Cry-Baby - a second opinion

Okay...you're all gonna hate me after this...but I don't care

I LOVED Cry-Baby. There I said it. Let the tomato tossing begin!

I went in preparing to hate it. Trust me, with all the bad reviews going around on here and hearing that demo, I was less than enthused. But I put all of it out of my mind...

You CANNOT go into this thinking you're gonna see HAIRSPRAY. Cause it's not. Think XANADU. Think satire. Take the show with a grain of salt and you'll enjoy yourself.

The curtain went up at the Marquis and I was pleasantly surprised by what took place. A fun, bouncy book/score with it's tongue planted firmly in its cheek. I wonder if everyone else has been seeing a different show.

The two leads are fantastic. Their deadpan faces while singing their hilariously silly songs such as "I Want to Kiss You..With Tongue" Priceless. While James Snyder looks nothing like Johnny Depp, he more than makes up for it in sweetness and energy--and yes he's damn adorable. Elizabeth Stanley brings what we all loved about her from Company, that sweet naiveity--but shows she can rock out as well...as evident in the "Baby Baby Baby" number.

Harriet Harris was a complete riot, as always. She delivered her her lines with such aplomb. Her "I Did Something Wrong Once" was brilliant. She has some of the best laughs in the show.

The choreography was quite good--the ensemble, especially the males have their work cut out for themselves...as most of the scene transitions are covered by dance interludes. The dance captain Spencer Liff, usually shirtless in the show...is a standout...and totally hot...that's just my biased gay boy opinion.

And yes, a special shout out to Alli Mauzey...she's a total hoot as the nut job who is in love with Cry-Baby. I remember seeing her in Bryant Park last summer when she was standby for Galinda in Wicked. She did a hilarious version of "Popular"

This is definitely a show that deserves a shot...and if the critics "get it" it could possibly be a hit. These folks seem to work very hard and enjoy themselves.

Carly Jibson was still out. Her understudy did a wonderful job.

Oh and thank you Steve2 for the ticket...I otherwise probably would not have seen this gem of a show.

Updated On: 3/23/08 at 03:15 AM

I don't hate you, I actually respect you for forming your own opinion, especially in the face of so much negativity.
Plus, I honestly do think much of the bashing on this board is because people wanted this to be a great show and are disappointed.

Thanks for posting this so I won't start a new thread (but I was going to.)

I saw it last night also and I agree wholeheartedly, crushgroove! I haven't laughed so hard in a long, long time. It was witty, clever, and over the top at times. The dancing was great, I enjoyed the two leads as well as Harriet Harris and the entire cast. (Also agree with Noel&Cole about the hot chorus boys, if you are into that. Spencer Liff, in particular!). I am glad I saw it. I also appreciated the combination of all the 50's musical genres.

The negativity such as "worst show I have ever seen" makes no sense to me (I might save that for Young Frankenstein which I saw the night before.) That being said the couple next to me just sat there laughless the entire show.

At $54 during previews it is a bargain, and I recommend seeing this ASAP as I don't think it will last long (not because I didn't like it, I am unsure of the audience for such satire).

As an aside, on the way out of the theatre, these two women were talking and one said "I think I got the message, it was about good vs evil" and the other said "I think you're right".

Updated On: 3/23/08 at 11:20 AM

I had a lot of fun at the show too! First act needs to be fixed, but second act was a lot better and I really enjoyed the show overall. I was laughing a lot. Everytime Christopher Hanke and Alli Mauzey were on stage I couldn't stop laughing. I will definately be seeing it again. I really hope it lasts longer than most of the people on here think it will.

I believe it will be a contender for a few tony awards. esp...Choreography, Featured Actress, & Featured Actor.

Have you looked at the roster this season?

For Featured Actress, we have 1) Olga Merediz, 2) Karen Olivo, 3) Laura Benanti, 4) Leigh Ann Larkin, 5) Loretta Ables Sayre, 6) Mary Beth Peil, 7) Mary Testa, 8 ) Jackie Hoffman, 9) Megan Mullally, 10) Sutton Foster, 11) Andrea Martin, 12) Sherie Rene Scott, and 13) Leslie Kritzer, all of whom would get a nomination over anyone from CRY-BABY, and there are only five slots in the category.

For Featured Actor, we have 1) Harvey Fierstein, 2) Matt Cavenaugh, 3) Christopher Fitzgerald, 4) Shuler Hensley, 5) Robin De Jesus, 6) Christopher Jackson, 7) Matthew Morrison, 8 ) Boyd Gaines, 9) Daniel Breaker, and 10) Tony Roberts, all of whom would get a nod over anyone in the dreadful CRY-BABY ensemble.

And possibly book....That book had a lot of fantastic word play and funny jokes. And what book has been better this season.

PASSING STRANGE and XANADU come to mind. IN THE HEIGHTS will get a nod over CRY-BABY because it is original. And there are only four slots available.

Catered Affair my take it. I heard it is a play with music. With a strong book & characters but the Cry-Baby book is stronger than most of the rest.

Yeah, CRY-BABY has a chance winning over a book authored by a four time Tony Award winning Broadway legend.

Good luck.

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Updated On: 3/23/08 at 09:19 PM

I have not seen the show yet, hopefully this Saturday.

Unfortunately...CRY-BABY would most likely NOT be nominated for Best New Musical at all. ...It will probably go to 4 VERY different musicals:

Passing Strange
Xanadu
In The Heights
A Catered Affair

I just talked to one of "realiable" poster here..meaning she always get it right-iMO and per her words.. I asked her if it will be nominated at all.. she saw the show last night (Saturday) and she pm'd me this....

"Probably for Rob Ashford, unless the committee decides to do what it did with All Shook Up and Legally Blonde, and just snub it in total as an agenda message."

I think she is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!

J*

Updated On: 3/23/08 at 09:26 PM

Alli Mauzey will get nominated over Leslie Kritzer.

The problem with the four that Jay has chosen is that not one of them has any commercial appeal except for MAYBE In The Heights. They usually chose one bigger, more commercial show no matter how bad it is (Mary Poppins).

"Probably for Rob Ashford, unless the committee decides to do what it did with All Shook Up and Legally Blonde, and just snub it in total as an agenda message."

Legally Blonde got a bunch of Tony nominations so I don't know what she is talking about.

And, if your friend is Jordan which I bet it is - I wouldn't call her the most reliable. If she had it her way MAGICAL THINKING and VERTICAL HOUR would have swept the TONYS last year and NEXT TO NORMAL would have transfered and swept the awards this year. And, no, I don't have anything against her.

No.. Neddy -that did not came from jordangirl (she saw the show Friday night). It's from luvtheemcee..she saw it last night. she actually think that people were just overreacting that it was the worst show ever....which she made me even more think to see the show for myself.

re: Cry-Baby? from luvtheEmcee
on 3/23/08 @ 02:30:29 PM
Probably for Rob Ashford, unless the committee decides to do what it did with All Shook Up and Legally Blonde, and just snub it in total as an agenda message.

(sorry 'em ! )

J*

Updated On: 3/23/08 at 09:48 PM

I don't recall saying it was the "worst show ever". But it's definitely not my favorite.

I get satire. I get tongue-in-cheek. I liked Xandau. I just didn't like Cry-Baby and found a lot of the lyrics laughable.

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"It would be great if there was some way the first act could be improved--though I can't put my finger on why it didn't grab me"

In my opinion, the reason for that is that there are no stakes in the 1st act... boy likes girl... girl likes boy... the only real obstacle is one adult with malleable rules... The stakes are stronger during the second act when you want the "fun" characters to get of jail, and for Cry Baby and Allison to get back together.

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Um....I think the Tony committee does care about commericial appeal. The list above proves it. Also something that has broad commericial appeal does not take away from the talent and skill involved in the production and those who created it.

I have such issue with the attitude that if something is aiming to be commericial or appeal to a broad audience that it is therefore some how bad or has to prove itself. Look at music theatre history people. it was an artform made to entertain, amuse and distract.

Still kind of shocked to hear that no changes have been implemented as of yet.