Bway Spotlight 4/3 Glenn Allen

Posted: 4/7/06 at 5:05pm

Well, since no one seems to have been there, I'll share my thoughts. Sorry it took so long to write this up.

Monday night's Broadway Spotlight at Ars Nova subtitled "Too Legit" featured Glenn Seven Allen, who will be appearing in a new production at the York Theatre of A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE, with guest appearances by Peter Sachon, Matthew Morrison, Will Chase & Christianne Noll. It was an entertaining night of Shakespeare, cue cards and humor. The un-amplified show opened with Glenn entering from the audience singing HERE I STAND by William Bolcom, the lights brightening with each verse until he was front & center fully lit. After two somewhat traditional songs sung exceptionally well the show took a wild and crazy turn. No question, my favorite part was "MaClara" – cue cards displayed the logo from The Light in the Piazza, then an introductive quote from Clara, complete with a mimed intro of running & poking, the song combined Guettel's Il Mondo Era Vuoto with Bernstein's Maria from West Side Story as a confused almost schizophrenic love song to two women. From there, Morrison was welcomed on stage, again via cue cards (Matty Fresh Morrison / It's a perm), to sing a short ditty entitled Ménage et Trios by Andy McKim, sung as a duet where the two attempted to convince their audience member "girlfriends" that inviting their best friend or sister into the bedroom while they (the girlfriends) had the honor of holding the camera was a good idea that would ensure the longevity of their relationship. The oddities continued with a recital of 'If Music Be the Food of Love" from 12 th night leading into Una Furtiva Lagrima by Donezetti, and while some may not have understood the lyrics, his making love to a cupcake from Magnolia Bakery probably filled in the blanks. "And I Forsooth, In love.." from Loves Labours Lost" led into Later by Sondheim as the audience was encouraged to say 'cell-o' to Peter Sachon. Another highlight was a section of five Kern songs which together told the story of a crush, a proposal, a rejection, a depression, and a bar-room cheer-up duet with Will Chase performing a flirtatious Some Girl is On My Mind.

There was more, but I hate writing reviews that sound like play by play. It was great fun and if you get a chance to see him, I highly encourage it. He's got a beautiful voice. Did anyone see him go on in Piazza?
Updated On: 4/7/06 at 05:05 PM