LADY BE GOOD at CITY CENTER/ENCORES

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 2/3/15 at 11:30pm

I just saw the wonderful revival of LADY BE GOOD at CITY CENTER'S ENCORES directed by Mark Brokaw with choreography by Randy Skinner. What a treat to experience the inane fun & hear vintage early George & Ira Gershwin with the Encores orchestra!

"Hang on to Me," w/Danny Gardner (as Dick Trevor) & Patti Murin (Susie Trevor);
"We're Here Because" w/Jeff Hiller (Bertie Basset)& Kirsten Wyatt (Daisy Parks);
Fascinating Rhythm & Little Jazz Bird" w/Tommy Tune;
"So Am I" w/Colin Donnell (Jack Robinson)& Patti Murin;
"Oh, Lady Be Good" w/Douglas Sills (J. Watterson Watkins);
"The Half of It, Dreary Blues" w/Danny Gardner & Erin Mackey;
"Senorita Juanita" w/Patti Murin;
"I'd Rather Charleston" w/Danny Gardner & Patti Murin; &
"Swiss Miss" w/Danny Gardner & Patti Murin.

I thought the show was a success. I found myself laughing throughout & couldn't believe the number of Gershwin songs that most of us have never heard before. What did you think?

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=916868#.VNKm6b-sU7A



Updated On: 2/4/15 at 11:30 PM

[yfs]

Posted: 2/3/15 at 11:55pm

I quite loved it, especially Sills Gardner, Murin and the music. The band sounded great and the twin piano specialty was really fun to hear. It's not long on common sense, but it felt lighter than air to me. Great to see Tommy Tune out there still selling it with grace. It's an antique for sure, but a lovely one.

[evic]

Posted: 2/3/15 at 11:58pm

A total delight from start to finish with an impressive cast. To think that a 90 year old show would seem so fresh. The music is total Gershwin -outstanding. The orchestra was the usual- stellar. You root for all of the characters. The dancing was superb. And Tommy Tune- a legend still. I can definitely see this transfer and become a big hit. One of the best Encores. Congrats!

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 1:06am

What is the production like? Costumes? Partially staged? Is there just a ton of dancing? I'm listening to the 2005 album on Spotify and there seems to be a lot of music for dance breaks.

[Tony2600]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 10:02am

A musical souffle that includes a few magical moments when the spirit of Astaire inhabits the body of Danny Gardner in the second act “The Half of it, Dearie, Blues”. Just one highlight in a show that offers quite a few.

[evic]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 11:33am

It is fully staged with everyone holding their scripts but never using them to read from. The casting is perfect. Voices are incredible. Fascinating Rhythm is a show stopper as is Gardner's number. Lots of duets with cute choreography. The costumes are good...the ensemble is in black. Murin's silver party dress is gorgeous. I urge you to go for a great theater experience. The story is so silly but it works. A+.

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 11:45am

I agree with your assessment of Danny Gardner, Tony2600. "The Half of it, Dreary, Blues" proved to come alive in a very special way. (He is slated for Randy Skinner's Dames at Sea, I'm sure.) Act 2's "I'd Rather Charleston" was another stand-out, as well. (Couldn't get it & the title tune, which was reprised, out of my head afterwards!)
Costume note: Seeing orig. pics from 1925, I think having all of the black costumes white or cream instead would have added a nice lift.
Most choral numbers stood out as uncreative/plain/blah - as if no attention was paid to them.
Musically I kept hearing 'Lawrence Welk' which is hardly the edge that this should have been shooting for. A rather strange 'Piano Specialty' before Act 1 finale seemed so lax/static, it seemed like a time to serve 2nd pre-ordered cocktails before the intermission (not to slight the music talent & history - just the placement.)
The book seemed to hold together surprisingly well. The Fred Astaire character of 'Dick' suffers the most because not only is it not understandable why he keeps choosing the wrong lady/girl - he also disappears from stage action for a huge section of Act 1. I guess, true to the orig. show, Adele was really the bigger star.





Updated On: 2/4/15 at 11:45 AM

[yfs]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 11:55am

So many strange things about this show -- the piano specialty was part of the original 1924 production, as was the strange and unmotivated appearance of Ukelele Ike to sing Fascinating Rhythm and Little Jazz Bird -- the role (or non-role) now played by Tommy tune. But I thought all those things just helped define the daffy tone of the show, and how old it is, and made it more fun. I don't get your Lawrence Welk reference -- this sounded like authentic early '20s show orchestration to me.

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 12:29pm

"Daffy tone" & "fun" is a perfect description, yfs. I guess Lawrence Welk (who was a product of 20's bands) was light & sweet (versus loud & hot) w/plenty of strings - so I guess that is what I was picking up on. Didn't mean to discredit the orchestrations. Just an observation.

Updated On: 2/4/15 at 12:29 PM

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 2:15pm

Did anybody get a P2P code for this? I haven't gotten one (and didn't for the off ones either). I'd appreciate a PM if you have one. Thanks!

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 3:54pm

I didn't get a P2P code but there are plenty of $30 Balcony tickets last time I checked. I'm debating if I want to go on Saturday night because I'm going to 92Y Sunday night and I don't want to be too tired to enjoy that. Yes, I know I sound like an old lady.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 4:03pm

I'm grateful for the $30 balcony always, but sometimes I can get a much better seat for the same price or less. They've rarely been sending codes out though.

[dave1606]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 11:22pm

I saw the show tonight and thought it was an absolute delight. Even if the performances hadn't been good, it would have been worth it for the orchestra and dueling (!!) pianos alone!

Thankfully, the rest of the cast is near perfect. Patti Murin is truly brilliant as Susie. Her bit as a mexican bride in the second act is absolutely hysterical. Of course it is cute to watch her play of Colin, but Danny Gardner is also excellent as Susie's brother dick. Tommy Tune is of course wonderful in his two big moments.

Yes, the show is silly, and maybe doesn't need to make the jump to broadway. But don't let that keep you away. The show is an absolute delight.

For those wondering about P2P, if it hasn't arrived now, it isn't coming. I can tell you that I haven't received a P2P code for an Encores show in several years now (but I often receive for other City Center Shows and encores off-center). Honestly, if you want to see the show, pony up the $30. It is worth the money and the view is great.

[Smeds2]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 11:31pm

Saw tonight's performance, really good fun! Yes a preposterous plot but that's all part of it. All the cast seemed really at home with the farcical style of the piece, especially Douglas Sills. Danny Gardner forgot his lines about halfway through the second act but quickly opened his book and got the audience to chuckle along. I also really liked how "meta" the show became as it went on, especially with the books they all held.

Tommy Tune I found a bit underwhelming though. Yes he's a legend of the theatre but it wasn't really demonstrated here. He was maybe onstage for ten minutes, did some pretty average singing, and did two non-show-stopping tap numbers. Furthermore he wasn't integrated into the show in the slightest bit, which I'm sure was the style of the 1920s, but I would have liked more of a reason for him being there. Having said that, all of the audience were rapt in his presence; it didn't really matter what he did too much, it was just the fact he was on stage again that people found special, so thats fine too.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/4/15 at 11:37pm

Yes, and someday you may realize that was enough.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 2:28am

What's the incline like in the balcony? Would you recommend sitting as close to the first few rows as possible or is row J and above fine?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 8:40am

Last night Encores provided one of the more blissful nights I've experienced in quite a while. I adored everyone moment, and silly as the book was I even enjoyed it too. This was 100x more fun than Nice Work ever was, largely because they trusted the material and the cast and creatives were all on the same page regarding tone and style of the piece.

Take the glorious leading performances from Danny Gardner and Patti Murin (totally gayed out over her, more on that later). In less skilled hands their jokes would have been groaned at (or worse, met with cold silence), but they nailed each delivery, causing me to giggle and wear a dopey grin whenever they spoke.

I thought of the Gigi revival during their first big number, Hang On To Me, and all the fuss and worry about Thank Heaven for Little Girls sounding like Honoré is pedophile. I'm sure there could have been some worrywarts out there who feared Dick and Susie would have too much of an ick factor dancing around and Susie singing about how she would rather Charleston with her brother. Well there isn't a hint of ick, and it's once again because of the trust in the material.

As others have noted, Danny Gardner's solo dance after The Half of it Dreary Blues was enthralling. It was a thrill akin to Cassie dancing to The Music and The Mirror. Where has this guy been? Why has he not been starring in shows right and left? Casting directors take note!

And then there was Patti Murin. Oh, boy. I'm just so obsessed right now. I could just gush on and on about her. Who knew she could dance like that? Perfection.

Tommy Tune was a delight in his two numbers.

Colin Donnell was charming (and hot) as ever.

Douglas Sills was hilarious and he pulled off the title tune wonderfully.

The dress at the end were smashing. Randy Skinner's choreography was just what the occasion called for.

This is the type of show that Encores excels at and they hit it out of the park.

Yes, the weather is going to be bad this weekend, but it's 100% worth it to venture out and see this.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 8:44am

I sat in Row H center balcony last night, which provided a great view. I got such a kick out of Tommy Tune's "Professor" (of what? popping in from a nearby show to do specialty numbers?), who I'm presuming is a guest at the swank soiree Dick and Susie have managed to infiltrate in a search for food. The plot is thinner than dental floss, but who cares? It was a giddy, silly delight. Standouts, aside from the improbable Tune (in great shape at 75!) and the fabulous orchestra, were Gardner's dead-on Astaire, Murin and probably the best scene stealer of the evening, Douglas Sills. Shows should be written for him.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 9:06am

Goodspeed did a wonderfully entertaining version of the show in the 1980s, when the score was first reconstructed. Richard Stillman, a very talented actor/musician (who played ukelele), was in the Tune part, and I still remember his performance very well, particularly a delightfully surreal "Little Jazz Bird," complete with a whistling dancing bird impression. That character spot is meant to demonstrate whatever bag of tricks the performer brings to the table, and not much else.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 9:07am

"I can tell you that I haven't received a P2P code for an Encores show in several years now (but I often receive for other City Center Shows and encores off-center). Honestly, if you want to see the show, pony up the $30. It is worth the money and the view is great. "

Yeah, they don't send out the P2P codes for less than $30 anymore. That stopped a few years ago. You haven't been getting them because they don't exis.t

[NoName3]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 7:20pm

Tommy Tune's second act number Little Jazz Bird was among the Gershwin songs originally included in 1983's My One and Only. It was cut by the time the show reached New York but nevertheless appears on the original cast recording as a charming duet for Tune and Twiggy. They also performed the song in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that year sitting in a horse-drawn carriage.

Tommy Tune and Twiggy sing Little Jazz Bird Updated On: 2/6/15 at 07:20 PM

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 2/6/15 at 8:52pm

LINKS TO A COUPLE OF REVIEWS:

http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/reviews/lady-be-good_71600.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/06/theater/lady-be-good-an-encores-version-of-the-gershwins-1924-hit.html?_r=0

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 2/6/15 at 11:10pm

Saw it tonight (my first Encores show!) and was totally delighted. Agree with evic that it felt like such a wonderful surprise that a show this old could feel so fresh. Everyone from backstage to onstage were on the same page with embracing and bringing to life the breezy, bright, and wacky tone. Murin is just such a gifted comedienne and sounded lovely and Gardner was absolutely fantastic. Really though, get the man a show! Having Tommy Tune get to share his skills with us one more time was just so exciting. Orchestra was superb.

A thoroughly charming production.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/8/15 at 10:01am

Apparently, "The Professor" that Tune played was named "Jeff" in the original production. It doesn't matter what his name is or was really, because he's just supposed to be a star doing big, show-stopping numbers, which Tommy Tune is and did. What a delight he was! Talk about charm and restraint-- something most dancers and (especially) choreographers need to learn about these days. (Not Randy Skinner though! Great choreography!)

The whole thing was a daffy delight. I laughed quite a bit at the hokey, ridiculous story and jokes. It was just a lot of fun! I haven't stopped humming "Hang on to Me" since yesterday afternoon.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 2/8/15 at 10:57pm

Despite wonderful performances from the entire cast, swift direction and
Randy Skinner's always on target choregraphy, I found the actual show annoyingly
silly with no real reason to sit there and watch.

And I love Drowsy Chaperone!