Bwaysinger goes to Sweet Charity and Spamalot

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 8:39pm

Hey guys,
Finally got to see Sweet Charity Friday night (5/13) and Spamalot again (5/14 matinee).
Thought I'd post a couple of thoughts.

CHARITY:
First of all, I wasn't 100% disappointed in every aspect of this production. However, the direction and choreography DEFINITELY let this production down. Those dancers work their butts off in the Frug and Big Spender and are given nothing of value to work with. But they move very well and give it a lot of energy.
Applegate: she really is great at Charity. And I'll say it. She deserves this nomination. She's better than just the hype surrounding "the incident." Do I think she's phenomenal? No. But she puts a lot of wonderful energy out on that stage and the result is uniformly positive. And she dances well...but again, she's given absolute crap to dance. And that's unfortunate. Quite frankly, I think she would be WELL-served to continue cutting her teeth on Broadway by tackling Roxie in Chicago; I believe she'd really excel and show what she's capable of if given actual quality direction and choreography.

Dennis O'Hare...what can I say? I am absolutely SHOCKED he missed out on a Tony nom. I can't remember what category they put him in (I thought featured, but was he possibly leading?)...no matter the case, someone bumped him out of a nomination and I can pick at least one man in each category whose slot clearly belongs to O'Hare. Just the scene in the elevator is tony-worthy. I can only imagine one win followed by a second consecutive nomination scared the committee off nominating him again.
Overall, I was not completely satisfied and, unfortunately, I disagree with comments that Applegate managed to save the show. I don't think she does. That said, she does give a winning performance that really shines through the slough she has to plow through. Stunt casting aside, there are other roles out there like Charity which Applegate would be well-suited to take on.

SPAMALOT
Standing room is well worth it, to begin. The only unfortunate part is that the mezzanine hangs over so low it actually does create annoying sound problems.
That said, this is a tight ensemble of leads. I think I'm in the vast minority of people who do feel that, of the categorized leads in this show, Tim Curry is most deserving of his Best Actor nomination. I find him utterly winning and excitingly fun in this role.
Still stealing the show, however, is that 30-minute extravaganza I call "The Sara Ramirez Show." I have mentioned my complete adoration for her before, but she's truly amazing. I have also mentioned my annoyance at the weird breaks in her voice. I can say with some pride that she has obviously worked through these songs and come to a very comfortable place with them in her voice. They sound unbelievable. on the album, I find her "Find Your Grail" to be the top moment. She truly knocked it out of the stands this afternoon...but amazingly topped it with that really trite 2nd act song, "The Diva's Lament." Pure brilliance. And I love the green lighting touch. I imagine only people on Broadwayworld would even catch that Elphie link but I love it. I feel the Tony in her future...
The rest of the cast is excellent. Hank Azaria looks like he is having the time of his life on that stage and his Knight who No Longer Says Ni had an entirely new name (he mentioned something about missing his brother George). Christian Borle showed again why he was amazingly snubbed for a nomination. I was even mildly surprised by David Hyde-Pierce, whom I found to be sleepwalking through the show the first time around by channeling Niles. He came alive during his big 2nd act number "You Won't Succeed..." If he had that kind of energy throughout the show, I think he'd have made a stronger impression.
Chris Sieber and Michael McGrath continue to put forth great energy and humor...congrats to them on their nominations.

All this aside, I actually now believe that Spamalot is NOT a lock for the Tony for Best Musical. I actually expect to see DRS or Spelling Bee slip in. Piazza is a dark horse (one I would flip to see win) but I actually think that the voters who actually bother to see the shows are going to realize that Spamalot is a truly fun evening but there are far better MUSICAL theatre evenings out there and nominated.
I just realized these are not really reviews, just impressions, but I have had a wonderful theatregoing weekend and I'm very excited to have seen the nominated shows and actors for the Tony Awards. It's going to be a fun and interesting awards ceremony!

Updated On: 5/14/05 at 08:39 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 8:40pm

I fully agree with your comments regarding CHARITY.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 8:43pm

Thanks. I REALLY wanted to love it and god bless those actors.
I THINK (although my seat made the angle hardto tell who was who sometimes) that that darn Tyler Hanes was working his a$$ off in the Frug.

[Jwei123]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 8:48pm

bwaysinger, i also agree with your thoughts on 'charity,' and thanks for both reviews! Glad you had fun at Spam, again!

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 8:53pm

IT's hard to go wrong spending $21.25 for Azaria, Curry, Borle AND RAMIREZ!

[Ladyofthe Lake]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 9:00pm

It was so nice to read some positive comments about "Spamalot", and I was especially pleased to read your impressions of Tim Curry's work. I'm right there in the vast minority with you, and make no apologies for it.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:00pm

I've heard nothing but negative things about Wayne Cilento's choreography... which is a huge part of the show. Why was he nominated?

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:02pm

The choreography is not bad.
It's just hard to see anything but Fosse to that music.
Cilento's work is not bad and trust me, a great dancer can make crap choreography look good.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:04pm

You're right... and I have not seen the show. But that's the one thing I consistently hear...

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:06pm

I definetly think people had a problem with Cilento trying to recreate Fosse choreo. They don't want to admit he did a good job at it. But the Tony voters obviously think he did a great job at it.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:06pm

It's ok. I just get sick of all the excuses.
I'm sure Cilento was told to do the choreography "in the style of Fosse" as Reinking did for CHICAGO. Maybe Cilento didn't lift as much as Reinking did and believe me she lifted heavily.
I just wish Laveaux had directed and brought in his team.
It probably would have been magnificent.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:08pm

psssst: Bway, check your dates! I believe it was Friday 5/13 and Saturday matinee 5/14.

But, other than that, great recaps and thoughts! Thanks!

[andyf]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:11pm

Nobody cares what you think.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:25pm

It's good to hear someone say something good about it... I was truly wondering why he was nominated.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:31pm

I totally agree, Bwysinger. You're Spamalot thoughts are very similar to mine, except I think I liked it a little less. (Yes, just a little. I liked it, I just am in the camp that believes all three other Musicals nominated for the Tony are better.)
Charity is pretty much the same, except I think Christina still did save the show for me.
The choreography was bad though, and I have no Fosse expectations at all, if that was Fosse they were doing or not the moves on the stage were ridiculous at times. I say no matter how good the dancer, the "chicken dance" cannot be saved.
Great thoughts about the shows.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:37pm

And see, I don't think Cilento did anything more than passing homages to Fosse (like a pose here, specifically what I call the "Charity pose" with the little pointed foot out).
That said, this choreography informed nothing. Absolutely nothing.
And if there's one thing Agnes DeMille brought to musical theatre, it's that dance needs to enhance the moment if not actually propel the plot forward. And it barely succeeded at the first (like "if My Friends Could See Me Now") and never at the second.
Addy, thanks for date checking...going back to fix it now.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:41pm

Of course - Agnes DeMille.
I worked with her on three different ballets.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/14/05 at 10:46pm

*turns green with envy at Glebb*

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 6:24am

I absolutely agree with your comments on Denis O'Hare. I was shocked to see that he wasn't nominated, just considering his performance in the elevator only. It's been years since I laughed that hard during a show.
It was very strong competition but just like you, I can think of at least two of the nominees who should have swaped their nominations with O'Hare.

It almost looks like Spamalot being 'the dark horse' for the Tony on this board now. I loved the show a lot and although I'm rooting for Piazza to win I'd be happy if Spamalot walked home with the Tony. The ensemble is one of the best I have seen in a long time (although I'm one of the very few who finds Ramirez a bit annoying, I can see the talent but there is something about her that makes me want to stab her).

QM

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 9:48am

DayDreamer - I worked with Agnes DeMille several times on RODEO.
I was in rehearsals of a new creation - A BRIDEGROOM CALLED DEATH and her AGNES DEMILLE - CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE DANCE.
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE DANCE was a full evening performance in which DeMille described the history of dance from on stage while dancers demonstrated the various dance forms. At the Music Center in LA the curtain rose with DeMille standing center stage on Gregory Peck's arm. He escorted her to downstage right where she sat and she began speaking. When we repeated the show at City Center, the curtain rose but instead of Gregory Peck, DeMille was escorted by Mr. Joffrey.

I once again assert that a great dancer - certainly one worthy of a Tony nod - can make any choreography including "the chicken" look good.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 11:31am

Agreed about great dancers, Glebb. They certainly did what they could with Cilento's barely-unlaughable choreography.
By the way, I've seen the DeMille video. You're dancing on that? I took a theatre dance history course (of course, because I'm so gay)...we watched it there. Our class called DeMille our honorary grandmother. We loved her. What an amazing woman.
How great would it be to finally have someone with her talent and vision working in the Musical Theatre world again!

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 12:00pm

Though I was in all rehearsals for all three DeMille works, I only performed in Rodeo in extreme emergencies. I am five seven and DeMille wanted taller men. I was in the audience for CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE DANCE. I can be seen prominently in several "Dance In Americas".

Having worked with Paul Taylor, Mark Morris and Twyla Tharp (to name the recognizable choreographers to non ballet people), I still don't see Cilento's work for Sweet Charity as bad. With respect to all other opinions it sounds to me as if he is taking the blame for other problems with that show.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 12:17pm

Thank you!!!!!!

[amourdujour]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 12:39pm

Bwaysinger, I just saw Spamalot yerterday and I TOTALLY noticed the green lighting affect they used. I thought to myself "Is this Elphie-esque on purpose?" I'm glad someone else thought so too.

[TGIF]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 1:43pm

"although I'm one of the very few who finds Ramirez a bit annoying"


QM, the voice of reason.