i guess I'll write it now. Might not be as long and precise as I want it to be, but oh well.
SPOILERS ARE IN HERE!
Ok, so I met Ryan outside the theatre at the lotto. He met my parents and we talked for a bit, then the hott lotto guy (who my parents believe is doing an internship at the theatre from England) called out names and Ryan was called. So we got the front two seats in BB (box right in front of Norbert's old box). There was one ticket left that my dad was able to get (my mom didn't mind not going. she really wanted to go home and sleep). So after we got the tickets, we had dinner (ryan too) and then went back to the theatre.
The show started with the announcement by Pryce and there was no pause like Lithgow did it. So, from then, i knew that Pryce wouuld be different. The music started and I started bouncing (cause I love the Overture). Greg came on and ryan and I started clapping. I swear a heard a third clapper on my left. Then Pryce appeared. and everyone clapped, and i thought the wig worked (then). He took his first speech very seriously, with no hint of anything could be fake about it. then the next line came, and everyone laughed hysterically, even me who had heard it 5 other times. He looked at the audience weirdly, with a smile that looked British. haha. then the song came and that was pretty good. then Greg turned towards us and before he turned away again, he gave me and ryan the thumbs up. it was awesome! Later, at the stagedoor, greg told us that he heard he applause entrance and knew it was us.
anyway, then Joanna came on and I started an applause for her. not a big one, but people clapped. when greg said "not the royal ring!" jonathan didn't go over to joanna and yelled in her ear like Lithgow did. that was good. and when joanna was asking greg about jonathan, he stood downstage right where people could see him and then went upstage. the lines that they added were pretty good, except the tiara one (bit over the top). do miss the 24 hour plague too.
I remember someone saying that the whole dialogue during Joanna's song in the train was taken out, but it was still there (everything that I remember). Glad they kept that in cause it shows that they really did meet. and while Joanna was singing, Jason and Jonathan were talking (mouthing) in the train, which I know Norbert and Dennis never did. John and Norbert did which was good. Shows that they really got to know each other.
Jason I thought was pretty good. He didn't have the same expression as Norbert but the singing was great. like ryan said, he's younger and it does show a bit of a difference between him and Norbert. (would love to see TIm as either Freddy or Andre)
Great Big Stuff was really good. Jason really gave it his all and made it his own. he had a lot of other moves that Norbert doesn't do and they work. the scene right afterwards was good. But when Freddy has the line "I'm beginning to think this guy doesn't like me." he says it in Lawrence's chair, then goes to mirror. before, Freddy was at the mirror and heard the line. was a bit weird. not sure if they changed it or if they just did it that way for the performance. not sure. and the garbage can was by the sofa, not the table.
Greg's song was great, as usual. and Jason must have shown his ass but ryan and I didn't see it (but we could hear the difference in the audience's laughter right when it would have happened so yeah. (later my dad said he did show it. My dad was on stage right of the theatre in one of the boxes.)
scene before Oklahoma was funny. Hull was a bit dry. she had no life in her character. Jonathan's answer to the marriage thing was hilarious "as you say it, 'whoa' " Hull's song was pretty good. she's a good dancer so that helped. you really start to appreciate Sara's shrieks when they aren't there.
right after the song, when the three guys are just there, staring, that was hilarious. then when Jonathan was checking out his butt. HILARIOUS!!! he was soo good!
then Ruprecht....wow!!! I heard that Norbert and Jonathan break character a lot, but there wasn't anything this time, though the whole scene was hilarious anyway. When Jason has the fish in his mouth, Jonatahn had to hide his smile a little. and the extra humping....i would love to see it with norb. it was great. and when Jonathan put Jason out, he put his weasel out too. loved it! Hull was great too in that scene, better than Oklahoma song.
Scene before Here I Am: Jonathan didn't get as angry as I thought he should get at Jason. But no biggie. Rachel came on and man does she look like Sherie. Like, no joke. so werid. But really liked her singing style. loved it. But her character shown afterward with Jason before Nothing Is Too Wonderful To Be True was a a bit dull. she wasn't as bubbly as sherie. I know that I should really compare her to sherie but i really liked how sherie portrayed her. and even when i saw the show with laura, she made it a little bubbly. But, when i saw the show with Rachel, I sort of thought, 'wow, she's not in a lot of scenes.' when she realy is. maybe cause she didn't leave a very big impression on me. but i LOVED her singing in Nothing is Too Wonderful. Very different to sherie and it worked. and Freddy's lines....I still don't get. haha. they make no sense, it's so funny.
Ruffhausen Mit Shuffhausen. wow! Loved the accent, loved the jacket he wore, and Jason was ready to burst out laughing when Pryce brought out the feather. and with the stick, he was fantastic! then he climbed over Jason's legs! how did that happen? that must have hurt. but you know when all of a sudden lithgow would stop then walk out? well, the music played while Jonathan played jason's neck like a violin, right part of his wig flaring about, psycho look in his face. then music stopped, he continued doing that, looked up, laughed psychocially, then sort of slowly walked, (sort of the way you do when you are really drunk) then when he lefted, slides his arm along the wall. i was almost crying. then i realized that he was suppose to leave, but did it a completely different way to Lithgow. so much funnier.
Jonathan actually knelt with Joanna which i thought was great. Lik Ziz/Lik Zat was perfect as always. then when Rachel says "Gorgeous" and Lithgow use to say "I just got a haircut" but Jonathan now says with his back to us "I work out" and I think he flexes his butt (but i can't remember). The More We Dance was great. Jonathan could really move.
Love is My Legs was fantastic! both of them did a great job! but near the end, I couldn't really hear Rachel's part. But biy did she hit that last high note! I have been waiting for that high note ever since the first time I saw Sherie. So, i must say, because of that, she is a great replacement.
Love Sneaks In was great! (sorry to say, annie) but it wasn't the best song to show off Jonathan's talent though. but the last note was great!
the Reckoning was hilarious, but not different. and Dirty Rotten Number was fantastic. but nothing could beat John's last performance of Dirty Rotten Number. When Rachel came back as Paula, she really had a character that reminded me of her part in Victor/Victoria. but what the best part of that scene was Jonathan's spanish accent. it was incredible! and when he said "come up to my house" and elogated the word 'house,' there were 3 kids in the 10th row (not sure) hooted and shrieked. and Jonathan looked out at them and said "bring your friends too." and indicated to the kids in the orchestra. it was hilarious.
ok, now for the ensemble. the guy that took over andrew's part. (he had a scruffy beard showing. it didn't look like matt wall but not sure) i must say that it was easy to miss Andrew but this guy did a great job getting hit by Rachel's book and falling.
andrew's replacement and joe's replacement looked the same. so the guy who played the bell boy behind the desk looked like the sailor guy. and totally missed seeing joe then too. But they were good.
but the dance couple after the More we Dance song (whoever they were) were fantastic! no different moves but very clean and perfect. everyone applauded.
when curtain call came, ryan and I stood and everyone else slowly started to stand when greg came forward. and by the end, everyone was standing. then greg came forward for the first charity speech for the next few months. he told everyone to sit back down and by the end of it, he told everyone they could resume their standing ovation. which everyone did and I was happy.
so, i think that it is it. too long? not long enough? not enough info? definately try and see it with Pryce if you can. that broadway video doesn't give him justice.
you happy now amanda?
boy am i tired.
<--- the set of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I was assistant stage manager for during the 2007 season at the STNJ outdoor stage.
-Dre- You must remember all the same that at the crux of every game is knowing when it's time to leave the table... And it's important to be artful in your exit. No turning back, you must accept the con is done... It was a ball, it was a blast. And it's a shame it couldn't last. But every chapter has to end, you must agree.
~Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~
There's a special kind of people known as show people. We live in a world full of dreams. Sometimes we're not too certain what's false and what's real. But we're seldom in doubt about what we feel.
~Curtains~
It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to, than I have ever known.
~A Tale of Two Cities ~
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