#1
Posted: 5/16/05 at 8:27am
With one exception, I have seen every show that Encores has produced. Well, I can now list their brilliant production of Bock and Harnick's "The Apple Tree" as one of their best (up there with "Pal Joey", "Pardon My English", and "St. Louis Woman").
From the moment she walks onstage, the divine Kristen Chenoweth owns the audience. They are completely captive, and she holds them in the palm of her hand. In the first and strongest act, "The Diary of Adam and Eve", she hits every note just right, and conveys every song beautifully. She perfectly plays on the bright-eyed optimism of "Here in Eden"; the comic brilliance of "Feelings"; and-most importantly-the glorious "What Makes Me Love Him". This is, in my humble opinion, the performance of her career.
Her two male counterparts, Malcolm Gets and Michael Cerveris, are very good, but cannot match her. Gets was a bit fey as Adam et al, but that worked fine with his characterization. Cerveris was menacing enough as The Snake, a very underwritten role.
The other two acts, "The Lady and the Tiger" and "Passionella", are all right, but do not match the gorgeous first act. Still, thanks to the talented cast, you never seem to notice.
There is only one performance left (tonight at 7). If you can get tickets, I suggest you do. This is an absolutely phenomenal evening of theatre.
From the moment she walks onstage, the divine Kristen Chenoweth owns the audience. They are completely captive, and she holds them in the palm of her hand. In the first and strongest act, "The Diary of Adam and Eve", she hits every note just right, and conveys every song beautifully. She perfectly plays on the bright-eyed optimism of "Here in Eden"; the comic brilliance of "Feelings"; and-most importantly-the glorious "What Makes Me Love Him". This is, in my humble opinion, the performance of her career.
Her two male counterparts, Malcolm Gets and Michael Cerveris, are very good, but cannot match her. Gets was a bit fey as Adam et al, but that worked fine with his characterization. Cerveris was menacing enough as The Snake, a very underwritten role.
The other two acts, "The Lady and the Tiger" and "Passionella", are all right, but do not match the gorgeous first act. Still, thanks to the talented cast, you never seem to notice.
There is only one performance left (tonight at 7). If you can get tickets, I suggest you do. This is an absolutely phenomenal evening of theatre.
Updated On: 5/16/05 at 08:27 AM
