Broadway Theater Question

[Steven_Draker]

Hey guy,

I have a question for all the Broadway queens around. If you had the choice to see ONE of the following shows, which one would be?

 

"In The Heights" (new musical)

 

"Grease"

 

"Legally Blonde"

 

 

Thanks for any suggestions and recommendations!

 

Steven D. ~

[a href=http://www.hotsexystud.com/uk]website[/a] [a href=http://www.daddysreviews.com/review.php?who=steven_draker_brussels]reviews[/a]

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[Guest GBoy]

well, if just those 3, it's pretty hard to say, Grease and Legally Blonde are pretty bubble gum, totally sugar coated fluff, In the heights looks interesting and very New York, but I am not big fan of the songs in the show. It really depends on what you like. If you are a fan of Grease, you probably will like the show. Legally blonde is actually better than I expected, a bit different from the movie and the songs are catchy. Hmmm, I guess for me, I will pick Legally Blonde.

[bostonman]

Remember that the current production of Grease was cast, in part, by an "American Idol" copycat TV show...and not a good one at that. I have no ill will against the two leads who were chosen, but frankly, the whole enterprise just gives the production a 'cheap' feel to me - and that for a musical that I've always thought rather cheap and insipid anyway. (As a theatre musician myself, I've always said I would never do a production of Grease, and so far, I've been able to avoid an offer I can't refuse, lol. However, given the choice between Grease and the even more embarrassing High School Musical, I'd have to go with Grease, lol.)

 

I saw the MTV broadcast of Legally Blonde, and was so incredibly disappointed in both the lack of craft in the writing, and the lack of tasteful performances onstage (except, perhaps, for two of the male leads who keep their dignity by playing as honestly as they can - Christian Borle and Michael Rupert. Rupert, however, is saddled with a thankless, one-dimensional role, and one of the worst songs in the show.) I was doubly disappointed in the score, as the same composer has given us the wonderfully smart, tuneful and hilarious show Bat Boy - how he came up with such a drab score for Legally Blonde is beyond me. And my recollection of the movie is that the original screenplay is MUCH better than the streamlined, predictable, amateur-sounding book for the musical.

 

Which leaves In The Heights, which I confess I don't know much about - but if I had to make the choice between these 3 shows specifically, I'd have to try In The Heights. ;-)

 

That said, better choices might be among the newest revivals of the season - a London import of Sunday In The Park With George that features high-tech animation effects as part of the set design (but conversely somehow makes due with a 5-piece orchestra - less than half the size of the original), or the revivals of South Pacific or Gypsy, both just starting previews (and both seem very promising). Or, take a gamble on Passing Strange, which just opened to largely favorable reviews. Or, take a chance on what sounds like a much more serious attempt at music theatre - Adding Machine, a chamber musical based on the Elmer Rice play. Do, however, steer clear of Mel Brooks' sophomore (and sophomoric) attempt, Young Frankenstein and Disney's latest sham, The Little Mermaid - which are both most likely destined to run as tourist traps for many years to come.

[+ Cash4Trash]

By all means "In The Heights". Saw it Saturday an it's destined to be a big hit. Great cast

[ariadne1880]

I doubt I could bring myself to see any of those. Try "November" or "The Farnsworth Invention" both of which are quite fine plays.

 

Mark

[edjames]

The simple answer? NONE OF THE ABOVE!

 

Grease - a horrid reality show revival that garnered no credible reviews.

 

Legally Blonde - another tepid Broadway version of a movie. Music and choreography stink.

 

In The Heights - still awaiting word on this one if the transfer from off-Broadway will work.

 

AND, please Mr.Draker, we prefer to be called "Theatrically Critical Gays" LOL "Broadway Queens," indeed!

 

You mean to tell me that out of all the wonderful and exciting shows on Broadway these are the only 3 that have any appeal?

 

Some other suggestions:

 

"August: Osage County" is perhaps one of the best dramas of any theatrical season.

 

"November" is a laugh riot political satire.

 

"Sunday In The Park With George" is hit revival of the Sondheim classic, although I found it dull.

 

"Xanadu" a fun musical from the campy movie.

 

"Gypsy' - the mother of all musicals starring the great Patti Lupone.

 

"South Pacific" the first Broadway revival in decades with the next Broadway diva, Kelli O'Hara and her glorious voice.

 

"Spring Awakening" - the next "Rent"

 

"Grease", it isn't the word...oh why, oh why....

 

ED

[ariadne1880]

I would rather be rammed up the ass by a 400 lb sumo wrestler than be dragged to see anything with Patti Lupone in it. She has one pose: trashy. She has no class whatsoever and the way she moans and belts a song gives me gas. Get the hook for that old drag queen already.

 

Mark

[ariadne1880]

"South Pacific" isn't the first revival in decades. It's the only revival. It has never been revived on Broadway since it's initial run.

 

Mark

[+ Cash4Trash]

And don't forget about the new musical that opened last week - "Passing Strange". It got universally rave reviews and deserves them.

Both the NY Times and Variety are free online and you can check out the press there.

 

Again, saw "In The Heights" on Saturday and it beats "Grease" and "Legally Blonde" by a mile. A fresh hip-hop, salsa musical about the latin community in Washington Heights. (northern end of Manhattan for you tourists) Energy to spare.

[bostonman]

>And don't forget about the new musical that opened last week

>- "Passing Strange". It got universally rave reviews

>and deserves them.

>Both the NY Times and Variety are free online and you can

>check out the press there.

 

 

I also mentioned Passing Strange in my post above...it does sound like an interesting (yet very "untraditional") kind of show. Not maybe my personal preference, but I applaud its effort to be new and different and interesting even so. ;-)

[+ Cash4Trash]

See it bostonman, the reviews don't capture how funny it really is.

The scene about how some blacks have to "pass for black" and learn different degrees of ebonics for different social situations is priceless.

 

And that's just a start. (Brings the "Is Barack Obama black enough"

foolishness to mind.)

[bostonman]

>See it bostonman, the reviews don't capture how funny it

>really is.

>The scene about how some blacks have to "pass for

>black" and learn different degrees of ebonics for

>different social situations is priceless.

 

Thanks for the recommendation. Problem is, I don't get to NYC nearly enough to take in that many shows (wish I could get there more often), and if I had the chance to go right now I might see other things instead...but I do hope they're planning a recording of the score at least, so I'll get to hear the music.

 

Wondering if this show will have a life after Stew (obviously it's "his" show more than anyone else's) - would it tour (I tend to doubt it) or would it run with a replacement lead (I tend to doubt that too - but then again, who knows)?

[SoCal]

Certainly no theater queen here, I live on the left coast, but two weekends ago was in NYC, and dare I suggest "Young Frankenstein". I went with some family and friends and we all loved it. No drama critic shaking show...but fun and funny!

[Lankypeters]

>"South Pacific" isn't the first revival in decades.

>It's the only revival. It has never been revived on Broadway

>since it's initial run.

>

>Mark

 

Yes and no. There hasn't been an open-ended run on Broadway, but there have been Broadway caliber revivals, several of them and in the vicinity of Broadway. There were several productions at City Center when Jean Dalyrimple (sp?) did two and three week runs of Broadway shows. There was a major revival in 1967 at Lincoln Center with Georgio Tozzi and Florence Henderson. Ran ten weeks, I believe. There were also tours and regional productions producers hoped to bring to Broadway, including one with Richard Kiley. No go. Then, about fifteen, maybe twenty years ago, Babs Sills decided to do it as part of the City Opera Season. The production was so awful that by the first act curtain, one wished the Japs had won the war. This dreary staging added to the misguided notion that the show was dated and un-revivable. Someone staged an off-off Broadway version set in a hospital during the Vietnam war with the patients staging the musical. A cease and desist order from the Rodgers and Hammerstein notice shut that down. Then a vital, moving concert version at Carnegie Hall two years ago (with Reba McEntire (sp?) as Nellie got the notion of a revival going again.

 

Besides the impetus of the Carnegie Hall production, there is a great eagerness on the part of the Rogers and Hammerstein organization (and all family heirs and beneficiaries) to stage their works as the shows soon begin moving into the public domain, meaning.......no more royalties. "South Pacific" is the only one of their major successes not to come back for an open-ended run. Even "Flower Drum Song" was back for a while.

 

 

 

 

"I'd say that's a bit of an extreme reaction, now wouldn't you?" -- N.F. Bates

 

 

Lankypeters

[Philly Guy]

>I would rather be rammed up the ass by a 400 lb sumo wrestler

>

>Mark

 

Ah; now we are getting somewhere! At least we know something that would get you aroused Adiran! Question; would you be able to write about it?

[ariadne1880]

As I said, there has been no revival on Broadway since the original run. All of the above didn't change that sentence.

 

A revival in the "vicinity" of Broadway doesn't count. It might as well have been in Paramus or Omaha.

 

Mark

[Lankypeters]

>As I said, there has been no revival on Broadway since the

>original run. All of the above didn't change that sentence.

>

>A revival in the "vicinity" of Broadway doesn't

>count. It might as well have been in Paramus or Omaha.

>

>Mark

 

If you read carefully what I wrote -- actually if you read just the second sentence -- you'll see I don't contradict, much less challenge, what you wrote. I have to disagree that a major Lincoln Center revival in 1965, with the best talent then working and Richard Rodgers directly supervising the production, which was subsequently recorded by RCA -- is hardly Omaha. Not even Paramus. The current production is just across the Lincoln Center Plaza at the State Theater. I suppose you can come up with some rule that makes it a Broadway production.

 

I'm just looking forward to seeing what report after report says is a wonderful show. I don't care what side of the street it's on.

 

You've got to get off those Brillo suppositories.

 

 

 

"I'd say that's a bit of an extreme reaction, now wouldn't you?" -- N.F. Bates

 

 

Lankypeters

[Guest zipperzone]

>You've got to get off those Brillo suppositories.

 

LOL - I knew there was something amiss with him but couldn't quite put my finger on it - so to speak. Thanks for enlightening us.

[Philly Guy]

>You've got to get off those Brillo suppositories.

 

Lanky - I am glad you figured it out; I have been wondering what crawled up his ass.

[JT Brooklyn]

Is it just me...Or does it seem like lately OLD THREADS are being Rresurrected instead of any New Conversation?

 

I realize my main Interest lies in the DELI and those "Tid Bits" of Knowledge...LOL

 

But between the FEW Reviews and Arguments things at this point in time are really dull around here. I've gotten that woird from other's also. It's a Good Thing JT has a Hunky Jersey Guy visiting Bklyn every couple of weeks...for sure. This Site now takes about 5 mins to read! IMHO of course! LOL ;-)

[Philly Guy]

>Is it just me...Or does it seem like lately OLD THREADS are

>being Rresurrected instead of any New Conversation?

>

>I realize my main Interest lies in the DELI and those

>"Tid Bits" of Knowledge...LOL

>

>But between the FEW Reviews and Arguments things at this point

>in time are really dull around here. I've gotten that woird

>from other's also. It's a Good Thing JT has a Hunky Jersey

>Guy visiting Bklyn every couple of weeks...for sure. This Site

>now takes about 5 mins to read! IMHO of course! LOL ;-)

 

Time to do a review on the Hunky NJ Guy JT

[JT Brooklyn]

Philly. Sorry this Guy is Definitely Private Stock. Flys waay under the Radar!

 

Any discussion of him and he would probably never be seen driving thru the Tunnel ever again! LOL ;-)

[+ Lucky]

The woird here, JT, is the same. The MC can sometimes seem a bore, especially, for the likes of you, me, and zipperzone who spend a lot of time here. After a few years, topics do repeat themselves. Fortunately, things happen and new guys come along, so just be patient and it will come around. Interesting to note though, that you buried your obseration way down in an old thread!

[JT Brooklyn]

Lucky..Well I didn't want to insult anyone who thought that an Old Topic may have been important enough to resurect!

 

Just an Observation...Your right though..Broadway Theater and JT have nothing really in common WHATSOEVER! So I will go back where I belong in "The Deli" LOL ;-)

[Steven_Draker]

> please Mr.Draker, we prefer to be called "Theatrically Critical Gays"

> LOL "Broadway Queens," indeed!

 

Dear Ed, point taken ! Thanks to all who posted about my query.

 

The majority was leaning towards "In The Heights" and I went to see it on Tuesday evening (at the time still in previews). It's a great show, very NEW YORK ... !

It's funny, colorful, great choreography ... I liked the songs, the dancers and the cast. I loved it all. It's all about one little neighborhood in New York with a twist of hip-hop and salsa music. You'd better speak a few words of Spanish when you go to see it ... I had a great time.

 

The next day I saw "Young Frankenstein" which was also fun, witty and entertaining (except for the first 10 min of the show).

 

I've heard from a fellow escort that "Gypsy" with Patti LuPone was great too.

 

I'd definitely recommend "In The Heights". Go and see it when you get a chance. The opening night was last Sunday.

 

Steven D. ~

[a href=http://www.hotsexystud.com/uk]website[/a] [a href=http://www.daddysreviews.com/review.php?who=steven_draker_brussels]reviews[/a]