FORBIDDEN BROADWAY is slipping

I celebrated New Year's Eve by seeing FORBIDDEN BROADWAY's 20th Anniversary Edition. I'm sad to say that this was the weakest performance of the show that I've seen. The material, especially in the first act, is lame. Is Gerard Alessandrini running out of steam? The skit about Harvey Fierstein playing other "diva" roles falls flatter than a pancake, and how many references to the GYPSY revival do we need? The Hugh Jackman/Liza segment goes absolutely nowhere.

The cast in uneven. When the show first opened the four performers were excellent in every impersonation they gave. Now the cast shines here and there but isn't consistent. I must say, though, that Valerie Fagan is terrific as Ethel Merman, and Leisa Mather's version of Bernadette Peters doing "Rose's Turn" is right on target (it's also side-splittingly funny!) Unfortunately Eric Gutman is the weakest link in the cast--nothing he does is really exceptional, but Michael West has a magnificent torso and it gets great exposure throughout the evening; especially in the Hugh Jackman segment.

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY used to be a searing and hilarious evening in the theater. It's current incarnation is only mildly entertaining.

---

The PRODUCERS/Nathan Lane segment is weak.

The PHANTOM segment is poor.

The Dainty June sement should definitely be deleted.

Julie Andrews in MAMMA MIA is a bore

Oddly enough, the LES MIS segment holds up well.

---

Still, Corine "adores" this show. Go figure.

---

I'd be curious to see if they add a Wonderful Town, Avenue Q, or Wicked segment before it closes. They could probably have a really funny parody with Val Fagan doing Idina. That woman can belt! I think she and Michael West are really the only saving graces right now. I had forgotten about Eric Gutman by the curtain call.

Updated On: 1/1/04 at 09:47 PM

Please explain.

I couldn't understand a word of the ROCKY HORROR skit.

The Harvey skit was so bad other people in the audience (including former Mayor Koch--I think he likes me) were commenting about it during intermission.

The puppets were cute, but the material was bleak.

Corine, had you seen this show in its original production at the Starlight Theater, you would have seen a different--and better--show.

---

Corine, you ruin Times Square every time you come within 30 feet of it!

---

Updated On: 1/1/04 at 10:00 PM

My gosh, you've spent an incredible amount of time seeing this show! That explains why you don't have time to find yourself a husband.

---

Sometimes I think it's more productive to see Forbidden Broadway rather than look for a husband.

DP, not to offend, but nor do you use the word "your" the way you did when YOU'RE forming a correction of someone's grammar.

You're very welcome. My mother being an ESL teacher, I have a tendency to zero in on mistakes.

She'd appreciate the sentiment. I'd tell her, but she's asleep. Anyway, back to discussing the torso of Michael West...

Damn. We'll have to find out who this guy is.