My Trip To NYC - Show Reviews! (May 3 - 10)

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 1:05am

Hi everyone,
I have just arrived home from a wonderful, week-long trip to NYC. I saw some amazing shows, ate some fantastic food, and had the time of my life. What a city! I hope to be living there within the next couple of years, but in the meantime my parents and I visit annually. I soaked in a lot of theatre (Les Miserables, Deuce, Grey Gardens, Company, Spring Awakening, 110 In The Shade, and Curtains) and I am glad to share my reviews!

LES MISERABLES (Thursday, May 3rd at 8:00 pm)
I wanted to start out with Les Miz because I am familiar with the show and I wanted to save the fresh stuff for last! Being a huge fan of Lea Salonga, I was set on seeing her as Fantine. So my heart stopped for a moment when I walked into the lobby of the Broadhurst and noticed an "At This Performance..." placard. I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that Lea was in. However, Ben Davis and Adam Jacobs were both out. Instead, Drew Sarich was on for Javert, and Daniel Bogart for Marius. I was not greatly dismayed, but I expected a slightly offbeat show considering that the two empty ensemble tracks were being filled with swings. I'm sure it must be quite a difficult job. Anyway, the show started - it was really thrilling. I must say that the ensemble was phenomenal. They were all good soloists as well as a solid chorus. Especially the prostitutes. They were absolutely savage! Has this scene been re-blocked? I noticed some differences..... It was a lot more "graphic" than before. Also, there was a new sequence added into Lovely Ladies I believe. Correct me if I'm wrong. One of the prostitutes sang something about "will the bleeding ever stop?" that I had never heard before. Was this new for anyone else?
The main problem I found was that the leads were inconsistent in quality. Alexander Gemigniani, Lea Salonga, and Gary Beach were outstanding. But I was really underwhelmed by Ali Ewoldt (too shrill), Mandy Bruno (too Disney princess... why was she wearing white nail polish? Can you say unprofessional?), and Ann Harada (I don't know why she was using her Christmas Eve voice....)
As for the understudies --- Drew Sarich was bizarre... I didn't like his voice very much and I really didn't care for his interpretation. He over-baked it slightly. It was kind of a charicature. Daniel Bogart has a gorgeous voice. He wasn't as strapping and sexy as Marius "should" be. And he didn't quite have the charisma. But he was fine.
The only song I really found heart-rending was Bring Him Home. Alexander sang this beautifully. Who knew he had such a terrific voice? I seriously think he rivals Colm Wilkinson.
Overall, it was a nice production. Not the epic, mega-musical Les Miz used to be. But it was definitely a worth-while night at the theatre. It made for a good start to the trip.

MORE TO COME!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 1:19am

That's unfortunate that you missed Davis, I imagine.

The line in LOVELY LADIES was added, I believe, around the 10th Anniversary when they did a whole revamp of the show. It has never been legally recorded in English - but can be heard on all of the Japanese recordings.