Never Gonna Dance

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 2/14/04 at 4:32pm

I saw Never Gonna Dance last night and I was blown away. This show DOES NOT deserve to close. It is a great show and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I'm so upset that it is closing this Sunday! =(

[b-waygirl]

Posted: 2/14/04 at 5:08pm

did you see it with the same actors and actresses that are usually on? because when i saw it, i thought that it was a "pretty good" play but not the best. i agree that it should stay on broadway a little while longer, but you could kind of tell that it wouldn't stay on very long. then again, alot of plays that do not deserve to close, close early, or before they should have. take a look at urinetown, big river, or ANY good show that the stupid peeps took off....::deep breathes::....i 'll try not to start ranting.....

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 2/14/04 at 5:19pm

There was another post on this a few weeks back. I saw last Saturday. I felt Never Gonna Dance duo can't match Fred and Ginger's verve. To me, everyone in Never Gonna Dance tries to hard to please that it is a pity to report that it is second rate.

It is a stage show derived from the 1936 Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers screen classic "Swing Time". This may satisfy some customers desperately hungry for old-fashioned song and dance confections.

This show with 16 sweet tunes offers up a pleasantly non-sensical romance between a happy go lucky hoofer and a pert dance teacher. On a bet, vaudeville entertainer Luck (Noah Racey) passes himself off as an amateur to team up with Penny (Nancy Lemenager) for a dance contest. Lucky has an unlikely finacee, and Penny is half-heartedly involved with a Latin lover but it is obvious that the dancers are fated to be mated. What also was obvious to me was Nancy Lemenager had no stage presence and there seemed to be no chemistry between her and Noah Racey.

Fortunately, several featured players prove good-humored company. Karen Ziemba as Penny's wisecracking best chum, is fun to have around, dancing her way with zest and grace through several lesser numbers. Peter Gerety bumbles about adorably as a bum who cleans up in more ways than one. David Pittu as a very funny temperamental Latin crooner, Peter Bartlett as a fuss-budget and Deidre Goodwin as a charmer from Harlem are terrific.

Never Gonna Dance isn't a bad show. It certainly holds together a piece of easy going entertainment but it is only pretty good to mediocre in quality.

I did like the costumes, set designs and music.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/14/04 at 6:54pm

I just saw it as well. I didn't love it, but I definitely had a good time. I was just staring at Noah Racey's feet in awe. He really is an incredible dancer. I didn't like Nancy Lemenager very much. She's not the best singer, and seemed to be lacking the presence that Noah had. I liked Karen Ziemba a lot, though. I really enjoyed the music and the sets too. It's not at all a bad show - it's a shame it's closing so soon.
Oh, and I met Noah! What a doll. And he has the most unbelievable blue eyes.

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 2/14/04 at 7:00pm

Ahh I wanted to meet him so bad. I think he is adorable!

[Alex the Cat]

Posted: 2/15/04 at 8:55pm

Broadwaygirl, I don't know what show some of these folks saw, but I saw the same show you did yesterday. I too was completely blown away. I've seen almost all the shows this season, and Never Gonna Dance was absolutely the best. I was in the center of the first row, and the dancing, acting, and most of the singing was as good or better than any show I've EVER seen.

A lot of people seem to think that an old-fashioned, 'sweet' musical has no place on today's Broadway. What about 'Millie', a show so sweet it made my teeth hurt? Now that's a show with a terrible book (not to mention racist overtones). Are people that easily swayed by the critics and the opinions of a couple of 'regulars' on the message boards? I spent the whole train ride home trying to figure it out. The biggest complaint I've heard from people is that Nancy Lemenager is not up to snuff vocally. First of all, I didn't think her voice was bad- Ginger Rogers couldn't sing, did anyone care? Of course not. Half the people on Broadway can't sing worth a d*mn. But... the dancing... oh my God- does no one care about seeing truly great dancing any more? Because I haven't seen dancing on that level since 'Chorus Line'. Lemenager is a very gifted dancer, as is Racey... and whoever said that she lacked chemistry with Noah Racey was seeing a different show from me too. I was close enough to have Noah's sweat dripping on me, and there was chemistry oozing from that stage. The opening number with Noah and ensemble in Grand Central was spectacular. The book was fine for something like this- yes, it's fluff, but it was funny and light-hearted and the audience laughed at all the right places.

I've been watching Fred & Ginger movies as well as all the MGM musicals for over 30 years... seen the original 'Swing Time' a million times... and I never thought anyone could do justice to it. I loved all the little 'homages' to those movies in this show... and BTW nothing had a sillier book than 'Swing Time' or any of the other F & G movies. Jerome Kern was an incredibly gifted and often overlooked songwriter- how wonderful to hear those tunes so beautifully brought to life again.

It seemed to me that Noah & Nancy were channeling Fred & Ginger- their dances together were absolutely magical. And yes, Karen Ziemba was great... but I really feel that no one has given this show and especially its stars their due. Why is this? Are there people who are bitter because they or a friend of theirs didn't get cast in the show? Do people have a grudge against someone associated with the show? How can something as mediocre as 'Anna in the Tropics' get better reviews than this? Does having a 'name' like Jimmy Smits make it a better show?

It's not just the weather that's killing Broadway this season, or a lack of good shows. It's critics who are out of control, and people listening to them. Shows don't even get a chance to open without negative publicity prejudicing people against them. Any show without a Hollywood star to prop it up doesn't have a chance. I've disagreed with the critics and most of the people on this board over every show I've seen this year, with the exception of Avenue Q- yet some people don't even like that show (and amazingly it doesn't have any big stars in it).

I think it's incredibly sad that 'Never Gonna Dance' is closing before anyone even had a chance to see it. The person sitting next to me asked the conductor after the show how something so good could be closing (this was all I heard from the crowd leaving the theater too)- he just chuckled and asked her if she knew anyone with $2 million to keep it going. I'm afraid 'Wonderful Town' will be next since that's another 'old-fashioned' musical that isn't making tons of money. People complain about the lack of new musicals and the constant revivals of shows we've all seen a million times before, but it's only going to get worse if new shows aren't given a chance to find their audience. Updated On: 2/15/04 at 08:55 PM

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 2/15/04 at 9:38pm

Yeah its really terrible that it is closing. I'm so depressed that a show so good is closing. It was great singing, acting, and dancing. All you could ask for. I totally agree with everything you say Alex the cat. I wish they would just give it another chance to show everyone what a great show it is.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/15/04 at 9:41pm

Never Gonna Dance is officially closed. I'm sad.... just thought I'd share.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 2/15/04 at 9:41pm

Alex the cat, I saw the show, and the chemistry between Noah and Nancy was not anything to rave about. If they finally got it right- too late!

They weren't that bad- but only about 75% convincing. Not enough for me.

And you are going to get a BITE from me for dissing my lovely "Anna in the Tropics", which is a very well written/acted play, IMO, of course.

But yes- I liked it (ed: talking about NGD), yet understand WHY it's closing. And although I'd like it open for a little while more, it's time for it to go. Updated On: 2/15/04 at 09:41 PM

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 2/15/04 at 9:44pm

luvtheemcee do you have to rub it in??? lol!!!
noooooo, I hope it comes back!!!!!
*sits down and cries*
as long as i get to see more of Noah Racey soon!!!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/15/04 at 9:48pm

awww you know I don't want to make you cry!
*hugs BwayGirl4Life*
ooh Noah. I think he'll be around. That boy can dance!

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 2/15/04 at 9:50pm

awww thanks luvtheemcee!
yeah i hope he is around. he is great and very very handsome.
Good Bye Never Gonna Dance, u will be missed!!!

[Alex the Cat]

Posted: 2/15/04 at 10:03pm

Not every show is going to appeal to everyone... and that's part of the beauty of Broadway, that there can (hopefully) be a wide range of good shows that are also commercially successful... For me personally, nothing beats a show with great dancing and a gorgeous score. If Hugh Jackman was in NGD would it be closed? I don't think so.

Oh well- I had my end-of-season rant... it's just depressing