Short Trip Report: Phantom and Chicago

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 2/9/20 at 10:34pm

Well I just did a whirlwind 24 hours in New York City to see some comfort theater. I'd like to share my thoughts on my two favorite shows currently on Broadway. 

I saw Phantom on Saturday, February 8 at 2pm. It was probably my 3rd time seeing Ben Crawford as Phantom and man has he dug into this role. It was mesmerizing seeing him sing the title song, especially at the end when he was enthralled with Christine singing for him. He made the Phantom sexy, sympathetic, insane, and utterly cool. MEGHAN PICERNO though. Wow.  Just wow. I am rarely impressed by a Christine, and this is my 74th time seeing the show at the Majestic. There are good ones, and sometimes even great ones. But Meghan? She has completely reinvented this role. When I think of Christine, I always think of some interview I saw years ago when an actress was asked if she would want to play Christine on Broadway and she said that that would be like being a in a trance for 2 hours. But, that is how many actresses play it: scene after scene, they just have a look of either shock or stress on their face and that's it. But not Meghan Picerno. Her Christine is mischievous and just as interested in being naughty as the Phantom is. I was floored at the way she flirted back with him and how she was basically enjoying having two men fight for her. Maybe it was just the undeniable chemistry she has with Ben. All I know is I can't wait to see her again and I sincerely hope she stays with the show for a long time. The only awkward part of the show was during the Il Muto scene when John Riddle's Raoul yelled out an extra "Christine!" and it clearly threw everyone off their marks. Incidentally, I saw the show with a former student who's now a senior at NYU and you never know if these 1980's era special effects will still impress young people but he was so thrilled by all of them, and with the story too so that was nice to see. 

CHICAGO was the next show I saw, on Saturday, February 8 at 8pm. Please.  PLEASE.  Do yourself a huge favor and do not see this show til Erika Jayne is done. And let's be clear. I love Chicago. Last night was my 30th time seeing the Broadway production of Chicago and I adore it for so many reasons. But the Roxie I saw last night was unforgivable. I knew something might be up before the show even started and everybody around me was TALKING THIS LOUD ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY LOVE ERIKA JAYNE AND IT WAS LIKE TOTALLY THE ONLY REASON THEY WERE LIKE EVEN LIKE THERE OK LIKE FOR REAL. And the show started, and that doesn't mean the conversations have to end! Or the phones have to be put away!  Not when a Real Housewife is on stage!  Then I realized i'm hearing at least 4 to 5 people singing along to All That Jazz. The people behind me know about 50% of the lyrics, so they would sing the last words of each line pretty much, but people down the row from me, 2 rows ahead of me, and all over behind me, sang along. For a while I legitimately thought that perhaps it was a special sing along performance because there really were that many people singing along. 

Then came Roxie's first number, Funny Honey. And Erika Jayne spoke her way through it. However, no one taught her how to project her voice, and she has kind of a baby voice like Paris Hilton or the Kardashians so it was hard to hear her even talk her way through the song. Yikes.  And then the lines started and it just got worse. She read her lines as if she had the script in front of her and they were just doing a line reading. It was so painful especially being such a huge fan of Chicago and knowing what Bianca or Charlotte normally do with this material. And then Roxie's monologue came. And I thought ok, this woman clearly has a fan base; I bet she is going to have so much spunk and personality in this song. Nope.  Fastest, 110% script-based Roxie monologue I've ever seen. No joking with the conductor, etc. She got my favorite line wrong "I am older than I ever intended to be"  She said "I am older than I ever imagined" and then quickly kept going so the line was totally lost. You know how Roxie starts doing some moves during the Fooling Around/Screwing Around lines? Well, Erika just stood there and keep barreling her way through the song. It was obvious that there was not enough rehearsal time for her to make the song her own and that the creatives struggled to even get her to know the basic blocking, so adding the unique sparkle that each individual actress adds to Roxie monologue would be impossible. Listening to My Own Best Friend sung by Velma singing in full voice and Roxie talking her way through was unacceptable. I was bracing myself for my favorite song in the show, Me and My Baby, hoping against hope that somehow she wouldn't screw it up because it is an easy song to sing and the production has done a good job of slightly altering the choreography for less skilled actresses. Ugh. I would say that about 60 to 70% of the choreography was changed. Kudos to the Me and My Baby Specialty dancers Denny Paschall and Michael Scirrotto because they did such a great job of distracting us from Roxie and they learned a whole new version of that song. It was kind of sad/funny at the end of the song when they seemed to be blocking her as they did huge kicks across the stage and she..........did not. 

Overall, the show is in great shape. Although it was my 30th time seeing it, I have not seen it since June 2018 so there were lots of new faces in the chorus. Even Amra Faye seemed rejuvenated and man she looked spectacular compared to Erika Jayne. Something definitely has happened to the show---either Walter Bobbie re-thought a few things or with all the new cast members they jazzed it up because I noticed lots of new nuances and small changes. Just an example, during the Entre Act, the two Me and My Baby Specialty guys stand up and do a quick thing instead of sitting at their seats doing the hand gestures from that song. There were so many new approaches to the blocking and choreography that I deeply appreciated and enjoyed.

The phone use during the show was definitely the worst I've even seen. The ushers and their flashlights were a CONSTANT presence in the aisles and people just would not cooperate. As soon as an usher left, their phone would come right back out. They recorded scenes, songs and took LOTS of pictures. People felt perfectly entitled to argue and talk back to the ushers and debate the rules about phones. It didn't matter what was going on onstage. Having an usher literally screaming at someone down the aisle from you really does inhibit your enjoyment of the show lol. 

I hope I don't have to wait another year and a half to see it again, but I will NEVER see it with Erika Jayne, and the next time someone is stunt cast in the show, I am going to really think twice about seeing it. 

Updated On: 2/9/20 at 10:34 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 2/9/20 at 11:00pm

Oh dear.  This explains why there hasn't been any video of Ms. Jayne performing as Roxie.  I hope Emma Pittman is on as Roxie when I see the show on June 7th.  

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 1:30pm

Thx for this. I loved Ben Crawford's performance as Phantom. As for Chicago, am looking forward to seeing Emma Pittman!!!!!! I love Charlotte but I do think Roxie is supposed to be younger like in her 20s. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 1:41pm

Wick3 said: "Thx for this. I loved Ben Crawford's performance as Phantom. As for Chicago, am looking forward to seeing Emma Pittman!!!!!! I love Charlotte but I do think Roxie is supposed to be younger like in her 20s."

If the character is "supposed to be in her 20's", then why would she say the line"I'm older than I ever intended to be"?  

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 2:03pm

JSquared2 said: "Wick3 said: "Thx for this. I loved Ben Crawford's performance as Phantom. As for Chicago, am looking forward to seeing Emma Pittman!!!!!! I love Charlotte but I do think Roxie is supposed to be younger like in her 20s."

If the character is "supposed to be in her 20's", then why would she say the line"I'm older than I ever intended to be"?"

Honestly, I’ve always felt that line could work for a Roxie of any age. I’ve seen 25 year olds do a bit of a freak out thinking they’ve reached “old age”, and there has always been a certain segment who romances the idea, especially in the roaring 20s, of living fast and hard and leaving a beautiful corpse. So the line works equally for a 25 year old who thought they’d die young or a 45 year old (or older) who truly sees themselves as over the hill. 

[hak5]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 2:41pm

You should see the newer shows....

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 3:05pm

hak5 said: "You should see the newer shows...."

You mean like Company, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Caroline or Change, Plaza Suite, Take Me Out?   First of all, those shows have not even started previews yet, and second, I am seeing all of those on my next trip, as well as Phantom and Chicago AGAIN.  Or did you mean newer shows like Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Hadestown, Moulin Rouge? I've seen all those, in some cases multiple times. And besides, did you see that this was a comfort theater weekend?   Chicago and Phantom are my comfort shows  : )

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 3:11pm

Don't feel like you have to defend yourself, Phantom4ever. You can see whatever shows bring you joy! Thanks for the reviews. I'm seeing Chicago in the beginning of March and while I'm dubious about Erika Jayne, I'm excited to see Ryan Silverman as Billy Flynn. I've enjoyed everything I've seen him in thus far, from Phantom to Passion to Side Show.

[Justin D]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 3:29pm

I saw Phantom twice over the recent anniversary weekend, was great, I do love Ben Crawford in the role, he did however do a move similar to "Broadwayguy12's avatar above which i thought was a bit 'strange'

But vocally he is amazing (the first show the boat got stuck out by the orchestra pit)

 

What did you think of the new makeup? I am not liking it at all TBH.

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 3:30pm

AEA AGMA SM said: "JSquared2 said: "Wick3 said: "Thx for this. I loved Ben Crawford's performance as Phantom. As for Chicago, am looking forward to seeing Emma Pittman!!!!!! I love Charlotte but I do think Roxie is supposed to be younger like in her 20s."

If the character is "supposed to be in her 20's", then why would she say the line"I'm older than I ever intended to be"?"

Honestly, I’ve always felt that line could work for a Roxie of any age. I’ve seen 25 year olds do a bit of a freak out thinking they’ve reached “old age”, and there has always been a certain segment who romances the idea, especially in the roaring 20s, of living fast and hard and leaving a beautiful corpse. So the line works equally for a 25 year old who thought they’d die young or a 45 year old (or older) who truly sees themselves as over the hill."

I agree. I loved Charlotte as Roxie and they can cast someone in their 40s or 50s or even 60s as Roxie and as long as they can act/dance/sing I think it would be great. I'm no expert on this musical but for some reason after watching the tryouts vlog for the new Chicago Roxie (where Emma Pittman won) the judges all picked ladies who looked like they were in their 20s... hence why I thought Roxie "is supposed to be younger like in her 20s."

 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 3:36pm

Thanks and you're welcome, BroadwayGuy12!  Ryan Silverman was a great Billy. 

JustinD, I didn't notice a move like that, except maybe for the iconic hand-across-Christine's-face move during MOTN (turn your face away...)  I would LOVE to see the boat get stuck! The only huge mistakes I ever saw was when the backdrop fell on Carlotta too early. 

I can't say I noticed any new makeup? Do you mean the Phantom?  One thing I did notice about that was how much Christine was touching it as she kissed him at the end. (1988 spoiler lol) It was almost like it was a fetish for her to rub her hands on huge deformities or something.  Maybe his lips weren't as big ?  

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 3:44pm

Phantom4ever said: "Thanks and you're welcome, BroadwayGuy12! Ryan Silverman was a great Billy.

JustinD, I didn't notice a move like that, except maybe for the iconic hand-across-Christine's-face move during MOTN (turn your face away...) I would LOVE to see the boat get stuck! The only huge mistakes I ever saw was when the backdrop fell on Carlotta too early."

lol I thought you meant the backdrop fell on Carlotta! A friend told me that sometime last year the Phantom fell during the boat scene (but came back up!)

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 3:49pm

No it didn't fall on Carlotta but it almost fell on lots of ensemble members upstage who were not ready or in their positions for it to fall "safely" like it was supposed to.  The weirdest part of that they just went on with the scene and then when it "fell" again, this time without being unfolded but just being brought down fast, the characters reacted to it so I'm sure that confused whoever was seeing the show for the first time. 

[dadaguza]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 4:21pm

Phantom4ever - I was at the 8pm performance of Phantom on Saturday 2/8 (my first time seeing it live). 

I can't believe I never tried seeing this before any of the newer shows. The music is so hauntingly beautiful, I was moved to tears so many times. I obviously have no one to compare him to as the Phantom, but Ben Crawford just blew me away. His was probably one of my favorite performances I've ever seen on Broadway. At times I admit it was a little hard to understand what they were singing, especially Raoul, so already knowing the score definitely helped. 

I'd definitely go see it again. 

 

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 6:38pm

This is why I won't see stunt casting with reality show folk.

It's not that they themselves are horrible, but it's the audience they bring with them.  Total garbage.

I don't mind seeing a performer who's so-bad-they're-good, especially if I can find it on TDF.  I just can't handle their backwater fanbase who have zero clue about theatre and couth.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 7:54pm

dadaguza said: 
I'ddefinitely go see it again.

"

Dadaguza, I'm so happy you enjoyed Phantom of the Opera!  I know that Hal Prince was a big part of keeping it from getting long-run-itis but apparently they have a new plan in place and it seems to be working! 

 

[Olivia11]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 9:15pm

I love (and completely understand) the term “comfort theater” in the OP. :)

[Lot666]

Posted: 2/11/20 at 9:32am

hak5 said: "You should see the newer shows...."

Why?

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/11/20 at 12:59pm

Phantom4ever said: "Dadaguza, I'm so happy you enjoyed Phantom of the Opera! I know that Hal Prince was a big part of keeping it from getting long-run-itis but apparently they have a new plan in place and it seems to be working!"

What's the new plan? I read this article a few months ago and I'm guessing it highlights some of the plan? https://variety.com/2018/voices/columns/phantom-of-the-opera-broadway-1202680742/

I'm quite glad Macintosh didn't pull the plug back in 2002 when they were considering doing so.

[Justin D]

Posted: 2/11/20 at 1:23pm

the move, (at first I thought it was just a move he did in the moment but he repeated it the following performance)

Basically it was like a 'stop in the name of love thing in slow motion, he did it for the big note in MOTN, again for "Go now and leave me" and lastly to close out the show.

It's fine but because of my sense of humor i found it amusing.

 

The makeup. Ben mentioned a while ago that he had new makeup, I just assumed he meant new prosthetics which at the time didnt make sense to be since they are new every performance, and I saw vids online with him in the usual makeup, and the photo in the brochure features the original makeup. 

But it is definately a redesign now.

The forehead piece is a bit bigger, but what makes it look odd and less realistic to me is that the 'cracked out' area is symmetrical all round, the curves of it, rather than being naturalistic and asymmetrical. Nothing in biology is usually so symmetrical. (think of how the ripples on a coffee filter are the same size all round)

Then the cheek, instead of the usual design that somewhat mimics the muscles in the face, it is now a chunk of white shiny cheek bone jutting out with a lot of red (i assume blood) around it. it looks more like an injury than a birth defect. and to be honest I have seen things in the halloween store very similar looking where the shin gets torn off to show the bone underneath.

I keep forgetting to check my playbill to see if christopher tucker is still getting credit for this or if this is redesigned by someone else.