DRG's Reviews: GARDENS, 110, POPPINS, XANADU, DEUCE, & SPAMALOT!

Alright,well this is just a thread for my reviews and stuff about the 4 shows I'm seeing this weekend. They may not be tooo in depth while im here in New York, but I'll elaborate when I get home on Sunday.

First off, GREY GARDENS which I saw tonight. I got to the box office around 5 this afternoon since my flight didn't get in till about 3:45 or so. So I got to the box office, and they were out of rush. So I "splurged" on front row balcony seats. As I said, I'd go into more detail later, but I loved the show even more this time than the 2nd time I saw it. I actually preferred the balcony to the mezzanine, believe it or not (but nothing beats the first row for this show, haha). But I actually preferred the 1st Act to the 2nd tonight. I don't know, but tonight, Erin was the real star for me, she was spot on. Really, in the 3 times I've seen the show (the other times in December and February), she has grown the most into her role, and I don't know, she just blew me away yet again. Loved her so much. Christine Ebersole was very good, it was kind of funny- her voice was kind of off during the 1st Act, but very strong in the 2nd. Thats what it seemed like to me at least. A few times she kind of...phoned in, but during the bigger and more emotional scenes, she got really into. But some of the scenes in between it seemed like she was just walking thru. Mary Louise did a wonderful job today, as was the rest of the cast. Oh, and the show was pretty much sold out today- a few empty seats in the balcony, but very full house. The audience, for the most part, seemed to love it, and I am so upset this is closing at the end of the month. I feel, oddly enough, thats its kind of run its course, and that the closing isnt an absolute tragedy. It had a fairly successful run, and I'll always remember the 3 INCREDIBLE times I've had at this show, and it'll always stand as pretty much, my favorite show I've seen.
I'll elaborate a little more later, but I've got to go to bed- heading to the Today Show tomorrow, so got to get up early!
And next up- 110 IN THE SHADE.

:)

Night everyone!


EDIT: more thoughts on GREY GARDENS
Let me get back with Christine's voice. As I said earlier, it seemed stronger in the 1st act than in the 2nd. I noticed the most strain in her voice probably in "Wil You" or "Hominy Grits". With both of those, it just didnt sound too good, especially when she went into the high registers. But then in the 2nd act, I think her voice sounded much stronger, especially in "Revolutionary Costume for Today". Her voice was also better than I've heard it during "Around the World", but not as deeply-acted as the other 2 times I've seen it. Oh and might I mention Bob Stillman probably has the best voice of...everyone? Haha, wow, his voice just fills the theatre, I wish everyone sounded like that. Mary Louise was especially good tonight- I think probably the best I've seen her in the 3 times I've seen the show. Or actually, the 2nd best- her very first scene at the beginning of the show was kind of rushed, but hey, its only 1 scene that I didn't think she was the best in. But the rest of the time, she was awesome, I am just so glad she won that Tony. I think the saddest scene is definitely the scene between Big and Little Edie right before "Choose to Be Happy". So sad, like, most of the time, for me at least, I'm rooting for Little Edie, but during this scene, I was unsure of who I agreed with more. Its just such a sad story- and theres 2 sides to it, which just makes it so emotional. A mother didn't want to lose her daughter, but her daughter wanted other things in life. I dont know, I just find it really sad. The girls who played Jackie and Lee werent as annoying tonight as they usually seem to be, haha, and I actually enjoyed "Marry Well". And how did Christian Borle frikkin get a Tony nomination over Matt Cavenaugh? He does such a great job as Joe, but especially as Jerry. He's so funny, and I like during "Jerry Likes My Corn" when he randomly starts coughing from eating the corn too fast. Alright, and please forgive me, I'm rambling so much, but finally- Erin Davie frikkin owns the show. Christine and Mary Louise are amazing, but the best really is Erin, I mean...as I said before, over the 3 times I've seen it, she's grown the most, and just has seemed to really embrace her character and try new things with it. And she is gorgeous! Her voice may not be the strongest, but her acting makes up for it. That scene after "Daddy's Girl" with Christine and her must be one of my favorites in the show- very very intense. And Erin just seemed so in the moment, and I just love her. I love that image of her running down the steps with the scarf on her head in the white dress- so beautiful and sad.
Anyways, this better be filmed for television, because I love this show. But even if it wasn't...I guess I wouldn't mind, because it is such a lovely live experience,it just wouldn't be the same on camera (of course). And as I said before, I think this show had a nice run- but its time for it to go. I think its pretty much found the majority of the audience its going to get, I feel Christine and Mary Louise seem to want (and need) a break, and they are so amazing it would be hard to replace them. Itll be nice to see the show go out with its original cast.
And wow, I really wish I could just go back tomorrow night and see it all over again.
For those of you who havent seen GREY GARDENS yet, see it, but most of you have.
Anyways, I love GREY GARDENS. 3 of the best nights I've had in the theatre were at the Walter Kerr seeing that... :)

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Updated On: 7/8/07 at 11:21 PM

I was there tonight too. My third time a well. I totally agree about Erin, she was fabulous! I coud see the future little Edie in her even more this time. Sadly Ebersole's performance did seem to lack energy or something...There we moments when she was spot on though. Still a wonderful evening of theatre. I'd love to have it preserved on film, but I'll just be glad I was able to see it several times.

ETA: Mary Louise Wilson flubbed a line in "The Cake I Had" and it was funny watching the conductor mouth the words to her.

Updated On: 7/6/07 at 12:41 AM

alrighty, well i may attempt HAIRSPRAY lotto or JERSEY BOYS standing room today
just need to check my schedule for the day (which i dont think includes much)
if anyone has any info on like...either one of those, itd be appreciated, but i pretty much know HAIRSPRAY lotto is supposed to be easy (so i hear) and i dont know about JERSEY BOYS standing room. hard to get?
anyways, so ill update you guys if i see either show.

by the way, showed up at the Today Show at 5, and the line was already around the whole block, so my sister and i decided we wouldnt be able to get in by the looks of it, so yeah, i cant fall back asleep...

have a good day everyone

EDTI: due to the rest of my family wanting to shop and stuff, i cant go see a matinee this afternoon. yeah, so ill just be sitting around until tonight. not too fun

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Updated On: 7/6/07 at 06:30 AM

it's friday...I don't think there are any matinee's today

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yeah, HAISPRAY, JERSEY BOYS, and CURTAINS all have matinees today

but instead, my family wants to see the movie SICKO instead of a Broadway show...tsk tsk, haha

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oh yeah, and cool little tidbit

Yesterday afternoon I saw them loading what I believe to be Sandy's bedroom set or something into the Brooks Atkinson. I also saw them loading in more things this morning, but they were in crates.

I'll post pictures as soon as I can :)

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Yeah, I'd definitely see a show if I could, but they dont want me to go to a show alone, and I'm just like "Well, its not like we talk during the show, why does it matter if I'm with somebody?" haha anyways
The rest of the trip should be good, I'm just having a really strong urge to see DEUCE...why, I do not know

But I'm just really excited for 110 tonight! :)

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Enjoy 110!!!!! It's AWESOME!!!!!

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I was on the right side of the balcony in the first row :) How about you?

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yeah, I actually loved sitting up there. the theatre is so small so youre really not all that high up, and you got a good view of the whole stage, which was nice. and it was also nice to have the ledge to lean on/over :)

but wow, that set must take a lot to move. i dont know, the show itself isnt too big, but im sure moving like more than 1/2 at the stage back and forth must add some money to the weekly running cost...

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Well well well, everyone I am back after a busy day. I hope youre all doing well, because I am right now
First let me start off with the matinee I saw- MARY POPPINS.

Let me just say this show lived up to my expectations- which were very low in the first place. And yeah, I am kind of nervous about the state of Disney Theatricals, I mean, I thought maybe TARZAN was just 1 poor show by Disney, but then they make MARY POPPINS, which I liked even less than TARZAN, believe it or not. MARY POPPINS just lacked magic and creativity, simple as that. I know they wanted to make the show darker like the book and thats fine- but when the supposed "magical and joyful moments" are statues coming to life or Mary pretty much using the force to get rid of Ms Andrews...it just sucks. I just did not feel happy or anything watching that stuff happen because it was so unoriginal and lackluster. I must admit, though, the sets were amazing, as were the special effects (like the objects coming out of the carpet bag and Mary flying over the audience). With the exception of "Anything Can Happen", all of the new songs written for the show were bland, and all the old songs were kind of made into these odd and long production numbers ("Supercali..." was just soooo drawn-out and over the top). I felt the new sequence of the songs in the story didnt work well either. The children were quite annoying, especially Jane, what a little b*tch. Mrs. Brill or whatever was so over the top it was hard to understand her. Mr. Banks (played by Sean McCourt at this performance) was pretty psycho and yeah...abusive dad. And poor Rebecca Luker- stuck in this show. She did fairly well with the material she had, but sometimes, it was hard for even her to rise above it. Gavin Lee did a nice job, and certainly earned his Tony nomination. He didnt do a whole lot, but it was great watching him. Cass Morgan as the Bird Woman was pretty forced, and I didn't care for her much in her very small role. Ashley Brown...very very talented, but I dont think shes right for this show. Her British accent was pretty off and on, and I think the role of Mary is written too operatic. Just a pretty bland performance by her- added nothing new to the character, but wasnt horrible. It was funny how she walked about the stairs, though. Its very obvious what others have said about her- shes easily replacable.
It mightve sounded like I hated this show, but I did not. I just disliked it. It had some good moments, but overall, just not an enchanting show like it should be. Disney almost tried too hard to make it unlike the movie, and they succeeded, but not well. The audience seemed to kind of enjoy it- it was annoying how they were always clapping along with songs. I am really glad I saw this show, but yeah, just lacks that Disney magic.

coming up, my XANADU review :)

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So you didn't like Curtis' tap number?

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"Her voice may not be the strongest"

Compared to whom? She's got one of the best, strongest, glorious, controlled voices on any stage anywhere.

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