MAME - North Shore Music Theatre

[VernonGersch]

I'd say MAME is one of if not my favorite musical of all time - although I have never seen it live on stage (saw summer camp version and of course the Lucy Ball film - and Auntie Mame is one of the best films of all time)

I wish this production - starring Paige Davis - was playing for longer or touring in the Summer Stock world.  Seems like a huge undertaking and production to be playing for such a short stint.

PLEASE WRITE IN WITH YOUR THOUGHTS if anyone happens to be on the North Shore of Boston in June

https://www.nsmt.org/mame.html

[bwayphreak234]

I absolutely adore Paige Davis.

[BrodyFosse123]

[BuddyStarr]

Just wondering if anyone caught the last couple of performances. Debating seeing it next week.

[MichelleCraig]

MAME is one of my go-to cast albums. I would love to see it revived... Please, if you see the North Shore Music Theatre production, post your review here...

[adamgreer]

I love Paige Davis and hope she does well in this. She definitely has the warmth and likeability that Mame needs, and we know she can dance. The only question is can she handle the vocals in If He Walked Into My Life?

[darquegk]

Paige is one of the sweetest and most joyful people I know. I'm sure she'll sing it wonderfully, if not as definitively as Angela Lansbury.

[Huss417]

darquegk said: "Paige is one of the sweetest and most joyful people I know. I'm sure she'll sing it wonderfully, if not as definitively as Angela Lansbury."

I couldn't imagine comparing Paige Davis to Angela Lansbury.

 

[Auggie27]

For the myriad reasons discussed in many threads, "Mame" is unlikely to be revived on B'way. Getting the title song to work in 2018 -- no matter how much one slides over racial implications of celebrating the new south -- is hard to fathom. The show has a wonderful score, but in many ways it's the opposite of the timeless "Dolly." It's a relic of a rarefied sort. I used to argue that the issues of classicism and privilege in the show could be contained to period. But the recent reviews of "Me and My Girl" reminded us: we look at through a prism. We'll be better off holding onto the score via concerts. 

[gcal]

The highlight reel looks pretty great. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Jq_VZrFxs

[adamgreer]

She definitely has the requisite charm and likeability for the role. If I was in the Boston area, I’d definitely see this. I hope someone sees her and reports back.

[BrodyFosse123]

How on Earth did they totally miss the boat for Paige's costumes and hair?  2 key ingredients to establish Mame Dennis' elegant, sophisticated socialite essence.  Nothing about Paige's Mame makes her stand out among the ensemble.  

[adamgreer]

BrodyFosse123 said: "How on Earth did they totally miss the boat for Paige's costumes and hair? 2 key ingredients to establish Mame Dennis' elegant, sophisticated socialite essence. Nothing about Paige's Mame makes her stand out among the ensemble.







"

They’re likely on a very limited budget. 

[CATSNYrevival]

adamgreer said: "They’re likely on a very limited budget."

But they save so much money on scenery!

[ND_2000]

seeing this just gets me thinking more and more about a big Broadway revival of this show. It’s overdue!!

[CATSNYrevival]

I watched clips from some of their previous productions and it looks like a pretty fun venue with relatively good production values. It seems to very from show to show. Tarzan and Beauty and the Beast didn't look so great but classics like Anything Goes, Hello Dolly, and Sound of Music looked like enjoyable productions.

[bryan2]

It is a theater in the round with a small stage..they seldom use much scenery....The Productions are top notch though!

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Duly noted, but how could they totally miss the mark with Paige's wig and costumes?  Mame is over-the-top glamorous and oozing with fabulousness.  Every single production (regardless of their budget) is aware of this and focuses on establishing this detail with their Mames.  

















 

[BuddyStarr]

Well, I'm headed up there tonight so I'll keep you posted.  Haven't seen a show there is more than 15 years.  (I think it was Hair).  

[Demitri2]

Brody said, "How on Earth did they totally miss the boat for Paige's costumes and hair?  2 key ingredients to establish Mame Dennis' elegant, sophisticated socialite essence.  Nothing about Paige's Mame makes her stand out among the ensemble."

Remove Paige's name and insert Dee Hoty. A few years back she starred as Mame in a Seattle 5th Avenue Theatre production. My friend and I had both seen the glorious, dazzling, sexy, beautifully coiffed and costumed Lansbury originally. We were amazed at how cheap and tacky Hoty's costumes were. I've seen Hoty on stage many times but never saw her appear so matronly. Her clothes looked like they were off the rack at J.C Penny's. Also saw Teri Ralston play the leading role in a Long Beach production and she didn't fare much better. Bottom line...if you can't afford to dress the character properly, don't do the show.

[BuddyStarr]

wow!  What a disappointment. Quick thoughts off the top of my head.  With threatre in the round, directing a production is more complex.  That said, for the most part the direction was basic but every audience member could see the performers however the direction they got was so basic and uncreative that you were essentially watching people rotate while they spoke their lines.

Many people were wondering about the costumes and hair (of course it's a jerry herman production). While the costumes were not elaborate in the MAME sense, they were serviceable and she did stand out among the ensemble.  The hair was another issue totally.  There was essentially not change in her hair throughout the show, ok, maybe a wig in the second act with it pulled up in the back, but she could have done her own hair for all it's worth.  The ensemble had more wigs than the lead.

Which brings me to the lead.  Wow, Paige may have energy but from the looks of this production, she really can't act or charm and audience.  Her singing was ok but her acting left a lot to be desired.  The young boy playing Patrick acted better in their scenes.  She just didn't have that thing to carry Mame off.  She didn't take command of the stage which you expect her to do.  

I will commend the ensemble, they worked their butts off and the men especially were great.  Other notable stand outs were Ellen Harvey as Vera and Lauren Cohn as Gooch.  

I don't mean to be harsh but this theatre charges 79.00 for a ticket with no discounts. i would not recommend anyway spending time driving up to see this. I was in the area so it wasn't a too long of a ride.

[Wee Thomas2]

Sorry to hear it wasn't good.  A friend is in it, but at those prices and this word of mouth I'll have to settle for spotting her  in that "show highlights" youtube video.

[BuddyStarr]

The ensemble was one of the best things the show had going for it. Unfortunately the direction was good either.