#1
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!
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
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