#1
Posted: 6/2/08 at 8:10pm
So this past weekend me and my girlfriend came to the city for a couple days and saw Cat and Gypsy. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with both of them. Cat because most people on here bashed it, and Gypsy because its an old lady musical.
However, I ended up loving them both. Cat was pretty damn good, it got a little slow in the middle when it was just James and Terrence on stage but they picked it up halfway throught that scene. I thought Anika Noni Rose was freakin amazing as Maggie, she knows how the ignite the stage and capture the audience with out being over the top. And her coyness, flirtiness, desperation, bitchiness, anger, sorrow, pettiness, and so much more made her a convincing Maggie who was hard to take your eyes off of. She definitly should of got a Tony nom.
James Earl Jones I thought was a little over the top at times but he has some great moments of realness too, he also was quite funny when he was over the top so it was forgiveable.
Phylicia Rashad was the biggest shock of the night because as much as i hate to admit it I was going to see Claire Huxtable but was happy that I did not see Claire Huxtable or Phylicia Rashad but in fact saw Big Mama. She was the one who was able to shed themself and past characters the most. Her Big Mama was also over the top but she was the character her expressions, voice, and emotions were nothing like her or Claire. So good for her.
And now for Terrence, I really enjoyed him. However he was very understated throught the whole thing which is great for film but not that great for theatre especially when the rest of the stage is filled with veterans of the broadway. I do think that if this is turned into a movie, as was rumored, then he will shine in this role.
As for the show overall, it was great, the set was cool, the lighting was good, and the cast was all good.
So I went into Gypsy bummed because I wanted to see In The Heights but their were no tickets available. However Gypsy turned out to be really good. I definitly think that their are some boring parts inthe first act and I hate how they never show anything of June again, but the second act really wraps up the show nicely and gives Patti a great chance to shine the way we know she can with the end number. I also really loved the old strippers, they were hilarious especially the red head with the lights.
Laura Benenti was great, at first through the whole thing she was just ok and I was confused why everybody loved her but the way she transforms from meek Louise to vampy Gypsy was amazing and she really wowed me.
I also really liked Leighann Larkin and Tony Yazbeck's solo number was great. Boyd Gaines was good but nothing special. And do I really need to say anything about Patti she was great as always.
However, I ended up loving them both. Cat was pretty damn good, it got a little slow in the middle when it was just James and Terrence on stage but they picked it up halfway throught that scene. I thought Anika Noni Rose was freakin amazing as Maggie, she knows how the ignite the stage and capture the audience with out being over the top. And her coyness, flirtiness, desperation, bitchiness, anger, sorrow, pettiness, and so much more made her a convincing Maggie who was hard to take your eyes off of. She definitly should of got a Tony nom.
James Earl Jones I thought was a little over the top at times but he has some great moments of realness too, he also was quite funny when he was over the top so it was forgiveable.
Phylicia Rashad was the biggest shock of the night because as much as i hate to admit it I was going to see Claire Huxtable but was happy that I did not see Claire Huxtable or Phylicia Rashad but in fact saw Big Mama. She was the one who was able to shed themself and past characters the most. Her Big Mama was also over the top but she was the character her expressions, voice, and emotions were nothing like her or Claire. So good for her.
And now for Terrence, I really enjoyed him. However he was very understated throught the whole thing which is great for film but not that great for theatre especially when the rest of the stage is filled with veterans of the broadway. I do think that if this is turned into a movie, as was rumored, then he will shine in this role.
As for the show overall, it was great, the set was cool, the lighting was good, and the cast was all good.
So I went into Gypsy bummed because I wanted to see In The Heights but their were no tickets available. However Gypsy turned out to be really good. I definitly think that their are some boring parts inthe first act and I hate how they never show anything of June again, but the second act really wraps up the show nicely and gives Patti a great chance to shine the way we know she can with the end number. I also really loved the old strippers, they were hilarious especially the red head with the lights.
Laura Benenti was great, at first through the whole thing she was just ok and I was confused why everybody loved her but the way she transforms from meek Louise to vampy Gypsy was amazing and she really wowed me.
I also really liked Leighann Larkin and Tony Yazbeck's solo number was great. Boyd Gaines was good but nothing special. And do I really need to say anything about Patti she was great as always.
