Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:11pm

I went tonight harboring a nostalgic fantasy that this production would find a way to salvage a little of what made it so special when I first saw it thirty-some years ago. I had seen a local production a few years ago that had little to offer, but hell, I rationalized, one can always hope.

Tonight was the most special night of theater I've experienced in a very long time. The vision of the director, the incredible musical arrangements, the staging, and the performances all meshed together to create something truly spectacular that is as relevant today as it ever was. Maybe more so. This resurrection of Jacques Brel taps into the emotions of trying to live and love in a world gone haywire and it works just fine even given the new parameters of craziness that are beyond anything many of us could have imagined pre-9/11.

I know that I am gushing, but this show has transcended anything I could have hoped for and it was so profoundly moving that I feel compelled to urge everyone to see it. For those of you who have pre-judged it, sight unseen, as a dated work that will only attract people of "a certain age", I encourage you to give it a chance.

Updated On: 3/12/06 at 11:11 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:12pm

I have tickets for Thursday, and now I'm even more excited. Thanks for your comments, I cannot wait!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:14pm

Yay! I am so excited about this! Thanks for your review!

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:20pm

Did I mention that the cast is exceptionally strong? Or how about that the piano player (who did all the arrangements) will knock your socks off?

I can't stop feeling like I struck gold tonight.

[harris007]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:26pm

Jacques brel has always been amazing

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:27pm

LOL! Is the piano player Eric Svejcar? I've had a crush on him since Caligula.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:30pm

Yep. That's the name. I was too lazy to get up an look in my program, but let's give Eric his due, because he is freakin' amazing.

And please, god, let this be recorded...

[harris007]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:32pm

whos' in it again ?

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:39pm

Yeah, and he's cute too!

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:40pm

Robert Cuccioli, Natascia Diaz, Rodney Hicks, and Gay Marshall. Nary a weak link.

Updated On: 3/12/06 at 11:40 PM

[harris007]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:41pm

i should say not, wow what top notch cast, is this off-bway

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 11:48pm

Yep. It's at a small, funky theater on 37th Street called The Zipper.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:16am

The setting of the Zipper theatre lends itself perfectly to this production which was, in a word, flawless.

Iflit is right: I feel like I struck gold.

Updated On: 3/13/06 at 12:16 AM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 6:06am

I went Friday and adored it. It's wrong to single out a single performer when you have such a strong ensemble, but I have to give special props to Ms. Diaz, who was on fire.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 6:15am

Have tickets for it in a few weeks

My wife saw it originally at The Village Gate . I saw it when it was on Broadway. Good to hear everyone likes it

[mrcacou]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 6:42am

You are so lucky to have Gay Marshall. She is such a fantastic actress. And what a voice. She was good in Cats here in Paris but I really discovered her in her one woman show called The Show Must Go On. Could anybody tell me how she is doing in Jacques Brel ? Does she sing a bit in French. ?

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 6:53am

Gay Marshall was the only actor with whom I was unfamiliar. She, like the rest of the cast, is fantastic. And yes, she *does* sing a bit in French.

[mrcacou]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 6:57am

Her big role in Paris was in Cats doing the part of "Grisabelle Lady Glamour". She then did one woman shows about being an American in Paris. She speaks French fluently and has one hell of a voice. She made me cry while singing "Guess who I saw today" in her last show that included songs of Tom Lerrer ( sorry for the way I spelled it).

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 9:16am

i agree with Meffie - you can't single out any one performer, because they work so perfectly as a group, but Gay Marshall brought "Sons of" to life in a way I've never experienced before. I was speechless. And had tears streaming down my face.

mrcacou, Gay's French brought 'authenticity' to the ensemble. Her voice and presence and movement were perfect for the role.


I would love a recording of this show. If any of you go, be sure to sign the 'sheet' in the lobby asking for names of people who are interested! This is simply the most powerful and inspired performance of Jacques Brel I have ever seen.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 2:02pm

Who else has plans to see this?

Who else has seen this, and what are your thoughts?

I wish I could share this with everyone... it's that special.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 2:16pm

Can't wait to see this! I saw a revival of it years later with the original cast and it was thrilling! The music, the translated lyrics, the spirit!

Then they did a video in the 1970s that was dreadful--it just came out on DVD last year--DON'T BUY IT!

I'm so excited about seeing this it's like I'm on a carousel--

We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
And now we go around
Again we go around
And now we spin around
We're high above the ground
And down again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
We're on a ferris wheel...

Updated On: 3/13/06 at 02:16 PM

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 4:24pm

I'm telling you, I haven't had that "I can't wait to see it again" feeling about a show in a very long time.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 9:19pm

I feel the same way!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 9:38pm

Were they selling a CD ? My wife wants to know if they are selling any paraphanelia

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 10:15pm

What I wouldn't give to see Gay Marshall and Marcia Gay Harden in a revival of Side Show.