Alice Ripley, Bill Russell, and others at the Duplex! :-) My thoughts...
Alice Ripley, Bill Russell, and others at the Duplex! :-) My thoughts...
Alice Ripley, Bill Russell, and others at the Duplex! :-) My thoughts...#0
Posted: 12/14/04 at 11:23am
Wow! Last night was nothing short of incredible. I'm glad you provided a song list as I was too caught up in the moment to probably remember.
The evening definitely belonged to Alice. When he said she was starting with Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens I about died. She made it into this very elaborate and stylized tribute. Her whole body (this is why I love Alice) was involved. As if that wasn’t enough, when Bill announced she would be singing She’s Gone my heart skipped a few beats. This is by far one of my favorite “Alice” songs. She absolutely knocked this one all the way to the Eastside. I’ve always thought of that song as a sort of “tour de force” and Alice took the audience on the journey with her. Just AMAZING!
Before she sang it I found it interesting to hear Mr. Russell talk about it being cut. Apparently it was still in during previews and he said “it was bringing down the house every night.” Unfortunately, since the show was running past 11 (financial death to a Broadway show) things had to be cut and the music director suggested this song. Bill appeared to be against it and when they told Alice I guess she was the utmost professional and just said, “Oh, okay.” I suppose she did sing in the show enough as is! J He went on to say that his original concept had Daisy sing an 11:00 number, then Violet, then they would join and sing an 11:00 number together (I Will Never Leave You). I found that very interesting…
Marcy Harriell and David McDonald also gave exceptional performances from a new show called “Lucky Duck.” I REALLY enjoyed Ms. Harriells “Another Hundred People” at Kennedy Center a few years ago, but she sounded a bit more strained last night. When she opened up though, it was still INCREDIBLE. Her timing was dead on. Mr. McDonald really drew the audience in with his songs as well… I’m just not a huge fan.
The scenes from “The Last Smoker in America” were HILARIOUS! With Alice playing the title character she really tore the title song up. It was the funniest I have ever seen her. Apparently a demo was recently made… I WANT A COPY OF THAT!!!!!!
Interspersed through the evening was Bill Russell reading some of his touching, and often comedic, poetry. He seems like such a great guy and he recited a poem written to his partner of 25 years. It was not overly sentimental, but instead matter of fact, and therein was the beauty.
To conclude the evening (all too soon! I could have sat for another hour), Alice took the audience on an emotional journey with her a cappella “I Will Never Leave You.” While introducing the song, Bill explained that in the earlier versions of Sideshow the twins started out as 8 year olds and “I Will Never Leave you” was a sort of lullaby they sang to each other because their mother (whom they called “Auntie) was so mean to them and would threaten to “chop them into little pieces.” After realizing that they would need two younger sets of twins, plus standbys, and a child “wrangler” backstage, they decided to start the show with the twins grown up. What a different show it would have been! Bill thought they would have to lose the duet then and I believe it was Henry Krieger who said absolutely not and they worked it to become the 11:00 number.
Once Alice came up to perform, she really made the song her own starting out in a low mix and bringing it full voice by the end. With all of this Bill Russell and Alice Ripley mania it made me really go back to wishing Sideshow had done better. Man, what a great show and what fine performances. It’s just too bad…
Overall the night was intoxicatingly good (and not because I had 3 glasses of wine!). Afterwards I was able to speak to Alice and she once again proved to me that she is the absolute nicest Broadway performer to her fans. She never acts like she’s in a hurry and always listens and partakes in conversation with anyone who has something to say to her. I asked her about the Andrew Lloyd Weber thing at Kennedy Center and she said they just started rehearsals. I asked if she gets to sing from Evita and she was said, “Yes, I get to sing ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.” !!!! I’m buying my ticket and bus ticket ASAP now! I told her that role Evita would fit her like a glove and she said it was definitely a role she wants to play someday. Why is no one reviving this for her? If ever there was a role for Alice, this is the one! J
Well, enough of my ramblings for now… sorry this is so long!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/17/03
re: Alice Ripley, Bill Russell, and others at the Duplex! :-) My thoughts...#1
Posted: 12/14/04 at 11:28amGood review, I'm mad at myself for not going last night! I had a reservation too, but I just had too much to do in the evening. I'm definitely not missing next Monday's show. In fact, I'm gonna call Duplex right now. Thanks again for the swell review. Always fun to read good things about someone like Alice who deserves all the good that can be directed her way.
"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers
re: Alice Ripley, Bill Russell, and others at the Duplex! :-) My thoughts...#2
Posted: 12/14/04 at 12:14pm
"...someone like Alice who deserves all the good that can be directed her way."
Now I love you Broadway Matt! Then to top it off you have to have a picture of Brian d'Arcy James! I'm still waiting for them to do a show on Broadway together. He'd make a nice Che... hmmmmmmm
re: Alice Ripley, Bill Russell, and others at the Duplex! :-) My thoughts...#3
Posted: 12/14/04 at 3:25pm
Ahhhhhhhhh.
I was trying all day yesterday to get tickets to the Sedaris reading, but couldn't and then remembered that "Belters..." was going on anyway. Unfortunately I thought it started at 8 and there was NO way I could get down to the Duplex by then.
Thanks for the review, I'm definitely not missing the next one.
I NEED to go record "Angels,..."
EDIT: Sidebar - an Alice Ripley thread, and daisy's nowhere to be found?? Disgraceful...
Marcy Harriell for President!!!!#4
Posted: 12/21/04 at 3:26am
Just got back.
Did anyone else go tonight?
Everyone who missed it...REGRET IT!!!
Honestly...AMAZING.
Alice:
"Elegies..." - beautiful
"She's Gone" - Holy sh*t. Anybody know that last note? Here's my pseudo-pitch at work...E? Either way, that song was IIIIINTENSE. I demand a recording!
"The Last Smoker in America" - Hysterical
Marcy Harriell:
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOA.
She sang 2 songs from Lucky Duck, that were GODDDDD!!! They just kept moving up, melody-wise, and she kept belting right along. By the time the end was coming it was so high, I was just thinking "There's NO way!!" and then she just busts out these ridiculous notes. Excellent. There needs to be a recording of Lucky Duck, now!
Sidebar - If The Wiz ever happens and it doesn't fall apart, Marcy needs to be Dorothy.
David MacDonald:
Excellent voice. I think Bill Russell said something really great about David: "I don't know if men can be belters...but whatever David does, I could listen it till the cows come home." He was definitely enjoyable.
That kid from BCC:
Jealous. He JUST graduated and he's sharing a stage with crazy talented people.
Bill - who sang some of his own stuff, by the by - mentioned that he might be back at the Duplex doing a similar concert in the future. BE ON THE LOOKOUT, IT WAS INSANE. I'll be bringing the iPod to the next one for suuuuuuuuure.
Anybody else there?
EDIT: OK, we all know I heart Alice, but Marcy was illegal amounts of adorable. She was just exuding ingénue, all perky and bubbly and innocent and then she had this ridiculous voice. If you don't love her already, START NOW!!!
Swing Joined: 12/21/04
Marcy Harriell for President!!!!#5
Posted: 12/21/04 at 3:38am
I think Marcy sounded strained and tired. She is still good, but the high notes do not come out with ease.
I liked the young Boy, who played Alice;s Son. Very funny and cute.
Angels/punks....Ummmm...orgasm.
She's Gone was stunning.
I liked how she kept using her jacket in the Last smoker in America number.
Marcy Harriell for President!!!!#6
Posted: 12/21/04 at 4:10am
Offended.
But I did enjoy Alice using her jacket.
Marcy Harriell for President!!!!#7
Posted: 12/21/04 at 5:33pm
Bump.
Uh-oh, Bill Russell.
I was just listening to the end of "Don't Start Playing My Swan Song." The lyrics go "...and fly, and fly, and fly, and fly..." I think. Anyway, it's exactly the same notes as the last, "...and on, and on, and on, and on..." in "Story Goes On."
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/03
Marcy Harriell for President!!!!#8
Posted: 12/21/04 at 6:35pm
*hangs head in shame*
You act like I'm her b*tch or somethin'. You're not the boss of me! I can stay off an Alice thread if I want, so there! Huh.
Woo. A-Rips. Woo.
Better? :)
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin
Marcy Harriell for President!!!!#9
Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:25am
Bump.
I can't believe I'm going to have to sit through Lennon all the time just to get to "Woman Is the n* of the World," but it will be completely worth it.
Saw Lennon tonight...I wish Marcy and Chuck could have just sang for 2 hours, but alas. Anyway, "Woman Is the n* of the World" was RISANE...go see the show just for this song, I know I'm going to. Marcy for president!
Featured Actor Joined: 8/31/04
Marcy Harriell for President!!!!#10
Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:34amI love Marcy! Saw her a million times in Rent when I was like thirteen. Anybody see her in Little Fish at Second Stage, also starring JLT and JTF (Jesse Tyler Ferguson)? I adored her in that.
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