Just back from NYC.....

[ChrisLovesShows]

Just back from NYC.....#0

Posted: 1/12/04 at 3:46pm

Had a great trip. Thought I would mention the highlights now and post some thoughts about the shows later.

Saturday, Jan. 3: arrived, saw Chicago
Sunday: lunch with Rob & Bulldog, closing performance of Cabaret
Monday: Aunt Dan And Lemon
Tuesday: Little Shop Of Horrors
Wednesday: Never Gonna Dance, The Boy From Oz
Thursday: The Frick Collection, Caroline, Or Change
Friday: The Whitney, Bill Erwin's The Regard Evening
Saturday: Wicked, Wonderful Town
Sunday: Avenue Q, Taboo

Back to work and reality tomorrow. BOOOOO!

"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"

[Mister Matt]

re: Just back from NYC.....#1

Posted: 1/12/04 at 3:51pm

The Frick is my all-time favorite collection. I have such fond memories....

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[mebice]

re: re: Just back from NYC.....#2

Posted: 1/12/04 at 4:14pm

Wow! You saw a lot...post your reviews! I am glad that you had a good time :)

"Hold up your head. Never be afraid to shine. Viva la difference in my body and my mind. All out with loneliness Such a waste of time. Come in from the outside" ~ Taboo

[luvtheEmcee]

re: re: re: Just back from NYC.....#3

Posted: 1/12/04 at 5:01pm

i'd like to see some reviews too!

and mebice, check your pm. i finally saw your message and wrote you back.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[ChrisLovesShows]

re: re: re: re: Just back from NYC.....#4

Posted: 1/12/04 at 5:05pm

Matt:
Isn't the Frick wonderful?! I was just overwhelmed at this beautiful oasis of beauty and art. What a beautiful thing Mr. Frick left to us.

"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

re: re: re: re: Just back from NYC.....#5

Posted: 1/12/04 at 5:05pm

wow! way to not schedule time to breathe! lol

[BwayTheatre11]

re: re: re: re: re: Just back from NYC.....#6

Posted: 1/12/04 at 5:08pm

Looks like you had a good time!

CCM '10!

[Sunfish]

re: re: re: re: re: re: Just back from NYC.....#7

Posted: 1/12/04 at 5:18pm

I just got back too, ChrisLovesShows. What a wretched week to be there, huh? FREEZING, and I know cold. I didn't see as many shows as you, but I saw all the ones I really wanted to see.

[ChrisLovesShows]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Just back from NYC.....#8

Posted: 1/12/04 at 9:45pm

So, some thoughts about all of the musicals I saw:
My overall impression was that the new musicals are OK to good, but none great. I kept thinking of the post about the most "adequate" musical that JohnPapa started a few weeks ago. Whenever I described a show to my friends, it seemed impossible not to damn it with faint praise. Never Gonna Dance was "sweet," Wonderful Town was "nice," Wicked was "cute," Taboo was "interesting," Little Shop and Avenue Q were "fun." There were many enjoyable moments, but I didn't find a single one of the new scores truly outstanding, and I'm not sure that any of the shows deserves to be single out as "best" musical. I found myself most engaged at Caroline, Or Change and at The Boy From Oz. The performers in Oz rise far above the material and there are wonderful performances as well as raw, fascinating drama in Caroline. I would have to say that both works, however, succeed on the strength of the performances much more than on the strength of the scores. Of course, the score for Caroline is new versus the recycled songs of Oz, but I didn't feel that Jeanine Tesori's music would be very memorable outside of the context of the show. For its powerful drama and originality, though, I would recommend that you try to see Caroline.

OK, Taboo. What a big, beautiful, frustrating mess. I agree with others that there is some great music in there, and if I ran the Tonys, Taboo would win Best Score, as least today. But no one can tell me that anything close to a coherent book came out of the preparations for this Broadway mounting. Character development is non-existent, relationships unexplored and unexplained. I couldn't even figure out what the two main characters, Leigh and George, were doing in the same story. Everyone, and I mean evvveerrryyyyyone, gets a big, moving ballad, but the songs just seem whimsically dropped in here and there and rarely seem to serve the story, such as it is. I almost have to recommend it 'cause it's just so weird--you will see and hear Raul Esparza in a whole new way, to say the least--but I have a feeling this is a "love it or hate it" proposition for most people. That said, I truly do hope they record the Broadway cast. I'll be the first to buy the CD.

So, lots of shows to like, not many to love.

"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"

Updated On: 1/12/04 at 09:45 PM

[Unknown User]

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Just back from NYC.....#9

Posted: 1/12/04 at 11:20pm

That's fantastic but I would never be able to absorb so much theatre in such a short amount of time. Did you experience any sensory overload? WOW!