Beaches opens at Drury Lane Chicago — Page 2

If you want nice and upscale I would recommend you have brunch in the city before leaving. Around Oakbrook you will find mostly chains. Nomi in the Park Hyatt is the way to go if you really want fancy. (Don't think of your typical hotel restaurant. This is an upscale place with a fabulous view.)

If you want something not fancy but trendy check out the Publican in the west loop or bongo room in the south loop.

Also if you don't want to stay in the city but don't want a chain, you could do some Google searches about what is in oak park, which is on your way. I don't know of anything specifically but it's a closer suburb and has a cute downtown. It's similar to Evanston where your friend lives.

If you're fine with chains the options in Oakbrook or fine. It's just all chains because of the mall.

Updated On: 6/18/15 at 10:47 AM

Thanks for the suggestion, but having a wonderful upscale brunch IN the city, then driving about an hour (plus allowing lots of extra time for just-in-case traffic is not my idea of a good time -- unless we forgo drinking, and then what is the point of brunch? LOL

These are your food options at Oakbrook Center (next door to the theatre):

http://www.oakbrookcenter.com/dining-entertainment

I would recommend Maggiano's or Antico Posto.

Drury Lane Oakbrook is an upscale musical theatre facility with professional Broadway caliber Equity productions. They are trying to go beyond the usual tried and true musical revivals by looking for newly released Broadway shows and in this case a show that has Broadway aspirations. The family that operates the theatre have been longtime stalwarts of the Chicago theatre community. They originally had four theatres (2 in the city and 2 in the burbs). This is their only remaining facility. I believe they hope to remodel the space to include a larger fly lofted proscenium space capable of producing all large scale Broadway shows.

I saw this show last Thursday. Let me begin by saying that I live about 20 minutes away from the theatre so the commute was not an issue for me at all.

Having said that, I thought the show was very, very weak. I found the score forgettable and aside from "Wind Beneath My Wings," I don't remember a single melody from the show. The performers were all very talented and I felt bad for them.

I've never seen Shoshana Bean in a show before but she wasn't what I expected. For some reason, I figured that she would be doing a version of Bette Midler but she really ended up doing a musical version of Rhoda Morgenstern....tho not near as funny. On a side note. her wigs were wildly distracting.

It's been decades since I saw the movie so I can't speak to how closely it follows the movie. They were selling the book in the lobby, so perhaps it was closer to the book?

When all was said and done, the real reason I didn't bond with the show was there was no chemistry between the 2 leads. They didn't draw me in or make me care about either of them.

Saw the matinee today at Drury Lane.

I think the show has a potential chance for a New York run, however, it definitely needs more retooling. It has two energetic performers in Shoshana Bean and Whitney Bashor who do not particularly copy the performances from the movie (though let it be noted that it has been stated that the show is based more on the book than the film). Some nice scenic design (though Drury Lane is limited to minimal fly space so all scene changes come out of the wings). Serviceable music (I almost wish this was a jukebox musical considering the time span and decade changes of the story.) The book needs work in the first act - they need to add some more comedy. The second act is not bad at all and I found it very entertaining.

The male leads have nothing much to do in this production and maybe character songs for them could be useful. John (Cee Cee's husband) does have a short song but it is not memorable.

Wind Beneath My Wings is very simply performed (in a recording studio) in the middle of Act II but it should be sung as a reprise at the end of the show (which ends somewhat too abruptly and quietly).

Therefore in it's present form Beaches needs some book doctoring, at least one other memorable song besides Wings and a more beefed up ensemble. Also, I would get a better choreographer for Broadway. So I would give this ** 1/2 out of 4.

Press night is July 2. Reviews and videos to follow.

Updated On: 6/28/15 at 11:28 PM

It should be noted that the stage version is closer to the book than the film because that's what the producers have the rights to. That's why the Barbara Hershey character is Hilary in the film but Bertie in the book/musical, etc. Iris Rainer Dart, who wrote the original novel, is also the person who wrote the show's book.

Drury Lane is only sort of a thrust, and it's been turned in to almost a proper proscenium for Beaches.

I though this was sort of a mess, but I really enjoyed myself. You could tell the audience really seemed to love it. The last 25 minutes were quite lovely, and you could hear the middle aged women sobbing in unison. I agree the ending was very quiet, and the audience seemed to want things to swell, but I liked it very much.

All the scenes with the women at all ages worked very well, but the men have nothing much to do. There's some unfortunate artificial conflict that closes the first act that should be switched to something more believable/interesting. There's some good songs, but most of them aren't memorable. The big song sort of lays there. It's not terrible placement, but it seems to be asking for better integration into the story. I also wish Bertie had a big song. Whitney Bashor was seriously delightful.

Judging by the audience reaction, the show should be a big hit with the target audience, but it's hard to imagine it will make much of an impression without some serious retooling.

Am I the only one who has always found "Wind Beneath My Wings" embarrassingly condescending? (And not just because the title sounds like a song about farting.) Midler sings it beautifully, of course, and it has a lovely tune. But those lyrics!

"It must have been cold there in my shadow..." Well, la dee da! Maybe the lyric is keeping the song from being fully integrated into the plot. What could Hillary/Bertie say in reply that wouldn't end the friendship right there?

My best friend since high school is a semi-name well known to posters on this board. I've discussed her elsewhere. Although she has achieved far greater commercial success than I, NEVER has she suggested her work is more important than mine. We are each just as supportive of the other's work as we were when we were teenagers.

Isn't that what real friends do?

Paige O'Hara, "Belle" of the animated BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. She also starred on Broadway in SHOW BOAT (1983), EDWIN DROOD (replaced Betty Buckley), and LES MISERABLES.

She's been living and working in Vegas for years now.

I didn't mean to use this thread as a chance to name drop, but it occurred to me that Paige and I are analogous to the two women in BEACHES (except that I'm not a woman).

Updated On: 7/3/15 at 05:53 PM

I've seen many productions at drury lane, but does anyone know if there is a stage door?

Pictures from Beaches:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-First-Look-at-Shoshana-Bean-and-Whitney-Bashor-in-Broadway-Bound-BEACHES-20150702

Otto Titsling is not mentioned at all.