The Official Greg Jbara Love Thread! PART 4. CELEBRATING 1 YEAR OF LOVIN'!!- Page 195

[SirLiir]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:31pm

It was a very emotional show. However, Dre, Mame, and Amanda together equals (literally) a showstopper hehe

[starletta8]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:40pm

2/3 of my apartment is now packed. It was a pleasure seeing all of you, and I'll truly remember this day for a long time. I'll post a real review later, but this was the most emotional day of theatre I've ever been to.

Thanks for the memories...

[ilovedrsandNLB]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:49pm

sad times.
i don't even have anything else to say on the subject.
other than...dont' judge me cuz i kept crying today lol.
i was just looking at my pics and i almost started crying again...

[starletta8]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:52pm

Once again, I need to throw a shout-out to Harpo. This review is for her. :)

There were what, eight or nine of us? I finally made it right after lotto, which was lucky considering my transportation luck.

I had a feeling this was going to be an emotional day- and it truly was. I move Tuesday, so this was my last Broadway show for the forseeable future. That made it tremendously emotional. And yes, Greg set me off with his emotional speech.

Dre did an AMAZING job with the scrapbook! Greg really loved it, and his reactions were priceless to her (awesome) captions. We also were treated to a random Andrew story (which was doubly hysterical when we saw him later at the stagedoor).

I can't even think enough to put together a coherent review right now, but I promise there will be one later.

[ilovedrsandNLB]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:55pm

OH and Dre---when do you think you'll have his speech posted? and i LOVE YOU! haha we just made each other cry all day...good times man lol

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:21pm

All-right...I've gotten quite a few PMs begging for details...I hope I do it justice. There should be lots of pics/videos from others.

Oy...where to start? Well, like I said, I was next to Dre, which worked out wonderfully. In the front center row starting from the left was Mamie, Dre, me, Sarah. Starletta was a little furhter down the right and Ryan and Kat were in the aisle of the side next to Mamie. So we certainly had a congregation.

Dre and Ryan saw Greg before the show(I'll let them talk about that), but Dre assured me Greg said the ensemble is prepared for our noise, so bring it on. Heh.

Indeed we did. Such a roar when he walked out...it was really loud but I think we kept it short, and Rachel got her line out.

Umm...I'll talk about all the Greg stuff, then briefly talk about new people, then get to the emotional curtain call I guess.

Okay, so...he exaggerated his little "shake" in Give Them What They Want. Umm...in typical Greg fashion, kept everything extremely professional, kept his Andre face, didn't break or do unnecessary things. Chimp in a Suit got to me, just...the last time.

Umm...lots of cheers and noise or him throughout the show. We gave his pencil line a big applause, and laughed really hard and...stuff like that.

Like Zis Like Zat was soo adorable...I had tears in my eyes.

When he and Lucie came on for the tango cross, we gave a big cheer, kind of a you-go-Greg cheer. Heh, he enjoyed it.

Huuge applause/laughter after the first robe appearance. He exaggerated here too, acting a little more off-balance and put in more of a mischevious laugh.

Balcony scene...as classic as ever. Again, huge applause at the end of "flows from.." Lucie had big tears in her eyes during this scene. When they rolled off the stage, I could see Greg grab her and embrace her and the two of them hugged really tightly. It was adorable.

And..his last scene. We looked at each other, kind of acknowledging it. After his "Neck Pillow" line, Dre and I did our typical in sync/in tune "aww" that it seemed to be a bit more than us. It was definitely heard, and the audience started laughing after. They just kinda stood there; Lucie was laughing a little. Had a little bit of tears with his "I'll miss you." He seemed to have a bit of tears in his eyes, and as he carried off Lucie, I screamed to him that we'll miss you.

Okay, quickly about the rest of the show...

I don't want to say that much about Keith and Brian, as it's really early in their run and I want to give them a chance to grow into the characters before passing judgement. Brian was more impressive of the two. He was pretty funny, and he definitely is gonna be great. He brought some of his own stuff to the part that had me cracking up, and he certainly has a great voice.

Keith plays the role much more like Lithgow than like Pryce, and I think it would be easier to adjust to him if he came to the show after Lithgow. As others have said, the keys of his songs have been lowered. Mamie brought to my attention that not even that he had a great voice, but the physical and emotions he was putting into Love Sneaks In was very good. Otherwise, I'm gonna wait a while, see him again when he's had more time to work with the role.

There were a few amusing bloopers though. For Brian's first scene on the train, you know where he takes out the toilet paper to use as a napkin? Well the toilet paper fell out of the bag, rolling out everywhere. He kept pulling more out, but there was more and he was just pulling up the toilet paper during the scene until he finally got it back in his bag.

And at the very end of Ruprecht, when he's kicking and stuff...his shoe flies off! Keith picked up the shoe and Brian took it and just...kissed it at the end of the song.

But okay...the big...oy gavolt, I'm crying again. Curtain call. I stood up for the ensemble as usual...but then so many ppl stood up and cheered for Greg. It hit me then that...it was the end. Tears started. Then when the company bowed together, Sara was right above me and I could see huge tears in her eyes and then I just lost it. The cast push Greg forward and within an instant...we all were crying obviously (and Dre and I are not big public cryers), and across the whole line on the stage...if everyone wasn't crying, an immense majority were. And I don't mean little tears, I mean their eyes were red from crying really really hard.

I think it was Lucie who pushed Greg forward. Then Marty Bell came on the stage with a poster, like he does for everyone who leaves but he had a special guest...Zach, Greg's oldest son! Right behind him was Greg's younger son Aidan, being carried by ex-Gregcam extraordinate, Andrew Asnes! Great surprise.

Greg held each son in each arm as Marty began his speech. It was so beautiful, god. My friend helped so I believe this is the exact quote: "Thank you all for coming out today. Uhh, we lose Greg Jbara today, and we can't imagine the show without Greg Jbara. You know, Wednesday this week is two years that we all gathered in San Diego to put this together, and even a week before we started performances, we didn't have Like Zis Like Zat in the show, we didn't have the balcony scene in the show...those scenes were really inspired by the work of Joanna Gleason, who's here today and Greg Jbara. Greg has been the anchor of this show...I don't know if there's anyone in the company that's been more beloved by all of us."

then he presented him with a poster that said...perhaps not exactly, but pretty much "you will always be a prance to our dirty rotten family"(maybe from the dirty rotten family?)

So then with a kid in each arm still, Greg stepped forward, put Zach down on the stage, and still held Aidan. He said:

"I take my microphone off for my quick change, and I don't have my make-up on...so I'll pretend I'm still a student at Julliard and try to project to the back wall. This is the first time my boys have seen why Daddy does this for a living. It's because of all of you *points to audience* and all of you *points to people on stage*. Umm...*completely breaks down crying through the rest of the speech*...we made our home in Los Angeles for the last 10 years. I spent 15 years here doing theatre. It's where I started. And I missed it. Everyday that I was in LA. And my wie, my boys were *cries harder* generous enough to see how much my heart missed this, which is really the essence of why I'm an actor. The interaction between you and us. And they gave me this gift for 2 years, and I had all these expectations of what I thought coming back to New York City would be like...and now as a dad, it's there first time in the city, and I just want to thank all of you(everyone on stage). This has truly been the greatest experience of my life. And I want to thank New York for being better than anything I ever remembered...and I'll miss it. Till the next time ..." *applause*

Okay, way too emotional after writing that up. Will finish story with stage door in a little while.

[FormerlyDabruzzofan]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:28pm

woe. amazing. just amazing.

[starletta8]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:40pm

First, a word about the new actors. Keith Carradine has a lot of room to grow in the role (he had a few lyric flubs, etc), but I can see him becoming a very good Lawrence. I'd be interested to see the show in 3-4 months, once everyone has settled in. It was a little odd hearing the songs a bit lower. (I would be interested to hear Brian D'arcy James sing "Dirty Rotten Number" in the original key though).

Brian D'arcy James is doing EXACTLY what he needed to do coming in right after Norbert- he plays the role in a completely different way. He's very good, and I enjoyed his performance. There's enough of the character that we all know, but interpreted in a totally different manner. Again, I'd love to revisit his performance in a few months. He kept cracking Sherie up the entire afternoon. He rolled very well with his various bloopers (the shoe, toilet paper- which the conductor had to scoop up), and it'll be interesting to see where he goes with the performance.

BTW, apparently Richard Kind is not starting the 3rd like originally planned. I heard this mentioned from several people, including Lucie Arnaz. Just an FYI for anyone planning to visit the show in the next couple of weeks.

The performance itself was something I won't forget. The ensemble (and orchestra) had been warned that since it was Greg's last, just about anything might happen. I think our small but vocal contingent was loud. I know Greg heard us. (Actually, people were asking what was going on at intermission, LOL). Greg added a few little things throughout the performance, exaggerated a few things- but was professional the whole show. (Oh, and the "Oklahoma" shout-out was funny)

We did, however, make a bunch of noise for his entrance, "Chimp in a Suit", "Like Zis/Like Zat", the tango, and the balcony scene. "Like Zis/Like Zat" was especially adorable today, and you could just see the emotion onstage. Greg got a ton of reaction from stumbling across the stage in his robe, and you could tell that he was enjoying it. The balcony got a lot of cheering and laughter- and a couple of applause breaks. The embrace at the end was very real- and bittersweet.

As was mentioned, there was a huge "AWWWWW" for the neck-pillow line, and the rest of the theater started laughing at the "AWWW." Lucie had to pause for the audience to settle down.

But the emotional part of the performance was the speeches. The whole cast was very emotional, and that had most of us choked up as well. Greg's speech was just so touching that it was perfect from him. If there was anybody who left the theatre without at least a lump in his/her throat, that person didn't feel the emotion in the house.

I'd love to add more, but I'm not sure what I can say right now. I'm hoping that people are starting to get a feel for what an emotional day it was.

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:52pm

The show was incredible and just so sad. I didn't stagedoor because I felt as if I'd said my goodbyes and it was just too sad to do again. But it was a memorable day.

[Up In Lost]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:53pm

Well, I wasn't there today, but just reading these reviews is making me emotional!

I just want to say that I completely, utterly believe that Greg is this much of a wonderful person to everyone he meets. It's not him trying to get fans, it's not him putting on a facade, it's just him. He is so genuine, it's really moving. What a good human being.

We need more people like Greg in this world.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:59pm

Okay...a little over that.

Okay so we went out praying the stage door wouldn't be as bad as it was for Norbert. It was thankfully not. Mamie couldn't say good-bye so she left with two fake moneys for him to sign for me and for me to send her. So Dre, Laura(Starletta), Liz & Jeff, Ali, Sarah, Ryan and Kat all converged on the other side of the stage door, further from where we exited...all of us either crying or having had tears in our eyes. Kevin came out, saw us all crying and laughed at me specifically because...well we know how he loves me. I yelled at him for laughing he said no I'm not laughing, I'm just so happy I'm finally getting rid of you. I was like nooo...a little break maybe but you will always be stuck with me darling :-P He did help me get over the crying I have to say. Asked me if I wanted to upstairs and I replied so you could tell me well that's great, you can't? No thank you. Yup, that's what he was gonna do.

Anyway, we were saying it'll prob take everyone a while to say bye to him, so it will probably be a while before anyone comes out. To our surprise, the first person out is...Greg! Comes right over to us first, I gave him Mamie's money to sign....he thanked us and said boy did he hear us haha, but the show ran totally smoothly with our noise so that was good. We didn't know if he was gonna come back out or what, but we watched him go to everyone else. Then it seemed like he wasn't gonna be back out, so we called him back over and everyone took a picture with him and said a final goodbye. I didn't take a picture b/c I can't imagine how bad I looked, so I just hugged him really tightly and thanked him for everything. He seemed all emotioned out, and kept saying oh c'mon guys, we'll all e-mail each other and such. Goes back in. We all cry more. of course, in typical Greg fashion, he didn't rush through anyone. Said bye, gave hugs, signed, took pics...I know he had to get going, he tried to get us to move quickly through the pictures, but otherwise...took his time with everyone. I will miss him sooo much.

I think Ryan and Kat left then...and so did Sarah, so the rest of us experienced the rest of the stage door. Keith and Brian came out and signed and took pictures with everyone. I thanked Brian for clearing away my tears quite a bit, he laughed, and we also laughed about the toilet paper and the shoe.

Ooh, I forgot. At one point Joanna comes out with Jeffrey Lane. Me and my big mouth...I mean to just at a normal volume say it, but of course at my typical huge volume I scream Joanna!! She turns around and I'm like we miss you!! and then of course she gets swarmed for autographs and pics b/c I shouted her out. "I do that a lot." Oops. Did it to Norbert once at Wicked.

anyway, I just have to say I loooove Jeffrey. He kind of like was on his way out, kind of turned his head, saw me and Dre, walked, did a head turn again to see that it was us, and turned around and walked back to talk to us. I was like...well, told ya I see the show way too much. We talked about Brian and Keith and them getting comfortable and how emotional the performance was, how he's sure he'll see us soon, etc (Sorry we didn't mention to you guys who he was! But he's such a sweetheart).

And Lucie...I've actually never talked to her before tonight...she's always seemed really nice, signs for everyone, takes pics, anyway she comes over to us...and says to all of us but especially me and Dre the loud front-row girls...you girls were crazy!! HAHAHA. We were like what you mean awwwww? She laughed and said I didn't know what to do lol. No, it was cute. I was like it's not our fault everyone laughed. We talked a bit--she hasn't rehearsed with Richard yet, he doesn't start for 3 weeks. She's really really gonna miss Greg and we agreed with her. I know we talked more, but I can't remember about what. Anyway, really nice talking to her....glad she noticed us, though it's kind of impossible not to...

Ooh, great story! Tom came out said hi to us, started signing the other side...Dre decided she wanted a picture so did...Liz? or Ali? I mean, everyone took but someone else specifically gave me the job of calling him over, which I did....though he came right to me and I was like oh...they want pics. But he's really nice I don't even know where it started but...we started talking about him and ensemble signing at the stage door...he talked about how you know he'd love to sign but ppl don't recognize him and he gives ppl a chance but of course doesn't insist on it and I was saying well a lot don't recognize you guys, etc. but I try to help, and he's like oh yeah i've noticed you pointing us out sometimes, I was like really? yaay. It's cool to know that ppl I don't talk to...I mean obviously realize I'm always there but kind of realize the things I try to do and stuff and that they're appreciative...he actually started saying hi to me, and he seemed really, really sweet. Glad we stopped him. Wish I could see him go on as Lawrence...

And umm...hmm...yaay ensemble members coming out...talked to Rak...yeah then I think the boys came out with...their nanny maybe? and Greg came out again, heh. I think we were just aww-ing the boys, I was saying aww he couldn't talk last time I saw him, and Greg was trying to get him to say something...Los Angeles, dada, something like that...I finally said say these people are scary...then...he must have gone back in...

We're still all there and finally Mr. Asnes popped his head out. I'll give someone else the pleasure of telling that story

Until Greg came out one last time...at this point we were the only ones left and he was just like you guys are all crazy...but he said e-mail one more time, illustrating fingers typing. Then we watched them walk down the street and out. Then we all scattered. Dre and I stayed the longest b/c...that's what we do, plus I had to wait for my sis. Ooh, Dre took a pic with Kevin. That was amusing. I told him he should quit and I should get his job.

So Dre and I turned to leave and I am such a dork, but I ran back to stare at Greg's pic which will be taken down soon...one...more...time. Dre too. Tears in our eyes again. Then we finally left.

What. A. Day.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:05pm

I'm very emotional and can't relive the Greg stuff. But. BUT.

Andrew is my favorite drunk. That's all I have to say.

[ilovedrsandNLB]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:09pm

i hear ya liz.
today definitely wiped me out.
but lets just leave it at the fact that i still love Greg and i will miss him. more than he knows.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:09pm

HAHA Liz. I think it was the ay he said something like well I'm sure I'll see you guys at my next show...his voice and I think he almost lost his balance. I think that's what he said that I couldn't rememebr when I realized.

[SarahBeth]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:19pm

Aww I cried while reading his speech. What a sappy day, its been full of crying for me. Greg is such an amazing person! DRS won't be the same without him!! He is so nice in his emails too. He was very appreciative about the gregcam parody I sent him.

I <3 Greg!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:40pm

Did we ever see this Gregcam parody? If not, share!

[SirLiir]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:43pm

Well, my quick review:

Brian: Mame and I agree that Brian was trying to combine his own style with Norbert's. He has a unique voice and I can see he can be quite funny. He played Freddy a bit over the top this performance but that's fine. He just started and as he becomes accustomed to the role and focuses more on his own style rather than mimicing a few of the Norbertisms (is that a word?), I am sure he will be even better. He is going to indeed be a great successor to Norbert and I am happy he is there.

Keith: A solid beginning I say. He was more physically emotional than I expected but was effective at getting his lines out. He is a bit quiet and reserved but he still seems like he is going to enjoy the role. He reminds me exactly as how Jonathan Pryce started and we all know how that went. I look forward to seeing how he evolves in the next few weeks.

Greg: A very sad day. His Andre will never be touched and if Richard Kind plays the role in a comically way like Greg mentioned, it is going to disrupt the balance of the show greatly and I am worried. I am hoping that we are wrong, Mame.

Nice to see you, guys. Now we need to see other shows together and remain the GFU forever We need to schedule monthly GFU shows.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:55pm

Ahem. This is what Andrew looked like:



Except me. But you get the idea. Photo credit to Dreeee.

[SarahBeth]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:57pm

mmmk just a few shots from it





He responded with some pictures of his own.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:57pm

heh. "Andrew" was such a diva at the stage door.

ETA: great parody

Updated On: 7/24/06 at 11:57 PM

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:59pm

I know...giving a list of requirements for pictures...

[movieinmymind]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 12:01am

*sniffle*

[Dre2387]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 12:05am

Andrew is my favorite drunk

what about me?


anyone who wants to see the video of his speech, PM me.

amanda, the poster read: "Goodbye to a true prance. Love, your dirty rotten family."

wow, guess everyone went to sleep. night!

Updated On: 7/24/06 at 12:05 AM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 1:09am

Ah. Thanks hun.

Nah, you're not a very fun drunk. You were getting testy with me when I talked to you when you were drunk.

[WickedScoundrel]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 1:35am

I just about cried reading Greg's goodbye speech.