Returning To The Theater Last Night - THE PRINCE OF EGYPT

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/21 at 8:37am

I returned to the theater last night after 477 days - I asked Siri how long it had been since Broadway shut down and was kind of shell-shocked to see that 477 days pop up. To be fair, I had gone to see "Perfect Crime" and "Lillies" off-Broadway, and a handful of concerts at the Green Room the past couple months but it's been that 477 days since I sat in an enormous theatre surrounded by people and shared in the experience of an actual large-scale show. 

When I first walked into the Dominion Theatre, there were a lot of safety protocols in place, from hand sanitizing stations, to mandatory temp checks to track and trace for everyone. It all went very smoothly and they were very adamant about masks when entering. Besides that, there was nothing really out of the ordinary about it. Since it's 50% capacity, half the seats were marked with large signs saying not to sit there and ushers routinely walked around with large signs saying face coverings must be worn at all times. A little side note about that - they must be worn UNLESS you were eating or drinking. So as long as you had a cup in your hand or a bag of something, I suppose they weren't required at all which is what I observed with some. But that's how it was in America also, at the movies so I didn't really think too much of it other than to roll my eyes at them. Strangely, sitting there for about 35 mins before the show started (that's when my timed entry was) besides being happy to be back in a theater, it was all just a very normal experience - not the emotional wreck I thought it would be. 

The show itself started on time and even though the theater was half capacity, you'd never have known it based on the thunderous response at the beginning. THAT was something special. THAT was what kind of bolted me into "Holy sh*t this is actually happening" mode. I don't think it's fair to review the show on it's entirety since it was an odd experience (just for everything involved in getting there) but I did enjoy it more than I thought I would. I've never been a real fan of the film and it's definitely not Schwartz's finest score but it's very good in parts (kind of like "Wicked", I suppose).

The staging at times was quite impressive, with the use of set pieces and projections together to create some really beautiful images, like turning the entire theatre into the sea parting. 

Writing this is so weird, I haven't written anything about a show for so long I don't even know where to start it and end it lol. But I'll just say that the ending of the show, the curtain call, is what brought it all home. I didn't know if there would be any speeches and boy, were there. Luke Brady who played Moses, with tears in his eyes stepped out to thank everyone and talk about the journey back to the theatre. The entire cast onstage (and this is a BIG cast) was feeling it and making everyone cry. Then the producers were brought onstage to talk about what it's been like  trying to ensure the show made it back and it got very direct and political at times. Then there was a video projected to the back of the stage showing EVERYONE who worked on the show, so they'd all get their applause for what they've done. To end it, they brought on the entire crew and did one last reprise of "When You Believe". I wouldn't believe anyone who said they weren't crying last night. Also, there's video of the ending speeches - I've seen it on a couple Facebook groups on West End shows, but they're private groups so there's no point linking it. But if anyone finds it elsewhere please do post it. 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 7/2/21 at 9:29am

Love that they acknowledged the backstage crew! It takes a village!

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/2/21 at 12:59pm

What was your quarantine like, Jordan? Is it still a full ten days at a hotel of their choice?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/21 at 2:15pm

It was only 5 days. You can get a test-to-release test on day 5 and end quarantine when you get a negative result. You can get 3 hour results, same day results, next day results, just a whole bunch of options.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/2/21 at 2:40pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Also, there's video of the ending speeches - I've seen it on a couple Facebook groups on West End shows, but they're private groups so there's no point linking it. But if anyone finds it elsewhere please do post it."

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5dc6gT6F8k

Unfortunately you can't see the back wall that well, but wow that was lovely. 

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/21 at 7:13pm

Oh fantastic! Thanks for posting that!

[phantom39]

Posted: 7/2/21 at 8:04pm

Anakela said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Also, there's video of the ending speeches - I've seen it on a couple Facebook groups on West End shows, but they're private groups so there's no point linking it. But if anyone finds it elsewhere please do post it."



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5dc6gT6F8k

Unfortunately you can't see the back wall that well, but wow that was lovely.

"

Thanks for finding this! Was there as well and it was an incredible night.