The Official Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread, part two- Page 199

[misschung]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:05am

so tonight was absolutely amazing - the cast was all in, and there was a pretty good reception by the audience. the lower level was completely full, I couldn't really see the mezz but there were people on those small little balconies to the left and right of the mezz (I dont know what they're called). It seemed like people really enjoyed it, but I heard mixed reviews at intermission and afterward - basically people were suprised because it was "different" - not really a big shock there.

The show was great though, everyone seemed really into it. At first I thought the Ladies Who Lunch sounded a little subdued, but by the end she really belted out the "rises" and the hair on my arms stood up. Being Alive was just...indescribable, Raul really took his time at the piano in the beginning and prolonged it, it was wonderful.

MET RAUL at the stagedoor!! We waited until like 11:25 in the drizzle, but it was so worth it. Before he came out, I talked to Kristin Huffman, she was like "are any of you on broadwayworld.com? I just wrote something for them!" She was so chatty and gracious and was telling people to "tell their friends and family" about Company. Most of the cast came out except for Barbara Walsh, which sucked - but oh well.

But Raul was just so lovely when he came out, he was like "I'm sorry to make you guys wait in the rain!" There werent too many people there, but he signed everything and took lots of pictures with people. He was also wearing flip flops and looked very cute :) I was so happy after I met him, I don't even remember the walk back to the train

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:41am

but there were people on those small little balconies to the left and right of the mezz (I dont know what they're called).

Boxes. Company uses them for rush seats.

Kristin is such a sweetheart. I'm glad you got to meet her. Barbara usually signs; she's just hard to recognize off stage, so a lot of people miss her.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 3:20am

Raul really took his time at the piano in the beginning and prolonged it, it was wonderful.
This sounds so dirty.

Yeah, time to go to bed.

[Craww]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 6:04am

First we have "murder by vibrator", and now we've got prolonged piano time. Sleep deprivation makes this thread a real after hours hotspot.

misschung, glad you had a good time, and finally got to see the show.

I'm glad I got to see the show twice, from two different perspectives (regarding both the tone of the production and the visuals). Raul also holds the distinction of giving me the most attractive stage door photo I'll probably ever get.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:58am

"This sounds so dirty."

lol, this is what happens when I wait in the rain for an hour and take the 12:10 train home.

my stagedoor pic with raul is my desktop background :o)

I had the most insane people sitting behind me last night, this guy started laughing hysterically at the end of the Ladies Who Lunch, I was like ok its not really that funny....??

I'm going to take my mom in a few weeks tho, even though she doesnt really like musicals, I think she'd like Company

Updated On: 5/20/07 at 10:58 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:22pm

I think I missed the "murder by vibrator" part, hehe!

I love when the show gets that awkward, uncomfortable laughter. It's so funny to laugh at the laugther, you know?

misschung, can we see the picture? I think I may ask him for a new one sometime over the summer. I have a bunch that I've accumulated over the years, but unlike the distinction he holds for Craww, I always get ugly ones out of him. (That's a lie, not always -- I have two incredible pictures, but they're pretty old.)

Updated On: 5/20/07 at 12:22 PM

[misschung]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:34pm

no, Emcee, you don't understand this group of people - total theater blowhards. The guy didnt even do the uncomfortable "I don't get it laughter" it was more just like hysteria, I can't even describe it. But I just had to laugh at him because of how nutty he sounded.

Anyway, here are the ones I got of him. I am in total bliss, lol

Updated On: 1/15/08 at 12:34 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:42pm

Heh, I think that's actually even funnier. Because that scene is so beyond un-funny.

Cute pics! He looks adorable... and I really like his shirt.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:45pm

Yeah he looked really cute, I loved his sweater. Now I wish I took a pic of his flip flops. He was holding a book under his arm and I couldn't see what it was, unfortunately.

I have no idea what was wrong with that guy, I think he had one too many cocktails before the show, which happens a lot on Saturday night shows. During that part, he also turned to his friend and said "what's she saying???"

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:48pm

I enjoy the implication that he can't hold his own umbrella. (I'm kidding, umbrella-holding happens all the time, be it an official person or... my mother in a stroke of friendliness. Yes, you are all free to assume that I have, at one time or another, waited for someone in the rain.)

... that'd be an interesting show to see drunk.

Updated On: 5/20/07 at 12:48 PM

[misschung]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:55pm

yeah I'm not sure who that guy is, but he came out a few times before that. I had an umbrella but finally just gave up because it was too much to hold my camera, the program, and the umbrella at once.

btw, Leenya Rideout is really hysterical. Her facial expressions were priceless throught the whole show. I kind of wish the whole cast was performing at the Tonys

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:56pm

"LET'S LAUGH TO OURSELVES."

She's wonderful, and I love that scene.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:59pm

I really need to see this show like, many more times. Raul and Barbara did such a great job conveying the attraction/tension between their characters too - just the little glances that they gave throughout the entire show up until her big scene. So great

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:12pm

This cast is such a pleasure to watch largely because they can hold their own up against Raul on stage, which often, people opposite him are not able to do (see also: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). I like seeing that they can challenge him a little, or pull him in one direction or another (or at least create that illusion). It's nice to see a show where he's not overpowering every scene he's in -- that's obviously partly in the nature of the character, too, though.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:35pm

That's true, and he's not a scene stealer in this show at all. I could see other people approaching the character that way, but he's very subtle without being a deadweight on stage. The whole show is really fantastic.

Also, does Raul usually make an audible grunt when he climbs on the piano during "What Would We Do Without You?" Because he did that last night and I couldnt tell if it was on purpose, but it was funny either way

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:41pm

Well, Bobby is supposed to be magnetic... which I think Raul's Bobby certainly is, but probably not in the traditional, show-y way. Someone -- I think it was Doyle? -- said that Bobby is supposed to be the character everyone's a little in love with. I've seen the show a number of times and there are a few scenes that are still changing, to the point that they're different every single time. That's a wonderful thing to see, and I think it's partly because the rest of the cast is so strong. Watching it, you don't really get the impression that they're just following his lead, but really working with him. I don't act, so the way I watch acting is probably a little bit... well, wrong, but that's what I see. I've seen him in stuff where other actors just can't contend with his presence at all.

ANYway, since I'm not being articulate at all today, yeah, I've heard him do that before. It's so hammy.

Updated On: 5/20/07 at 01:41 PM

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:47pm

http://perezhilton.com/topics/personally_perez/miami_boys_20070520.php

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:49pm

Hey, it's the sweater.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:51pm

Well, it's from last night, so I'd hope that he was wearing the same shirt.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:55pm

You never know.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 1:57pm

True. A lot could happen as he's trying to leave.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:09pm

Awww, NPH is back.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:37pm

misschung, those are great pictures! He is so adorable. I'm glad you had a good time.

It better not close before I can get there to see it again.

Also, does Perez Hilton always refer to himself in the plural, or am I missing something?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:42pm

I got the impression he went with somebody. Probably the person who took the picture?

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:56pm

Ah, yes, that would make sense.