BARE Review (5/8)

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 5/8/04 at 8:17pm

Okay. Let me first confess that I had absolutely no interest in this show when I first heard word that it was coming to New York. After all, what did I have in common with a show about some gay kids in a Catholic school?

So my friends and I really wanted to go into the city by ourselves for the first time without any adults, but we didn't want to spend $100, so we decided to see an off-Broadway show. Well, with the list of choices, BARE seemed the most appropriate since it was about a highschool, so we got our tickets to that.

I was very very very pleased with the show I saw this afternoon. I had never seen a show like RENT or any other kind of Pop/Rock Opera, so I wasn't sure what to expect. First of all, I loved the intimate setting. We waited about a half hour in line and we had some of the first picks of seats, so we took the fourth row because it was a nice distance and height compared to the stage. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to see because of my sucky contacts but luckily the theatre was very closed in so the actors were right in front of you the entire time.

As a whole, the show was very very touching and my friends and I left the show all quiet and we didn't talk for a few minutes as we walked down 54th Street. It was stupid to think that I couldn't relate to the characters in the story, because although I'm not in the same situation as them, I think everyone, especially teenagers, feel a strong sense of being different and making the right choices in life and dealing with society as a whole. I really felt for the characters in this show, for they all suffered. I wanted to go up and hug them!

I enjoyed the music as well, and nothing was hard to understand. The actors really poured their souls into the ballads and made the songs come to life. The music skillfully set the tones for each scene and were both catchy and pleasant to listen to. I can't wait for my sampler CD in the mail!

As far as performances, each cast member pulled their weight and impressed me. My favorite member of the cast was Michael Arden. I thought his singing was wonderful and he really had some challenging notes to hit. His voice fit perfectly into the role and into the Pop Opera. He gave one of the strongest male performances I have seen this year, including the Broadway shows. He played his hopeful Peter so believably and the looks on his face just struck chords in my heart and his mournful struggle to end this conflict that is 'killing him' really showed through in his singing and acting. I've never seen him before, but I hope he continues to move up and get some more starring leads!

John Hill also impressed me, especially in the end when he is confessing to The Priest and he is writhing in the confessional with pain and crying as he tries to express himself. He too was very fitting for the part, and his chemistry with both Michael and Jenna Leigh Green was phenomenal!

As for Jenna Leigh Green: my friends and I were obsessed over the fact that she was 'Libby' from Sabrina the Teenage Witch and we were hoping she would deliver in this opera. She did. Her song 'All Grown Up' in the second act was amazing and she had one hell of a belt on her. Put that on the fact that she is twisting your heart with her superb acting and you've got a great performance. She carried herself very well through the entire show and you came to really care for her character, Ivy in the end. In fact, you almost hate John Hill's Jason for what he did to her and his reactions to her pain. She made our night!

The rest of the cast was incredible and their individual characters all had their shining moments. One of my favorite characters would have to be 'Nadia' played by Natalie Joy Johnson. The 'goth' girl was SO funny with her comments and her ending of 'Birthday, Bitch'. But she too showed her versatility in her scenes expressing her lonliness and angst.

PS: Sister Chantelle was one soulful sister!

Also, the lighting was notable great! I usually don't pay a terrible amount of notice to the lights, but all the lighting effects really set the mood. Between the lights from the church windows, to the lights through the confessional screen, and the blue spotlights, not to mention the rave scene, all moved the story along and demanded your attention. Brava!

I loved the show, loved the cast, and I recommend it. I'm glad that I experienced this show, because it would have been real stupid for me to dismiss the show thinking I couldn't gain anything from it. I guess I'm a 'Baree' now, huh?

[Benzy92]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:00am

that is too funny that it was your first time in the city w/o a parent.. BARE was my first show also without an adult! And I loved it as much as you.

All Grown Up was amazing.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 12:17am

nice review. everything ive heard about this show so far has made me want to really see it

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 7:22am

*coughs* correction......... the best thing about BARE is ADAM FLEMING

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 1:34pm

I thought Adam's song about how to use drugs was quite funny. Plus he's a good dancer!

[citylights]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 6:23pm

I loved Adam in Bare- I asked him after if I could have a pic with him because his hair was so cool. Funny how even though he was pretty much making out with random girls in the show, it looked very...unnatural. I also thought the lighting was wonderful. I'd love to see it again, but it's unlikely, unless it extends its run (which I hope it will!!!)

Now, what should Bare fans be called?

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 5/9/04 at 7:44pm

I think they have already been coined the 'Barees'. The 'street team' has a website: www.thebarees.com

I was thinking about waiting around after the show, but I didn't even know where to wait. My friends and I wanted to meet Jenna Leigh Green because she was Libby. Lol. We walked past the theatre twice because we didn't have a clue as to why it was a Court. Lol, but then we came back closer to the show and there was a BARE sign outside pointing to the doors and a sign that said 'upstairs'.

But they all walked past us when we were waiting on the staircase to get in. Basically everyone but John Hill, since he must have been there already. But Jenna walked by me and I was transfixed as she blew her bubble gum. Hooray.