Okay, as promised/usual, loong review of everything I could remember, apologize for repeats.
First off, what an amazing audience. I mean, it's understandable, but still. Everyone got some sort of entrance applause including Greg, Sara, and the ensemble. John of course got tremendous applause at the end of the overture. Screaming, clapping, laughing so hard at everything, it's such a treat to see a show with an audience so into it. Actually, a couple of people in the front row were so into it a couple other people and I thought they knew Norbert, apparently not, as he gave me a weird look when I asked him about that...oops.
Everyone's performances and energy were top-notch tonight, especially Norbert in his physical comedy. I heard a little hoarseness here and there when he spoke, but like others have said, considering his vocal problems, he was simply amazing. And John of course gave 1,000%. He screamed and screamed at Norbert when they get into the fight before they make the bet. It was great to see Sara too as she's temporarily leaving to do Grey Gardens, and will be missed for a couple of months. Sherie reached amazingly high notes yet again and Greg and Joanna were their superb, talented, adorable selves.
Now, little fun moments throughout. John laughed quite a bit. During the end of GBS when he and Greg were sitting on the bench and everyone is in front so they can barely be seen, I was in the box so I saw he was trying to cover his mouth but he was laughing so hard, it was really cute. He also totally cracked up when Norbert first walked on as Ruprecht.
Even better, at the end of Shiffhausen, as they were turning, Norbert was either grabbing or feeling up(I couldn't tell) John's umm...tushi. We saw John make a shocked OMG face when he noticed, jump and turn to push Norbert's wheelchair laughing like he was gonna kill him. And at the end of the Reckoning, again when the stage was turning, you could see Norbert doing something to John...I thought he was humping him, but apparently he was strangling him. It was hard to tell the difference.
Also, a nice little thing I was able to notice and watch from the box...during The More We Dance, David Yazbek went into the pit and started playing percussion! The other drummer was helping him out a bit, but he seemed to be doing a very good job. When the music slowed down, he began waving his hands as if he was conducting (at this point whoever was there might have heard totally random laughing with apparently no reason for...well that was me and that's why I was laughing, sorry about that, tried to keep it quiet), then he finished, and while we were clapping the actors, the pit was clapping David, and he held his hands together and moved them from shoulder to shoulder to accept their applause. Maybe you had to see it, but it was hysterical to watch.
Okay, now we get down to it. Norbert and John are in the chairs for Dirty Rotten Number. You could tell Norbert was already really emotional, was really upset with his "nooo." He was crying mostly while John was singing, which made me cry. John held it together pretty well until...I'm not positive someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he started crying and lost the words to the last part of the chorus before Norbert comes in. Or maybe a little before that. Again, made me cry. Of course when Norbert came in, and sang his "you've been working with the best," and pointed to John there was a huge pause for the audience to scream and cheer like crazy, you could see how close they were. They made it through the rest of the song, but then the "good-bye Freddy" part was so sad, they hugged really long, I could see tears in Norbert, couldn't see John's face though.
And then everyone comes on for their final scene...except I realize there's a lot more people than usual. Immediately I recognize that the swings and standbys have joined the cast on the stage, then David Yazbek, then finally Jonathan Pryce(oops), and then original cast member Grasan Kransberry in his old costume, and I think a couple other original cast members who might have left, though I can't say for sure. Then suddenly I see David Hyde Pierce and I was like oh wow...okay. Anyway, the show finished w/ one small ad-lib...instead of telling Pryce we'll go up to my villa to discuss details, he said we'll go up to my dressing room.
Okay, so curtain call. As stated, the producer came out, talked about and presented Andrew's thing, also mentioned that because he's a producer, he doesn't need this gig any more and is therefore leaving. (and they laughed). Then he introduced most of the random people on the stage--Yazbek, his daughter, co-stars, Pierce, Pryce, etc. Also thanked Tom for letting Jonathan play his part tonight, which I thought was very classy to do. Then he presented John's thing which again was explaining and then John spoke. Let's see what I can remember...
First, he said he would like to apologize to all of the people who came to the show tonight having no clue that this was his last night(heard quite a few of those comments in the lobby while walking in), which received laughs and cheers, but to please indulge him for a couple minutes anyway. First he thanked the producers, the pit, raved about conductor Fred Lassen, and then I think it was...the crew who he said this about...he said he likes them even though they're not Red Sox fans and recently got him a gift of a Yankees jersey w/ "Damon" on it. (Big cheer from me). He mentioned how wonderful his personal assistant Patrick was, and how he will miss him. Thanked all the costume and wig people, especially the person who has to struggle to get his wig on every night. He mentioned the ensemble, and said 80% of them have been with the show since it's first curtain rise in San Diego. He mentioned each individual principle, called Sherie something cute...shoot anyone remember what it was? And then said and finally his comic partner, Norbert, big hug, and I know he said more but I definitely remember he said something to the effect of Norbert will get over it and be fine w/o John but John doesn't think he will w/o Norbert. Very sweet.
And finally he talked about what a great experience it was, sometimes he doesn't know how he can actually leave but then he mentioned Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek for writing wonderful songs and stories and these appropriate words:
"It was a ball, it was a blast. It was a shame it couldn't last, but every chapter has to end, you must agree. It was a joy, it was sublime, a splendid way to earn a dime" (laughter from audience) and ended it with something like and all of these people know at heart I will always be a dirty rotten guy. And then he hugged very tightly essentially every single person on that stage. It was so cute. You could see how tight and close that cast is, and how esteemed John is, from the box I could see the wings were filled with dressers and everyone trying to see.
It was a very bittersweet night. Fantastic performance, great speeches, fun, but sad that we're losing John. But still, excited for Mr. Pryce, who was incredibly sweet and signed for everyone at the stage door despite it being very cold and the fact that well he wasn't really in the show tonight, I took a picture w/ him, certainly a nice, classy guy is taking over, and I am excited.
Props to anyone involved with tonight's performance, what a wonderful evening!
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
Updated On: 1/16/06 at 12:55 AM
