Ok guys, I was going to wait to do a full review, but I'm here so why not.
Yesterday was FULL CAST. I mentioned something about it when I walked in the door and the security guy said something about it being the first time this week, so I was really lucky.
Seats were GREAT. We had A101 and 102. I think I still would have preferred to sit a few rows back (I'm not usually a front row person) but this was so cool...a whole nother experience. Haha, I think when the scrim went up and the first number started I leaned over to my friend Kait and said "I officially love the front row" haha. It was really great for that scene, and I got to notice a lot of the things other characters did 'cause hello, they're right there.
The actors were great, although I was wondering if Kevin Cahoon is sick/getting sick. I thought he always played the trumpet in "George's Prayer" but he just picked it up and sang like a trumpet, then put it back. Also in "Single" his hilarious "Bust a mooove in women's underwear.." was weaker than usual. I hope he's feeling ok!
This was my first time seeing Laura and I loved her Julia. I know a lot of people don't (and at intermission while waiting in line for the bathroom I overheard a Tina fan saying that "Julia's pissing me off" and complaining that Tina should have been the lead, not Laura.) I love Laura's voice and I thought she came off cute and bubbly, as Julia should. Is she AS perky as Tina? No, but I didn't think she had to be. Since I saw Tina in August it's really hard now for me to pick a favorite Julia...I don't think I can decide, they're both just fantastic. Oh! And in "Not That Kind of Thing" does Julia always take her shoe off, use it like a phone, hand it to Robbie for a phone, then he reacts from it smelling bad? Because that was SOO FUNNY, plus my roommate and I have an inside joke of shoes as phones, so I really liked that...but I didn't remember it from before.
I guess I should talk about Constantine now, but I really don't want to. It's the whole "if you don't have anything nice to say..." deal. True, I wasn't thrilled going into it that he was there, but I was gonna try to like him. Now even if I had been a fan of his from AI or just been completely unbiased not knowing who he is, I think his performance would have still not been one I cared for. I hated how he played Sammy. He uses this whiny high-pitched voice and gave Sammy poor posture a la "I have no self-confidence so don't look at me...I'll just stare at the floor." He slinks around the stage in a...cowardly fashion. And that's not Sammy. Sammy is over-confident, lovin' the "Single" lifestyle. Like in the movie...Sammy says Julia's "gonna get it and she doesn't even know it" and he's "gonna give it to her." That definitely was not the Sammy I saw on stage yesterday, and the voice really annoyed the hell out of me. Luckily he didn't mug for fans very much, but his die-hard fans didn't seem to be there. Oh, one positive thing. Boy has a voice, a great voice. I just wish he'd use it. Instead he is over-extending each line which is taking away. I said I'd never heard "Single" last so long before. I think I'll stop now just because I know so many people like him. This is only my opinion, so I don't want to offend anyone but I just didn't like his portrayal. It doesn't mean he can't act, he probably can, he just made some poor choices in this role (for me.) And I wish he'd showcase his voice by singing the song close to as it is written, because I think we'd be blown away, instead of annoyed by his trying to get every last second of attention he can from it.
So overall the show was fantastic as always. Kait was a first-timer and loved it. I also introduced her to Lynch last year and we went to one of his comedy shows. We were talking before TWS started and she asked how disappointed I would have been if his understudy were in and I said I would have been a bit, but I still love the show so I still would have gone and enjoyed it. But I told her the part is just so Lynch that it's perfect. So even at intermission she said I was right...it really is a great part for him. I was just glad she liked the show so much!
Stage door was fun, but I didn't get near as many signatures and photos this time. I was able to catch Kevin Cahoon and Richard H. Blake who I missed the last time, so that was good. And I have to say that Kevin is so great at the stage door. He was absolutely the nicest and friendliest there last night. Love him! Myself and a bunch of other people stayed late waiting for Laura, but she snuck out another door (Christina Sivrich was nice enough to go back in to see if she left) so that was disappointing. I really wanted to meet her. And I hate to keep Constantine-bashing, so we'll leave him out of the stage door stories.
I think that's about it. Oh! But also, rushing was so much fun. Everyone was incredibly nice and I know a bunch of you come on this site, so hi! It was really great meeting you all.
If anyone has any other questions about the yesterday's matinee or you want me to clarify my opinions or anything, just let me know!
EDIT: I just remembered something else I wanted to tell you guys! While waiting to get into the theater, I noticed that the programs that were being sold were shiny! I mentioned it to Kait, because I have the crappy cardboard one and the girl selling them heard me. She said they just got them in and they showed up glossy, she didn't know why. So they're nicer now!
Avatar credit goes to _shiksagoddess_ on livejournal.com.
LOVE the review mistress. thanks!! haha, i LOVE the laura taking off the shoe thing! lol. cracks me up! and im kind of upset about the program thing, not gonna lie. lol. maybe i should have waited to get mine. o well, what can u do?
Alright, after hearing you guys talk about it, I think you may have wore me down. My wife and I are heading to NYC next week, and I think we're gonna try and make this one of our shows we see.
I've got a question - what is the rush like on the weekdays? Thinking about going on Tuesday.
Kinda hard talking my wife into it, because she keeps thinking "Why would I go watch a musical based on an Adam Sandler movie I didnt even like??" :-P I think I talked her into it...and we also really like Stephen Lynch's comedy, so that's kinda neat.
well personally i DEFF prefer the show over the movie. i wasnt a huge fan of the movie either, but omg, the show, its my addiction, lol. im glad youre going!!
If you're Lynch fans you'll be able to watch the show and catch so many little moments that he's personalized. That's why my friend was able to turn to me and be like "You're right, this is so Lynch."
It's very close to his style, and let's just say there's one song in particular that you'll KNOW he had a hand in.
So you can comfort your wife with that thought!
Avatar credit goes to _shiksagoddess_ on livejournal.com.
Hey, Mistress! I was there yesterday afternoon, too! It was a lot of fun, as always, and Christina was so nice to go back in to check for Laura for you (were you the one with her mother?). I couldn't believe it, hehe.
I agree with the "Single" line. It was SO long. The girl sitting next to me and I just looked at each other- we both knew what the other was thinking. Oy, Constantine.
About the trumpet: yes, KC usually plays the trumpet, and that was HILARIOUS. Constantine and Amy were cracking up, and Stephen and Laura (who were obviously talking about nothing related to the show, 'cause when he went up to sing, Laura pointed at him and said, "What is he doing?") got in on the laughter, too. We asked him about it as he was leaving, and he told us that one of the valves was stuck, so he just improvised. Well done, Kevin!
Since you were A101, did you see during the Vegas scene, when Billy Idol takes Julia to the side so fake Tina Turner can kick some butt that Matt (Stocke, I believe) and Laura leaned in like they were going to kiss and then, pulled back and shook their heads as if to say, "No, bad choice. Just joking." Awesome. I love being able to look around to see what's going on the the background in this show. So many surprises!
"I'll cut you, Tracee Beazer!!!!
...Just kidding. I'd never cut anyone." -Tina Maddigan, 9/30/06, WS stage door
Avatar: JULIE "EFFING" WHITE, 2007 TONY WINNER. Thank God.
I'm thinking about legally changing my name to Lizzie Curry...
ahh, this is why i LOVE this show!! all theses cute moments!!!!! and way to go kevin! smart one! and laura leaning in to kiss matt, then pulling back. haha, they have SOO much fun! LOVE it!
On Friday, I was with people and they were watching a hockey game and something really exciting happened and they kept on saying NO WAY over and over again and I so badly wanted to say "WAY FAKE TINA TURNER!". I had to control myself .
I was actually on the opposite side of the barricades, closer to the theater entrance. I just know that Christina went in to check because my friend and I were talking to the security guy but I couldn't understand him too well. So he knew we were waiting for Laura and told us that she wasn't coming, she already left and someone went up to her room to check. I misunderstood and thought HE went, so I thanked him because that was really nice, but he told us he wasn't allowed up there, Christina went.
And no, I didn't notice that almost-kiss! I think I was watching Tracee Beazer instead. The last time I was there, Eric LaJuan Summers was Fake Tina Turner and I loved him as that, so it was cool seeing a woman play the role, haha. But Laura was all about almost kissing people, then. She and Stephen did the same thing during "Grow Old With You" at one point. But minus the "bad idea" head shake.
Avatar credit goes to _shiksagoddess_ on livejournal.com.