I was there. It was crazy. There were standing ovations for more than half the songs. The applauding after Aquarius was about 5 minutes. It was a very emotional show. The cast was trying to make it through some of the songs.
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&.
"Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
The show today was amazing! One of the most special experiences I've had in the theatre! Immediately before the lights even went out the band started to have a jam session of sorts behind the curtain. The crowd went crazy for what seemed to be every single person who walked on stage whether they had a main role or a tribe member. Standing O's (in the mezz, at least) for Aquarius, I Got Life, Hair, and White Boys. I do admit, after a while it got slightly annoying how the actors couldn't go on because of the crowd, but it got better throughout the show. (Especially when people were shouting for Sasha's riffs during Flesh Failures which I find to be one of the most serious parts of the show.) A lot of hilarious improv! When Margaret Meade came out and said "Excuse me, Can I Ask you a question?" Gavin shouted, "No" but went on with the scene anyway. Oskar Eustis, Galt McDermot, James Rado, Theo Stockman, and Diane Paulus were all in attendance. (sorry for spelling) Cast gave it there all! I was especially impressed by Sasha who pulled out all the stops and brought down the house in White Boys! They had to stop people from coming on stage! There were too many people and I didn't get on! First time I've seen this happen. Even opening night was mild compared to this. It was an amazing experience! While I'm sure the new cast will be great, there is just something really special about this original group of people that can't be replicated!
I agree with everything you said singer. The applause did get annoying, especially in parts of the second act. I wish it was just silent at the end of Flesh Failures, that is by far my favorite part of the show and it was ruined. The stage door was insane, I had to leave to catch a bus at 6:30 and no one had come out when I left at 6:15.
I agree Singer, it was amazing! Both the cast and the audience were electrified, on fire and filled with raw emotion! So many people tried to get on stage at the end they closed it off.
In addition to those mentioned, Allison Case was in attendance, she sat center Orch, maybe row R or S. Right behind Theo was Ryan W. and Tommar Wilson. Audra McDonald was on the far left with her posse of 3. Saw Matt DeAngelis and Jay at the end too, they may have been backstage.
I sat behind Jeannette and-I believe-Crystal Joy, they were starting a lot of the standing O's, and they were practicing a lot of the dances and such albeit on a much smaller scale during the show.
It was a remarkable performance, I don't believe I've ever heard a performer sound as perfect and on point as Gavin did today, he added a bunch of different riffs in his songs and he truly broke my heart when he started crying.
I held it together pretty well until Vanessa and Kacie started crying during their scene before "Frank Mills," and then I truly lost it when Gavin choked through "Tonight is the last night of the world. We stick together."
Also, just a random thing, I talked to Chasten at stagedoor and she said she's not going to London and she's not staying with the broadway company, she's simply leaving the show.
Updated On: 3/7/10 at 11:17 PM
I get that the audience wanted to be supportive and show their appreciation, but that just sounds like it was disruptive. I went to see them one last time on Friday night, and I'm glad I did so at a performance that was not today's. I am going to miss this cast tremendously, though. Seeing them perform has been really special.