Bombay Dreams in SEATTLE, WA. Last Chance to See the Show.- Page 13

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 12:46pm

I also wish they had a cd of the Broadway Cast with Tamyra Gray. That girl was amazing!!!

[TLKfan]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 1:52pm

argh, you and Tamyra! Geesh lol
I just want any dang BWY cast version.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 5:46pm

Yeah...i know...she was just so fantastic while singing those songs a capella. Some people criticized her for not being Indian. How many actors play people from other countries anyways? Actors like Nicole Kidman hardly use their own accents to talk on film. Anyhow...the tour officially starts tomorrow!!! im so excited.

[TLKfan]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 4:43pm

Yay! I hope someone posts here about it. I am seeing it on Thursday! So I'll post when I get back.

[Steve2]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 1:31am

Shakalaka Baby!

Just got back from the first preview of Bombay Dreams National Tour at the University of Arizona in Tucson. I normally don't write reviews because others are so much better than I, however muscle23 asked me to.

First, the director came out and thanked the audience for being there and also spoke about the sets being stuck in New York because of the snowstorm. I am not sure what she was referring to.

The cast is extremely talented with the standout being Sachin Bhatt as Akaash. Wow, great singer, dancer, actor and very handsome with an infectious smile!

Also great performances by Reshma Shetty as Priya, Sandra Allen as Rani and Aneesh Sheth as Sweetie. Vikram is a thankless role but Deep Katdare played it well.

The Ensamble was great, excellent dancers and singers. Sometimes I focus on them rather than the main characters, and they seemed really into their roles.

The sets weren't elaborate as on Broadway but I guess that is to be expected. The fountain was still there though and after the final bows, the the fountain was turned on again for a Shakalaka Baby encore and 6 of the members danced in it while the others danced around it.

Afterward, I spoke with the conductor Elaine Davidson who said she was excited to be beginning the 10 month tour.

An enjoyable, entertaining evening and the audience was very appreciative as evidenced by the applause and cheering!

Updated On: 2/19/06 at 01:31 AM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 12:10pm

awesome review!!! thanks very much. So they did sing "Wedding Qwualli" as the finale anyhow, right??? and then they added "Shakalaka Baby" ???, was the theatre busy?

[jimmirae]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 12:35pm

Shakalaka WOOHOO!!!

[TLKfan]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 5:31pm

Yay! I am so excited! Woohoo! So were they selling anything? Also, any ensemble members from the BWY cast?

[Steve2]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 9:02pm

Well, I enjoy seeing shows so I had to see Bombay Dreams again for the second and last show in Tucson before it heads to Costa Mesa. Not too many pass through Arizona so I better see them when they are here!

Well, I must say that today seemed to me to be a much better show all around. (Of course it could have been that last night I ran into my ex-partner whom I haven't seen or talked to in 4 years. That might have influenced my experience, for the worse.) Anyway, the performances today seemed better and tighter.

Sachin Bhatt as Akaash again was superlative. This afternoon, the chemistry between Akaash and Priya was very intense. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Sandra Allen as Rani. Sexy, bitchy, funny, all at the same time. And Aneesh Sheth as Sweetie gave a touching performance too.

The ensemble was very energetic, excellent dancing and singing.

Oh and the costumes were amazing!

From the program:

ACT I
Prologue
Scene One: "Bombay Dreams"
"Like an Eagle"
Scene Two: "Love's Never Easy"
Scene Three: "Happy Endings"
Scene Four: "Lovely, Lovely, Ladies"
"Bhangra"
Scene Five: Miss India Pageant
Scene Six: "Shakalaka Baby"
"Is this Love?"
Scene Seven: Diamond in the Rough Premier and Finale

ACT II
Scene One: "Chaiyya, Chaiyya"
Scene Two: "Famous"
Scene Three: "How Many Stars" Wow!!!
Scene Four: "Salaa'm Bombay"
"Don't Release Me"
"Hero"
Scene Five: Paradise Slumm
Scene Six: "Ganesh"
Scene Seven: "Hero" reprise
Scene Eight: "Wedding Qawwali"
"The Journey Home"
Scene Nine: "Finale Ultimo"
Bows

Although not in the program, then they play "Shakalaka Baby" again where the ensemble dances in the fountain while the main characters dance in front. What a crowd pleaser!

They were not selling any products, TLKfan. Here is the ensemble list from the program: Enrique Acevedo, Tia Altinay, Nita Baxani, Shane Bland, Wendy Calio, Sujana Chand, Tiffany Michelle Cooper, Aaron Coulson, Diane Angela Fong, Monica Kapoor, Namita Kapoor, Marie Kelly, Stephanie Crain Klemmons, Jeremy Leiner, Garick Macatangay, Kenneth Maharaj, Anil Margsahayam, Skie Ocasio, Desmond Osborne, Chris Quiban, Kristian Richards, and Rommy Sandhu.

Last night seemed full but today only 3/4 full. Out front they had signs, $10.00 tickets for University of Arizona Students. I hope some took advantage of that bargain.

Updated On: 2/20/06 at 09:02 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 3:18am

It sounds amazing, me and my friends paid about 57 dollars to see the show. Some of them have seen it on Broadway and they want to see it again.

[noahrp3]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 10:59am

Does anyone know if OCPAC in Costa Mesa will be offering student or general rush to this show? I really want to see it, but I can't afford a full price ticket (unless I sit 3 miles away) Thanks for any info.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 11:04am

Probably they do. The tix for the show in Costa Mesa go from only 20 dollars to 65. So the tix are very cheap. Check this site:
http://www.ocpac.org/onstage/Event.asp?EventID=572&EventCategoryID=1

[noahrp3]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 11:06am

Thanks for the link, but the $20 seats are so far away that I don't think it'd be worth it. You'd probably know though. Is it worth it to see it from extremely far away?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 11:15am

Bombay Dreams is a show that has great dance numbers. Sometimes it is even better to see the show from far. And probably if you tell the person at the box office that you are a student, they will do their best to give you their best seats available. It is better to see a show from a bad seat, that not seeing a show at all. But probably you will be able to get a good one, if you follow my advice.

[noahrp3]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 11:17am

Great! Thanks for the advice. I think I'll go try to get tix tomorrow night.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 11:18am

Honey, Take the tip from the kid who met Minnelli and just get the seat, Obviously he KNOWS what he is doing or Liza wouldn't be hanging all over him!!!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 11:21am

LOL

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 11:28am

Thanks for the review! I'm most interested in seeing what changes they made. Glad to see they put Like An Eagle back in (I never cared for the replacement song in the Broadway version) and Happy Endings, I always thought they should be put back. Not happy about Don't Release Me though, and the placement seems odd, if they used the Broadway book. Did they rewrite the lyrics?

Don't know if you saw the Bway or London versions, but were there any book changes?

Glad to hear Sandra Allen was great as Rani. I saw her name and I thought she would be perfect in the role!

[TLKfan]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:47pm

I think I am getting $20 dollar tix for Thursday so I'll tell you if you can see anything!

Why!? Why did they put back "Don't Release Me"? That's one of the songs that I surely don't enjoy on the CD.

Oh well...Hey thanks again for all the information Steve2.

[noahrp3]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:54pm

Hey guys! I just found an offer from Gelsons for 25% off all ticket prices for performances at OCPAC. Here's the link


Bombay Dreams Special Offer

[lovinlife]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:58pm

I'm glad it's doing well on tour. I fell in love with the score ages before they chopped it up and brought it to B'Way. Saw it a handful of times, loved it each time, and wish I could see it again.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 4:26pm

awesome!!!

[TLKfan]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 6:57pm

Yay for discounts! I've been looking for some. thank you. :)
Three more days! so excited, but I bet I won't be able to see a thing where ever the seats are lol. Thank goodness I am seeing more than once.

[noahrp3]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 8:12pm

Haha. The seats aren;t too bad. You can;t see any facial expressions, but you can see the action and sets and everything very well. Its definitely worth it for $15.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 3:18am

any reviews of the show Noah? im glad you enjoyed it. Was the theatre busy?