The Theater

[+ Lucky]

My spring theater trip is at hand. Leaving no room for spontaneity or chance, I have already filled the available slots. I'll be glad to have you say how you liked these shows, or recap if you have already done so in Lankypeter's long and successful thread.

 

First, after a Yankees game, is Our Town at the Barrow Street theater. The word is that this one is really good, and I've liked the other ones I've seen a lot.

 

Second is West Side Story. I don't care if Matt Cavanaugh doesn't do a gangster real well, I'm there to see a Broadway show, not a real rumble.

 

Third is Desire Under the Elms, an O'Neill play that got good reader reviews in the NY Times.

 

Fourth is The Singing Forest at the Public, with Olympia Dukakis, Jonathan Groff, and Randy Harrison.

 

Last is reasons to be pretty, the Neil LaBute play that is supposed to be very good, and softer than his usual stuff. It must be pretty realistic because last Saturday an audience member got up and twice called one of the actresses a bitch when she was chewing out her onstage boyfriend.

 

That doesn't seem to be near enough theater for me, but, I will take donations to see more if it will help this thread!

[edjames]

Lucky,

 

Have a safe and pleasant journey here to the Big Apple. I hope the weather improves.

 

Can't say I have any interest in yet another revival of "Our Town," but reviews have been good and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

 

"Desire Under The Elms" is certainly on my list, the television ads look very sexy.

 

I'll be seeing "The Singing Forest" this weekend. I am looking forward to this production.

 

I saw "reasons to be pretty" off-Broadway last summer and .....hated it! I'm told the author and director have since done some work on the play, but I thought it trite and boring. I do hope the Broadway production is better than its predecessor.

 

I'm off to see "The Norman Conquests" this evening, or at least one of the three plays that make up this trilogy. I have a ticket for the musical "9 To 5" for next week and I am anxious to see if it lives up to its word of mouth. I am also seeing "John Leguziamo: Work In Progress" in about 2 weeks. Also coming up is "God of Carnage" and "Waiting for Godot."

 

Are you planning a Sunday evening at the 20 Club on this visit to NYC?

 

ED

[+ Lucky]

No 20 Club this time as economics forced me to have a shorter visit.

I considered Gods of Carnage, but there is a lot of vomiting, and I also didn't know that I wanted to see Gandolfini. I hope you don't upchuck though!

[Lankypeters]

Our town

 

The "just another revival" feeling is what this production of OUR TOWN successfully avoids. It's stunning, just stunning, finding depths and ideas I never knew existed, even though I've always admired the play.

 

Act II builds to an almost devastating crescendo, starting with the scene between George and Emily in the soda shop, which is almost passionate (no Norman Rockwell goo here), moving to a strong scene between George and his future stepfather (the two best actors in the piece), then building to an emotional finish at the wedding.

 

Act III let me down a bit. But I can't explain why without revealing a breathtaking bit of stagecraft that occurs here.

 

Still and all, one of the more powerful productions/performances I've seen in quite a while.

 

Lucky, I await your review.

 

Thanks for setting up these threads.

[edjames]

No 20 Club this time as economics forced me to have a shorter visit.

I considered Gods of Carnage, but there is a lot of vomiting, and I also didn't know that I wanted to see Gandolfini. I hope you don't upchuck though!

 

Today's NY Post declares Gods of Carnage the HIT of the season and predicts all 4 actors will be nominated for Tony's.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04082009/entertainment/theater/honest_to_god_success_163461.htm

 

Perhaps you need to give it a second thought...

 

Sorry to hear your trip has been shortened and you won't be available for a social stop at Club 20!

 

ED

[+ Lucky]

The Post article also says:

 

I'm getting $250 for a $176 premium seat, which in this market is very good. And I'm selling a lot."

 

Production sources say they're having trouble meeting the demand for VIP seats.

 

"There's a waiting list," one person says.

 

****************

 

Ain't I a VIP??? So I would have a hard time getting a ticket, I am not a Sopranos fan, I didn't like ART, and I didn't want to pay full price to see people vomit!

 

So. let it win. God bless 'em!

[+ Lucky]

Recap

 

Just to recap from the longer theater thread, EdJames, Cooper, and lankypeters all liked Blithe Spirit.

 

Foxy liked The American Plan, Impressionism, and Exit the King.

 

Jackhammer liked Minskys and Pippin in Los Angeles.

 

And Lankypeters was down on Guys and Dolls.

[Lankypeters]

And Lankypeters was down on Guys and Dolls.

 

 

I've been down on guys, but never dolls.

 

Ba-da-boom to start the day.

[Guest manrent1]

I agree about not being "down with dolls" - unless Neely O'Hara is involved!

[uwsman2]

terrific gay play off-off-broadway

 

Try to see "To Whom It May Concern" - It's at a small off-off-Broadway venue on W. 71 Street (basement of a church). Advantage of such a small theater - you're up close and personal with the actors. It's a two-mans how - about the correspondence between a Marine in Iraq and a gay teen in Kansas. There's hot talk and skin. Although I saw it with the standby cast rather than the regular cast, I thought it was terrific and the two actors were really cute.... and, depending on your tastes, hot...

[Lankypeters]

Laurents' memoir

 

I picked up Arthur Laurents' "Mainly on Directing: Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals" last night. For the next three and a half hours, I didn't check e-mail, make a snack or take a pee.

 

This is one of the great theater memoirs.

 

And there are enough anecdotes to keep show queens jabbering for the next year. Wait until you read what Lee Remick said to Laurents over lunch as they began rehearsals for "Anyone Can Whistle."

 

This book is not to be confused with Laurents' autobiography, published a few years ago. That book is also highly recommended, especially if you want to know who in show business was in the closet, who was out of it and who did whom and where (Laurents recalls going down on ex-boyfriend Harold Lang backstage before a performance of "I Can Get It For You Wholesale").

 

Russ Tamblyn was gay?

[edjames]

The Singing Forest (Lucky.....Spoiler Alert!!!)

 

"Fourth is The Singing Forest at the Public, with Olympia Dukakis, Jonathan Groff, and Randy Harrison."

 

 

 

Warning to Lucky....SPOILER ALERT......You might want to skip this reply...

 

 

 

I went to the first preview of "The Singing Forest" down at the Public last night. Alas, this production really needs work! First, it runs 3 hours+ with 2 intermissions! This is no "August: Osage County"! The theater, up on the third floor, is very uncomfortable, and the seating is not made for a three hour marathon theatrical event!

 

That said, the play needs editing. Its way too long and the first act takes a long time to get into the plot. I would say there are too many characters and it takes too long to reveal the complicated relationships that interweave within the play.

 

Also, the set has many moveable pieces and the stagehands are frequently seen, not only moving pieces of the set around on stage during the acts, but also backstage.

 

On to some fun stuff about the show. First, Olympia Dukakis is terrific. A true actress. She shines far above the material she's been given. Jonathan Groff is still a bundle of sexy cuteness, and I am happy to report he gets to show off his delicious buns in the first act! His acting partner in that scene, actor, Louis Cancelmi, does a full frontal.

 

For those who fondly remember Randy Harrison from Queer As Folk, you'll be happy to know that Randy hasn't lost any of his twinkish good-looks but his turn as a Nazi officer falls a flat. Let’s not even discuss what he does to Olympia’s character!

 

Yes, I know, it was the first preview (trust me, I would have waited but I had very little room in my schedule) and obviously the purpose of previews is for the director and writer to collaborate to improve the show. Didn't work for "Impressionism" and I doubt it will work here. Shame, writer, Craig Lucas has done some wonderful work in previous productions. It will be interesting to see the reviews of the final version.

[Guest alanm]

"This [Laurents' new book] is one of the great theater memoirs. " I disagree strongly.

 

I believe that I have seen all of the shows he mentions, except "La Cage."

 

This is the kind of stuff a normal person would tell his strink, not publish in a book.

 

I was sick of the meaningless attacks on Sam Mendes after the first few paragraphs.

 

Merman was the best Rose I ever saw, and Robbins was the best director. Laurents just can let things well enough alone. He acknowledges how good Merman was, but says the performance was exactly the same night after night (probably true, but what a performance). He finds that to be a fault because Merman was just doing what Robbins told her without truly understanding it. I wonder how long the orginal "Gypsy" would have run with any star other than Merman.

 

Another director would have made a hit out of "I Can get it For You Wholesale," or at least a moderate success. With that cast and score, Laurent has to take the blame.

 

I could go on, but the book is not really worth any more of my time.

[edjames]

9 To 5

 

"9 To 5" is currently in previews at the Marriott Marquis Theater on Broadway. I saw it last night and was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this production. Dolly parton has certainly created a good score and the three lead actresses are very good. The production remains faithful to the movie and I'm happy to say the audience loved it and jumped to their feet the moment the show ended to give the cast a well-deserved standing ovation. My only negative comment would be that I thought the choreography was a bit tepid and could have been better.

 

Ed

[Lankypeters]

"Next to Normal"

 

Most of the critics loved "Next to Normal"; the audience on the night I saw it loved it.

 

Or should I say they loved Act I. I don't know how they responded to Act II, because I left. Here is a first act that ends with a woman about to undergo electro-shock. What does she undergo in Act II, a lobotomy?

 

But more than the material alienated me. The show began with a quick blackout and a blast from the band: I thought we'd had a terror attack. The singining that followed would be more accurately described as screaming.

 

I can remember hearing "old folks" say, "That wasn't music. That was noise."

 

If feeling this way about this show makes me hold, get me the Depends.

[+ Lucky]

The Times Likes It

 

Ben Brantley liked it more than you did:

 

http://theater2.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/theater/reviews/16norm.html?8dpc

[uwsman2]

The Philanthropist

 

Just back from a preview of The Philanthropist, at American Airlines Theater. Revival of a 1970 play that had a good run in London and then Broadway, but I thought it was pretty pointless. Matthew Broderick plays a British academic schlub... The cast was OK but the script was not, IMHO...

[+ Lucky]

Mr. Parker

 

How about Broderick, though...did he do really well, or just go through the motions?

[foxy]

Ruined

 

I didn't know anything about this play when a friend suggested we see it. I was glad because I may have had second thoughts.

 

It's about the horrors and brutality of war in the Congo. The action takes place at a bar run by a woman called Mama Nadi. It's also a brothel staffed by girls who were raped and rejected by their familes. Despite the seriousness of the subject matter there are some light and funny moments. Beautifully acted by a terrific cast.

 

Now playing at the Manhattan Theater Club, NY City Center.

[jackhammer91406]

"9 To 5" is currently in previews at the Marriott Marquis Theater on Broadway. I saw it last night and was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this production. Dolly parton has certainly created a good score and the three lead actresses are very good. The production remains faithful to the movie and I'm happy to say the audience loved it and jumped to their feet the moment the show ended to give the cast a well-deserved standing ovation. My only negative comment would be that I thought the choreography was a bit tepid and could have been better.

 

Ed

 

So glad that you enjoyed a show I saw in previews in Los Angeles. I said at the time I saw it that I thought it had HIT written all over it. Hope to see it again when I come to NY in the fall..

For those who haven't seen it, check out the website to hear 4 complete songs from the cast album.

http://9to5themusical.com/media.php

 

 

[+ Lucky]

Silly girls

 

I got in early enough on Tuesday to see a show. Since most start at 7 on Tuesdays, the choices were limited. Nine to Five was available, but I chose the Marvelous Wonderettes instead. It's a stupid show by four women pretending to be high school girls singing at their prom. Just dreadful- like fingernails on a chalkboard. Next time I follow jackhammers advice!

[uwsman2]

Happiness

 

I really enjoyed this at Lincoln Center Theater - musical by the folks who brought you Gray Gardens... But very "up," very "lively" - and brilliantly staged.

[Cooper]

West Side Story, a ballet on Broadway

 

One of the most popular musicals has returned to Broadway. West Side Story starring Matt Cavenaugh as Tony and Josefina Scaglione as Maria. A play that I long waited to see and listen to those familiar tunes.

 

It played to a full house. The scenery and choreography were excellent. As for the singing, most had very good voices. I have mixed feeling about Matt Cavenaugh. Some songs he sang well, others had an unpleasant nasal sound to them (or maybe he just had a cold).

 

As for the acting, not that believable and had no connection with the audience. I heard one lady comment, "it was like going to a ballet with bad acting". I tend to agree with her.

 

There's been much talk about songs and lines being done in Spanish. It didn't work for me, I found it to be more of a distraction as I tired to recall the translation from my High School Spanish classes.

 

One problem you'll have in the early part of the play is trying to figure out which cast members are the Jets and which are the Sharks. It takes awhile...

 

Having seen the original play and movie, it was disappointing to see how the play ended. The death of Tony was supposed to bring the two gangs together, sadly, the show didn't capture that feeling.

 

I was happy to have seen the show and hummed many of the songs on my way home.

 

Coop

[uwsman2]

Matt Cavanaugh (Tony in West Side Story)

 

This morning's NY Times Real Estate section has a charming story about Matt and his wife's search for an apartment in Manhattan - with two yummy pics.

[Cooper]

One yummy pic

 

This morning's NY Times Real Estate section has a charming story about Matt and his wife's search for an apartment in Manhattan - with two yummy pics.

 

Uwsman, when you say "two yummy pics" of Matt Cavenaugh and his girlfriend, well, you know everyone wants to check them out. .. So, here's WEST SIDE STORY Matt and his girl in their apartment.

 

http://froggypic.com/image/04/886c24cc4491e4b4ddb065a466bca384.jpg