Okay, so as I mentioned, I was thinking about lottoing DRS but figured not to try on the chance Norbert would be out. Eventually I made plans with a friend but at the last minute decided if as of the lotto Norbert was in, we'd do that and take our chances. There were only a couple more people than seats available, but my friend came after the names started to be called. My name was called when there was one ticket left. Since I was gonna loan my friend money for the ticket and she wasn't there in time anyway, she told me to take the one. Box office said Norbert was in as far as they knew so I crossed my fingers.
Got my usual box...back one in the right. Went to dinner with my friend where I was wearing my "theater dork" T-shirt and between that and the fact that my friend and I were heavily talking about theatre, like 3 different pairs of people started asking me/us theatre-related questions. 2 were actually seeing Lestat that night...random. We actually got into a big convo w/ these 2 girls from Calif, that was fun. Then I got anxious at 7 so I checked the posting, and full cast was in! I was thrilled.
Before I get into the show, I'll also note it was an odd crowd seated-wise. The entire rear mezz was sold out but most of the furthest right side of front mezz wasn't.
Anyway, right around Oklahoma I realized b/c it was so empty, I could def move there so I did. I sat in the aisle, second row, then first when ppl wanted to switch b/c of lack of leg room. So yay for that.
Okay, so the show. Let's see...
Things didn't really pick up until "Great Big Stuff"-with both the audience and the cast. The dialogue between Lawrence & Freddy is back in with the dentist and such, as others have noted.
Anyway, from GBS on, something felt different w/ Norbert. Not to say that he lacked energy or anything the last couple of times I've seen him, but he seemed to reach a whole other level last night. Greg said with him especially when the audience really gets into it, he just...starts going crazy in the part, and the result is wonderful. His singing was the best it's been since he started having vocal problems.
Okay, now the fun starts. When Norbert said his "underwear" line and lifted his butt cheek, the audience hooted, but to my surprise, he began admiring/gazing at his butt cheek in the mirror!! I lost it, it was so funny!
Oh, I *think* I finally figured out who Mylinda as Jolene reminds me of. I have the DVD, I'll double check, but I think it's one of the band-aids in Almost Famous...the one that stays with what's his face and talks about his aura. I'll double check on that.
And...Ruprecht. Oh boy, where to begin? Okay everything was the same up till "we lose more cats that way." Norbert was doing louder, more hysterical crying, but when Jonathan came over to hug him, he skipped the kiss/lick and went straight to the humping. Now I've noted it's been a bit different lately but this time...wow. He got on top of Jonathan, who was forced to lie down on his stomach, and was humping him there...funny enough, but then...he reaches into the toilet...grabs his fish, puts it back into his mouth, and starts...riding Jonathan like a cowboy. He bounces on him as if he were on a toy horse or a bull, and waved his hand in the air as if he was swinging a lasso--you know stuff cowboys would do. I hope you guys got the image. If not, I'm sure I'll think of a movie or something that demonstrates. Anyway, that was HILARIOUS.
So finally Jonathan stops him--the two of them cracking up a little. While Norbert's sucking his thumb in Jonathan, then he kisses him. I was waiting for the lick then, but to no avail. Finally Jonathan gets his "he's very affectionate" out. Norbert did more with the "mother" sequence, repeated "sister?" like he was very disturbed by that idea.
Then when Jonathan mentioned the genital cuff, Norbert went outta control, acting every aspect of that out--throwing it away and stuff. Oh boy. It took more effort for Jonathan to get Norbert to sleep. Finally he did, but I could see Norbert smiling and laughing. And poor Jonathan kept trying to begin the song, but he couldn't stop laughing. He tried 3 times and just burst out. Finally the entire audience applauded, and he got out his giggles, and did the song.
When he said the Bush line, there was delayed reaction by the audience (that too has been happening lately). Someone in the rear mezz on the left side screamed and applauded and then the whole audience did. Jonathan mouthed "thank you" to that person, causing more laughter. Then he finally finished it. He went to sit Mylinda down on the toilet, but she screamed...he didn't put the seat down. Hahaha.
Then when the song started, I'm not positive I feel like Norbert said "okay" in regular, non-Ruprecht voice, I had a delayed reaction. I'm not sure, I think me along with the audience was laughing too hard to notice one way or the other.
I think the rest of it was the same, with some added movements/acting outs by Norbert that cracked me up. He went back to his regular Ruprecht voice for "makes two..." for a little while he changed to a deep funny voice...last night it seemed extra lispy.
And the audience was gone after that--they were really energetic after GBS but the rest of the night they were insane with laugher, cheering, and applause. It was fantastic.
Ooh, I could swear when Jolene was exiting the hotel, Greg, Norbert, and Jonathan kept laughing about something and were trying to hide it. Forgot to ask about that. Oh well.
Rachel keeps getting better and better. Her "Am" was fantastic, and she seems generally more comfortable with the character. Once again, Nothing is too wonderful=eargasmic. Ooh! Someone in the audience obviously got the midget w/ crazy glue joke because they burst out laughing sooo hard, I never heard that reaction before. I guess it's really, really funny if you're familiar with it.
Now for Shiffhausen...wow. The bit with the feather...Jonathan started doing all these movements with it--I think he did it last time but it was so much funnier with it being Norbert. Kept moving from side to side being suspenseful till finally Norbert motioned w/ his hands to move it along and then he giggled it a bit. And it was funnier when Jonathan started tickling. He made that go long too...kept asking tickle tickle? in a REALLY high voice and more so...at one point consecutively they went...tickle? No. tickle? No. tickle? No! Norbert lost it at that point, which I found hysterical b/c he's being tickled and not supposed to be laughing.
Then the song started. Umm, can't think of anything out of the ordinary the first verse. Ooh, the second hit, when Norbert yodels, instead of saying "that's lovely" Jonathan looked at him strangely and exaggeratedly(is that a word) imitated his yodel? Again little laughs here and there.
Oh and ..."are you psychosomaticome? to be.." Again, long moment by Jonathan...something he does every night, but just funnier with Norbert. He took the stick, kneeled down to Norbert, and started playing it against him like a bow on a violin. Again, very exaggerated and long, causing Norbert to move him along again and again crack up. Finally when he left, before Norbert said "I guess that's that" he waved his finger through his hair, indicating Jonathan was crazy. It was great.
Oh yeah, one more thing, Jonathan also stepped/walked on him at one point.
Let's see...Like Zis/Like Zat fantastic as always.
The More We Dance keeps getting better--Jonathan's dancing skills are really beginning to shine through--he now dances with Rachel from the very beginning of the song, and when he's leading everyone, he's clearly one of the best dancers on the floor.
Love Is Your Legs was great as usual, and Rachel did this crazy riff on the really high "Love Is Your Legs." God I love her.
"Love Sneaks In" was once again gorgeous.
Norbert put a little more fun, interesting movements into "Son Of Great Big Stuff."
Rachel can now jump over the orchestra bar. Good for her.
Finally Dirty Rotten Number. Wow. Wow. Wow. All I can say is Wow. Woo-WOOW! The two of them sounded amazing together and that final note-"us"--now they're singing the same note. I assume voices are the same as instruments--when you're playing the same thing, you want to sound like one instrument. I imagine that's harder to do in voices. But they're "us"--was PERFECT. Sounded like one person. It was just an amazing sound, it wasn't possible for them to be more identical. You could hear their strong voices and OMG.
Finally, Jonathan developed his own spanish voice. It's pretty slow and dragged out.
Other things to mention...everytime they spun the wheel, or during the Navy scene, the bike at the curtain call, and the married couple...I really missed Joe. From what I could tell, the new guy has a similar face and I'm sure he's great...but oh well. *le sigh*
Eh, to be continued. Lemme get this up first at least.
"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
We'll miss him. 
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