Okay, ready for a long post for even what I usually write, fun fun day...(OT, board was kinda slow today...anyway...)
Will try to kepe the rest brief. Woke up at 11 instead of 10 b/c I set my alarm for PM...gah, really gotta stop doing that...parked on 105th and met my friend for lunch, took subway over to Producers...got a $36 last row ticket(b/c I was meeting my friend I couldn't make it for rush or lotto tickets so I had to get a cheap advanced ticket).I'm not a huge fan of balconies, but this one really wasn't that high. I'm glad I went back, it was my second time ever seeing it, saw it for the first time a year ago. Hunter was great once again and it was great to see Gary Beach back as Roger and Jai as Carmen, he was hysterical. Also fun b/c i got more parodies now than I did a year ago. Moved down to last row orch second act despite show being soldout, so was fun. Waited by stage door for a while no one came out, and then I was alone.
So then I headed over to DRS. Saw Holly chatted for a bit, told me Greg hadn't come out which meant that Mamie hadn't either. Fortunately, they came out in a couple of min. Were talking, I just stood in front and Mamie almost walked away till I grabbed her arm-gah, oblivious people. We walked/sat for a bit till we met Kerrie at DRS lotto. There must have been like 100 ppl there. There were 5 of us entering plus another friend of mine texted me before asking me to help at DRS lotto which made me laugh but she didn't win either. we said bye to Mamie then, I saw her later. There were like no cheap tickets available to anything--everything was out of rush tickets and there were like 5 bway shows on tkts, craziness. Anyway, we went for pizza, then headed over to DRS stage door, then I went in.
Seat was amazing--like the first row at the Imperial is great but even that's a teeny bit down, this row was just perfect. Was sad b/c I was surrounded by older folk who I doubted I would be able to entice to clap/scream along w/ me. Ah well. Was a bit excited to see Joe as Freddy again, knowing him much better now and after having seen him in Feeling Electic. Of course I missed Norbert but I'm sure I'll see him soon. Show started, I get big grin on my face. Give Greg a huge scream solo and then embarassly sink back in my chair(habit to feel a tad embarassed, ah well). Was enthusiastic as I could be, didn't get ppl to clap along w/ me for certain things as much as I did w/ dre last time. Really not many bloopers, but a very clean, excellent performance. John looked like he was trying not to laugh at one part during Ruprecht but he didn't. Other notes on performance:
I ended up very glad to see Joe again. I remembered he was definitely an adequate fill-in, but I felt I was being biased towards Norbert. I do think Joe improved on a bit of areas, and really there was just...sliding down the stairs and I mean not quite as involved beef jerky rolling, but those are the only parts I think Joe wasn't as good as Norbert--he really was great! I said after Feeling Electric I really do think he has a better voice than Norbert and it showed tonight! He was hitting things beautifully, and did the high notes of DRN, which I realized I dearly missed and was very very happy to hear them live in the show. Really put a nice emotion and voice into Love Is Your Legs. His dancing has improved since last time, NOrbert is clearly the better dancer, but last time I felt Joe did a lot less in GBS and little moves like dancing while pulling his pants down or the leg-thing Ruprecht does at the end of the song he missed, he had down this time, I was impressed. and his acting is great--his southern accent is probably more accurate. I mean the one thing I feel a tad which isn't his fault is something in the dynamic is weird...like...maybe it's the height but Norbert has a slightly more younger quality to him, that I think was the big thing that stood out last time I saw the show. Felt it here a bit, but was very pleased w/ Joe's performance, he's a great performer, I hope he goes places.
Everyone else was their usual wonderful selves if not better. After my experience last time, I have never been more grateful to have John back as Lawrence, as much as I loved his performance always, I really now realize what he brings to the mix and how a badly played Lawrence can detract from the show. Sherie still hits amazing high notes that I have no clue how she does...ooh and I felt like while she was crying to John and he started giving her money, she got a kinda evil grinnish look in her eyes before she went back to crying, if so, that's awesome, great for the character, and would prob have been difficult for me to catch otherwise. Joanna was especially on tonight, hitting her notes w/ a great clarity I haven't heard since my first couple of times seeing the show. Good for her. Sara as usual was a rapid ball of energy, got big cheers after Oklahoma! And a certain other principle actor...well i did notice a lot of cheers at the curtain call, not many ppl were standing other than me, but it was enough to catch my eye to kinda make a wow, that's suprising and pretty awesome face.
Oh, and ensemble was great as usual. Was right near Laura as the usher, saw a lot of priceless facial expressions she made(apparently she saw me even though I was 5 seats in so I was happy, I didn't know if she knew I was there). Zeroed in on some more good faces ppl make. Oh and Matt Wall has replaced Michael Patersono(sp?) in ensemble...accordian player for one main part...and well...he very well may be cuter than Stephen Campenella
And speaking of faces earlier on...now lotsa times when I see not only DRS but other shows where I know ppl, I always make up times when I'm like oh they soo winked at me and I'd see them at the stage door and they'd be like oh I didn't know you were here which led me to believe I imagined the wink. But yeah, during the scene where Jolene is checking out of the hotel, and John and Joe are on the seats w/ the papers and Greg is between them, I looked at him and he had to have been looking at me...so I made a fish face(I like making faces during shows) and he raised his eyebrow at me, and I coulda sworn it actually was at me, but left open the possibility I imagined it but then after the show I said I think I might have seen you look and raise your eyebrow at me and he said when I was between the papers right? yeah I was looking at you the whole time till they put the papers down and I was like yaay I finally caught a stare/gesture and didn't imagine it. Ahem. Anyway...
Umm...guess that's all to say about the actual show...ehh could always add more if I think of something else to say...okay now intermission I talked to the ppl behind me, warning them I will be standing as soon as the ensemble comes up and begged them not to yell at me, they laughed, said they were glad I warned them, and thought it was incredibly rude of anyone to tell me to sit down so I was good...so yeah stood up right away, pretty sure I was the only one but I didn't care...it was pretty awesome, got a big wave and smile from Dennis and saw Rak realize I was there as she crossed her stage b/c she kinda made an oh and then smiled and waved and stuff like that hehe Mamie says the Imperial is becoming a second home to me, maybe I should reconsider my title of whore if that is the case...so obviously stood through for everyone else, like I said Greg got a lot of noticable cheers. He made the BCEFA speech, I was excited. He was very eloquent I noticed in certain words, discussed some of the charities BCEFA goes to, seemed really into it and like it meant something, so I was glad. He also joked about when Rachelle modeled a shirt that the shirt was for sale, not Rachelle, though they'd prob make a lot of money if Rachelle was...mentioned Carols for a Cure but didn't plug himself, I was disappointed...heh and when he was done he said and in the spirit of generosity you may now all return to your standing ovation. LOL. As a general comparison, I thought his speech was much better than John Tracey Egan's at the Producers.
Was going backstage, but saw Laura at the stage door before I went in...I mean really for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting or chatting with this beautiful, incredibly sweet woman, you really should. We hugged and she told me she saw me from the beginning and yeah...stupid story where my voice gets high when I'm excited and Kevin decides to start imititating and making fun of me, which was totally unnecessary and I wasn't thrilled.
And then I had to get through him to go backstage fun. Greg was just giving a brief tour tongiht, but I wanted to go again and try to pay attention or take pics for Talia. It was cool to be in the wings while I waited though, Rak and Sarah had visitors and they were just really cute to watch w/ their friends...then Dennis passed me after finishing BCEFA stuff in his lovely last costume which I forgot he wore...interesting...then Joe passed and came over, said he saw me too, hugged me(alright not quite a second home but certainly a place I feel special and feel hug-loved lol), told him he was so great, glad I got to see him again, and to hear the high notes lol.
Then Greg and a little group of I later found out they were old friends of Julie's came down, and he briefly took us around. I actually barely talked the whole time, could you believe it? I just said hi to everyone, made sure it was okay for me to take pictures, and asked the group if they wanted me to take their pic, which I did. but yeah I'm really glad I went to remember pics, nice to hear some stage stories of how things work again and I got pictures of the seats/audience view from the stage, the Liza Minelli costco lamp, the bed w/ a prop on it I couldn't tell(it was already dark), and the bike w/ the casino wheel...maybe one more prop picture. only went in the stage, so then we went out, where Mamie came back to try to get autographs. Then Sherie came out(def think she's coming out more at nights), took a couple pics including one w/ me(Kerrie you're now forgiven for losing my pic w/ her that you took), and briefly chatted, told her she was great at Costello concert, etc. Then Sara came out and I took a pic w/ her and we discussed which of is worse athletes since she sucked at softball and I suck at bowling. Chatted w/ ppl a bit then everyone left. Mamie and I went to a diner b/c I had a really light dinner, left about midnight. Fun story about how half the subways aren't in order this weekend and loong story of finding my way back to my car but eh not important plus I'm exhausted. Well...Amanda lives up to her reputation.
Mamie, Kerrie, it was great seeing you guys! Mamie, you're not really old, my mom's older than you, and Kerrie I'm sure I'll see you soon.
Goodnight all!
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