Broadway visit last weekend

[Tamerlano]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 7:34pm

I popped over from the UK last weekend and caught La Cage, Mary Poppins and Promises, Promises.

La Cage...loved the entertainment with the drag queen in the street and in the auditorium. Chris Hoch was on as Albin...perfectly acceptable performance though he didn't nail I am what I am. Loved Kelsey and the Cagelles. After many years of hearing Christine Andreas on many cast recordings it was a real thrill for me to see her live. She was the highlight of the evening for me.

Mary Poppins..got bargain seats and I wasn't really interested in seeing it...avoided it here on the West End and on Tour...now I will eat my hat. I loved it and it brought back all the magic I felt as a child when going to the theatre. As a pro in the business the sheer scale of the production took my breathe away and just hearing the comments from all the children in the audience when Mary flew softened a very hard heart.

Promises, Promises...its not the best musical in the world but Sean and Kristin do hold it together....a pleasure to witness star performances. I also thought Tony Goldwyn was a real stand out. I loved the design and the energy from the whole company. I also did my first stage door line up and got the vital autographs..Kristin took time to make sure everyone there got a signature and I even got a pic with her and the dog.

Now, what I loved about the whole trip as a theatre going experience is as follows:
No one eats sweets loudly, goes to the rest room, talks throughout the performance unlike here in the UK.
Sound quality - it sounds natural, perfect balance between pit band and performer and its not blasted out making your ears bleed..again not like the UK where you feel battered and bruised after a show.

I had a blast and Broadway was everything I expected it to be. Truly the best theatre going experience.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 8:49pm

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit! (Was this your first time?)

I, too, loved Mary Poppins. I loved sharin it with my kids,too.
Tony Goldwyn was a stand out for me as well!

[KirbyCat]

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

Wow, nobody ate sweets loudly in Poppins? Whenever I go, it's the one thing that bothers me most!
But I must agree- Mary Poppins is just one of those shows that you can see over and over again and still have your breath taken away. Just a simply gorgeous piece of theater.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 9:56pm

Glad to hear you had a great visit! I saw the Mary Poppins tour back in February and I was not expecting it to be great, but I was absolutely blown away!

[dshnookie]

Posted: 10/9/10 at 11:27pm

I also need to jump on the Mary Poppins bandwagon. I've seen it three times now - once alone, other two to take family and friends.

Everyone loved it. Sure, it can get a little boring at times but her flight alone in the finale is worth the admission, and perhaps my most favorite theatre moment (I'd love if they put a few more lights on her. I understand they do it to mask the wires better but it'd be nice to see her a bit more).

I also love the flying of the kites - simple, yet so so beautiful - and the large scale umbrella during "Anything Can Happen".

Ms. Andrews' "Brimstone and Treacle" and her subsequent confrontation with Mary is a highlight as well.

[Cearsgk]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 2:18pm

We took one set of grandkids to Mary Poppins, so when we took the other kids, we knew exactly which balcony seats to get for Mary to fly RIGHT OVER our heads. The kids thought WE were magic!