#1
Posted: 9/7/03 at 5:24pm
I was one one of the lucky ducks who got VERY close to the stage, and got there early enough to see some rehersals: Heather Type and her "newsboys" from GYPSY performed "Let Me Entertain You" twice and were dynamite each time. If there is ever a musical version of THE BAD SEED, the saucy and kickass Type should essay the title role. Adorable John Tartaglia, Rick Lyon and Jennifer Barnhart performed the sprightly "If You were Gay" twice - the audience devoured it, and I overheard several people who exclaimed "NOW I gotta see this!" Taking a cue from another song in the score perhaps, I don't believe John was wearing underwear. :)
But the most interesting rehersals were "They Both Reached For THe Gun" from CHICAGO with Brent Barrett and company without Melanie Griffith. The first one were just 'spotting', with no one on Brents lap, the second with a ginger-haired chorus girl subbing for the star. The chorus girl was excellent, with all the wooden-puppet moves and expressions perfect. Brent was pretty damn glorious, nailing the song with delicious zest. He wore a tight-fitting 'wifebeater' T-shirt that looked like he was sewn into which was especially pleasing on the eyes. The third time (the actual performance) featured Ms. Griffith, and she was, in a word, dreadful. She couldn't do the marionette-jerks or expression, nor did she even TRY to - she just sat on Brent's lap with a goofy smirk on her face. She was BARELY competent. What's worse, she seemed to suck the creative juice out of the company - only when Brent finished the song (with that killer last notes held for an eternity while the audience roared its approval) did the energy return. Oh, yes...for the taping, he wore a dress shirt over the T-shirt. I wondered whether he was advised to "Otherwise, Brent, NOBODY will be looking at Melanie!"
But the most interesting rehersals were "They Both Reached For THe Gun" from CHICAGO with Brent Barrett and company without Melanie Griffith. The first one were just 'spotting', with no one on Brents lap, the second with a ginger-haired chorus girl subbing for the star. The chorus girl was excellent, with all the wooden-puppet moves and expressions perfect. Brent was pretty damn glorious, nailing the song with delicious zest. He wore a tight-fitting 'wifebeater' T-shirt that looked like he was sewn into which was especially pleasing on the eyes. The third time (the actual performance) featured Ms. Griffith, and she was, in a word, dreadful. She couldn't do the marionette-jerks or expression, nor did she even TRY to - she just sat on Brent's lap with a goofy smirk on her face. She was BARELY competent. What's worse, she seemed to suck the creative juice out of the company - only when Brent finished the song (with that killer last notes held for an eternity while the audience roared its approval) did the energy return. Oh, yes...for the taping, he wore a dress shirt over the T-shirt. I wondered whether he was advised to "Otherwise, Brent, NOBODY will be looking at Melanie!"
"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"
and saw all the rehersals. I had very good time. Everyone did a good job I can't wait to go next year!
