Just seen some Broadway shows.. some opinions...

[JakeB]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 11:24am

BOY FROM OZ: Managed to get back row rush tickets to this for $30.. good price, you saw everything, no obstructions. As a musical, it's OK, but nothing special. I must admit, I didn't know a single Peter Allen song - it went entirely over my head.. the only ones I can remember now are I Go to Rio and Still Call.. Home. With a very weak, bitty book I will be very surprised if this show gets a lot of Tony nods, but there's no denying this is The Hugh Jackman Show. The audience participation was really funny, a real show ground for Jackman to showcase his talents. The kid was great too!


WICKED: Sat in the $55 obstructed view seats, but it wasn't too bad, you saw about 65% of the stage but most of the blocking is at the front, so it's fine. Kristin Chenoweth? That Tony should be hers. (more on that later..) She was absolutely electric, from beginning to end. When she came on stage, everyone sat up. Idina Menzel actually has the better songs though, so I think they both deserve Tony recognition. Disappointment here was Norbert Leo Butz - but he was simply miscast, and also had the dull song Dancing Through Life.

Joel Grey - agreed, boring. Does not deserve Tony supporting, but he will get a nomination I'm sure. The sets and staging are so brilliant, so expensive, it was very Disney - eg, very polished. However, I think a clever book made this show (book script, not book novel). The CD doesn't stand up on its own, but in context the songs are used well.. I just didn't want Popular to end.


AVENUE Q: Didn't win the lottery so got $46 rear mezz and then she upgraded my ticket to a $91 seat! Great view. The show is very American.. having not grown up on Sesame Street and loathed the Muppets a lot of that humour was lost on me I think - though the 'one night stand' thing was genius! The songs are cute, the whole show is very 'cute'. The lead guy (John Targatlia.. sp??) was very good - I'd like to see him get a Tony nomination, but I'm not sure if the woman will get one, she was good too but in a different way.. not in the 'Tony' way, if you get me.


CAROLINE, OR CHANGE: Got $56 discount code, slap bang in the middle of the orchestra, six rows from the front. I felt the audience was VERY snotty though, it was first preview and they all totally looked down at me, didn't even say thank you when I moved for them to get to their seats. Not a pleasant audience.

But the show? I'm 50/50 on it I guess. It's very new, very original - but I couldn't help but think 'I wish this was a play'. The songs, although beautiful - and certainly beautifully performed - weren't memorable, and for me, that's what a musical should be. As a play, this has so much more dramatic potential - *in my opinion*. But - it WAS good, and I did enjoy it. The idea was very interesting. I loved the staging and direction. The supporting actress, Vivanne something (sorry Playbill is packed) HAS to get the Tony - she was brilliant. The kids were all fantastic, their act one finale was a highlight.


TONY: OK, so Tony thoughts on Best Actress. It's going to be between Tonya Pinkins and Kristin Chenoweth I think. All through Caroline I kept thinking 'geez, who is better?', but couldn't put my finger on it. Chenoweth is so much more a character, she OWNS the stage when she's on it, she glitters, she is watched the entire time. Tonya Pinkins is glum all the way through (well, hell, that's her character!), there's less of a range of emotions presented.. but her emotion (despair, grief, failure, etc) is perfect. Absolutely spot-on, and she had a show stopping number too. They're both brilliant in very different ways, but really I'd like to see Kristin Chenoweth get it - for me, she owned the show.

And, for Best Musical, definitely Wicked. Avenue Q is nice, but not 'best'. I actually think it will lose out on a lot of awards, I can't see anything immediately it will win for, which is a shame cos it deserves recognition.


Anyway I have to dash to 'The Ladykillers'..

Jake.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 11:49am

Great review! Very helpful for me too, because I was recently asking around whether or not you can still get Boy From Oz student rush tickets and how good the Wicked obstructed view seats are. Since it was your first Wicked viewing, did you find it hard to follow the plot of the show?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 11:54am

Jake, I agree with you about Caroline's show stopping number and that is the exact thing that will have Christian Chenoweth looking over her shoulder for the next several weeks.

I saw Wicked and Caroline within two days of each other. I'll be interested to hear how these shows "sit" with you as time goes on. For me, one burrowed its way into my consciousness, the other seemed like only so many empty calories I ended up regretting I consumed.

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 12:22pm

Thanks Jake, that was very insightful. I have yet to have seen Caroline or Change, or Boy From Oz. Thanks.

I absolutely have to agree with you about your Wicked comments. Although Idina has the better songs, and she performs them well, The show DOES belong to Kristin. She is just so well rounded as a performer, (great range, great comedic timing, and her dramatic scenes are just as strong). She really owns her role, and makes it a feat to try and fill her shoes. And that's the way it should be.

Posted: 4/14/04 at 1:29pm

I didn't think the show belonged to Kristin. I actually do think Idina has a better chance to l win the Tony. ( and I don't see Caroline till May). Updated On: 4/14/04 at 01:29 PM

[Benzy92]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 2:05pm

great reviews! i still think that Kristin and Idina WONT cancel each other out, and the committee members will go back and be haunted by Idina's amazing performance. Its either hers or Tonya Pinkins (which i have yet to see!)

[bially082]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 2:20pm

Idina's role is more demanding on the actor. I think she deserves the award simply because shw is working harder onstage. If it goes to Kristen I will be disappointed.

[JakeB]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 4:58pm

Namo, I kinda know what you mean. When I got back to the hotel, my Mum put a twenty on the side for a taxi - it was so meaningful all of a sudden. I'm not sure how long it will be on Broadway for though -- what do you think? It's quite 'unmarketable'.

Type_a_Tiff, actually, now you mention it I remember being a little lost in the second act, and I don't actually remember how Elphaba comes back to life from the water throwing. Care to explain?

[bwaymargie]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 5:19pm

Honestly, I think Kristin has to work harder. Her character is so much more multifaceted. Idina may have the belt and the power, but her lines all came off really similar and angry-sounding. I know the script sometimes calls for that, but Kristin really deserves it. Her portrayal had much stronger roots than Idina's...the sharp contrast from her youth was made by her bubbliness and her eventual mellowing out into the mature Glinda the Good.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 5:27pm

I can't wait to see Caroline. I hear from some that it's not for everyone, but others tell me the thematic elements run SO deep for a broadway musical, insofar as to say it won't last as long as it should.

Billy Porter told me it was the best thing he has seen in a long time, and that it "changes your life". He thinks Tonya should win hands down, but unfortunately it's probably not commercial enough to win Best Musical...Tesori should be a shoe-in for Best Score I assume.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 5:38pm

ok here are my thoughts...

i absolutely loved wicked and i think i should hands down win best musical, despite some weak spots in the score...so they can lose on best original score, but it has to win best musical

as for best actress its one of the toughest i've seen...lol i'm 16 so i can't say i've seen many..but anyway
kristen is amazing, period, her comedic timing is immpecable and her voice has amazing contrast from coloratura soprano opera (no one mourns the wicked), to broadway brass(popular), her dramatic moments are very appropriate to her character
idina...i cant explain her performance, no words come to mind except maybe brilliant...the depth she creates with elphaba and the subtle traits that i picked up on...(her nervous ticks in the beginning changing to strong defiance and confidence) her vocals are superb...her AMAZING belt (defying gravity, no good deed) contrasting her soft (i'm not that girl) simply brilliant

im gonna go with idina here for the tony, but i LOVED kristen, i think i loved kristen more just because she IS glinda but idina is amazing as well and her performance is better given the material and the character development she had to create herself
as for caroline or change i havent seen it, and i dont know much about tonya pinkins so it could be anything there

just my thoughts

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 7:49pm

How about Kristin and Idina both be great in their own roles, unique and uncomparable? Oh but sorry...one has to be better than the other, I forgot.

I agree with what you said about Stephanie d'Abruzzo, Jack. She was great in Avenue Q and *I* think is worthy of a nomination, but I don't think she was great in a "Tony award-winning" kind of way. At least, not with the other competition this year.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 8:00pm

honestly, i think i did like kristen better, but for some reason im going for idina to win the tony- that is probably just because she's never won which is not such a good reason, but she is also in a role which is more difficult to pull off... or maybe kristen just makes it look effortless- i dont know, this category is too hard.

as for caroline or change, i just cant wait to see it, i think wicked was fun, but had a lot of problems (i think so now, especially as i am almost done with the book and i already prefer it to the show) though i agree that it lacks commercial appeal, which the tonys seem to favor

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 8:46pm

Jake said:
Type_a_Tiff, actually, now you mention it I remember being a little lost in the second act, and I don't actually remember how Elphaba comes back to life from the water throwing. Care to explain?

LOL I guess my message was unclear. I haven't actually seen Wicked yet, but I'm seeing it in a couple of weeks and I purchased obstructed viewing seats too. I'm just wondering, if I can really only see 65% of the stage, whether or not I'm going to be totally lost if I can't see what's going on. So sorry, I can't answer your question, but I'll probably be posting that same query once I get back from NYC. :)

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 8:57pm

Typeatiff-

The partial view seats are great. You miss a few things here and there but overall they don't effect your ability to understand the plot.

SPOILERS:::



Elphaba does not "come back to life." Water doesn't hurt her, period. That was a false rumor spread to dehumanize the Wicked Witch. She simply faked her own death.<<Updated On: 4/14/04 at 08:57 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 9:01pm

NOVEL SPOILER

Of course water hurts Elphaba. And the Wicked novel explains it all for you and gives you the backstory of this person who is literally different from others and for whom something as simple as getting wet can be torturous for her.

SHOW SPOILER

And the cheating show that is Wicked manages to make a joke about it with the rain sequence and then has the nerve to say it wasn't really true. Such crappy writing.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 4/14/04 at 9:07pm

can't wait to see CAROLINE. But are you totally discounting the Wonderful Town Donna Murphy buzz for Best Actress?

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 4/15/04 at 12:44am

no definitely not discounting Donna AT ALL..i don't know, it's really a tough category considering they all - minus Stephanie - have decent shots at winning. i just know many people here sweat Wicked hardcore, and think it will take the majority of the awards. i just hope it doesn't. yes i liked it - it's a dark spectacle, which is a little atypical. but there were MANY problems with the show. flaws in choreo, the book, the score, the lyrics...it's melodramatic - not necessarily a bad thing -and definitely tugged on my heartstrings (i teared up at the end of the first act), but i don't know, something was missing (like daddy warbucks in annie).

Updated On: 4/15/04 at 12:44 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/15/04 at 12:48am

"and think it will take the majority of the awards"

No it won't.

[Corine2]

Posted: 4/15/04 at 12:54am

Why do you say MINUS STEPHANIE? Just curious.
I loved her performance. She is very talented. Did you see her in Avenue Q? Updated On: 4/15/04 at 12:54 AM

[sabrelady]

Posted: 4/15/04 at 8:26am

Jake so glad SOMEBODY feels the same way about AVE Q as me. Great performances but mediocre show .

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 4/15/04 at 3:30pm

yes I saw Stephanie..she did a great job..she just doesn't stand a chance.

Namo: Let's hope it doesn't.

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 4/17/04 at 11:14pm

Kristin is a much better singer, and it looks like Idina works harder b/c she isn't as good. A good singer should make it seem easy. They're both great actresses, but Kristin has a much better range, but then again that's how the parts are written. I'll be very disappointed if the judges can't see what elementary school kids can: Kristin's technique is much better and less strange...Oh, and Kristin belts too, look at "Popular" and "Loathing."

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 4/17/04 at 11:37pm

Yes, but Kristin doesn't have to belt a high F eight times a week, does she?

But I'm sure you'll keep giving us the daily update on how much better Kristin's singing technique is than Idina's, MusicPos2... Updated On: 4/18/04 at 11:37 PM

[MusicMan]

Posted: 4/18/04 at 11:19am

I agree, JakeB, the score to Caroline or Change is mediocre and unmememorable. But it is doubtful that, sans music, it would work any better as a play. Given its inert dramaturgy, ineffective fantasy sequences and redundant handling of its central metaphor, the script simply fails to come to life, despite the talented cast.