The Official Greg Jbara Love Thread: He's So Nice We Did It THRICE- Page 4

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:15am

Ah ok, there it is. Thanks so much, Dre! Downloading now...

[OddExoticCreature]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:16am

So you are insinuating that people in wheelchairs are less attractive than people who are able to walk? Or rather, are you implying that the costuming for Nessarose was rather lacking? Regardless, none of that has to do with her as a person and I'm sure you've seen her out of character before so it was a rather pointless analogy to make.

(I'm sorry you left that wide open for me I couldn't help myself. I'm kidding, and yes Michelle is very pretty.)

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:16am

Okay, as promised/usual, loong review of everything I could remember, I'm mad, didn't remember all the little details I would have liked like every word in the speech, but Dre got a video of that i think so hopefully I could fill those in. Anyway, day...

So as I said earlier, I ended up just driving down for the lotto. Got there just as the lotto was going on, but I saw Dre win! So we got the back right box, which was wonderful. There wasn't much that was blocked and much closer than we would have been. Then Dre, Ryan and Kat piled in my car while I found parking. I met and exchanged my other tickets, and Dre and I tried to sell our others, but it wasn't working so we momentarily gave up and went to Sbarro's...no singer, but oh well. It was about 6:30 now, Ryan found someone looking for a ticket so we sold one to her, then we sold it to someone else for a little cheaper who said he worked here then we heard him tell the box office he ripped us off or something...but considering we still paid less for the better seats than we would have for those, we were fine.

Then in the front mezz I recognized the woman who saw and still has seen DRS more than me! What a treat lol. Okay, this is mostly taken from the main board, with a couple things addedchanged:

First off, what an amazing audience. I mean, it's understandable, but still. I might have been a tad overexcited and I think screamed a little louder than I planned too for Greg, but it worked...Greg got entrance applause! Dre and I were so happy we high-fived each other. The ensemble even got applause as the curtain opened, and I screamed for Sara as did a couple others. John of course got tremendous applause at the end of the overture. Screaming, clapping, laughing so hard at everything, it's such a treat to see a show with an audience so into it. Actually, a couple of people in the front row were so into it a couple other people and I thought they knew Norbert, apparently not, as he gave me a weird look when I asked him about that...oops.

Everyone's performances and energy were top-notch tonight, especially Norbert in his physical comedy. I heard a little hoarseness here and there when he spoke, but like others have said, considering his vocal problems, he was simply amazing. And John of course gave 1,000%. He screamed and screamed at Norbert when they get into the fight before they make the bet. It was great to see Sara too as she's temporarily leaving to do Grey Gardens, and will be missed for a couple of months. Sherie reached amazingly high notes yet again and Greg and Joanna were their superb, talented, adorable selves.

Now, little fun moments throughout. John laughed quite a bit. During the end of GBS when he and Greg were sitting on the bench and everyone is in front so they can barely be seen, I was in the box so I saw he was trying to cover his mouth but he was laughing so hard, it was really cute. He also totally cracked up when Norbert first walked on as Ruprecht.

Even better, at the end of Shiffhausen, as they were turning, Norbert was either grabbing or feeling up(I couldn't tell) John's umm...tushi. We saw John make a shocked OMG face when he noticed, jump and turn to push Norbert's wheelchair laughing like he was gonna kill him. And at the end of the Reckoning, again when the stage was turning, you could see Norbert doing something to John...I thought he was humping him, but apparently he was strangling him. It was hard to tell the difference. We didn't know how many people in the audience could see this, b/c it was as it was turning, we were so lucky to get those seats, as a couple of things we saw we're not sure we would see otherwise.

Also, a nice little thing I was able to notice and watch from the box(this would be the other, since the other ppl in the box w/ us didn't notice, I'm fairly certain Dre and I were the only ones who could see it...well maybe people all the way on the right in the last couple of rows...but yeah, during The More We Dance, David Yazbek went into the pit and started playing percussion! The other drummer was helping him out a bit, but he seemed to be doing a very good job. When the music slowed down, he began waving his hands as if he was conducting (at this point whoever was there might have heard totally random laughing with apparently no reason for...well that was me and that's why I was laughing, sorry about that, tried to keep it quiet), then he finished, and while we were clapping the actors, the pit was clapping David, and he held his hands together and moved them from shoulder to shoulder to accept their applause. Maybe you had to see it, but it was hysterical to watch.

Oh and at the end of Like Zis Like Zat, I put my head on Dre like Joanna does on Greg and her on mine like Greg does. Did I mention we were having a LOT of fun? Lotsa Greg/Jo applause it was great, and even quite a few ppl awed w/ me after his "neck pillow" line.

Okay, now we get down to it. Norbert and John are in the chairs for Dirty Rotten Number. You could tell Norbert was already really emotional, was really upset with his "nooo." He was crying mostly while John was singing, which made me cry. John held it together pretty well until...I'm not positive someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he started crying and lost the words to the last part of the chorus before Norbert comes in. Or maybe a little before that. Again, made me cry. Of course when Norbert came in, and sang his "you've been working with the best," and pointed to John there was a huge pause for the audience to scream and cheer like crazy, you could see how close they were. They made it through the rest of the song, but then the "good-bye Freddy" part was so sad, they hugged really long, I could see tears in Norbert, couldn't see John's face though.

Oh, and Annie, I did what you asked. When John started "Love Sneaks In," Dre and I grabbed hands and I sighed and whispered "For Annie." We held hands the whole song in your honor.

And then everyone comes on for their final scene...except I realize there's a lot more people than usual. Immediately I recognize that the swings(Jeremy and Greg G of course from softball) and standbys have joined the cast on the stage, then David Yazbek, then finally Jonathan Pryce(oops), and then original cast member Grasan Kransberry in his old costume, and I think a couple other original cast members who might have left, though I can't say for sure. Then suddenly I see David Hyde Pierce and I was like oh wow...okay. (And I already told Kerrie to her dismay that Brian Darcy James was there...ask Dre I thought of you) Anyway, the show finished w/ one small ad-lib...instead of telling Pryce we'll go up to my villa to discuss details, he said we'll go up to my dressing room.

Okay, so curtain call. As stated, the producer came out, talked about and presented Andrew's thing, also mentioned that because he's a producer, he doesn't need this gig any more and is therefore leaving. (and they laughed). Then he introduced most of the random people on the stage--Yazbek, his daughter, co-stars, Pierce, Pryce, etc. Also thanked Tom for letting Jonathan play his part tonight, which I thought was very classy to do. Then he presented John's thing which again was explaining and then John spoke. Let's see what I can remember...

First, he said he would like to apologize to all of the people who came to the show tonight having no clue that this was his last night(heard quite a few of those comments in the lobby while walking in), which received laughs and cheers, but to please indulge him for a couple minutes anyway. First he thanked the producers, the pit, raved about conductor Fred Lassen, and then I think it was...the crew who he said this about...he said he likes them even though they're not Red Sox fans and recently got him a gift of a Yankees jersey w/ "Damon" on it. (Big cheer from me). He mentioned how wonderful his personal assistant Patrick was, and how he will miss him. Thanked all the costume and wig people, especially the person who has to struggle to get his wig on every night. He mentioned the ensemble, and said 80% of them have been with the show since it's first curtain rise in San Diego. He mentioned each individual principle, called Sherie something cute...shoot anyone remember what it was? And then said and finally his comic partner, Norbert, big hug, and I know he said more but I definitely remember he said something to the effect of Norbert will get over it and be fine w/o John but John doesn't think he will w/o Norbert. Very sweet.

And finally he talked about what a great experience it was, sometimes he doesn't know how he can actually leave but then he mentioned Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek for writing wonderful songs and stories and these appropriate words:

"It was a ball, it was a blast. It was a shame it couldn't last, but every chapter has to end, you must agree. It was a joy, it was sublime, a splendid way to earn a dime" (laughter from audience) and ended it with something like and all of these people know at heart I will always be a dirty rotten guy. And then he hugged very tightly essentially every single person on that stage. It was so cute. You could see how tight and close that cast is, and how esteemed John is, from the box I could see the wings were filled with dressers and everyone trying to see.


Okay now the fun afterstories that nobody on the main board cares about! Let's see, I made Kevin a card where I called him Kevin Grinch and drew the Grinch and told him it was a portrait of him. He proceeded to call me Grinch the rest of the night...there was only one barrier up tonight which I liked b/c I'm special enough to go to the other side...Kevin made me stand behind the line and others joined me. Meh. Oh well. Said my hellos to ensemble, and...well I always have moments where I announce my new love for old love that I have...and...I love Joe. Everyone was you know in a rush to get to the party so everyone just said a quick hello but like always he stopped to chat w/ me a little while. He went on Fri night and yesterday matinee, but thinks Norb may be back on track now, or...that's what I took that to mean...Dre, did you take to mean Norbert may be back now? Anyway, really sweet of him.

Oh, and then I told David he did a great job drumming and he was excited that i saw him and he goes "how many times?" I said oh just during The More We Dance he said no and he had to ask twice more before I realized he meant how many times have I now seen the show, b/c he remembered me from the last time I talked w/ him! I wasn't at all expecting that, he seems soo awesome, I really like him. It's kinda exciting to have a composer recognize you, esp. of one of your favorite shows.

So lotsa the guests were coming out of the stage door, I wouldn't bother any of them b/c you know they're not in the show, some people tried to call like David over but he didn't stop which I think is totally understandable. But Jonathan Pryce did. He signed for EVERYONE. I told him I'm like that's so awesome of you to sign for all of us, no need you weren't in the show, thank you! I even asked for a picture and he said yes. Then I told him I see the show a lot, he'll start recognizing me lol. Then Norbert came and actually talked...so maybe he is doing better. I told him I think he was amazing for the performance he gave w/ his condition and you know he thanked me lol. Also gave me the weird look about knowing the ppl..one of those wish I didn't say that moment but what can you do.

And then the man of the hour, Mr. Lithgow came out. Again Annie kept my word...talked for you that I forgot to talk for myself! Oh well. I asked about Annie's wallpaper and Greg and he looked soo confused so I said oh I guess not until something clicked and he was like ohh Annie! ohh her wallpaper, yes I loved it! There ya go darling.

And ohh, John said he'd miss patrick in his speech, I saw him at the door and was like oh you're not leaving? he was like nope...even Kevin didn't know that lol. I actually clapped when John mentioned patrick lol, I was in such a weird mood.

And Greg said of course he heard us screaming from the boxes and said yeah I got the entrance applause, see I was upset that no one could hear Rachel's line, but it was certainly for my ego. Gotta love him

Oh and someone told me Sara left and i can't believe I missed her but then she came out and the lady was wrong. So of course I talked to her for a bit, she said b/c she's coming back they weren't gonna give her a speech, but I said I'll miss you, and she said oh I know you're gonna come to the other show, and I was like well...duh, of course I will lol. Sherie was out last, still signed even though she wanted to get to the party.

And well, then we all parted. What a night. What a show. But...girls playing baseball? (who gets the reference??)

Updated On: 1/16/06 at 01:16 AM

[Dre2387]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:17am

here's the next one. it's all about the Andrew man!
andrew's little speech

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:23am

Wow, I'm not that technologically advanced and didn't realize Dre would have the videos up so fast. Guess my bad transcripting wasn't so necessary. Oh well.

Great pics Ryan. That's one other thing I forgot to mention esp. for the curtain call. Great thing about the box--no heads in front of us I got pics too, I need to get them developed...I had a disposable camera so even though I was fairly close, I don't know good they'll turn out, but I'll of course share them anyway.

Updated On: 1/16/06 at 01:23 AM

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:23am

Awww... Andrew..

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:27am

Well Amanda pretty much summed it up lol Let see, I think John said that he and Norbert were joined like siamese twins and now they were being cut apart. He said Norbert will live and I may not lol. Very sad.

Oh and Odd, I did write that incorrectly and I thank you for the correction. I meant to see its good to see her out of that role. Guess to me that wheelchair symbolizes what Nessarose is all about. She was always dressed as either a school girl or as a bittered Witch so it was nice to really see her beauty shine. I think I only saw her once at the stage door and it was too cold to really get a chance to see her. I really hope I get a chance to see her in Three Days of Rain. I rather see her than Julia Roberts to be honest.
Updated On: 1/16/06 at 01:27 AM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:29am

Ohh, Siamese twins! Right, thanks!

[cserannie]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:31am

I used two tissues while reading it Amanda.

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:32am

*anxious for other videos of John's speech*

[ilovedrsandNLB]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:35am

ok ya'll i REALLY wanna see these but i gotta sleep. i haven't been sleeping lately, so i'm gonna check them tomorrow morning, first thing. THANKS everyone for telling us all about it...i'm so glad you guys got to be there and share that with them..too cool.
i'll talk to you all tomorrow

[classy trashy]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:35am

Does anyone know if Jenifer Foote was there?

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:36am

Who did or does she play, classy trashy?

edit: check the pics if you can. I am pretty such the entire ensemble and crew was there (and Jack O' Brien was in the audience) so if she was there, she would be on stage.
Updated On: 1/16/06 at 01:36 AM

[cserannie]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:36am

I love the video Dre!!!

more...more...more

[OddExoticCreature]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:36am

I was totally joking, but okay? lol. You are so thorough. I like how I don't ever post anything relative at all. Ever. Soo....how come nobody has mentioned Sherie?

[classy trashy]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:37am

She *was* a vacation swing, but then they did some insert in the playbill announcing that she had joined the cast. I was wondering if she is still in the show.

ETA: I did check the pictures, but I can barely pick out Sherie, let alone Jen Foote. No idea what she would have worn.

Updated On: 1/16/06 at 01:37 AM

[BluCat500]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:39am

Wunderbar videos...

They mentioned John callin her cute "somethingorother" and her signing autographs...

The end by Blucat500

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:39am

Haha Odd, I know. But you were right in that I phrased it wrong so again thank you for pointing that out. Anyway, Sherie gave the same excellent performance as usual. She also signed for everyone before going off to the party (which must be jumping now!)

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:41am

Also mentioned she was amazing as usual, reaching crazy high notes time and again.

Trashy, I can't tell you...like 100% that I def saw her and that she was there, but I did see Jeremy, Greg G, and Nina so I can't imagine she wouldn't have been there too, there were at least two blondes who joined the cast, I'm sure one was her.

Ahh okay, she's in the who's who in the cast w/ everyone else and they were all on stage, so I'm pretty sure she was there.

Updated On: 1/16/06 at 01:41 AM

[classy trashy]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:42am

Hot stuff. Thank you, wrq! Is she currently in the Playbill? They like to play hide and seek with her bio...

Updated On: 1/16/06 at 01:42 AM

[Dre2387]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:43am

Ok. Writing in Word to see how many pages I actually write and to save the post just incase the internet shuts down and I lose the whole thing.

Ok, start off with lottery. Won that, which was great. Far back box on the right facing the stage. Awesome views. So, Amanda and I get there with Ryan and Kat (but unfortunately, there were a few rows behind us in the mezzanine.) Supposedly, when Amanda asked, the show was not sold out, but when we sat down and looked around, it totally looked like it was.

So, the orchestra started (Fred conducting, which was great. He has the best expressions during the show!) and everyone started clapping and the curtain went up. It was so sad seeing Andrew dance for the last time. Greg got an entrance applause started by Amanda and myself. He actually said at the stage door afterwards that he was sad that no one heard Rachel’s line but it was good for his ego. Lol.

Then, John turned around and everyone started clapping. That lasted for a minute and he didn’t know what to do. He was cracking up a little and I think I saw a hint of a smile on Greg’s face. Then he started his little speech about the ring and actually, the music stopped before he reached the end of it since it played over the applause before it. At the very end of “Give Them What They Want,” the last word (“me”) sounded like he choked on it a bit. Bit sad.

Next moment I noticed was on the train with Freddy and when Freddy was trying to get his attention, he really hit him hard on the leg with the paper. Harder than normal, so, that sort of looked like a sign of affection. Maybe. Or am I reading too much into it? Whatever.

Norbert was really awesome in “Great Big Stuff.” Amanda and I thought that maybe people in the front row were relatives or something since they were loving it. And Norb was really giving his all, even adding little lines that unfortunately can’t remember now and little movements. His voice cracked like once but that was expected. Best great big stuff I have seen in a long time. And it looked like John was cracking a smile while sitting down in the back, since he covered his mouth. But I saw it. The ends of his smile were visible. Lots of laughs for Greg’s big pencil joke and his “Andre face” afterwards.

Chimp in a suit was good, but the mooning by Norbert was the highlight of that song.

“Oklahoma” was great! Lots of added screams from Sara, which was great! Love those!

Scene right after that song, when they are all hanging round the staircase and it gets the biggest applause before the scene actually starts was great! When Greg had to laugh, it really looked like he was laughing (for real!) he threw his chest down a big and came up laughing then looked at John. People loved that. And the jerky movement at the end didn’t get an applause but it was still funny.

Oh my gosh! Ruprecht was so sad! When Norbert came out, John started cracking a little. Not sure how Sara was doing and I couldn’t really see Norbert’s face. But when Ruprecht wanted “huggies,” Norbert really licked him (long lick) and then dry humped him and then when John threw him over, people were laughing hysterically that Norbert took the opportunity to give John a Eskimo kiss and another lick on the face which then leaded to a hug.

When John was saying sorry to Norbert after “Ruprecht” in the hotel then had to yell at him, he must have really had an angry look on him cause Norbert drew back and really looked scared. Or maybe it was really good acting, but it certainly looked different than other times I have seen it.

I missed “Nothing is too Wonderful..” cause I was trying to get to the bathroom before intermission to avoid the long line (which I eventually did) and when I was exiting the box (like, moving the curtain aside), it was so dark, I completely forgot there were stairs there and fell down like three stairs. That hurt.

“Ruffhousin’ Mit Shufffhausen” was great! Right when the song finished and the audience were clapping, Norbert started to caress John’s ass, then the stage started turning and John realized this and jumped forward and smacked Norbert on the legs again with the stick. So funny, I think only like a few people saw that.

Right after “Ruffhousin’” but before “Like Zis/Like Zat” was the scene where Greg carries Norbert in, then transfers him to Andrew. Well, Amanda and I realized that that would be the last time Norbert would be able to grab Andrew’s ass like that again. It was a touching moment.

Greg and Joanna were great in their love song. They are so sweet together.

At the beginning of “The More We Dance,” Amanda and I saw David Yazbek playing the bongos and drums in the pit which was so cool! Oh, and when Sherie kisses John, she gave him a very long kiss and so when she asked if that was alright, he really meant it when he said “wunderbar.”

Love sneaks in was great. Annie, we were thinking of you.

Love is my legs was great too. Norbert did a great job even though he should be resting his voice. And I just realized, this may sound weird, but if you know what I’m talking about, you will get it: When John is exiting with Norbert and Norbert is a little crouched over, like a child, that little walk he does reminds me of the character Manuel when he does that walk in the episode “the Builders” in the British comedy Fawlty Towers. It may just be me again but when I see that I laugh so hard.

Greg and Joanna’s little chat on the balcony was great as usual. They are an awesome pair!

At the end of Reckoning (Amanda said Miracle, but it’s Reckoning), when the stairs are revolving around and Norbert is in the purple robe sitting next to John on the sofa, we were able to see Norbert strangle John, which was hilarious!

Dirty Rotten Number was so sad! Norbert was ready to cry from the get-go. And John did mess up a line cause he was choking up, but it was right before Norbert had to sing so it was ok. And the whole song was perfect cause he was leaving and all.

And when the whole crowd came out at the end, right after the number, I thought it looked bigger. And I looked at John’s face and it had dropped and I wondered if it was always like that. Then I realized I saw David Yazbek and then David Hyde Pierce, and then I was Jonathan Pryce on as the Greek guy instead of Tom. And instead of inviting him up to the vial, he invited him up to his dressing room, which was hilarious. And as the producer said at the end of his speech that night, they were able to con him.

I have most of the producer’s speech, Andrew’s speech and most of John’s speech on video so all of you can see it. So I won’t go into that. And Amanda went into detail with the stage door so I won’t say anything about that. Except that she had a huge argument with a lady standing next to us about the difference between the Phantom of the Opera book and the Phantom book. It was so funny! Ryan and I were just laughing.

That’s about it. An hour and a half later and 2 and a half pages on word. Hope it is long enough annie!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:57am

Ulgh, I confused the reckoning w/ miracle! *slaps herself* Bad me!

And Dre's fall! And we were so excited for how I was gonna word that something like...oh, and finally it was such a fun, exciting night that in all the excitement, the necessity of stairs seemed to slip Dre's mind and in her rush and excitement...she fell down. (She was behind the box curtain, I ran out to make sure she was alright...she was, then I was allowed to laugh)

Oh, and another thing that's weird that I forgot! When Greg said "you should have let me buy you that pencil" John totally cracked up for a bit, he had to take a few steps away to calm down. It was fun.

We were not arguing, we were loudly discussing. Anyway, that's not even the funnest part of that discussion, the funnest part was us swooning over Gerry once we said we'll view Crawford separately, and talked about how cute Dear Frankie was and how sexy he is and how she has to rent Dracula 2000 b/c he is sexy beyond all hell and how he's naked in Mrs. Brown. Our voices got high and we breathed/sighed together. THAT was the fun part.

Yes Trashy, she has a who's who...listed as swing.

Jonathan Pryce looks really cold in our picture.

Updated On: 1/16/06 at 01:57 AM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:59am

And ROTFL, it didn't occur to me that of course we would hear ourselves during the video. Hmm if the announcement of Brian D'arcy James is on one of the videos, you'll hear me say "oh Kerrie's gonna be pissed." And for the record, Dre's the louder screamer.

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 2:00am

My Brian... MY BRIAN... I should have been there tonight!!! sigh.

[Dre2387]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 2:01am

here it is! the last video and all about John. 3 whole minutes of John talking non-stop!
John's speech