Help fill my hole, please...

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 2:19pm

I'm coming to NYC in April, have got just one hole left in my show schedule, and cannot for the life of me decide what to put there!

Most in-contention shows are:

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
PRISCILLA
ANYTHING GOES

If you had to choose just one of these, which would it be?

Feel free to either provide reasons or not provide reasons.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 2:20pm

As much as I think Sutton Foster is overrated, I'd see Anything Goes simply because it has a marvelous score (That the Roundabout hopefully will allow to be well-orchestrated) and Joel Grey in it.

[Overkill]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 2:21pm

Catch Me If You Can. I loved it in Seattle.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 2:24pm

Joel Gray is definitely the main draw to AG... well, and Jessica Walter. Sutton Foster I can take or leave.

CMiYC is new and exciting, but the out of town reviews have been so mixed! What I should probably do is sit down and listen to what little music is around...

...although I was listening to the AG revival last night and remembering how much of the score and story are kind of "eh."

[jv92]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 2:26pm

The story is pure 1930s musical comedy, which doesn't amount to much. The score is a masterpiece. I'm surprised you're saying the score is "eh" after listening to the revival album, because LuPone and Co. are terrific and the orchestrations are just great.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 2:33pm

Oh, yes, yes. I knew that would need to be qualified.


The orchestrations are glor-glor-glorious, and LuPone sells the sh!t out of every single one of her numbers. But "There's No Cure Like Travel"? "The Gypsy In Me?" "Goodbye, Little Dream"? "Easy to Love"? (We won't speak of "I Want to Row on the Crew.") Porter's "big" songs were when the revival really soared, which is why it benefitted from the handful of additions, but the ballady and character numbers -- perhaps because the book is so weak -- still bring it to a dead halt. I maintain the show's pacing problems remain unresolved.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 2:56pm

ANYTHING GOES. Its book is weak like you said kinda like how I find WEST SIDE STORY's book extremely lame. But for me the draws for WSS and AG are the score and choreography. Not a big Sutton Foster fan, but I'm sure she'll do a decent job with Reno Sweeney.

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 3:27pm

I would say Catch Me If You Can. I have friends that saw it and LOVED it.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 3:34pm

Not one joke about the thread title? What is happening to this place?

[temms]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 4:04pm

I was right there with you, MisterMatt. I thought I clicked on the wrong board for a minute there...

[trentsketch]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 4:27pm

If you can hold out for reviews of Anything Goes, you should. That show is painful if any of the major players--Moonface, Reno, Billy, Hope, Evelyn, Bonnie--aren't up to their parts. Believe me. I've music directed enough awful productions to last me a lifetime. I ain't sold on Sutton as Reno (tap good, jazzy belter--since when?), but Joel Grey should be a fine Moonface (if a bit old for the role). "Gypsy in Me" is great fun on stage if you have the right Evelyn, but "Goodbye Little Dream" just fizzles even if you have the most gloriously voiced soprano playing Hope. It stops the show in the middle of an otherwise funny scene just to give Hope a song.

Frankly, I'd go with Priscilla. It'll be an experience if nothing else. Yes, it's another jukebox musical, but it's flashy and draggy and shiny and unlikely to put you to sleep like a bad Anything Goes could before the ship's even sailed.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 5:02pm

:|

[ShowQueenNYC]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 5:06pm

Mister Matt - i agree - the title is WAY I clicked on this thread

[esparza 333]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 5:07pm

I saw CMIYC in Seattle and while it had it flaws it was fantastic. I am sure it has been tightened up pace wise since Seattle and the performances and score are just wonderful.

I agree about Anything Goes book, but I love the score and hope Sutton knocks it outof the park.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 6:09pm

I totally thought it, too -- just was a little too hesitant to mention it.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 8:09pm

If you have any interest in hearing a new score (and a terrific one at that) the only choice is "Catch Me If You Can". Don't you want to fill your hole with something new and exciting?

[sally1112]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 8:20pm

The only one of those three that I'd want to fill my hole would be Priscilla.

I actually am arriving in April too, and had to make this choice. (Catch isn't open yet when I come)am I went with Priscilla just for the experience of seeing a new big flashy fun show that I will probably never see a good regional or touring production of.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 8:43pm

After THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON starts, I'm going to get Jason Patric to fill my hole. If I have time I'll stop off at ARCADIA and get Crudup to fill the other one.

[ifuweregay93]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 8:53pm

Kind of desperate to go onto a message board to ask for someone to fill your hole... Isn't that what Craigslist is meant for??

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 8:55pm

Craigslist? That's so 90s.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 8:56pm

BWW is like craigslist for people who like to get pounded while listening to the OBCR of PIPE DREAM.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 9:09pm

Catalano, you kill me. Slurp. (And, I think Chris Rockway is the only hole I carry about around here.)

[Marway44]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 9:20pm

I'd go with Priscilla. Everyone knows the music and I know the show will look amazing live on stage with that bus!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 9:31pm

Priscilla does want her hole filled, I know that for a fact.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 11:58pm

I like to think of myself as a helpful person. May I be of assistance?