Harry Comes to Broadway

[edjames]

Production sources from the West End production of "Equus" starring Harry Potter actor, Daniel Radcliffe have confirmed that the show will open on Broadway next spring. Good reviews and a slew of teenage girls buying tickets made this show a hit in the West End and its success here is almost guaranteed. I wonder how NY Times theater reviewer, Ben Brantley, will react to the show when it opens.

 

Speaking of teenage girls... I went to see the new Broadway musical "Legally Blonde" last week. A high energy show with a great cast (Laura Bell Bundy was terrific!) and lots of energetic dancing. The music isn't especially memorable, a mixture of pop, hip-hop with a touch of rap thrown in. Most amazing was the overwhelming numbers of young teenagers in the audience! I would say that at least 70% of the audience were kids from ages 12-17! The show has become a new mecca for the Broadway teen audience and it looks like "Wicked" has found its successor! In an off-coincidence, I went to Campus Thursday at Splash Bar and was surrounded by the most amazing collection of young men I've seen in ages, and most dancing around in their thighty whities, or should I say tighty oranges, blues and assorted other colors!

 

Speaking of Broadway. One of the shows with a great collection of tunes is "Curtains." David Hyde Pierce and Debra Monk are terrific and you exit the theater humming the show stopper "Show People." A fun show.

 

Also, although he never even takes off his shirt in this production, latest Broadway hunk, Hugh Dancy (Is he gay?), turns in an admirable performance in "Journey's End" with Jefferson Mays ("I Am My Own Wife") and Boyd Gaines. A highly dramatic evening of theater with a heart retching ending.

 

I have "Frost/Nixon" lined up for this week and there have been some unfortunate and unflattering comments coming out of the Angela Landsbury/Marion Seldes show "Deuce" by Terrance McNally. I can only hope it all gets worked out before I see it next week!

 

It's a great Broadway season reversing the dismal disappointing seasons of the past several years. I would hate to be a Tony judge this year! The category of Best Actor will be tough. There are so many terrific performances to choose from. I hope Nathan will not be upset if he is overlooked for his poor performance in "Butley!"

 

ED

[Guest TorontoJared]

That is such a coincidence! One of my good friends and I just watched the film, "Legally Blond" today. She's heading off to Harvard Law School this fall and had never seen the film. Of course, I insisted that she must see it before going to law school since, although she's not blond like me, she is a pineapple (brunette on the outside but VERY blond on the inside). We laughed so much as we watched it. It was so reminiscent of when all of my blond friends in early highschool went to see the film and had the best time. I had no idea that it was going to be a musical on Broadway! That's so exciting!!! I really want to see it!! Hopefully it will be a huge hit and stay around for a very long time!!! I'm so glad to hear a positive review of it!!

 

You saw "I Am My Own Wife"? I saw that here in Toronto and thought that it was an excellent one-man show. It was incredible how he really made the characters come to life and was able to create such a presence and story. I remember that it seemed to hold everyone's attention as there was no figiting during the performance at all.

 

As for theatre here in Toronto (AKA the Broadway of the North), the North American premiere of "Dirty Dancing". Has anyone seen this show in London? How was it? They've finished auditions here in Canada and hopefully it will be good.

 

Speaking of current shows on Broadway, this past year I saw "The Little Dog Laughed" which was an excellent play. I would recommend it to all of you for it was witty, funny, had great performances, yet also made you think a bit. Additionally, it has a character that is a male escort which is portrayed in a much more honest light and not so stereotyped.

 

Take care and have a good day!

[+ Lucky]

Thanks for the reviews, Ed. I liked Journey's End a lot. Hugh Dancy is so handsome...but the story is quite touching in a Gallipoli fashion. All these cute young guys dying for nothing.

 

Frost/Nixon is great and I recommend it to anyone who likes great theater. The other shows may be fun, but these two make theater-going worthwhile.

[FinFangFoom]

Has anyone actually seen the show in London, and if so, please answer the question I've never seen addressed anywhere - does he show his cock?

 

Curiously yours,

 

FFF

[edjames]

I haven't seen the show ("Equus")in London, but reliable sources tell me David Radcliffe is totally naked on stage for the better part of twenty minutes in the second act and, yes, full-frontal.

 

To go back to a previous reply, I did see "I Am My Own Wife," and I thought it was one of the best evenings of theater I have ever seen.

 

I went to see Frost/Nixon last night. I was very excited at the prospect of seeing this show since I saw the reviews and having heard the buzz from theatergoers in London.

 

I will say that Frank Langella was magnificent. His portrayal of Nixon is what good acting is all about. He doesn't create a caricature of Nixon, but rather portrays the man who lost the presidency and suffers from the delusion that he did no wrong. He assumes the character of Nixon, not only in voice, but in his physical stature and mannerisms. It was fascinating to watch him.

 

Michael Sheen does his best as David Frost, if not, a bit chunky! Either this role agrees with him or he is eating out of desperation trying to keep up with Langella, but his "bum" did seem a bit "healthy" in those 70's slacks he wears! Has a bit of a belly, too.

 

Although I thought the show would be a dramatic contest of contention between David Frost and Richard Nixon, it didn't live up to that and we are given a rather tepid "making of a TV interview." It takes a good hour before Nixon and Frost sit down to discuss his presidency and even then there is little said, and the play concentrates on the mechanics of the interview.

 

And, once again, what is with this new Broadway habit of NO Intermission? 2 hours, straight through.

 

I am told that Terrence McNally's "Deuce" is going to be the biggest bomb on Broadway! Early word is out that this is a terrible show! Poor Angela Landsbury and Marion Seldes! A Broadway producer told me last night that I should go to the show next Thursday night and sell my ticket to some unsuspecting tourist rather than sit through this horrid night of theater! OMG! Oh well, win some, lose some. The producer did say that "Coram Boy" is wonderful but will not make any money. And in a surprising tidbit of information he told me that "Legally Blonde" has already started paying back its investors! He hated it, but I liked it. We'll see, it opens Sunday night. "Love Muzik" garnered 12 Drama Desk award nominations, so I will be heading up to the box office tomorrow to see if I can get a seat.

 

And complete OT in this reply but worth the fun was stopping in at Splash Bar's Campus Thursday party last night. OK, I know a lot of you guys out there are into deeply masculine men and this is probably not the venue for you, but this place was crazy with near-naked young twink dancers! It was a lot of fun and I had a good time. Hot bartenders, too.

 

ED

[Bilbo]

Perhaps we should mention that one, perhaps the main, reason that Coram Boy isn't going to make money is that it has soo maany people in the cast, etc. I look forward to reading the script, since for the same reasons I don't look for it to tour to Houston. But I have always loved Papa Hayden's music. It seems to show such a warm sense of humor.

[Lankypeters]

>>

>Speaking of teenage girls... I went to see the new Broadway

>musical "Legally Blonde" last week. Most

>amazing was the overwhelming numbers of young teenagers in the

>audience! I would say that at least 70% of the audience were

>kids from ages 12-17! The show has become a new mecca for the

>Broadway teen audience and it looks like "Wicked" has found

>its successor!

 

THANKS! YOU JUST SAVED ME $110.

 

 

>Speaking of Broadway. One of the shows with a great

>collection of tunes is "Curtains." David Hyde Pierce and

>Debra Monk are terrific and you exit the theater humming the

>show stopper "Show People." A fun show.

 

AGREE, AGREE. A CHARMING SHOW WITH FUNNY LINES, GREAT PERFROMANCES (HYDE-PIERCE, MONK, IN PARTICULAR, AND A HUMMABLE SCORE IN THE CLASSIC BROADWAY BRASSY STYLE. SOLID DIRECTION -- BEAUTIFULLY JUDGED.

>

>Also, although he never even takes off his shirt in this

>production, latest Broadway hunk, Hugh Dancy (Is he gay?),

>

GO ON BROADWAY.COM AND CHECK OUT THE EASTER PARADE PHOTOS FOR SHOTS OF HUGH SHIRTLESS. ALSO, ALAS, SOME SHOTS OF HIM WITH A SQUEEZE --- OR MAYBE A BEARD?

 

>there have

>been some unfortunate and unflattering comments coming out of

>the Angela Landsbury/Marion Seldes show "Deuce" by Terrance

>McNally.

 

THIS PROJECT REMINDS ME OF THE PLAYS LA HEPBURN DID IN HER DOTAGE, E.G. "THE WEST SIDE WALTZ" WITH DOROTHY LOUDON. TANATMOUNT TO A NIGHT AT THE WAX MUSEUM.

>

>

I hope Nathan will not be upset if he is overlooked for

>his poor performance in "Butley!"

 

NATHAN LANE WAS THE BUTT IN "BUTLEY." WITHOUT DOUBT LANE IS THE MOST OVERPRAISED MEMEBER OF ACTORS EQUITY CURRENTLY ON THE BOARDS. HIS "PERFORMANCES" ARE A GRAB BAG OF UPSTAGING SCHTICK AND VOCAL AFFECTATIONS THAT REMIND OF OF THOSE STORIES ABOUT ACTORS WHO SANG THROUGH THEIR ASSES. WHEN HE OPENED IN "THE PRODUCERS" SOMEONE SAID HE'D ATTAINED THE LEVEL OF BROADWAY GREAT ALFRED DRAKE. I SAW ALFRED DRAKE. NATHAN LANE IS NO ALFRED DRAKE. NOT EVEN HAL LINDEN. OR SIDNEY CHAPLIN. OR JAMES "SLEEPY TIME" NAUGHTON.

 

 

 

 

 

Lankypeters

[Guest zipperzone]

>I will say that Frank Langella was magnificent.

 

Ahhhhhhh...... Frank Langella

 

Now there's one guy who was incredibly hot when he was young. Have any of you seen his early movies. Totally totally hot.

 

Perhaps his name should be added to the thread about which older actors are still doable.

[edjames]

Legally Blond survived the critics,barely, so it looks like its in for a run.

 

It was announced today that "Frost/Nixon" will be filmed as a movie. Produced by Ron Howard and directed by Ridley Scott, Frank Langella and Michael Sheen will reprise their roles. It goes before the cameras on Aug 27...could a 2007 Oscar nom be far behind?

 

Ed

[Lankypeters]

>Legally Blond survived the critics,barely, so it looks like

>its in for a run.

 

 

Nymphettes will be getting moist panties over it for years. This is what Broadway has become.

 

 

Lankypeters

[AdamSmith]

>Nymphettes will be getting moist panties over it for years.

 

Nympholepts, possibly?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nympholept

[edjames]

"This is what Broadway has become."

 

I'm not to sure I agree with your statement as I interpret it, so forgive me if I am wrong.

 

Broadway has become many things. It is first and foremost a business enterprise; therefore profits are important to investors. I have been told that "Legally Blonde" has already started repaying its investors. So, with a $10 million advance, it's in for a run.

 

I think shows that are targeted for a younger audience are good for Broadway. They will hopefully instill in young people the joy of watching a live show and bring them back for more as they grow up.

 

Broadway offers a variety of different productions that suit the needs and taste of a variety of audiences. Die hard theater goers this season have Broadway classics like "Company," "A Moon For the Misbegotten," "Inherit The Wind," "A Chorus Line," and "Journey's End" to satisfy their requirement for classic Broadway shows. New productions, such as "Curtains," "Legally Blonde," "Spring Awakenings," and "The Coast Of Utopia," prove that producers are willing to put their money into new productions. And the tourists will all flock to see "Chicago" and "Wicked". Finally, there are, yes, the young audiences whose Mommies and Daddies treat them to Birthday celebrations at "The Lion King" or "Mary Poppins."

 

Broadway keeps thousands of musicians, stage hands, lighting directors, costume attendants, actors, and not to mention all the peripheral industry jobs, such as hotel, food services and retail operations that benefit highly from the Broadway industry which make New York City one of the most desirable tourist destinations.

 

So, any show is better than no show at all....

 

EJ

[N13]

Saw Corum Boys.....or should I say saw the first act.

 

Along with a large number of other people,I did not stay for the second act. I am afraid that, being from England and preceeded by rave reviews from London, it will be this year's "Emperor's New Clothes" spectacle.

 

This, for me, means that the critics will rave and the "sheep" will follow (without having one bit of an idea of what this overblown piece of stupidity and self-conscious 'avant garde theatre' is about.

 

There is nothing new or clever about the directing, the staging or the acting. It has all been done before - and with much better results. I refer you to the early 60's when there was truly innovative theatre; i.e. Genet's "The Blacks" and "The Balcony"; "Waiting for Gadot" and a host of other truly thought provoking shows.

 

If, however, dead babies are your thing, you will get your fill of them in this intelligence insulting piece of drival.

 

I guess you can tell I am glad I didn't have to pay for it.

 

PS, My hosts are the ones who were relieved that I didn't like it and suggested we leave.

[Rick Munroe]

Derek and I saw and loved "Journey's End" last week, although the performance was marred by 2 distractions: horrible perfume on the body of an Upper East Side broad seated directly behind us - we didn't discover its origin until it was time to leave; and someone's cell phone ringing at the climax of a very tense scene - it was a very long musical chime followed by the musical sound of the person turning the phone off!

 

Up next, we're seeing "Frost/Nixon," "The Year of Magical Thinking," and "Deuce." We're in the front row for all three...I hope we don't get neck aches. :o

[Lankypeters]

>...I hope we don't get neck aches.

 

Gimme a break, Rick. You guys have got to have the most supple neck muscles in town.

 

 

Lankypeters:-)

[Rick Munroe]

}(

[AdamSmith]

>You guys have got to have the most supple

>neck muscles in town.

 

Mandibles too! :7 :7 :7

[Rick Munroe]

Yes, our mandibular elasticity is legendary.

[edjames]

I saw "Deuce" last night, and was unexpectedly surprised at how much I enjoyed the show. Faced with the doom and gloom about this production from friends who had seen it and other sources, I was ready to bolt from the theater, however, although the show has it faults, it's a love fest for two of the grande dames of the theater.

 

Lansbury and Seldes play two retired tennis pros who haven't seen each other in 10 years and are reunited at the US Open to be honored for their achievements. They were doubles partners, and winners, of many major tennis tournaments. Lansbury plays the feisty and more opinionated of the two, and Seldes is the quieter, more sophisticated player. Sitting in the stands, they reminisce about their lives and comment on the state of tennis today. McNally gives them enough funny lines and when Lansbury uses the "f-word" her fans gasp and applaud. It is like watching two fine pros volley back and forth with each other as these two gifted actresses compete on stage. At the end, the audience has an emotional connection to the characters and Lansbury, and Seldes, received standing ovations the moment the curtain came up for the call. The audience loved them. The "Murder She Wrote" ladies, and gents, were out in full force to support this effort.

 

OK, maybe I'm a big sentimental slob, but all in all, not a bad show. I had some difficulty hearing some of Lansbury's lines up in the Mezz. I assume they are not miked or amplified, and my hearing continues to deteriorate (Oh those nights dancing under the amps at Studio54 and 12 West!) I also noticed that Lansbury had some minor difficulty with a few lines, but that's not unusual. Still, the experience of seeing Lansbury, and Seldes, was memorable and this is probably her last show in the theater. Actually, I can see the London production in my head with Dames Judi and Maggie.....

 

Show opens Sunday night, so we'll see what the critics have to say.

 

"Love/Muzik" opened last night and as expected Donna Murphy and Michael Cerveris received glowing reviews from the NY Times, although the rest of the production did not fair as well. "Coram Boy" opened Wednesday night and the reviewers were less than enthusiastic about it.

[Lankypeters]

I love checking in on this thread and I wish it would keep going indefinitely. I guess that's up to the membership. If we keep filing theater reviews, the thread stays alive.

 

I'm about to see "Journey's End" and looking forward to it. Regret having missed "Dying City." There just isn't time for everything -- sometimes, like this weekend, even for getting laid.

 

Today's Wall St. Journal review of "Legally Blond" puts it plainly: no review, however tepid (as most were) will stop this suburban teeny bopper juggernaut.

 

But naught for me.

 

 

Lankypeters

[+ Lucky]

I am so jealous! Even without the Gaiety and Stella's, there is only one place to live and that's New York! Wish I could find a sugar daddy!

[+ Gar1eth]

>Production sources from the West End production of "Equus"

>starring Harry Potter actor, Daniel Radcliffe have confirmed

>that the show will open on Broadway next spring. Good reviews

>and a slew of teenage girls buying tickets made this show a

>hit in the West End and its success here is almost guaranteed.

> I wonder how NY Times theater reviewer, Ben Brantley, will

>react to the show when it opens.

>

 

 

Speaking of Harry--you might enjoy these--

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gman

[+ Cash4Trash]

Anyone who hasn't seen Altar Boyz should. It's holding up well after it's first two years. I've dragged friends a couple of times and can now be considered a groupie.

 

However, there's another good show running now and well worth a look.

 

When The Lights Go On Again

Triad Theater (off off B'way)

158 West 72nd Street

Schedule: Fri. at 7, Sat. at 3, Sun. at 3.

212-352-3107 (tickets)

 

It's a WWII musical using songs from between 1941 and 1945.

The trials and tribulations of the "Modernaires" a singing group

(2 men, 2 women) reaching for the stars. Some of the songs you'll know (Lily Marlene) but most were unfamiliar, yet totally correct

for the show.

 

The young leading man is hot, has a great voice and much talent.

One of the most efforless performances I've seen. It's one of those

no set small shows but the 4 performers do it proud.

 

For those who don't know - discount tickets for most shows are

available at http://www.theatermania.com Just register for free and follow instructions.

[Guest DickHo]

I saw "Deuce" last night. Not great but funny and sweet. I've seen Dame Angela in all her Tony winning roles (4), not quite that caliber, but loverly to see her on stage.

 

Also saw "Some Men" and found it midly amusing. I think Terence McNally is loosing his edge. To me, his best is "Master Class".

 

I saw "Journey's End" and I couldn't stay awake. Yes, Hugh is quite the looker but I'll stick to watching him in Elizabeth I over and over.

 

Still, nothing beats "Spring Awakening".

 

My tickets for Vanessa are for June.

 

Dick

[Guest alanm]

Sorry to disagree, but I would not recommend "Deuce" to anyone but a world-class Lansbury fan. This is the second McNally play in a row, that I thought was underwritten and boring with just small moments of value (the first was "Some Men" which just closed off-Broadway).

 

Just my view, but with so many wonderful plays on Broadway right now ---"Journey's End," "The Year of Magical Thinking" and the revival of "A Moon for The Misbegotten" ---- it would be a shame to waste money and time on "Deuce." Again, the above does not apply to all those who love Angela Lansbury.