Anyone see the Papermill Playhouse's FULL MONTY?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 6:00pm

I really wanna see it! Anyone go?

Updated On: 6/19/09 at 06:00 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 6:07pm

I'm going next Saturday...can't wait!!

Please post reviews soon...I'm sure it will be excellent.

[Mike3]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 12:17am

I just heard from two friends who were at the matinee today. They were very disappointed. It's early in previews, but they said it is loooooong and unfocused.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 12:28am

The pictures don't make it look so great, but I have hope! It's such a great show!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 1:04am

they said it is loooooong and unfocused.

That would be the fault of Terrence McNally. Not the production. It's always long and unfocused no matter who does it.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 2:40am

No, but I think it will be really cool to see Melissa Gilbert, coming up in September at the Playhouse, perform as the Mom in "Little House on The Prairie" :)

[TabooPhan1]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 2:58am

Saw the show tonight...

The long and short of it, in my opinion is:

If his other work is anything like what he did on stage tonight as Jerry, Wayne Wilcox doesn't belong anywhere near a stage.

Elaine seems to be having a bit of trouble remembering lines/lyrics, but at her age I'm more than willing to forgive. She is so energetic and vibrant onstage! Definitely a privilege to be able to see her work live.

Milton Craig Nealy as Horse was AMAZING. "Big Black Man" practically stopped the show- he has an amazing voice and he's a very talented dancer.

I was also very impressed by Michele Ragusa as Vicki. She's got some great comic chops and a great voice.

Michael Rupert, Allen E. Read, and Jason Babinsky were also very funny and engaging. I'm a big fan of Mr. Rupert's work, and Mr. Read has a truly beautiful voice.

The rest of the cast kind of fell short in my opinion. Not terribly stellar acting in this one, and although it may not seem like it, there are some potentially poignant moments in this show that I felt were kind of lost in this production. The design was pretty typical of most productions. Overall, a fun night out and worth seeing for yourself, but there are definitely some noticeably stand-out performers in this show.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 3:10am

That would be the fault of Terrence McNally. Not the production. It's always long and unfocused no matter who does it.

I don't think this is true at all. The book - and the screenplay it is based upon - are very tight, focused and fast moving. The letdown (for me at least) is the score. The opening song "Scrap" sets up the piece neatly, but many of the subsequent songs fall flat. It's a rare case for me of enjoying seeing the show but rarely playing the OCR.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/19/09 at 11:20am

Anyone go lately?

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/19/09 at 11:34am

I'm going Sunday night. I'll report back.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/19/09 at 12:28pm

The reviews have been raves. Too bad the Times doesn't review Papermill anymore, they used to right?

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/22/09 at 2:55pm

I went to the evening performance last night, and it was terrific. The show runs almost three hours, and feels like it could be trimmed, but it is a very enjoyable production. Wayne Wilcox (most familiar to me as Marty on Gilmore Girls) plays Jerry, and while he is not the singer that Patrick Wilson is, he acts the role very well. Of course Stritch is a hoot-and-a-half, and her number is a highlight. It seemed like that role was written for her. Michael Rupert (Legally Blonde) is great as Harold, as is Michele Ragusa as his wife. I highly recommend this show!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/22/09 at 3:51pm

I saw this on this past Saturday matinee and couldn't have been more disappointed. I'll admit to not being the biggest fan of the show, but this production was very tired.

Wayne Wilcox was out, and his understudy seemed a little deer in the headlights with the roel. The first verse of "Scrap" was woefully sung in a completely different key than what the orchestra was playing. A few other sour notes were hit throughout by several cast members.

The direction and choreography were boring and didn't help with the pacing of an already long show.

Elaine does seem to be having a lot of fun, it was great to see her perform in a book show. Jen Coella is always a treat, even a small role. Michael Rupert was touching as Harold, and the duet *SPOILER?* at the funeral *end SPOILER* was probably the best sung moment of the production.

I don't recommend making the trip out to Jersey unless you really, really want to see Elaine. It did say in the program that she is going to be performing at Cafe Carlyle later this year, so hold out for that if you can.

[Corine2]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 1:06am

http://corinescorner.com/blog2/2009/06/full-monty-curtain-call-part-1.htm

I went last Sunday afternoon and I loved it. I loved Wilcox, Stritch, Ragusa, Rupert. It is one of my favorite shows. I went six times when it was on Broadway.

If you liked it on Broadway go and see it. I liked both versions for different reasons. Loved Stritch in the role.

I can't believe I am saying this but I think I liked this cast more than Broadway's except for one role. I missed seeing Denis Jones as the sexy stripper. I thought Wilcox was as strong as Patrick Wilson and I loved Wilson in the role.

If this cast was in Manhattan I would be going a lot. The Town and Paper Mill is charming. Updated On: 6/23/09 at 01:06 AM

[Just_John]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 2:28am

How often do they have student rush and how strict are they about having a current semester sticker on the ID? It's almost a 2 hour drive from me according to mapquest so I don't want to drive out and have to turn around and come back.

[hubee]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 3:34am

I saw it last Thursday mat and while I don't think the show is perfect and has some creakier parts (and I too thought it was a tad overlong), but overall, I had a really great time with it. Nothing brilliant but highly entertaining. Loved Stritch of course who looked like she was just having fun with the role and loved Wayne Wilcox. No idea what Taboophan1 was talking about because I thought he was incredible and a great singer too.

I totally agree though that the duet at the funeral was probably the best sung moment. It never really caught my attention with the OBR but now I need to go back to listen to that song again.

No idea about the student rush but they have $25 seats rear Mezz that aren't too bad so if all else fails, you can probably just get that if they don't give you SR JustJohn. (It wasn't full, there were still a few seats open, granted, it was Thurs mat).

[Plum]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 4:02am

I thought Wayne Wilcox's singing was leaps and bounds better than how he sounded in The Great American Trailer Park Musical. His voice isn't especially beautiful, but he carried his vocal load just fine when I saw the show.

I wouldn't totally rave about this production - a few bits were kind of limp - but overall it was fun, and definitely not the dud (IMO) that some people upthread have been describing.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:29am

"I saw this on this past Saturday matinee... Wayne Wilcox was out, and his understudy seemed a little deer in the headlights with the roel."

I know the understudy that went on Saturday and he's an extremely talented guy. In his defense, he probably hadn't had much rehearsal. Understudies usually don't begin rehearsing until after the show officially opens and then it's only 2 days a week . This production had just officially opened the previous Sunday night. More than likely he had one rehearsal and a put-in.

Understudies get to observe and take notes in the rehearsal process but it doesn't really get cemented until you are allowed to get it on its feet. It's even more difficult if you are also in the show in another role, which this understudy is.
Updated On: 6/29/09 at 08:29 AM

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:47am

I was remiss in not mentioning the duet at the funeral. It was beautifully sung, and probably the most moving moment in the show.

There were plenty of empty seats at the Sunday evening performance, so that might be a good time to go to get a good seat at the last minute.

Regarding the rear mezz seats, they are very far away from the stage. The mezz overhangs the orchestra seats at around row 'S', so by the time you get to the back of the mezz, you're quite a distance from the stage. I don't know how strict they are with the student rush, but some schools don't put semester stickers on their IDs.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 10:25pm

Saw the matinee today.

It was really good! It was great seeing Stritch live. I'm mad I never got to see it on Broadway.

I highly recommend seeing it, if you can make it by this Sunday.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 10:43pm

I saw this last week and loved it. Whoever said Wayne Wilcox was terrible needs to get their eyes and ears checked. He was nothing by wonderful when I saw it. The entire cast (with the exception of one who shall remain nameless) was wonderful. Not great direction or choreography, but good overall. I rather enjoyed the show.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 10:46pm

I also saw the matinee today with ljay.

I was a little more mixed overall. It was fun seeing Stritch, but she's up there playing herself for 3 hours. It's great fun, because the character loans itself to that kind of an interpretation.

The rest of the cast was fairly bland, though I enjoyed Michele Ragusa in a small role (how on Earth was Emily skinner missing so many performances in that simple role?). Wilcox was fine, no better or worse than Patrick Wilson (I really wish I had gotten to see Will Chase). Michael Rupert is playing Professor Callahan again.

The score is kind of charming, and probably deserved the Tony, but the book doesn't hold a candle to the laugh riot The Producers was.

As a whole, I know this is an unpopular opinion here, but it's not as strong a show as The Producers, which despite not deserving 12 Tonys, was certainly the best musical of that season.

Still, this is worth the trip out to Millburn if you get the chance.

[Leia947]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 10:48pm

Am going on Saturday. Will drop a review then.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 1:01am

Has anyone sat in the $25 mezzanine seats? What are they like?

I don't really want to shell out $60 for it but if the $25 aren't bad, maybe I'll take them. Or if the $60 seats are good, let me know too. I'm debating catching it Saturday afternoon....

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 1:09am

Rocks, they have $20 student rush up until curtain, any available seat in the theater. The mezz is far back, not horrible though. Updated On: 7/10/09 at 01:09 AM