Liotte's Chicago Spelling Bee reviews! Updated Aug 24- Page 2

[respeck]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 1:33pm

And to get back on track, YAY SPELLING BEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

[liotte]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 1:47pm

Ok, I think I can go do the Bee lotto tonight at 5. Who's coming with me?

[respeck]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 1:52pm

I'll be there in spirit. See if you can feel me.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 6:27pm

Just curious, but if you are in Chicago, why not see something you have not seen or can't see in NY? The Steppenwolf has some amazing shows.

I really enjoyed Bee in Chicago too, but I never saw it in NY. Nice review.

[liotte]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 11:22pm

Just saw the show again tonight, I liked it much better today than I did on Friday. I think last time, it was more of a comparison to the orig cast that I know, and today was just enjoying the show.
I'll review it later, along with Wicked.

[liotte]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 7:40pm

Ok, so my second trip to the Bee I liked better than the first. Maybe just because I was so disoriented the first time, who knows. I was able to focus more on the actual show now instead of making comparisons to the NY cast. The cast is great overall, I still found it a little more "cartoon-esque" than NYC, but that's not a problem with this show.
Anyway- I sat in the lotto seats in the front, and was able to see facial expressions a lot better this time. I love sitting close up, so that also may have been part of the added enjoyment. (before I was in row H center, so still good). There were a few more new words I had never heard before, including the long one at the end.

I got everyone's autograph and picture this time (they will be in my fan photos once I am back in NYC tomorrow), and were so nice to hang around the lobby and chat after the show.

Looking back to seeing it again in August when I am in Chicago again!


Wicked- I saw Wicked on Saturday night. I bought a seat ages ago, but I did the lotto just for kicks and won, so I sold my other seat so I could sit in front. I have seen Wicked plenty of times with I think almost all of the casts (with the exception of the current tour, I've seen the rest in NYC and Chicago and orig tour). I think this cast falls in the middle. Carole Shelley was Madame Morrible, it was great to see her on stage again! Gene Weygandt as the Wizard is good, as was Jeremy Kocal (Boq). Heidi Kettenring is fine as Nessa, the part isn't very big but her "Wicked Witch of the East" was good. Kris Cusick as Fiyero I saw in NYC, he has a wonderful singing voice and I wish he had a bigger role in the show. Also chatted with him on the train home after the show, great guy who I'm sure we'll be seeing lots from in the future.
Stacie Morgain Lewis plays Glinda a bit spazzy, lots of jumping up and down in place, hand waving, bouncy, etc. She didn't really play the role as a "dumb blonde" like so many I have seen, but with a "I know I'm popular" b*tchiness attitude. She has a beautiful voice and really hit those high notes.
Kristy Cates reminded me a lot of Steph Block as Elphaba. She played her role a bit on the angry side, with a lot more of the "I'm pissed" attitude. Her facial expressions were fun to watch, and she definitely got the audience on her side.
I've seen the show in Chicago before, so I already saw a lot of the differences with the NY set and staging. Pretty close to the original though.
Met most of the cast at the stage door, got autographs and pics with Stacie, Kristy, Carole, Gene, and Kris.

So overall, Broadway is doing great in Chicago, I encourage everyone to come check it out!

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:34pm

Glad you enjoyed the show the 2nd time better! It's such a great cast - we're lucky to have them!

Were you at the show with a guest speller who's name was "Mr. Stoner"? If so, that's my friend, who was extremely excited to get picked. I had told him he should definitley try, because I knew they'd pick him.

[liotte]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:44pm

I didn't see Mr. Stoner, that would have been funny though!

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:37pm

Sarah is using the Snakes on a Plane one in NYC, and it's hilarious. Greg also makes a joke about a screenplay he's writing called Terriers on a Tobagon.

[Bill63]

Posted: 8/28/06 at 12:23pm

Great Review!

When I saw the show in Chicago back in July, Olive came in second at her schools halloween contest as Clair Huxtable. Logan's speech was about Ozzie Guillen (The Chicago White Soxes Manager) getting sensitivity training at the Gay Games.

[cubbiegirl]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 2:00pm

Can anyone comment on how crowded the lottery is? I am thinking about trying to go this Sunday night..