Without starting a new thread, I thought I'd post some thoughts on Tenor and Night Music.
I could not have been happier by sticking with Tenor after I left the Music Box Theatre. It is by far the funniest thing I have ever seen on or off Broadway in the 60+ productions I've seen (albeit not all were comedies). I was laughing to the point of literal tears. Every one is working very hard on that stage and they deliver incredibly. Jan Maxwell is a comedic revelation who, although not given much stage time, steals your full attention every second she is on. LaPaglia, Shalhoub and Bartha are exceptional in this. Shalhoub has the ability to have you in stitches just by the slightest facial expression. Ultimately, it's Bartha's show and he is making a debut worthy of all the praise he has received.
Question: (****possible spoiler****) When Mary Catherine Garrison (Maggie) and Jennifer Laura Thompson (Diana) converge in the hotel suite's sitting room with Bartha on the sofa holding the champagne bottle between his legs is the cork supposed to pop? Yesterday afternoon, it popped and the cork flew into the audience while the champagne poured freely over his lap. Thompson and Garrison had immediate looks of disbelief and then turned their heads away from the audience for a good minute attempting to mask their laughter as Bartha sat on the sofa laughing and finally took a swig of the thing. It was very very funny and the crowd loved it and every minute of the production. Never have I seen a show where the audience not only claps but literally CHEERS at the end of Act I and II. It was like attending a rock concert.
A Little Night Music started with a slight hiccup on my part as the woman in front of me attempting to purchase tickets while I waited to pick up will-call asked, "Catherine Zeta Jones isn't performing tonight is she?" My heart skipped a beat a little but the gentleman behind the counter informed her that indeed she was in. Aaron Lazar and Jayne Paterson were both out for their respective roles. The show was very lovely and charming and I enjoyed it quite a bit. My only two gripes were Ramona Mallory's "Anne" and Leigh Ann Larkin's "The Miller's Son". I have to agree with all who have expressed displeasure of Mallory's "Anne" as the squeals got old very quickly - I understand what she was going for but I'm not convinced she pulled it off effectively. Larkin was divine throughout the show, but when she got to her solo song at the end she sang it with this wide-eyed, possession-like mania that distracted me from the song. ***SPOILER*** The show's somewhat unconventional happy ending was unexpected and appreciated. How simple would it have been to have Fredrik or Henrik kill themselves or Desiree to not have taken Fredrik back after he chose Anne over her and then subsequently lost Anne. It was perfection. It's not a production that will blow you away or impact you greatly emotionally but it was extremely fulfilling nevertheless.
(for anyone who is curious) I sat front row mezzanine for both and the views were exceptional. The Music Box's front mezz is perfection, and with ample leg room. Night Music's front mezz row has very little leg room and was a little uncomfortable. Both mezzanines (though expected for ALNM) were fully packed.
No Broadway Cares speech for Tenor. CZJ gave a speech, although no items were for sale she did say that she would match whatever was donated that evening - I wonder if she had been doing this all week or not.
Updated On: 4/12/10 at 10:25 PM
That's just me though...
