I had to laugh at this quote from John Oleksinski's review of the Tony's last night But aside from the all-important Best Musical prize, it’s the telecast’s performances that have audience members rushing to Telecharge to buy tickets to new shows… or choosing to see “The Phantom of the Opera” for the 43rd time instead. https://nypost.com/2022/06/12/tony-awards-2022-lousy-show-dissed-stephen-sondheim/
As it turns out my hanging out here was because FG was the only show I was able to comment on with any validity. And, because of Ramin. Same with Phantom, which will consistently present something new to talk about, even if it's a new bow on Christine's Wishing Dress...also because of Ramin to see if anyone can possibly be a better Phantom (no...after multiple views).
A friend of mine was recently in NYC for her umpteenth visit to Phantom - she said her credit card company must wonder at all the charges to her account. This trip she saw FG with Julie - loved her, loved the songs, though the show was meh. Oh, yeah, and loved Ramin, which is why she went to see it. She also caught 2 performances of Phantom. That was it. 3 shows and home. Her other choice was Music Man, but opted for Phantom again.
If I had the opportunity, I would have gone to see Music Man. As good as Company may be, I would rather listen to different versions of Being Alive on You Tube - Barbra again and, yes, Ramin. Same with Follies. Losing My Mind (Collins, Peters and Mazzie) and Too Many Mornings (Victoria Clark & Ron Raines). Otherwise Sondheim's musicals are depressing as hell to sit through more than once. JMO. So Company would not have been on my list.
Six, possibly - but the choice between a sure thing and a possibly with only X number of dollars to spend - people (like me) will go with the familiar. (Auggie 27you are a major fan and I wish I lived closer to NYC, if only to see the shows.) Oleksinski's point being, however, the Tony's didn't really advertise the shows very well and he felt they gave Sondheim a short shrift.
In sum, I don't like Beanie as Fanny - didn't like her before the show even opened, but I love Ramin (could you guess) and I love the songs. I learned the score 50 years ago, by wearing out an old LP) and have sung one or more of the songs probably at least once a week since then. So FG will survive so long as people want to hear songs they love. I do wish I had been able to see Julie because she has probably come the closest to representing the real Fanny (as much as possible with the fictionalization). Even more so than Barbra, who seemed to be playing Barbra. Same with MM and, most definitely with Phantom of the Opera.
Updated On: 6/13/22 at 07:53 PM