L5Y in Orange County, CA

[defygravity2]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 7:23pm

I'm leaving in a couple hours to see the show at the Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills. Has anyone on the boards seen their production? I know it won't nearly be as good as the recent concert at UCLA, but I am hoping for a decent Cathy/Jamie. I read two positive reviews.....here's hoping!
Updated On: 2/11/06 at 07:23 PM

[QMAN03]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 7:52pm

Make sure to come back and post a review. I am debating seeing it.

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 11:52pm

Oh goodness, I thought you were talking about TL5Y being on the TV show The OC.

[Necromancer07707]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 11:54pm

What what? L5Y on the tv show The OC. Geez don't get me worked up like that.

[broadwaygiant19122]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 11:55pm

yeah necromancer, i hear you... oh wow, what a night that would make.

[greenegirl87]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 11:55pm

Ahhh I thought the same thing. My brain was having some trouble making the connections though.

[QMAN03]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 1:18am

Oh how pop culture controls our minds. Quite scary in my opinion. :)

[defygravity2]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 2:17am

Oops...so sorry for the confusion! I changed the title, so there shouldn't be more confusion.

Well, after looking forward to this production for months, and having relatively high expectations, I will try to be nice. Let me just say that this is one of my favorite shows. I listen to the CD constantly, I saw Norbert and Sherrie perform it, and had a very enjoyable evening at UCLA a few weeks ago...the bar has been set very high.

I liked many things about this show: the score, the stage, the lights, and the nice man at the ticket booth. I was also impressed, at times, with the singing voice of the actress that played Cathy. I don't want to discourage others from seeing this show...I love small theater productions, and they need our business! I would be very curious to hear what others thought of this show.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 3:15am

Updated On: 2/11/06 at 03:15 AM

[Patronus]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 9:13am

I was all ready to jump on that and I remembered that is Oscar Sunday.
Updated On: 2/11/06 at 09:13 AM

[defygravity2]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 9:23am

Patronus...why, oh why didn't you audition for this?!?

[Patronus]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 9:57am

Ha! I haven't been auditioning for a few years now.

I am trying to get back into shape (physically and vocally) and maybe go on a few auditions in a 6 months or so though.

He was that mediocre huh?

[defygravity2]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 10:03am

I promised to be nice. All that I will say about him is that I actually opened my program (probably a rude thing to do in such a small house) during 'Moving Too Fast' to see if he was the same guy listed in the program. On a positive note, He had a great headshot!

I'll bet you could have done it better!

[eslgr8]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 12:17pm

Backstage West's newly published review paints a very different picture of Bob Simpson's performance from the one Defying Gravity saw:
"First and foremost is Bob Simpson's tour-de-force performance as Jamie, the nice Jewish boy who becomes a world famous novelist much too fast. Simpson dramatically sings up a storm, clowns around, breaks our hearts, and commands stage and audience with dynamic skill."
Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
They say about Jocelyn A. Brown: "Though her voice is lovely and her acting convincing, she doesn't embody the "Shiksa Goddess" Jamie falls "head-over-heels in love with at first sight." Nor do her clothes (designed by Sherry Linnell) enhance her appearance."
Seems like a polite way of saying she's overweight (see above photo) and not attractive enough to be the ideal choice to play the role. The reviewer does go on to say that "Brown's sensitive delivery of her vulnerable character is impressive in comic routines and tragic ballads."
In any case, it certainly seems like this production is worth a look-see!

[defygravity2]

Posted: 2/11/06 at 12:45pm

Steve...I read this same review before seeing the show! This is why I did the double-take at the program early on in the evening. I certainly don't want to discourage ANYONE from seeing it. In fact, I wish someone else would go see it and tell me I am crazy!
I saw it with a theater friend, and we both agreed that the performance was (at times) very painful. It was beyond using the "it-must-have-been-an-off night" excuse. The over-acting, interesting body contortions, and over belting (often very off key) was completely inappropriate for such a small venue. Cathy, on the otherhand, was very solid, and I was pleasantly surprised.
Yes, different strokes for different folks...So, all you SoCal people...rush to see this show, to let me know what you think.