Profile for mallardo

I was equally amazed at the quality of the performances by everyone onstage.  Whatever non-Equity means these days it sure doesn't mean bad.  I also agree with you on the all-white cast - they need to do better.

There was a pretty good house last night - a Thursday - and the audience was very responsive.  How could they not be?  The show is magnificent and Stanley and Samonsky are sublime.  And, btw, I thought they had plenty of sexual heat.  The bonus was having JRB in the pit.  He was fun to watch, he was so into it. 

 

 

A cast recording I never stop listening to.

Reviews are very positive and it has been extended in the West End (before it even opens there) until Sept 10, 2016. 

ACT ONE

Overture

If A Girl Isn't Pretty

I'm The Greatest Star

Cornet Man

His Love Makes Me Beautiful

I Want To Be See With You

Henry Street

People

You Are Woman, I Am Man

Don't Rain On My Parade

ACT TWO

Entr'Acte

Sadie, Sadie

Who Taught Her Everything She Knows?

Temporary Arrangement

Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat (hilarious!!)

Who Are You Now?

What Do Happy People Do?

The Music

 I saw this the other night and Sheridan is dazzling.  No, she can't sing like Streisand  but she can sell those songs and she can play this part.  She's genuinely hilariously funny and absolutely heartbreaking.  Her relationship with Darius Campbell's towering Arnstein - they have a lot of fun with her height in this, the chorus girls are also towering - is wonderful and touching.  Michael Mayer's production is smart and focused and just right.&n

Agree with Catch Me If You Can. 

Plus Nick & Nora.

^ Right.

Is this  non-Equity tour?

Count me in the minority that didn't like taking AVFTB back to its Greek tragedy roots.   But Charles III, on the other hand, is wonderful in every way.  Tim Piggott-Smith, as Charles, gives one of the greatest performances you will ever see.

Yes, LaChiusa's by a mile.

The horrible Chaplin score is nominated and Matilda is not??? These noms have as much credibility as the Golden Globes.

^ Totally agree with that. Elizabeth Stanley is sensational throughout. I also agree that Lin Manuel Miranda is the weakest link but perhaps it's because Lonny Price was so uniquely good on the OCR. His are the biggest shoes to fill.

I saw him in The Sunshine Boys with Danny DeVito in London last year - they made an unlikely but terrific team. I know there were plans to bring the show to the US. What a shame. RIP, a wonderful actor.

Just caught the show in LA and LOVED it! I had never seen a non-Equity touring show before, and I was wary, but the talent level turned out to be huge. Stephen Anthony (Frank) and Merritt David Janes (Hanratty) were both terrific as was, especially, Caitlin Maloney (Paula). If it was a budget production it didn't look like it. Go see it if it comes your way.

What is pretty certain is that this production will rise or fall on Will Swenson's ability to approximate the genius of Jack Cassidy. But I have high hopes for him as I do for David Pittu as Dr. Sedgwick. Their duet, "You've Got What I Need" is a showstopper if they get it right.

I saw a terrific production of it at Reprise in LA a few years ago - Jeff Denman in the lead - and it seemed to follow the cast recording of the 1983 production quite precisely.

It's one act as always and it's wonderful.

The first thing I did this morning - I'm in London - was watch the opening number now up on this site and I'm an emotional wreck. I'll have to pull myself together to face the day.

But one point, with all the talk of the greatness of this cast, let's not forget the greatness of the Original Cast and especially Marin Mazzie who stopped the show nightly with her overwhelming Back To Before. No one here has mentioned her.