Cry-Baby - a second opinion

[crushgroove]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 3:15am

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

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 10:09am

I love reading some well deserved praise for this show. I'm seeing it again next Saturday night to see what has been changed or fixed. AND to just have a good time again. I am looking forward to it. And yes it totally has some of the hottest chorus boys on Broadway. Which is a plus for many.

[sally1112]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 10:16am

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.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 11:11am

Hey Chris,

I am glad you saw the show. Did you see it with Steve? So what does he think of the show? Sorry I cant join you guys.. I have to take the bus back home after GYPSY....and I will post my 10/10 Report on LuPONE GYSPY (Part 1 ) with stage door photos..later....you guys know I am a matinee lady!I will see this show next weekend together with A CATERED AFFAIR.

and thanks for the review & the new Madonna song!- Candy Store

J*
Updated On: 3/23/08 at 11:11 AM

[Steve2]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 11:20am

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

[aliciag]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:59pm

I am so glad you enjoyed the show. I had fun too! And I totally agree about the choreography and Spencer Liff... whenever they started dancing our eyes were immediately drawn to them.

[casualtyofLoVe]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 1:28pm

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.

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 8:54pm

I think it will last awhile to. At least through the summer. And despite what some others think, I believe it will be a contender for a few tony awards. esp...Choreography, Featured Actress, & Featured Actor. And possibly book....That book had a lot of fantastic word play and funny jokes. And what book has been better this season. 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.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:19pm

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.

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

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:23pm

Mauzey and Hanke both stand out while you're sitting in the Marquis, but I'm with Foster on their overall chances for Tony noms.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:26pm

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

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:29pm

Okay...Wanna Be A Foster...I was asking people who actually like this show. Obivously you just blindly hate this show with no consideration for what is good about it. But thanks for demeaning an opinion yet agian.

Ali Mauzey has a clear shot at a nomination. And I never said Catered Affair would not win. And I believe it probally will. AND In the heights... Even those who love the show admit the book is terrible and pedestrian.
Updated On: 3/23/08 at 09:29 PM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:32pm

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.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:43pm

The Tony Awards Nominating Committee doesn't care about commercial appeal. They are 25 New York theatre snobs who could not care less about touring capability. They have nothing to gain from it. They choose shows based on quality. MARY POPPINS was nominated last year because the only other two options were LEGALLY BLONDE -- which would have won Best Musical undeservedly due to touring house VOTERS had it been nominated -- and LOVEMUSIK, which was awful. So POPPINS was nominated by default.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:48pm

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

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:51pm

"not one of them has any commercial appeal except for MAYBE In The Heights"

I think that any show can have commercial appeal with the right A) marketing, and B) timing. Heights has both. If it wins Best Musical, it definitely has the capability to appeal to an even wider audience, and it would tour very well.

Again, I'm with Foster about the nominating committee. They will pick what they think are the four best shows based on their own opinions of quality. Whatever is in that list will BECOME commercially appealing once it has won Tony's/ appeared on TV/ gained more coverage and accolades. And if you need an example of when this has happened, look at 2000, where the committee chose Contact, The Wild Party, Swing, and James Joyce's The Dead over the seemingly most commercially viable choice, Aida.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:53pm

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.

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/24/08 at 12:47am

Okay, this is one show that may have been helped by my low expectations going in, because of all the bashing it took on this board...so WHAT were you guys expecting? Saw it Saturday night, and true, it's no Hairspray and the first act was pretty ho-hum, but by the end of Cry Baby, the thing had won me over, lots of laughs in the second act, Harriet was wonderful as was the loony girl, and even though I didn't leave humming the songs, the lyrics were witty as anything. It was a fun show with a good heart, about on a level with Legally Blonde and Wedding Singer, and the people around me seemed to like it an awful lot. (The tourists next to me had just seen Spring Awakening, which I love but which apparently did nothing for them, and they were adoring Cry Baby.) 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--but even as is, I think it will definitely find an audience.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/24/08 at 12:52am

"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.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/24/08 at 8:22pm

The Tony Awards Nominating Committee doesn't care about commercial appeal.

Of course they do!

For the past 17 years at least ONE of the nominees for Best Musical has been a commercial show.

2007- Mary Poppins
2006- Jersey Boys
2005- Spamalot
2004- Wicked
2003- Hairspray
2002- Thoroughly Modern Millie
2001- The Producers
2000- Swing! (From that season that show had the most commercial potential)
1999- Fosse (Same as above)
1998- Lion King
1997- Titanic
1996- Rent
1995- Sunset Boulevard
1994- Beauty and the Beast
1993- The Who's Tommy
1992- Crazy For You
1991- Miss Saigon
1990- City of Angels

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 4:41pm

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.

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 5:36pm

Theatre Frenzy...I do agree with your assessment of why Act 2 is stronger than Act 1. I think that is the obstacle this show has to overcome in previews

[Kalimba]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 6:10pm

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

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 3/25/08 at 10:18pm

To reiterate what i wrote in another thread- the show is not going to set the world on fire. It is not ground breaking nor will it achieve Hairspray like appeal. It is however, a very enjoyable show and it is much beter than Legally Blonde on every level including book, score and stage design.