Martin Short Fame Becomes Me - Review & Photos

[EugLoven]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 2:32am

I saw "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me" this afternoon (April 30) for its pre-Broadway debut at the Curran Theatre, San Francisco. The show is still in previews, so I'm not going to give a heavy opinion -- though there's not much to gripe at anyway.

The show was a bottle of fun. Super hilarious. Often off-the-wall acid-trip humor, but very enjoyable. Martin Short's wonderful personifying dozens of characters. His 5-person cast is superb, including composer Marc Shaiman (who is in the cast) and Nicole Parker (of MAD TV).

There are hundreds of impersonations and rips from other musicals. Ellen, Celine Deon, Britney Spears, Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Bob Fosse, Tommy Tune, Judy Garland... appearance by Jimminy Glick, audience participation, and a giant metaphoric snowball. There's everything.

Afterward I went to the talk-back "Conversations with Martin Short" hosted at the Orpheum Theatre. That was very enjoyable and Martin was a great interview. He's a very positive person with uncontrollable talent. His show will definitely be a fun hit on Broadway with the probable-longevity of Billy Crystal's "700 Sundays." If not up against "Mary Poppins" for Tonys, it'll be categorized as a Special Theatre Event because it's hard to classify -- it's a one-man-show (but isn't) and an autobiography full of lies.

It's a real laugh, especially the show stopping number "Big Black Lady." After San Francisco, Martin swings by Toronto and Chicago before settling in NYC.

I look forward to reading the reviews after SF's opening night. It was definitely quite a show. Got to meet Martin and the cast afterward as well. PEACE!

PRO-SHOT AND STAGE DOOR PHOTOS HERE:
http://eugloven.livejournal.com/212777.html

Updated On: 5/1/06 at 02:32 AM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 3:34am

cool, sounds awesome. Thanks for the pics!

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 11:04am

I'm glad you had a good time. Is it July yet?

[jsrocks]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 11:49am

Thanks so much for posting all that! I loved the pictures. Martin Short is so funny and a joy to watch so I know that this show would be so much fun to see. I only wish I was one of those who could see it. *pouts*

[kooky]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 3:43pm

Wow, sounds great !

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 3:45pm

Can someone remind me the opening date on Broadway?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 3:47pm

I think opening night is August 10th.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/4/06 at 2:48am

I just saw this show tonight. I thought it started out wonderfully, but kind of became scattered after that. There seemed to be no cohesive thread going through the show (and please don't tell me it was supposed to be the snowball!). If it's a show about his life, it needs much more around SNL (other than the one drug induced dance sequence) and much more around his movies/standup/whatever he was trying to tell us he did in the late eighties. It's very early in it's pre-Broadway run, so I wouldn't be concerned yet.

It needs a "thread" though. It went from a one man show to a show that showcased celebrity entertainers to a show about a performer lying about his life! What is it? He needs to make up his mind.

Now, to echo eugloven...I laughed my ass off quite often. The hospital sketch, the entire opening that ripped on many people, the whole Tommy Tune audition, and the "big black women" number had me applauding. The guy chosen from the audience for the hospital sketch (Chris Aguilar..in case it's a plant) was a good sport with his Jimmy Glick number and had the audience going. Marc Shaiman actually being in the show was a surprise to me, and I enjoyed his contributions. Short even managed to work in a bit about the May 1st Immigration marches.

However, I did feel Short was stretching a bit (material wise) and my friend and I were relieved when it finally ended at 10:10pm. All in all, I think once Short makes up his mind whether it is a one man show or a showcase of talent show it'll be worth it's price.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/4/06 at 5:08am

Well glad it's getting a decent response. I guess he's got a couple of stops to improve the show before Broadway. Hopefully word of mouth in NYC will be good.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/4/06 at 3:18pm

Yeah, like I said...the material is there; it just needs some structure.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 5/4/06 at 3:39pm

I'm going tomorrow night.

If you are in SF, you should check out "Mack and Mabel". It's a staged concert but it is very well done. I saw it last night. It closes on Sunday.

http://www.42ndstmoon.org/42newweb/shows/2005/mackmabel.htm

[DoogieB]

Posted: 5/4/06 at 6:49pm

Question--

What's the deal with the audience participation? Is there volunteering or does Short drag a random person onto a stage in front of a gigantic theater audience without giving them a chance to beg not to?

[justme2]

Posted: 5/4/06 at 7:24pm

He drags a random person up onstage to participate in a "Jimmy Glick" character skit. He goes for someone who is raising their hand, so they are a willing participant. The person is given a few lines to say as he enters the scene, then he (or she) is "interviewed" by Martin Short as his Hollywood interview character "Jimmy Glick".

The guy at last night's performance was a pretty good sport. I wondered if it was a plant or not, but I don't think so.

And thanks for the Mack and Mabel tip jimmysf!

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/9/06 at 8:32am

It's opening here soon.
I'll try to make it.