I don't really post here anymore, just occasionally read. Some of this thread reminds me why, because I can't help but feel some sort of bandwagon-ing or a version of tall poppy syndrome. There's a vehemence here (and over at Lempicka) that's off-putting. I too saw this production with its original leads, sometime in January 2022 and then is August of that year with Lennox and Fee. I was head over heels with it, especially the original run and got tickets to this run the day went on sale.
I saw this last night and Gayle Rankin is a wonderful Sally Bowles. She is bawdier and more impulsive than Buckley, and got big big reactions for Don't Tell Mama that Buckley didn't. Her Maybe This Time is so devastating and hypnotic. And together, her and Ato BW got bigger laughs on Perfectly M.
Buckley's Mein Herr was dynamite though. Maybe that one will not be equaled, and that is perfectly fine. Ato is fine. He supports her ably and that is more than enough. And given that they are still making changes to the staging over the course of this week (as I've heard from other people) things are still in flux. They are also doing essentially a two week preview only, since the third week press will already be coming in. I can't even imagine how punishing the preview rehearsal process is.
All the supporting cast are just as good; of course Bebe is a great stage presence and I really liked Natascia Diaz. She could do venomous so well. Eddie Redmayne is even better this time round, because he seems so much more confident.
I genuinely feel that this one of the those productions that is put together with so much care and detail. But, it is absolutely strident about its choices, and to me, that's what makes it worth watching, especially because I feel it nails those choices. To those with the means and ability to be able to see it, I would suggest that you go and make up your own mind.
Updated On: 4/7/24 at 07:33 AM