City Center's 24-25 Season: Ragtime, Urinetown, LaChiusa's Wild Party, Love Life- Page 17

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 3:04pm

It's a serviceable production/staged concert of a great show.  But not a great production of a great show.  The direction and complete comedy is not there missing jokes and timing.  Nothing new or inventive.  Hildreth and Styles walk away with the show.  Fisher is too earnest and misses a lot of possible comedy as do others in the cast, including Mann whose lines are pitched too high & hard to understand. She sounds great on the upper parts of songs.  Casting Little Sally as child without full understanding of the comedy is a miss. She is too earnest as well. Wilson doesn't make an impression and feels miscast. This is was the most disappointing sound of an Encores show in many years.  Too quiet & questionable execution.  Much was hard to understand on Saturday night. These elements are on the director's shoulders who is fine for a regional theater.  Not so much for prime time.

It would be great to see Urinetown on Broadway again with different direction and a fully capable cast of comedian singers.  The precision of the Rando direction is hard to beat. If you are unfamiliar with Urinetown you will still enjoy the show itself.We were glad to see the show again but this is not the production for transfer.

Agree that understudy announcement as show starts felt sneaky if legal with it posted in the first lobby.  Many disappointed comments around us, before and after show, with Settle's absence.  She seems to be the draw.

Updated On: 2/9/25 at 03:04 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 3:05pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "How is Rainn Wilson? I feel I've heard absolutely nothing."

He really doesn’t make much of an impression. 

[BroadwayFanatic454]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 3:26pm

Tiffany Mann is on again for Pennywise this afternoon. An announcement was made at the top of the show.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 4:53pm

I would guess at this point Keala is out for the week?

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 6:49pm

Definitely enjoyed this but wouldn’t say I loved it. The ensemble was great, and at the talkback after, the director discussed choosing idiosyncratic performers. To me, that really made a difference. Each had their own version of crazy, and they worked together perfectly. I also thought Jordan Fisher was great. His Run Freedom Run was fantastic.

As much as Keala might be vocally unreliable, I missed a belt on Privilege to Pee. Tiffany sang most of it in falsetto, and it just didn’t work for me. Not enough power. I don’t fault her at all with 3 hours of prep time, but I really feel like that would’ve made me enjoy the show even more.

Updated On: 2/8/25 at 06:49 PM

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 10:58pm

For me, this was the worst NYCC production since The Life. I was really looking forward to seeing Rainn Wilson as a fan of The Office. Unsurprisingly, he can’t sing but he was also not funny so what’s the point of casting him? Someone mentioned Jordan Fisher being too earnest in this production and I think that nails the problem with this production. Wilson, Fisher, Sally, et al are so earnest and miss the absurdity of this show. That said, Run Freedom Run is obviously the best number in the show and Jordan hams it up perfectly. No need to see this show if you can see a clip of Run Freedom Run online.

[OharaFosseWolfe888]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 11:13pm

Just returned from seeing the show tonight, and I loved it. Is it a perfect production no? Is that now the purpose of Encores! to have a perfect revival? It is a really good revival that maybe doesn't go far enough. Hildereth, Styles, Fisher were all superb. Mann was lovely as Pennywise, enjoyed her vocal placement and didn't miss the belt. She is the understudy after all and a powerhouse. Wilson is serviceable and does just fine in the role. It's a fine interpretation of Cladwell. My director note is, even in this camp comedy, it's okay if we hate him even while laughing at him. The jokes all worked for me, the choreography is pretty fantastic. I don't think that people should miss it, if you're a fan of the show or the score. I think if this were to remount given where we are in the world, this show could pack a truly powerful punch on Broadway right now, if marketed well and some slight directorial adjustments. It needs to be full out and smack dab in your face, it does work though. I wish they could make the adjustments and would have a Bway run. Go see it!

Updated On: 2/8/25 at 11:13 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/9/25 at 6:29pm

Tiffany Mann was on again and was one of the better parts of the show. I also wonder if Rainn has gotten more comfortable with performing in a musical (he even writes in his bio that he's never sung in front of people before) because I did not find him as restrained as I'd heard, and thought he came off pretty well considering how listlessly directed the show was. This is definitely sloppier and less unified than I'd expect from Encores! (a pretty high bar still), and it's up to several particularly hammy supporting players and ensemble members to make isolated choices weird enough to keep the energy going. The show feels dated, not in the subject matter but in the kind of unhelpful cynicism of its spirit and the self-conscious musical theater jokes which do not land well in this delivery. The guy playing the senator in cahoots with Cladwell (sorry I do not have a program) walked away with the show this afternoon for me. 

[itsahopi]

Posted: 2/9/25 at 6:57pm

Scarywarhol said: "The guy playing the senator in cahoots with Cladwell (sorry I do not have a program) walked away with the show this afternoon for me."

Josh Breckenridge!! Yes he’s spectacular in this.

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/9/25 at 7:35pm

itsahopi said: "Scarywarhol said: "The guy playing the senator in cahoots with Cladwell (sorry I do not have a program) walked away with the show this afternoon for me."

Josh Breckenridge!! Yes he’s spectacular in this.

"

Josh is amazing in everything he's done.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/9/25 at 7:36pm

Updated On: 2/9/25 at 07:36 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/9/25 at 7:45pm

Also, kudos to Geena Quintos as Soupy Sue. Being a swing in just a two week run, it was probably unlikely she'd go on but she's been fantastic.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/11/25 at 10:50pm

Keala was back tonight.
But this was such an odd evening at the theater for me. I hadn't seen a production of this since the original almost *Cough a quarter of a century ago Cough* and I've always said it was one of the funniest things I'd EVER seen, and it really was. So I expected to just relive that tonight and....I laughed some, I guess? I need to say the cast was all great and the production itself was, also. So I guess it's just the material that's not as great as I remembered it? I just don't know but it's going to bother me, I know it will. 

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 2/11/25 at 11:08pm

Jordan, I was there tonight as well, I found it to be an uneven production. I was happy to see Keala back, but now Tiffany was out and she’s always a highlight for me no matter what she is doing- I still think they should’ve upgraded her to Sarah in Ragtime. Anyway, Urinetown- I too saw the original and thought it was damn funny- I disagree that the material is the problem with this production, I think it’s the direction. Nothing was gained by making Little Sally an actual child, in fact, that comedy is lost by the choice. There are performers in this that really get the comedy of the piece in spite of the inept direction- I don’t think the director fully grasps (or trusts) the brilliant comedy of the book. Styles, Hildreth, Wilson, Hiller and Settle (to a lesser extent, but there are glimpses) really get the humor- Fisher is at odds with Styles stylistically and their chemistry lacks because of it- he sounds brilliant, but the acting is far too earnest. Also, what the hell were those choices for Senator Fipp? It didn’t land at all and if it was supposed to provoke something or comment on the wandering eyes of senators and their preclusion for extra curricular affairs, it felt misplaced or poorly executed. As others have mentioned, the space is far too large for this. This is oddly timely and should play to the hilt in this current climate, but this production merely just takes it to the finish line and not over it. I guess my overall reaction is that the world of this production is disjointed which leads to an uneven evening. 

Updated On: 2/11/25 at 11:08 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/11/25 at 11:19pm

Thanks for that, Philly. And sitting her trying to process the night, what you said makes a lot of sense and I think I agree with most of it and could be why I felt the way I did (and you as well, apparently). I think I was just so thrown by not getting the laugh until my sides hurt comedy I've been remembering for so many years now, that I couldn't really process it all in the moment. 

As for Little Sally, there were a couple bits throughout where I thought it was funny because she was a little girl but yes, they needed an adult for that - very curious why they chose not to. Speaking of, whatever happened to Spencer Kayden and Jeff McCarthy???

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 2/11/25 at 11:54pm

I enjoyed this production, but I walked away feeling like there is a reason why it's an Encores show and not on Broadway. It just felt like a very community theatre or high school show. It's possible that a fair amount of that is because the director wasn't directing at a professional level. But, I also just think the feeling of the material is very ameture. That's not a problem. Plenty of shows are better for licensing than professional productions. 

[KitKatBoy24]

Posted: 2/12/25 at 12:58am

I was there tonight and echo much of the same. I think the material holds up but you need a director who understands the humor. This production lacked such a director. 

Thank goodness for Stephanie. She was a star and truly understood the material and her character.

Jordan sounded fantastic but an actor he is not… I really don’t think he understood what makes Urinetown so funny and I was very underwhelmed with how he played the character. Perhaps with a better director he could get there. But his vocals on Run Freedom Run were superb.

Keala was back but she did indeed mark her vocals. Which is fine. What was belted out in the rehearsal videos was all done in head voice tonight. If your voice is recovering, we don’t need you to hurt yourself. She still sounded great and it worked. She was missing fire and the comedic chops for me. Overall I was still wanting more from her performance and can’t help but wish we had Bonnie Milligan or Jen Simard (who is obviously busy).

Little Sally… cute kid. It’s not her fault. But it needs to be an adult who is a stellar comedian. Sally’s material is some of the funniest in the show and helps the audience understand what the tone should be. It was all missed tonight.

The rest of the cast was really great and with better direction could’ve really shined.

I’m glad I went and I still had a good time. I hope this production sparks more interest in this material and maybe someday it gets the revival it deserves. 

[inception]

Posted: 2/12/25 at 9:42am

Imagine if Little Sally was played by someone like Kathy Griffin - don't know if she can sing?  It's a mistake thinking because the character is young that the actress has to be young.

Or Amy Poehler. She would be perfect.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/12/25 at 9:50am

Holy crap Amy would be AMAZING 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/12/25 at 12:22pm

Just announced “Wonderful Town” stars Anika Noni Rose as Ruth and Aisha Jackson as Eileen. 
 

So thrilled to get Anika in another musical. 

[ChiDoc]

Posted: 2/12/25 at 12:26pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Just announced “Wonderful Town” stars Anika Noni Rose as Ruth and Aisha Jackson as Eileen.


So thrilled to get Anika in another musical."

As I plan my May trip, this exciting casting means I'm going to go to my first Encores! show!!!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/12/25 at 1:06pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Just announced “Wonderful Town” stars Anika Noni Rose as Ruth and Aisha Jackson as Eileen.


So thrilled to get Anika in another musical."

Outstanding. Might have to try and see this now.

[Quinn Wilson]

Posted: 2/12/25 at 5:19pm

inception said: "Imagine if Little Sally was played by someone like Kathy Griffin - don't know if she can sing? It's a mistake thinking because the character is young that the actress has to be young.

Or Amy Poehler. She would be perfect."

Kathy has sung an auto tuned title song to her short lived talk show, but I do believe she can carry a tune. Amy can hold her own with harmonies, I bet character singing would be a breeze for her honestly. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 2/13/25 at 12:44am

was at Urinetown tonight.

never saw the show before, and....i was not impressed. i didnt find it particularly funny, the music wasnt all that interesting or memorable, and without humor/song, the story--while a really important and timely allegory of sorts--falls flat.

but i WAS impressed with this cast, which is just one jewel after another. In small roles, Jeff Hiller, Josh Breckenridge and Jenni Barber make MEALS out of their moments. Just inspired comedy, turning small glances and phrases into laugh breaks. I thought Rainn Wilson sounded fine and played the role well; Keala Settle was in and was fine, if unremarkable (made little impression after her opening number). Pearl Gold's Little Sally was great; I dont get the gripes here about having her played by a child, but again I dont know any better. Still, for a young kid she has incredible stage presence and timing; its not her fault the role doesnt make a ton of sense.

If this transferred (doubtful), Hildreth would get a Tony nom. I thought he was simply divine. Same goes for Styles- just a perfect performance, hitting all the right notes from comedy to heart to belt. And I must say that Jordan Fisher continues to impress in every way. He was miscast as Evan Hansen because hes too smooth/handsome, and apparently he didnt do much in Sweeney (i missed him). But his Orpheus was miles better than his predecessor, and now his Bobby Strong is a warm, FUNNY, and engaging leading man who sings his face off. I hope he gets to originate something exciting soon, he deserves it.

So yeah, I guess this show was a miss for me substantively, but Encores again puts together quite a crew and makes it worthwhile.