Fordbidden Broadway Tour Review

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 12:06am

I saw the Forbidden Broadway tour tonight at the Alys Stephen Center here in Birmingham, AL. Overall the cast was strong, but I just felt something lacking. Certain numbers landed perfectly while others felt forced which is going to be the case with any sketch comedy type show. Of the good: I'd say Les Miz was by far their best number. It was funny and had a lot of witty gags (Like the exiting of the turntable, or the turntable in general). The Beauty and the Beast skit was funny also, as was the Bebe/Chicago skit. The bad: I felt a lot of the jokes nobody got. I'd say the crowd was pretty savvy, but some of the jokes just weren't that funny. The whole Mandy Patikin (sp?) skit was just boring. And the Wicked skit was a big let down. I thought they'd have someone playing Cheno, but they didn't.

The show needed some more contemporary skits to connect with the audiences. I think bits of the show would work well in New York where Broadway is accessible, but here in Birmingham, we don't really get the "newest" of tours. I mean, last year we JUST got The Lion King which opened about 10 years ago. The Jersey Boys skit I thought was too new because most of the audience didn't seem to respond to that, though it was pretty funny for someone who knew the show. They needed a "The Producers" skit or a "Cats" skit or a "Rent" skit. Stuff that most everyone will know. Hell, they could do a Dreamgirls skit now.

The cast was strong. I had Danica Connors, Craig Laurie, Kristen Menglelkoch, and Matthew Weeden. Danice Connors was a standout. Her impressions - for the most part - were spot on and she had a wonderful voice. I thought her comic timing was the best. Kristen M. was pretty great also. Her "WTF?" to the audience during the Les Miz skit stopped the show. Matthew Weeden was good, if not underused. Craig Laurie didn't do much for me. I thought his was too low to be audible.

I'd recommend seeing the show though. It wasn't a laugh riot like I expected it to be, but it was entertaining to say the least. I wish they had done something at the end with the whole "SUV" concept to wrap the show up nicely.

[Next week I saw Billy Porter. The week after that Spelling Bee. The week after that Sweet Charity. It's a good month here in B'ham.] Updated On: 1/28/07 at 12:06 AM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 4:15am

Regarding the Wicked skit, if they didn't have someone play Cheno, what did they do in the skit? They have someone do it in the off-Broadway production.

[exedore]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 9:46am

The skit's been trimmed to just have the last couple minutes ("I'll be the star...") in NYC, and this is probably what they use on the tour.

Methinks FB need to make an update.

[whatchaup2]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 8:51pm

Were we at the same show? Birmingham, Jan 27, 2007? The audience flipped out over the show and so did I. The show was great as was the cast. I cannot believe you did not like Craig Laurie. I thought he was the standout. His voice is thrilling and he has outstanding comedic timing. When he sang at the end of Les Miserables skit the audience busted into applause. And I loved his Mandy Patinkin as did the people around me. So funny and his voice sounded just like his. I could not have had a more opposite reaction to the show. I also thought Danica Connors was great. Great voice and impressions. The Jersey Boys skit was a little over the heads. I agree with your comment about having shows that everyone would know.

[whatchaup2]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 8:58pm

Updated On: 2/1/07 at 08:58 PM

[whatchaup2]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 8:59pm

Updated On: 1/31/07 at 08:59 PM