#1
Posted: 10/19/05 at 10:21pm
I hope there are Bostonians on the board reading, I feel sort of strange posting only for myself to read. :)
Saw 700 Sundays last night, first performance in Boston. I knew it was going to be funny, but I didn't realize how touching the show is. I got very emotional during the more serious parts; the lady behind me was sobbing. Billy Crystal does indeed know how to keep an audience entertained. He really is fantastic.
**Possible spoilers, my random thoughts:
One of the first jokes was regarding a visit from a mobster-ish guy, who wanted to speak with his father, "Mr. K". The joke fell a little flat. I swear, the audience (including me) was silent for a couple seconds, and then collectively started laughing. Mr. Crystal said something to the effect of, "Finally! You get it, and that was one of the easier ones. Wait 'til we get to the adding jokes, I can't wait to see your reaction." Anyway, the audience quickly warmed up, and thoroughly enjoyed the show.
The "Mr. K" reference pops up again with George Bush. The story he tells involving Bush is so ridiculous, it almost sounds made-up, and yet, I can't help thinking that it's possibly entirely true.
One of the funniest "audience participation" moments was just before Billy Crystal starts his baseball/love for Yankees story. There's a shot of Yankee Stadium and a clip of the Yankees playing comes up on the screen. The audience starts booing. It wasn't just a couple people, it was the majority of the audience. Hilarious. Mr. Crystal just stands there with a smirk on his face. The baseball story is charming, about how he learns to finally hit a curve ball to right, and at the end, he says, "Now don't you feel bad for booing?"
My favorite story is definitely the one with his Aunt Sheila, who's incredibly honest, and her dealing with her daughter being a lesbian. The story went on to how her daughter and her partner got married in San Francisco. The father, who is at first angry and upset, finally turns at the wedding reception. The daughter and her partner are dancing to "Sunrise, Sunset" when the father interrupts and asked his daughter to dance. It was very touching, and just so beautiful.
I really enjoyed the show, and the audience was very responsive. Although a tad rude. The lady a seat away from me chomped on potato chips. Right after the story of how his father died, a cell phone went off. And I swear, I believe someone had a radio. It might have been one of those hearing device things, but the voice coming out definitely was not Billy Crystal's. Other than that, it was a wonderful night. Funny, yes, but the bigger message was about family and love. Like I said, genuinely touching.
Although it was a Tuesday night, the house looked pretty full. But I did get student rush tickets, $25, Row I in the Mezz. which was perfectly fine.
Saw 700 Sundays last night, first performance in Boston. I knew it was going to be funny, but I didn't realize how touching the show is. I got very emotional during the more serious parts; the lady behind me was sobbing. Billy Crystal does indeed know how to keep an audience entertained. He really is fantastic.
**Possible spoilers, my random thoughts:
One of the first jokes was regarding a visit from a mobster-ish guy, who wanted to speak with his father, "Mr. K". The joke fell a little flat. I swear, the audience (including me) was silent for a couple seconds, and then collectively started laughing. Mr. Crystal said something to the effect of, "Finally! You get it, and that was one of the easier ones. Wait 'til we get to the adding jokes, I can't wait to see your reaction." Anyway, the audience quickly warmed up, and thoroughly enjoyed the show.
The "Mr. K" reference pops up again with George Bush. The story he tells involving Bush is so ridiculous, it almost sounds made-up, and yet, I can't help thinking that it's possibly entirely true.
One of the funniest "audience participation" moments was just before Billy Crystal starts his baseball/love for Yankees story. There's a shot of Yankee Stadium and a clip of the Yankees playing comes up on the screen. The audience starts booing. It wasn't just a couple people, it was the majority of the audience. Hilarious. Mr. Crystal just stands there with a smirk on his face. The baseball story is charming, about how he learns to finally hit a curve ball to right, and at the end, he says, "Now don't you feel bad for booing?"
My favorite story is definitely the one with his Aunt Sheila, who's incredibly honest, and her dealing with her daughter being a lesbian. The story went on to how her daughter and her partner got married in San Francisco. The father, who is at first angry and upset, finally turns at the wedding reception. The daughter and her partner are dancing to "Sunrise, Sunset" when the father interrupts and asked his daughter to dance. It was very touching, and just so beautiful.
I really enjoyed the show, and the audience was very responsive. Although a tad rude. The lady a seat away from me chomped on potato chips. Right after the story of how his father died, a cell phone went off. And I swear, I believe someone had a radio. It might have been one of those hearing device things, but the voice coming out definitely was not Billy Crystal's. Other than that, it was a wonderful night. Funny, yes, but the bigger message was about family and love. Like I said, genuinely touching.
Although it was a Tuesday night, the house looked pretty full. But I did get student rush tickets, $25, Row I in the Mezz. which was perfectly fine.
"The sense that everything's going right is a sure sense that everything's going wrong."
-The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?
I'm not a Crystal fan...but your review is swaying me! Thanks for posting!
