Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
puppetman2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/2/08
#1Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:19am
Just returned from seeing CHAPERONE here in Buffalo. It is in terrific shape and really funny. The sets don't look cut down for the tour at least in comparison with the pictures of the Broadway production in the souvenir program. Many of the credits for things seem to be from the London production.
The souvenir program is a riot. The first half is pictures of the Broadway version, the second is the Man in the Chair's scrapbook with reviews of the '20s show, run downs of the other shows by the '20s composers including "The Merry Eunuch's Daughter" and "Hamlet and Eggs". It is as funny as the show.
Georgia Engle was a delight repeating her Broadway role, Andrea Chamberlin was terrific as Janet (the Sutton Foster role) and Nancy Opel nailed every bit of the dialogue and especially the singing of the Chaperone.
My one question is why did Beth Leavel won the Tony for leading lady as the Chaperone when the Janet role actually seems to be the female lead.
Among the males, Jonathan Crombie was a terrific Man in the Chair.
If the show is coming to a theater near you, be sure to catch it for a really FUN time.
It Sucks To Be Me
#2re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:30amBeth Leavel won the Tony for Best Featured Actress.
puppetman2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/2/08
#2re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:36amMy mistake about Beth, sorry
It Sucks To Be Me
Rypm25
Stand-by Joined: 5/21/03
#3re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 6:43amHaving seen the original cast on broadway, and this tour just a few weeks ago here in connecticut at the bushnell, I must say Nancy Opel didn't come close to nailing the chaperone. As We Stumble Along was nowhere near as thrilling, and she lost a lot of laughs, when I saw the show. I loved Opel in Urinetown, not so much here!:)
#4re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 7:43am
I have to agree with Rypm25.
I also saw it in Buffalo this week, and 'Stumble Along' was not the "rousing anthem" is should of been. Opel's voice made it weak. Her acting was spot on though.
Andrea's Brides Lament was the best part of the whole thing.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
#5re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 10:04amGlad you all have been enjoying it! I saw the tour as it came through St. Louis and loved it!
"Everytime you step on that stage it is somebody's first Broadway show and somebody's last Broadway show. Make it count."
shesamarshmallow
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/06
#6re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 10:08amI can't imagine the set is anywhere near the broadway production's - probs to them if it is, but that would be CRAZY to load in and out every week!
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#7re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:06amI saw it in Hartford as well and agree that Nancy Opel was good but not great as the chaperone. The set was just about identical to the Broadway set. The only differences I noticed was that "Love is Always Lovely in the End" was done in front of the curtain instead of having its own set and the exterior backdrop in the end didn't move quite as smoothly as it did on Broadway. I was impressed with the tour.
puppetman2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/2/08
#8re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:12pmPerhaps Opel is not consistant in performance, the night I saw it (Thursday)STUMBLE ALONG was excellent. Perhaps earlier in the week she was just a bit tired from making the jump from the last stop? I'm giving her the benefit of a doubt.
It Sucks To Be Me
broadwaybaby221
Featured Actor Joined: 12/26/05
#9re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:31pmThe set is the same one that they used for the London production, I believe.
~Sara~
Rypm25
Stand-by Joined: 5/21/03
#10re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/7/08 at 12:40pmthe set looked pretty much the same...i don't remember what was used during love is always lovely...but im sure guymy is right...and of course, there was no descent into the floor. Besides those things, it all pretty much looked great, and the same as on Broadway.
#11re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/10/08 at 11:28amThe show in Buffalo was tremendous. The cast was wonderful and Jonathan Crombie was fantastic as the Man in the Chair. Perfection. It is such a wonderful show. The perfect antidote to a snow storm in March. :)
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#12re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/10/08 at 1:17pmGlad to hear it!
"Everytime you step on that stage it is somebody's first Broadway show and somebody's last Broadway show. Make it count."
#13re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/10/08 at 2:04pm
I agree!
I had been planning on writing up a little review, and this thread presents the perfect opportunity to chime in without all the added effort! HAHA!
I have never sat through a show with such a huge grin on my face throughout the entire performance - EVER! - as I did during this production.
Everything just seemed to click on Wednesday night and we loved it! Crombie rocks and the whole cast was terrific!
What a great production that still looks and feels "fresh"!
LOVED IT!
:)
"To love another person is to see the face of God!"
#14re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/10/08 at 3:20pmI actually cried at the end. Crombie broke my heart. He is so adorable. I totally forgot I was in love with him from Anne of Green Gables. Now THAT is a good actor.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#15re: Drowsy Chaperone in Buffalo
Posted: 3/10/08 at 5:30pm
I'm happy to hear so many of you are impressed with Crombie's work! It's nice to see him finally working here in the States. He really has been putting on some consistently wonderful performances through the last couple of years.
It is nice too, to hear such positive comments about a Touring Cast. We are going to see it in LA first. Everyone here has got us all anticipating how much fun it will be. We just couldn't wait to see it. Of course, we will probably see it every week it is in San Francisco but I want to see JoAnne in Wicked too, so it will all be so much fun in LA.
The Cast looks like they are having fun working together. I terribly miss MIC's sarcastic wit, the dance number in Cold Feets, Janet's Showing Off, then MIC's funny comments of Janet losing it in the "Bride's Lament", as well as Drowsy's and Aldopho's antics. It will be my first time seeing Ms. Engel too playing Mrs. Tottendale so I expect it to be a rousing experience.
Mr. Crombie spoke of possibly leaving the Tour after San Francisco. If he does, hopefully, he will take on something just as Entertaining in the near future. Nice guy. Full of spirited wit and just enough mischief to keep you laughing. Good qualities in an Actor I think.
I don't think anyone can out do the New York Cast of "Drowsy" but they can come very close to perfection. It sounds like this touring group is pulling out all of the stops to make it tough competition. I am happy to hear, and what I have seen, that the sets, except for being scaled down some, are close enough to what we got in New York. I doubt I will be missing too much as far as that goes.
Thanks for the reviews and I'm so happy everyone is enjoying the show. The Posters are up out here, (finally), and we are getting really excited to see the show once again.
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