James Taylor was absent. It would’ve been nice to hear a little of him, but I suppose the musical would have to tack on an extra hour! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. So much fun. The cast was so full of energy.

Monday
BUYER AND CELLAR
What. A. Blast. This show was SUCH a blast. Michael Urie is absolutely incredible. He handled the material soooo well, playing 5 or more characters, each so distinctive and different. I was dying of laughter. The script, the direction, the acting, the lighting, the projections, etc. etc. all worked together to make a HILARIOUS one man show. A+++

Tuesday
BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY
An interesting piece. I absolutely loved the score, the acting, the singing, the lighting, the orchestrations. Practically everything. Except the book. I had a really hard time feeling bad for Francesca or Robert. I would’ve loved to hear more of Bud’s story. The only real tension in the show was in the second act when the family decides to go to the ice cream store, but then it has a very anticlimactic ending.

Wednesday

A really powerful play. The beginning, for me, was a little slow. About 7 minutes into the show, I really got invested. Tyne Daley plays an incredible, loathsome character but by the end of the piece, you really feel for her. The acting all the way around was absolutely brilliant. The script was very smartly written. My one complaint came from the audience. I saw this show on a Wednesday matinee and the audience (at least the mezzanine, where I sat) was no younger than 50. Possibly one of the reasons I didn’t latch on at the beginning was because for the first 2 minutes people were talking. At full volume. Between the talking and the shushing (finally someone ahead of me yelled “shut up!”), it was really hard to understand the beginning. I was actually stunned at the rude behavior at the start of the play. Another happily surprising thing, (as I saw the show on Ash Wednesday) much of the (senior citizen) audience had ash on their foreheads from the church services earlier that day. I was worried they would be obnoxious, bigoted people, but they actually loved the show. It was really refreshing to see. Back to the play however, my mother and I thoroughly enjoyed it and we both agreed that we think it needs to be blasted all over middle America. A really great message, story, cast, and play.

IF/THEN
I closed my trip with the first preview of If/Then. It was a very interesting piece. Idina Menzel got huge applause on her entrance (her entrance opens the show, so it was entirely appropriate). She sounded absolutely wonderful. She was in perfect voice. The show’s concept (her living out two lives in two different universes) was a little hard to grasp at first. I’m a little embarrassed to say I didn’t really get it until 15 minutes before intermission. With a little bit of rewriting and cutting, I think this piece could be really great! It is definitely a very interesting concept with a very capable cast and creative team. I am excited to see the rewrites that happen.

Sorry for the length of this post! I tried to keep each little “review” as small as possible.

But anyway, that was my wonderful trip! I can’t wait to come back to the city soon, but for know, some much needed sleep as I wait for my plane :)

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 7:47am

Wow...that was quite a week. I live here and try to go to the theater often but I am impressed.

Thanks for sharing all your opinions...

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 9:35am

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It sounds like you had a great trip.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 2:15pm

Wow, I loved your wide choices when it came to the shows you saw. Most people here stick to just musicals. It sounds like you had a great week. Thank you for writing about it.

[Ed2]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 7:45pm

" Another happily surprising thing, (as I saw the show on Ash Wednesday) much of the (senior citizen) audience had ash on their foreheads from the church services earlier that day. I was worried they would be obnoxious, bigoted people, but they actually loved the show. It was really refreshing to see."

As an ash wearing over 50 person who doesn't talk during performances, I find this statement to be obnoxious and bigoted. You probably wouldn't have the guts to say anything to a group wearing burqas.

[WJR2]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 8:57pm

Ed2 -- I apologize if you took that as a personal attack. Rereading that it does seem a bit harsh. I meant well though! As someone who grew up in that atmosphere, I just mean that I know that many older people can be very critical of homosexual stuff (wow how eloquent I am tonight). I was happily surprised that they all seemed to enjoy the show! I didn't mean it as a negative thing (being a Christian myself).

[Ed2]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 9:46pm

Apology accepted and I'm glad you had a good trip.