Lennon 7/20 Matinee

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 6:18pm

Cut Song: New York City

Overall, it's this summer's Dracula. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't that good.

Really, it was just "A Night with John Lennon at the Westbury Music Fair."

The cast was highlighted by performances from Will Chase, Julie Danao-Salkin, and Marcy Harriel. Julia Murney also deserves an honorable mention, as she sang the crap out of her 1 song (Beautiful Boy), and the skimpy purple halter top that made me, well, very happy. Terrence Mann's (and Julia's) talent were wasted in their very small roles, although Terrence's performance as various talk show hosts and a cross dressing Hoover were hilarious and spot on. His Give Peace a Chance solo was cut, I believe. Chuck Cooper did well with his one or two songs. Together, the cast as a whole had NO chemistry with each other, but they tried really hard.

The sets were great, as was the lighting, and everything else technical (especially Julia's ....costume hehe). The book is a bit disjointed at first, but you get used to it and it picks up later on. Surprisingly, the best part of the show, in my opinion, were the different John's. It really showed his spirit of "I am he and you are he..."

Everybody signed at teh stage door except Terrence, who didn't come out.

The mezzanine was virtually empty, very sad that they can't even sell to the tourist crowd.

Will I see it again? Probably.

Note: Only New York City was cut, not the two songs I listed originally. To any Lennonite whom I may have offended by saying these songs are cut, I humbly apologize. However, your strong words on the "Lennon the Musical live journal community" are not warrented and very offensive.

Updated On: 7/21/05 at 06:18 PM

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 6:22pm

He didn't come out?

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 6:23pm

thanks for the review! I hope the box office picks up!
Updated On: 7/20/05 at 06:23 PM

[MTRBOI24]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 6:30pm

ooo, im going over to sardis right now and take pics.

[teth]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 6:41pm

Ack...I'm Losing You/I'm Moving On were cut? How unfortunate.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 6:42pm

I am SO MAD that Julia only sings one song. SO MAD!

I'm seeing it on Saturday.

[justme2]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 7:25pm

In SF it was a cross dressing J Edgar Hoover.. NOT a President. (red high heels after he gets up from a desk?)

Are you sure it's a president?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 7:46pm

yeah, it was Hoover. I was watching President Bush's speech from last night as I was writing this....My bad.

[ClareBear]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 8:56pm

The cast had an amazing chemistry the many times I saw it in S.F.. I don't know what has changed to make this seem different but when I saw it they were so supportive of each other singing and all touching and smiling in different scenes, it was really something to watch and it made me want to jump onstage and join them.

[StarbuckQAF]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 9:48pm

^^ Totally -- I saw the show several times, in SF and NYC, and everytime, the cast rocked the house! They have the most remarkable chemistry, in my opinion, and they are probably the ensemble on Broadway that looks like they're having the MOST fun! I've never seen anything like it.

I do agree, I think that Julia should have more songs, but I'm not complaining, because what she DOES have, she does EXTREMELY well. That goes for the whole cast -- Their voices blend and create this remarkable story through John Lennon's music... I can't get enough of it, that's for sure.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 9:55pm

Julia definitely needs to do more. Whenever she was on-stage, I found myself gravitating towards her, even if she wasn't the center of attention. She's a magnetic performer with amazing presence, and her "Beautiful Boy" is stunning.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 9:56pm

So exciiiiiited to see herrrrrrr. FINALLY.

I know, stupid question, but I really want to meet her. Is she nice?

[zoran912]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 9:59pm

She's really the only reason I would see this. Really disappointed to hear about her only having one song.

She's SO nice! I met her at Starbucks back in October. She's such a sweetheart.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 9:59pm

Cool beans. I'm even more excited now! Surely I'll just be like "uhh, hiiiiiiii," but niceness makes it easier.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 10:00pm

She's an absolute doll. Sweet as the day is long.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 10:09pm

Nicest out of the bunch...had conversations with anyone who was interested in talking to her.

[tmz814]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 11:02pm

I was at the matinee today. Chad and Julie still sang "I'm losing you/I'm moving out" after the scene at the party where John cheats on Yoko. That wasn't cut as far as I could tell. They changed some of the lines, dropped some (including "please don't let momma come round" which always made me love Chad more) and added some (I think they added a speech in the middle of Julie's final song "Grow Old With Me")... They also changed some of the blocking from the last time I saw it. New york city has been cut as well.

I really like this show. I don't know what everyone else thinks, but I like it. I will probably be going back (I like to see how shows change and evolve, and you can't beat shows with front row rush tickets!!!)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 11:10pm

How is the rush line? Is there one? I really don't want to have to get there at eight in the morning.

[tmz814]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 11:44pm

I got there at about 10:30 (after buying tickets to spelling bee for friends) and got the first rush seat for the matinee (which might i say sux compared to the other seats because that is the seat that is very close to the stage and you can't stretch out ur legs like u can in the middle of the row... sorry just a little rant!! hehehe). so yeah, i don't know what it is usually like but that is what it was like today. there was no one else there for rush at that time.

[StarbuckQAF]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 1:21am

Just to go off of what "tmz814" said, "How Do You Sleep?" and "I'm Losing You/I'm Moving On" were not cut from the show. They were never even considered to be (and that's direct news from Julia.) -- When I heard, I e-mailed her and she cleared it up. But yeah, she did say that "New York City" was cut and "Give Peace a Chance" now ends Act 1 --

In response to someone's question about Julia... She is probably one of the NICEST most gracious people I've ever met. Really so sweet, and she's so appreciative of fans who want to speak with her. She even visits the Live Journal Community for fans that was made for her (https://www.livejournal.com/community/julia_murney/), and even sends messages to be updated onto it. Anyways, :) She's awesome. As is the rest of the cast, completely. AND they'll remember you if you come again, particularly if you introduced yourself the first time 'round.

Go see it, seriously, and say "hi!" to the cast! This show is amazing.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 8:50am

Only New York City was cut, not the two songs I listed originally. To any Lennonite whom I may have offended by saying these songs are cut, I humbly apologize. However, your strong words on the "Lennon the Musical live journal community" are not warrented and very offensive. Updated On: 7/21/05 at 08:50 AM

[itstheM]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 12:05pm

Last Wednesday I bought my rush tickets at 1pm for the 2pm show.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 3:12pm

However, your strong words on the "Lennon the Musical live journal community" are not warrented and very offensive.

Maybe if your skin is as thick as Dollar Store saran wrap.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 3:30pm

that analogy is new to me, but their words were very strong.

[Shawk]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 3:39pm

People get heated when they are talking about something they care about. I don't believe that I personally have ever said anything worse than pointing out that many on BroadwayWorld are very leery of anything even hinting at jukebox, not to mention the bizarre fixation with shills that pops up with great frequency here. I do apologize in a general sense if you were offended by comments on the community, but as far as I can tell, they were not directed at any specific person.

I saw "Lennon" several times in SF, and enjoyed it. It wasn't perfect then and I assume it isn't now, but I found it enjoyable and the actors are amazingly talented people. I don't demand that others agree with me. I am, however, a bit confused as to how one can completely mistake what songs were cut from a musical one just saw.