Girl Crazy Dress -- Anyone else there?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/19/09 at 11:04am

Definitely check your brain at the door --- but it's a good time with several terrific performances. The male leads, Chris Diamantopoulos, Mark Kudisch and Wayne Knight (yes, Newman) are uniformly strong. Unfortunately, (and maybe they were holding back), the female leads -- Becki Newton and Ana Gasteyer -- weren't at the same level. Now, the female leads have a much higher standard to uphold -- Ginger Rogers and Ethel Merman originated the roles -- but something was just lacking. Becki is great from the acting side -- think Nellie Forbush -- but her voice could be stronger. Ana doesn't have the strength or presence that one would hope to see in Frisco Kate.

The show is pretty tight for an Encores dress, with most people generally off book. Jerry Zacks is the director and Rob Fisher is conducting -- so expect all of the great "gags" (sight and other) that we often see from Encores.

All in, nice light fare for a late autumn week.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 11/19/09 at 6:00pm

I was there last night and I thought it was good! They handled the material very well for a 2009 audience. I sort of agree with you on Ana and Becki, but like you said, it's hard to make those roles stand out when the icons of Broadway got their start with them. If you leave that out of the equation, I would say they were wonderful. I loved when Becki forgot her line and sort of jumped back in sarcastically. "... OH NO!?" That was great.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 11/19/09 at 6:18pm

I though it was just "ok" ..... didn't really feel the performances or staging were up to the usual Encores standards. The orchestra, however, never sounded better!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/19/09 at 7:00pm

For someone (like me) who doesn't know the material, is it worth checking out or something I should know?