6 Shows in 4 Days (My Review of my Trip)*Spoiler*

[broadway122]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 9:37pm

Next to Normal- 7/30
*SPOILERS*
I'm so glad I took the advice of people who told me to find out as much as I could about this show... then see it. I was able to focus on the performances given by the amazing cast.

We had 2nd row seats and they were great. I felt so involved sitting that close. I LOVED the score, set, lighting, musicians...everything! I had chills all night, even though the cast was on fire If they were to give out a Tony for an Outstanding Ensemble this bunch should get it. Great chemistry, blend, and voices.

Alice was INCREDIBLE! The only thing I found odd about her performance was when Gabe would singing above her, and she would throw herself back against the chair. Almost like she was getting turned on by her dead son. Oh well, wonderful performance by Alice Ripley. One of my favorite parts was during "You Don't Know" when Diana totally blows up and throws the forks. What an exciting moment.

J. Robert Spencer was great! For some reason I connected with him, like I had known him my whole life. Which is strange because I'm only 16 and he is a father. I felt so bad for Dan because once the family got over one thing and things looked normal, again, it was all turned upside down. My favorite Dan moment was when he broke the music box.

Jennifer Damiano was outstanding. What a great actress. So many different emotions come from that girl. I love her characters transformation. I connected with Natalie most. Her scene at the end with Alice was heartbreaking. I never cry (not even at family funerals) and I started tearing up during "Maybe (Next to Normal)" and the scene that followed.

Kyle Dean Massey was awesome. I liked how he would just appear out of nowhere. I didn't think he looked too old at all. Adam Chanler-Berat, what a wonderful actor. My favorite Henry moments were the foreshadowing scenes between Dan/Diana & Henry/Natalie. Both Adam Chanler-Berat & Louis Hobson had great voices. They really surprised me. The part where the cast walks down stage during the end of "Light" was so powerful.

I did the stage door after, and boy was I glad. Everyone except Jennifer came out. Can I send my Playbill to the theatre and ask her to sign it? I even got a picture with Alice even though the door man said she wouldn't.

Phenomenal show. It is so deep and not just fluff.

5/5 Stars

Up Next: Billy Elliot

[broadway122]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 10:13pm

Billy Elliot-7/31
*Spoiler*
Billy-Tommy Batchelor
Michael-Keean Johnson
Understudies for Grandma- Merle Louise
Mum- Lost my slip

Well, I really wanted to see David, Trent, or Kiril but Tommy was great. Now I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but Tommy's head shot make him look so young and that worried me. I shouldn't have. Like I said before, he was great. I also really wanted to see David Bologna, but again was surprised how great he was. Such a funny kid that Michael.

The set was really cool. 2 things bothered me though. First one is, what is the perimeter supposed to be? A community house? or are you supposed to pretend it is the Elliot house, Mrs. Wilkinson house and studio and other place. And the little set pieces determine where you are. (I don't even think my question makes sense anymore) 2. Is the unpainted part of the stage where the house was. But my mom thinks the paint rubbed off as the set pieces moved on and off. Whatever it was it bothered me, it looked unfinished.

I don't think the score is as weak as some people think. The orchestra was outstanding as well The men's ensemble was amazing.

I think one thing that made this show less enjoyable was me worrying about things. Like during the "Angry Dance" it looked like Billy's bedroom was coming too far out of the ground. And during the dream ballet I worried it would leave water on the stage and we would have to wait. There were others but I forget them. I should just forget to worry next time.

I think it is ironic during "Expressing Yourself," when the dresses come out, that the dresses try to get rid of the odd man out (the pair of dancing pants) they aren't letting the pants express themselves.

I didn't think Will Chase looked to old to be Tony.

Merle Louise was fine as Grandma. I wished she acted more like a grandma though. I really liked her song. I thought the choreography was brilliant for that song.

Haydn Gwynne was one of the best parts of the night. All her songs got great response from the audience. I only have one question, (and I might have missed something in the scene) but why did she tell Billy to piss off when he got into the school?

Over all 4.5/5 stars

Next up- Shrek (mat)

Updated On: 8/4/09 at 10:13 PM

[broadway122]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 10:34pm

Shrek-8/1 (mat)
Understudies for Shrek- Ben Crawford
Mama Bear- Heather Jane Rolff
Lost another slip- Humpty Dumpty wasn't in.
instead this purple thing was on singing HD

I went in expecting a horrible show. I was very surprised after it though.

Ben GREAT such a soulful singer. My family didn't even read their slips and they thought he was the regular Shrek.

One of the most disappointing parts for me was Sutton Foster during "Morning Person" I love "Morning Person" and was expecting energy to to filling the theatre. She looked like she didn't even care while she was tapping.

Christopher Sieber was so funny. The name of his horse that day was "Plastic Horse." It was so funny

Daniel Breaker was hysterical. The kids around me were so loud when they laughed.

Oh Kate Hudson was 2 rows in front of us, which was cool. She seemed to enjoy it.

[jigblob]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 11:08pm

Is brian d'arcy james out of shrek like every other night? I feel like everyone who ever types a review of shrek on BWW saw the understudy and not brian...

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 11:12pm

Did someone say something about him being on vacation?

[sgv123]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 11:18pm

Brian was out from July 28th- August 2nd.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 11:19pm

Thanks for the clarification...I thought I remembered Brian as one with an excellent attendance history.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 11:32pm

Mrs. Wilkinson did not say "piss off" as an insult. But to tell him right out, to go live his dream but don't look back with the struggles that still exist in his town.

[PastorErnst]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 12:03am

Not gonna lie. Your reviews make me laugh... especially your Billy Elliot review. RELAX! Don't get all stressed out about whether something is going to go wrong on stage. Everything is choreographed perfectly, so that the show runs smoothly.

Personally, I think you should watch the Billy Elliot movie to get a better understanding of who the characters are. Grandma should definitely not be acting like a grandma. That's just not who she is. You may also get a better understanding of what the British phrases mean.

Also, I'm glad you saw Keean Johnson as Michael. He truly is a talented kid. It's too bad that he isn't being handed that role permanently though. Let's hope Trevor Braun does a better job with the role of Michael than what he did with Flounder in The Little Mermaid. It'll be hard since David Bologna oozes charisma and will always be seen as THE Michael to see.

As for Jennifer Damiano not coming out the stage door, I'm not surprised. From what I've been told by the cast and crew at N2N, Jennifer Damiano rarely comes out to sign autographs. She's your typical 18 yr.old and still doesn't feel overly comfortable with all the fame.

[Parks]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 12:37am

"Personally, I think you should watch the Billy Elliot movie to get a better understanding of who the characters are."

Aaaand I think that sums up a good portion of the problems with this show. It just works much better as a film--it was not adapted very well to the stage, in my opinion. It's an OK show--but in no ways is it as amazing as the reviews have made it out to be.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 12:55am

I think BE works so well as a stage show. When I watch the movie now I want them to sing.

[PastorErnst]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 12:58am

Oh, I couldn't agree more. I absolutely LOVE Billy Elliot as a stage musical. I've seen it twice on Broadway and twice in the West End. I just don't think broadway122 quite understood what was going on in the musical. That's why I made the comment that I did.

[Salene]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 1:15am

I went in expecting a horrible show.

Then why had you booked to see it?

[Mark_E]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 10:26am

"I only have one question, (and I might have missed something in the scene) but why did she tell Billy to piss off when he got into the school? "

She was saying it to tell him to go away because there is nothing left for him in the north-east, so tells him to go away to the school

[Brandy_Breath]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 3:44pm

I was also at that Shrek matinee and believe Rachel Stern (Humpty Dumpty) was in, just in a different costume. It sounded like her and she wasn't listed on the understudy board as out (
picture of the understudy board).

"My family didn't even read their slips and they thought he was the regular Shrek."

Many people near me thought the same thing and at intermission and as we were leaving, people couldn't stop talking about how much they liked him near us. It was really cool and amazing to hear. =)

I was so glad to FINALLY see Ben go on as Shrek, I've been trying but every time he knew/let me know in enough time, I couldn't go because of school. He proved to me once again why he is one of my favorite actors and singers. His Who I'd Be had me crying (yes dorky and dumb, but it did).

Chris naming his horse Plastic Horse was one name I NEVER expected and I admit, I busted out laughing really hard. And John changing Dutch Elm Disease to Pine Flu still has me cracking up.

[bwaybri2]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 8:35pm

"I think BE works so well as a stage show. When I watch the movie now I want them to sing"

exactly!!

[broadway122]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 11:32pm

Oh wow totally forgot I started my "reviews." :O
OK Shrek got a 3.5/5 Stars

West Side Story 8/1 (eve)
A lot of understudies but OLIVO WAS IN!!! Woo woo. She was the saving grace of that show. Haley Carlucci was a great Maria. I really tried to love this show, but just couldn't. Oh and totally agree with the comments about Matt C's voice. I like his voice on the CD a lot better. Ummm...so boring production. 3.5/5 Stars. Oh and I loved Kat during I Feel Pretty, LOLed the whole time.

South Pacific 8/2 (mat)
I loved it. About 2 weeks before this, I finished a local production of South Pacific and it got some pretty incredible reviews. But this show made our show look like a preschool production. Paulo Szot was out but William Michals was phenomenal! I loved every minute of this production. However, I couldn't stand Andrew Samonsky speaking voice. I was very strange. Laura was great, I liked her smart Nellie (I never saw Kelli O'hara, so not sure how she played Nellie.)
4.5/5 Stars.
Oh I really liked the showing of the pit. very cool!

In The Heights 8/2 (eve)
So disappointed. I saw it with the full original cast and LOVED it. But I didn't walk out with the same feelings for this show 1 year later. A lot of understudies as well. Javier was fine. But I think it is hard to live up to Lin-Manuel Miranda, because he practically wrote the part for himself. Abuela was played by Blanca Camacho. She was just okay. I missed Olga. Gabriella Ruiz was on as for Carla and she really played up the stupid side of the character, she made me laugh. So she was good. Doreen Montalvo was Daniela she did a mean Carnaval del Barrio. But other than that she was kind of boring. I really like Rick Negron as Kevin. It was really nice to hear someone sing the part with proper technique. I didn't like Priscilla Lopez this time around. Most of her serious lines came off as jokes. Robin De Jesus stole every scene he was in. He was the highlight of the night. Christopher Jackson was great this time around as well. I hated Marcy Harriell as Vanessa. I wanted to hear Karen Olivo so badly when Marcy sang any of her songs. It sounded like her voice was straining though, so that could have been why i didn't like her. Nina Lafarga was Nina (lol) She was so boring. All she every did was park and bark. She was not into the role at all. I missed Mandy deeply. Oh a funny thing happened during Carnaval del Barrio. Michael Balderrama fell off his basketball and it rolled all the way into the lap of a girl in front of me in the first row.

[broadway122]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 11:40pm

PastorErnst- Why do my reviews make you laugh? Is it because they are so scattered and unorganized? I have trouble organizing my thoughts when I review things. The organizing part of an essay will always take the longest for me.

Salene- I (we, my family) saw it because my cousin wanted to see it.

Oh and Sunday's weather was so bad. We walked all the way from The Museum of Natural History to the Lincoln Center in the down pour. But South Pacific made my cold, pruned, soaked feet much better. The other days were just fine though.

[AlgonquinProd2]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 12:13am

It's been one of the rainiest seasons in decades here in the Big Apple. Great reviews! Always good to get people's opinions on shows that have been running a while, see if they've gotten better or (as it sounds like was the case for "In The Heights") not so much.