Whew. Done.
Continued from first post...
Norbert, as expected, got a huuuuge entrance applause. It definitely lasted from him walking in to at least him sitting down on the other side of the stage. It was great.
Let's see...like usual, I mean it was great, but things didn't really take the new energy of their last show until Great Big Stuff. Again, it's hard to explain but Norbert just totally exaggerated the choreography, throwing in new things, and it was just really funny. Umm, you guys know the ¡§butler walk¡¨ he does behind Tom for the first chorus? Well like he did that throughout the first verse. Just added a lot more movement, butt-shaking, funny imitations¡ it's hard to explain but he filled that number with soo much energy¡ what a great way to see him do it for the last time. He also said and actually quite a bit during the show said sh*t. Hmm.
Ooh, one thing I'm not sure really happened or I just took it to that level, but I swear it seemed as though in the end when he's "conducting"(this too was humorously exaggerated), they played with the lights enough for a bit of the conducting the lights kind of turned Fantasia-y, with the lights imitating the conducting. I don't know if I was seeing things that weren't there b/c I was the only one laughing. Oh well, it seemed funny.
Such a huge cheer after GBS. Quite a few people laughed at the My Fair Lady reference. Yay.
Norbert showed us even more of his butt today during Chimp in a Suit.
I started clapping for Sara which resulted in a huge entrance applause. It was soo great being in an audience with such enthusiastic, big fans of the show. Anyway, she's so great. She's totally perfected the art of screaming.
Again, something I just may never have noticed, I felt like in the past when she sang don't ya love it when the kigh-oats(pronunciation spelling) call, Jonathan's said no like he did to the first line. Today he said what are kigh-oats. I could have just not noticed it in the past.
Jonathan was extra dizzy/scared after Oklahoma. And he really got into his butt dance at the mirror. He kept going down further and was really grinding it.
Ruprecht. Oy gavolt. Just...wow. You guys know how far they take that some times and to just take it further. The cuddly/licking/humping all went as usual but Norbert started doing little dances on top of Jonathan was just pushing really really hard and Jonathan couldn't escape him, despite trying. Norbert also proceeded to fully act out what would happen if Jonathan has to get the genital cuff. Hehe. He started putting up his arms as if he was gonna box Jonathan when Jonathan tried to put him to sleep.
After the Bushes/Tex, etc, when the music started, Jonathan just went "Oh Ruprecht, music is starting". Heh.
Norbert tried to kiss...or do more to Sara, but she backed away. Jonathan and Norbert were really pushing Sara hard on the bed, and Ali said she saw Sara grab Norbert's ass. And Sara had to try so hard to not crack up today. I mean, major props to her for never cracking up during this scene, I don't know how she does it. It was cute to see her almost lose it today.
At the end, instead of shaking hands, Jonathan and Norbert gave each other a big hug. Aww.
Umm, the rest of the first act...Sherie is as fantastic as she was when she left. It's great to have her back.
Again, more exaggeration, the part when Norbert mentions dance usa and sherie goes I love that show, he totally exaggerated the OMG me too, and said more and stuff. Cried harder too. Acted out a bit of the brass section. Heh.
So...Shiffhausen. Jonathan jumped on like I've seen him do. But to all of our surprise, including Norbert's, he pulls out...a bigger, orange feather. You can tell Norbert wasn't expecting that one. Ooh before this, as Jonathan said no feeling what-so-ever, he tapped/hit Norbert's leg so his leg reflected and moved. So Norbert tried to keep a straight face, but smirked and cracked up as he said "nope."¨
Anyway, he made sure to tickle him with the feather, going between the toes and stuff.
Yodels were exaggerated too.
And when Jonathan "plays the violin" on Norbert, he started playing it vertically and then proceeded to hum the beginning of "In The Mood."
For the next scene, there was something going on when Greg was carrying Norbert. He seemed...extra close and had a mischievous face on. Norbert looked like he was gonna start making out with Greg's face or something, which I was waiting for, but nothing. He was grasping him really tightly and eh, disappointing.
Like Zis Like Zat was adorable as ever.
Again, more enthusiastic dancing from Jonathan in The More We Dance. And OMG, the one point where Jonathan and Sherie are supposed to come out dancing under everyone....instead the two of them jumped the way Jonathan does when he enters as Shiffhausen.
Love Is My Legs...hilahrious. Norbert was just emphasizing everything, making it sound more powerful and emotional, which just made it more hysterical...especially at the end with Sherie "Love...is...my...legs." He really quieted his "once again." Haha. Love that song.
Great to see John beautifully sing Love Sneaks In one last time.
Norbert was just going all out in Great Big Stuff reprise...a lot of more errr dancing and grabbing indicating what he was going to do...
And umm yeah...all the same until Dirty Rotten Number. Norbert was already tearing up at this point, you can hear it as he talked. It was funny, like he was crying and then was like in his head oh wait I have to laugh at this Detroit line and did so, still with tears. Man, just emotional. I really wish they could have pointed to each other during the "working with the best" line. You could see them emphasizing it was fun, I mean...every line. We agreed with Norbert that they deserved a hand. Huge cheer then, and when it was over, right away all of us in our corners stood and eventually it was a full standing ovation. Norbert and Jonathan hugged and came forward and bowed. As others posted, then Norbert said and they think they're going home now...then when they talked and said "it was fun. Yeah¡ they were talking about them obviously. The good-bye was sad, but then they came back together and yeah..the show ended.
Greg oddly enough got a huge, huge cheer at curtain call. Weird...course everyone did.
Again something else...Norbert really deserved the last bow today. Oh well.
Marty Bell came in as usual with plaques. But first he welcomed back Sherie who was taken by surprise and kind of like you-don't-have-to-do-this, and wished Lucie a happy birthday. Then came speeches. At least rightfully they acknowledged Jonathan first, Marty said something about except he didn't win the replacement Tony...but he is the first person to b/c of him, they cancelled an award! Haha. Umm the plaque said something like for being a great guy and a great fraud...something like that.
And yeah, Ryan took care of Norb's speech. Though the weirdest thing...quite a few people looked at me when Norbert thanked those who saw the show multiple times, day in and day out. Why would people be staring at me? (No Mamie, I have NOT seen the show 142 times :-P )
It was sooo awesome that he brought Jack out on stage! Of course we gave him a huge cheer. (When Norbert said the part about taking care of his butt or busting his butt or something Jack looked at him and went "Butz." Ha-ha.)
And uhh, yeah then the curtain went down.
And as others have said the stage door was crazzzzzy. Norbert's semi-limo was waiting outside for him and the crowd went all the way around the back of the limo. And I mean props to Norbert, he signed and took pictures with a lot of people. Ali really wanted a picture with him but didn't get one
We were nowhere near close enough.
And with so many people, quite a few ensemble members were signing; it was exciting! Poor them, there was like no where to get through. Someone even asked for Fred's autograph(and dresser Tom, who had to clarify he's not in cast. Aww.)
And yeah to our surprise, Laura walked out with Jacqueline and Rachel! Yaaay! It was so great to see her. Apparently she wasn't at the show, came to celebrate after. People asked her to sign as well, where the ensemble page is, and she was like well I was in the show, I'm not anymore, so she had to sign the side away from the pictures. I really miss her. But yeah, they're in rehearsals for the tour; she's excited.
Then Greg came out and Ali and I were like OMG if Greg does his usual, talking with and taking pictures with everyone, he's gonna be here an hour! Well, I don't think it was that bad, but of course Greg did the usual. We said we'd see him next week(soo sad.) He told us not to throw tomatoes at him. (Dammit Mamie, there goes our plan
I guess that's pretty much it. So glad I went, and got that great seat. Horrible intermission story about this woman who refused to believe that we were all cheering Norbert just b/c he's been on Broadway and not anything more recognizable. Oy gavolt; I wanted to smack her.
I feel like I should write a profound ending, conclusion, thought to leave you with...but I guess I'll leave that for next week.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
Updated On: 7/16/06 at 11:23 PM
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