Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on CRY-BABY (with stage door photos)

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 2:56pm

Special Guest : brettystar & burnsy

E39

Cry-Baby
New Musical
Marquis Theater
5/18 3 pm matinee
2 hours and 10 mins (with 1 intermission)
Tix Price : $35.00 (thru TDF) for Orchestra Row N Center seat 121

INTRO:

There are several reasons why I decided to see the show: First- I am a big fan of Rob Ashford's choreography, Second- I wanted to see Alli Mauzey , Third- I wanted to see Spencer Liff's notorious abs , Fourth- to finally meet Nick Blaemire (which we are consistently corresponding to one another thru our facebook accounts for the past few weeks and lastly to meet my fellow BWW's posters : burnsy- we are supposedly see the show together on my second attempt to see the show, brettystar~one of my friends here from Australia, and I dont really wanna miss the oppurtunity not to see him during his NYC visit and lastly NYCBoy2- which unfortunately both our scheduled did not work, bec. he can only see the show on Saturday matinees and I was busy Saturday running errands. Though I will catch with him next time I go to NYC.

Yes.. It took me THREE attempts to finally see the show. The first two I bought tickets, but decided to cancel it at the last minute. Ouch! I ended up wasting tickets~but finally I was able to see the show this Sunday courtesy of TDF-and I got the best seat in the house Orchestra Row N Center...at least- I got my money's worth this time meaning though I ended up paying a FULL PRICE in a way bec. I wasted two tickets. (each worth $35.00)

At least.. I can say... I saw the show for $105.00 (3 x $35.00) Now...let's get to business!

Things I LIKE about the show

1. Rob Ashford's Choreography: If you are a big dance fan- you oughta see the show..Its the best thing going on for the show! I always love his work from Millie, The Wedding Singer and last year's Curtains...I am really excited to see his upcoming work this fall at my hometown for Brigadoon's Pre-Broadway Try- Out. I had a chance to meet him, and I told him~ that I am a big fan of his work!

a. A Little Upset- this is the best number of the show, the part where Cry-Baby learned that Allison accepted Baldwin's wedding proposal. I cant describe how great is the choreography. Its a long number, very acrobatic...it has that Rob Ashford's trademark-the running man dance moves (that's what I call it~like in Millie's Forget the Boy number) which looks like they are running-moving their arms that looks like they are on a threadmill-the one which you can move your arms too while running.

-One part I love is the chase scene (escape scene from Prison) where the male dancers were on the stage..crawling and doing really acrobatic moves with their feet. This part where you can really see the beauty of choreography with almost a bare stage (no scenery) -just guys on the floor with a spotlights on them.

- The tap dancing part was so good- they used the license plate and put it on their shoes and they were tap dancing, doing the Rob Ashford's runinng man moves...so amazing to see it. This is the part where you instantly forget the flaws of the show!

from BWW's clip of the show (featured part of A Little Upset number)
https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.cfm?id=6187&show=on

b. Watch Your Ass- I dont like the song, but I love the part where they are doing Elvis Twist moves ad moving to the right~then left.

c. Girl, Can I Kiss You with a Tongue- again.. I did not care for the song, but the part that really catched my attention are the ensemble which are "making out" behind the rocks by the pond- they feets are up on the air, almost doing a yoga bending moves ala Madonna. There is a trap door behind the rocks and the dancers were just upside down. ~so amazing! Their feets are the only thing you can see...wow! very creative..

d. The dance interludes between the scenes: they were just done soo amazingly choreographed like before the Jukebox Jamboree number. It seems like everytime they dance you totally forget about the show.

2. Alli Mauzey- I thought she was great and very funny. Actually during my 4 hour bus ride to see the show.. I was watching John Waters' movies- CRY-BABY & A DIRTY DOWN SHAME. I thought Mauzey was the only one that's really campy in John Waters' style thru the entire show!

- Who can forget her while chasing Cry-Baby in the A Little Upset Number/Scene where she is wearing a wedding gown & bare footed. I thought it was hilarious!

3. The Ensemble: YES~If there is a TONYS for Best Ensemble, it should go for Cry-Baby. These guys are like machines! They are soo energetic thru the entire show!

a. Spencer Liff- I guess, as it was mentioned 10 million times by now...Spencer Liff is the standout of the male ensemble and probably an attention grabbing MAGNET thru the entire show. His dancing was soo great that you focus nothing but him thru the entire show! You guys- know that his abs are just phenomenal! In a way~ I thought its a little distracting like the Screw Loose number- where the 1st verse, he was on the pool table lying down..half naked..and shaking his body...I was soo distracted! lol! I dont know where to focus to my attention! I totally forgot that Alli Mauzey was singing and belting her lungs out!

Spencer Abs...oops I mean Liff



b. Marty Lawson was so handsome in person, and great dancer too with hot bod in his black tank top. love him...iMO...he looks better "in person" than any chorus boy in the show.

Things I DON'T LIKE about the show

1. Music- I thought it was forgettable specially the last song. There were two songs that I like "A Little Upset" which is probably bec. of the choreography & "Screw Loose" bec. of Mauzey's delivery which probably why I enjoyed it.

- I was disapointed that they removed Class Dismissed. I saw a clip of that number and I really love the choreography..the song they replaced that kinda built the 3 female characters- Wanda, Hackett Face & Pepper but it was bland and generic.

- Two songs I really dont like : Cant Beat the System & Misey, Agony..you know the rest...woe.... and with bare choreography to at least enjoy the song.

2. Lyrics- I really did not like it. It thought it was "corny". I dont even know why some people are laughing like in Squeeky Clean...that goes "and when you rub our hair.. its sounds like mice...ickkkk! and "I'm Infected" that goes....my soul got a boo-boo that no wow-li-pop can heal"

3. The Book- I think one of the main culprit aside from the score is the book: As I mentioned I watched John Waters two movies~and I really LOVE it. I thought the show missed the point. meaning- the oddities in John Walters' film that we learned to love or acquired a taste for it. I felt like the show was trying soo hard to be campy and just to put another Waters' show on Broadway~that they missed the vital ingredients of John Waters' cult movie. Not that I am comparing the show to the movies~ I came to see the show as it is... but it did not come across to me as very John Waters-y!

a. like Cry-Baby- he is supposed to be a rebel..but in the musical...I dont see a rebel in him..he is just a guy wearing a black leather and wearing a tight pants.

b. What's the deal with the pie girl, cigarette girl at the end...that's my point...its trying soo hard.

4. The Scenic Design- I dont know why people say that the scenery are great..I thought it was simple and I really dont like the cut-out trees and town~ I thought it reminded me of WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND. The only set I like is the set they used in Only in My Head number.. I like the bride's store, but overall- I was underwhelmed!

5. The Costumes- same with scenic design.. the only thing I like is the red dress of Harriet Harris in "I Did Something Wrong, once" and why everything was so color coded..meaning the squares- electric green for guys and pastel pink for girls-now I can let that go... but for Drapes...which is supposed to be FREE or whatever the F you want- why are all they wearing either black or red?

6. Kinda remind me of HAIRSPRAY: NOT bec. its adapted from both John Water's movies, but bec. of :

A. Wanda, Pepper & Hackett Face is more of Hairspray's Dynamites: It seems to me that they are just Cry-Baby's back up singers now. They also made Pepper as Cry-Baby's friend now as opposed to Cry-Baby's sister.

B. The Whole ending of Act 1-where Cry-Baby kneels down at the court and yelled! and curtain fell down~it was soo HAIRSPRAY.

C. Dupree's character ( Chester Gregory II) - This is one charcater that baffles me thru the entire show...Dont get me wrong? I love muti race casting but I dont undertstand Dupree's character thru the entire show..his character not even move the story.. I felt like he was just an accesory to the show..someone to belt-out all those numbers...and he was doing a Little Richard impersonation thru the entire the show~which was kinda annoying to me. I really like the actor, but not his character- I thought his character was an anachronism. He sang a verse on the finale numbver about RACISM~but this was 1950's .. I thought the story was about white folks classes- high class vs. low class (class inequality) The whole racism was in HAIRSPRAY - a decade later...and even in the movie version of Cry-Baby.. the African Anerican character did not show up until -the jail scene with Cry-Baby.. I thought the creative team expanded his role and made it more like a male version of Motor-Mouth Maybelle... like in one of Marc Shaiman's song...Let A Big Black Lady Stop the Show! I thought it was out of place.

7. The Direction by Mark Brokaw: Why did the Director allow these things to happen?

a. The entrance scene of Cry-Baby & his three back singers/friends in the Country Club with lightning! ~What was that all about? Is this a horror movie? and their exit with the sounds of lighting again- I was so terrified with this idea!

b. The gas mask waltz- its good is was shortened now. Again.. I know they are trying to show the paranoia feeling of the 50's but its not coming across as NOT very John Waters-y oddities~ it just awful!

c. The Pie Girl was something else.

I thought overall- the best part of the show is when they are dancing...it really shows the potential of Cry-Baby, but everytime they go to the book and sing a songs -it came across to me as - they are trying "to be" a John Waters' musical.. I think that's where they lost the battle. It almost seems like its a person...that everytime he talks or tell a story about himself-you feel like he is pretending to be somebody else and your instinct is telling you -that's not him...but everytime he dance~you see his real self and his real potential!

IN SUMMARY:

Well- After the show..I met most of the cast members.. Actually they are ALL very nice. To be honest...I wished them best for their big TONYS production number. When I saw the show~its FULL. I am glad that they picked up some business after the nominations. I wont certainly wish the show to close at all. I am happy for all these hard working cast members. I am sure it will find an audience. When I saw the show~the audience seems to be having a great time. Personally I did enjoy the show as a Dance Extravaganza and as a Musical? - my answer is NO. Its good that I came with all the RIGHT reasons like I mentioned earlier in the thread, bec. I was not let down. I know what to expect and I got what I wanted to see. With James Snyder & Elizabeth Stanley- I thought they were okay..not in my like list nor in my dislike list- I thought they did what they could do and gave 110% for a show that was poorly written and directed.

On the way back to Times Square.. I saw the infamous Best Musical banner...Honestly.. It did not bother me at all.. The think the cast deserves it and I am happy for them. And lastly.. I will advise everyone to GO SEE the show for yourself...you might like it? Unfortunately it just did not work for me as a whole, but everyone has a different taste.

Thanks

J*

SCORE : 3/7- Did Not Like it!



Marquis Theater










MERCHANDISE:






Production Photos
(from Playbill)
https://www.playbill.com/multimedia/search/13558.html











The Playbill










Stage Door Photos
(Special Thanks to burnsy- for taking all my photos! )

One of my special guest this week : Brett (brettystar) -BWW's poster from Australia!


with Lacey Kohl (as Wanda)


with my buddy- Nick Blaemire (composer of GLORY DAYS)


with Eric Sciotto-the understudy for Cry-Baby


with James Snyder & Christopher J. Hanke


with Elizabeth Stanley


The Two Stars of CRY-BABY:


of course with me!


with Alli Mauzey


with Carly Jibson


with my fellow filipino - Mayumi Miguel (one of the great dancer in the show!)


huh? what is this? oh... they are moving this to a studio to practice for their Tonys big number:


I wonder what song is that? hmm.....


with brettystar & the cutest chorus boy- Marty Lawson.


of course!I came to see the show bec. of him... duh!
with Spencer Liff




and lastly with Rob Ashford



My Autographed Playbill







Updated On: 5/19/08 at 02:56 PM

[Fiyero13]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 3:13pm

very nice job, was nick blaemire very nice?

[oohshizz146]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 3:17pm

I'm bummed you didnt like it! I'm still dying to see it just to see Alli Mauzey and James Snyder and because I love the movie so much.

Ah, well.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 3:18pm

Great repot Jay!

I actually just bought a CryBaby opening night playbill, thinking it would probably close early.
Doesn't look like that will be happening...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 3:26pm

Thanks jay...guess they're performing "A Little Upset" at the Tonys...a good choice (it was the best number in the show although that's not saying much).

[pli1018]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 3:30pm

Glad to see you finally saw it for yourself! I think if people give it a chance, it's totally not the disaster everyone here has made it out to be.

Oh yeah, and I think the inception of racism into "Nothing Bad" was to promote the absurdity of the song. If you listen to the lyrics, they talk about a Utopian future society where literally "nothing is bad". Free health care, no war, no racism after the 50s- these are all social commentaries on what life should be like but they're really poking fun at current society and the lack of these these things.

PS: I can't tell from the pictures, but do they sell programs yet?
Updated On: 5/19/08 at 03:30 PM

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 3:49pm

Thanks for sharing your reviews and pictures! The pictures are great, and is it just me or is this cast just very, very good looking?

I really, really want to see this show!

[nitwit]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 3:51pm

c'mon jay!!! u didn't post enough pics of the hot chorus boys. cry baby is worth seeing just for all that sizzling boy eye-candy. more ab pics!!!!
Updated On: 5/19/08 at 03:51 PM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 3:57pm

As always, GREAT pictures and GREAT report

I enjoy your posts so much... even if you have to report that you didn't really like what you saw

Updated On: 5/19/08 at 03:57 PM

[dented146]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 3:58pm

Great and fair minded review. Thanks for the terrific pix. I also believe it will do ok with audiences.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 4:02pm

The cast is very good looking in person specially Nick Blaemire and Marty Lawson.

Thanks phil108- I did not even realized that..until you mentioned it.. I told ya.. I was distracted!

No programs yet..just t-shirts, key chains, posters, mugs. magnets, pins and James Snyder CD. and yes the show will be recorded! Also there's a possibility for GLORY DAYS to be recorded per Nick.

Yes..Nick Blaemire is very very nice and very accomodating, so with the rest of them.. They would even ask you if you want them to sign your playbill. I have a funny story... I was talking to James Snyder and Chris Hanke asked me.. Can I sign your playbill? and I said said yes!!! lol!

BTW- we waited for 1 hour~by then all the cast members are out already except for the male ensembles (and you guys know WHY I went to see the show, so I waited!) its bec. they are practicing their TONYS number-that's explained why Rob Ashford was there and he told us in person (we chatted with him)

Then after that..they were uploading those license plate machines to a truck to a studio, so they can practice. It does not really say anything~but somehow you can figure out. I did ask Rob..pls tell me that you guys will do A LITTLE UPSET number? he said.. I cannot say, but he smiled!

I also told.. oh Rob...please cast Spencer Liff in Brigadoon, so I can see him again in Boston and he said.. that he will be in Brigadoon, and later Spencer confirmed that he is indeed going to be in Brigadoon in the ensemble. To my fellow Bostonian- we will see him this Fall! yay!

and yes.. they are doing GOOD now. They are almost selling to FULL HOUSE capacity ever since the TONY nomination!

J*


Updated On: 5/19/08 at 04:02 PM

Posted: 5/19/08 at 4:09pm

So when you meet everyone associated with the show do you tell them how you've been bad mouthing the production since long before it opened?

[burnsy]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 4:10pm

It was fun hanging out with Jay & Brett at the stagedoor yesterday. I really really hope Rob Ashford would take home Best Choreography this year. I was doomed last year that he lost to Spring Awakening...

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 4:13pm

Joe-Of course NO- but I think they know who am I- bec. they read BWW, that's why Hanke gave me the finger in the picture! lol!

(just kiddin')

J*

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 4:15pm

jaystarr -- nothing personal intended, but you sure dress up to go to the theatre, dont'cha?

I'm curious to see how you 'dress down'.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 4:16pm

Thanks Jay...the final line of your review says "everyone has a different taste." I am so happy you have come to this conclusion. I really liked Cry Baby! And as you know I really didn't like Gypsy. And the reason?? Everyone has a different taste.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 4:18pm

Brody- I just dressed comfortably!

Bert- Youre welcome!



J*

[matty159]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 4:21pm

Once again, thanks for a wonderful 10/10! Was especially fond of the photos from this one.

[NYCboy2]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 4:50pm

This is one of your best reviews ever. Sorry that I missed you this weekend! I will try to catch you later, bro. and thanks for a great review with photos.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 5:14pm

Jaybird, you are the quickest.
wink, wink.

[Bwayfan4]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 5:14pm

Another great report jaystarr! I agree with you...I loved "Screw loose"...probably my favorite song in the whole show! Interesting how things picked up after the Tony nom...I will be curious to see what happens after the Tonys.

[matty159]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 5:22pm

I seriously need that copy of HX!

[jondouglas]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 5:53pm

Jay, I always look so forward to reading your reviews of the lastest Broadway shows. You're so detailed...so thank you for that.

So, Jay, are you going to the theatre to see cute boys or to see a show? If it's the former, rent a porn dvd.......ha, ha.... Let's focus.......ha, ha....

I saw CB in April and loved it.....loved it! Yes, I know that I'm going to raise a few eyebrows by saying that. But, you gotta look at the whole, big picture. It's John Waters. It's not like you're going to see "Gypsy" or "My Fair Lady." You know from the moment you enter the theatre, that it's going to be campy, over the top and fun nonsense.

There are so many people on this board what feel as if they HAVE to hate it, because it's "the norm" - whatever that means? And, it's so easy to compare it to "Hairspray" since it's essentially the same creative team. But, that's not fair to CB or HAIR, for that matter. Each show needs to stand on it's own. So, for anyone to think that it's going to be GYPSY or anything else, it's really their own expectations that are up too high. That's not the show's fault, by any means.

And, we've all done that-----had high expectations for something...making it better in our mind than the actual event.

I thought the show was wonderful, the acting terrific and the dancing was great. I never thought that the lead guy wasn't right or anything like that. He has immediate stage presence.

Just my 2 cents.....

Updated On: 5/19/08 at 05:53 PM

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 5:55pm

Jay - if you went on May 18th, why does your playbill still have Courtney Balan pictured and Tory Ross listed as an understudy? When I went a few weeks ago Tory was listed as Hatchet-face in the playbill during Courtney's medical LOA, and then she officially took over the role on May 1st. I'm so confused!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 6:01pm

I have no idea? Yeah- the Playbill that I got has a leaftlet of Tory Ross as Hackett Face.
Yup. I saw the show yesterday 5/18 3 pm matinee-burnsy & brettystar can attest to that!

J*