A Farewell to Drowsy: As We Stumble Along

As the approach of the New Year looms large in Times Square, the first crime of 2008 has been reported. Come January 1, The Drowsy Chaperone will no longer play the Great White Way. And frankly, thats a felony, or at least it should be.

Tonight a packed house at the Marquis Theater screamed, cheered, laughed and cried, as we bid a fond farewell to a wild, wonderful, wistful winning piece of true musical theater. And what a magical night is was. I found myself reluctant to take my seat in the Mezzanine, for I knew once I did, the show would start, and I so didn't want to see it ever end.

This was my first closing night on Broadway attendance and, though I hate to see it close, I am so grateful that I was able to see The Drowsy Chaperone end its run the same way it came, loved and adored by a full house. My first Drowsy experience was the second night of previews in Los Angeles. I fell head over heals for the show and everyone in it, and I have not wavered an inch since. This amazing final performance was everything you dream of : A room full of patrons embracing an original piece of theater with the same affection that it deserves and loved the way you do.

Once inside the packed house (the Mezz was full near to the brim) the energy in the room was palpable and once the lights went down, the place went nuts. Suffice to say that everyone got big to huge entrance applause, every joke landed beautifully and every song exceedingly well received. All the actors were appropriately over the top or at the top of their game, and even the sometimes maligned Bob Saget (he's not my fave and I thought the last time I saw him, he was weak) rose to the occasion, relaxing into the night, waiting for and getting all the laughs in all the right places. Troy Britton Johnson added a bit of sass to "Robert Martin" that was hysterical, tapped the B.Jesus out of his number with Patrick Wetzel and then gave him a kiss on the forehead at the very end. Beth Leavel was in another stratosphere tonight and her "As We Stumble Along" was on fire. Though towards the very end, and even from my seat up in the rafters, you got a sense that she was really starting to choke up and was finding the moment as bitter sweet as many of us were. Even the Gangsters were getting great applause during their pastry schtick.

There were many other little extras that I can't remember at the moment, but the big delightful surprise of the night was the appearance of BOB MARTIN as the Super.
He was hilarious, and even got in a dig about "Cry Baby" , having 'seen it out of town. I heard it is coming to NYC if it can find a theater" Priceless. It got very emotional during the closing song, and Mr Saget did his best to keep it together, showing some true emotion and adding another layer to Man In Chair. Miss Leavel got choked up (understandably) during her last musical lines and the whole cast seemed overwhelmed.

Curtain call included Bob Martin and Casey Nicholaw.

It's a sad day indeed, but a happy one too. Many in the cast are going on to new projects right away, and hopefully the rest of the talented group will be heading to new and exciting things for us to see, and soon. And we still have the show in its many forms, OBCR, National Tour and most assuredly, future regional theater productions for years to come.

Thank you Mr. Martin and your theater family for giving us such an amazing gift, one to be cherished for a long time.

awww, Bob came out as the Super? that's adorable!

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They should hire Bob Martin to write and host the Tonys. Shame it will never happen.

He has to be one of the funniest, most entertaining people around.

I got to see Drowsy on Dec. 9th and after hearing it was closing came back to see it on the 26th. It is awful that it, of all shows on Broadway, is closing as it was the only show I've seen that caused me physical pain from laughing so hard. I can only hope someone illegally recorded it.

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Not sure whom from the creative team was there, but there were lots of 'backstage' folks onstage at the very end.

5 audios and 2 videos of tws closing was made. There will defentially be one for this show.

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Guys, could someone remind me what the super is? I can't remember and I've seen this show twice.

I am very sad to see this go. I remember how much I loved this show when it first hit broadway.

Edit: Never mind.

Updated On: 12/30/07 at 10:59 PM

I just looked at the Earthcam in Times square for one last look.

The Super is the superintendant that comes into Man in the Chair's apartment near the end.

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I was at the show tonight as well and I felt the cast was playing to the audience much more than they had done before. Troy's forehead kiss at the end of "Cold Feet" was just the sweetest thing and I just had to go "awww".

And was for Bob Martin...what a wonderful surprise! I don't know why I didn't recognize his voice before they brought the lights up again. I've only listened to the CD about a million times. I guess I was just caught up in the show and I didn't recognize his voice because I simply wasn't expecting it.

His "it'll be a hit if they can find a theatre" quip was hilarious and the audience just ate it up.

And then Beth's choking up during the Stumble reprise was pure theatre. This is why we love the theatre. It's so human and emotional. Nothing like our "celluloid gods".

I will miss this show and I'm glad I was able to experience it more than once. Can we get a "limited return engagement" in three years? *s*

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Double Post

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Updated On: 12/31/07 at 12:24 AM

I didn't even think to have my camera out because, normally, you're not allowed to take pictures of the stage. Well, so many people were snapping shots of the cast and crew standing on stage. No one was stopping them but my camera was at the bottom of my purse and I wasn't able to get it out before the curtain came down. Hopefully some of those shots will surface here.

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Thank you for your posts. I wish I could have been there. I will miss this great ensemble working together for such a great and funny show. Bob as the Super must have been priceless. Though I would have rather seen him in the chair.

I never thought Saget couldn't play the part, I only feared over time, his fan base would not be drawn to the Theatre. Ah well..

I always have the Tour, with another great Canadian at it's helm, so I will be satisfied. Though pls don't misquote me. It's best played as a Canadian Comic, whoever plays the role and I at least felt assured that Saget got that part the best that he could.

I will not weep though because I know Bob Martin and Casey Nicolaw are plotting even as we speak. I look forward to the future with hopes that these diabolical genius',along with the rest of their plotting crew, can work together once again and give us something new/old with more songs we can mock and have fun with in the near future.

I met Casey too. Except it was one of those, "is it he or isn't it?" I only wish he introduced himself because he is a nice and humble guy. I enjoy the dance numbers in Drowsy and felt badly I hadn't the chance to tell him so in person. The Cast members I did meet were all so pleasant. Even Troy who shyly made his way through the crowd, the best that a Man of his Height can possibly do with grace and all smiles.

At least I will have a fun Summer out here and hopefully return to NYC in the Fall if Danny and South Pacific are up and ready to run. I will miss The Seafarer madly but we may get lucky to see it on Tour or unless we get lucky and it holds over that long.

I am so happy to have seen it in NY and that so many people were able to get a taste of Canadian Humor. I find it very entertaining and well worth the visit to Toronto whenever you get the chance to visit.

I too, feel this show will find it's way to local Theatres in the Future and I will encourage our Colleges to bring it all to life for those who missed the chance of seeing this wonderful and amusing show.

I too, never laughed so much in a Proper Theatre before and was quite relieved to find, in a packed house last Spring, I was clearly not alone.

Brilliantly written singingbackup!!