Mary Poppins, Legally Blonde, Grease, Beauty and the Beast REVIEWS

[srgr8]

Posted: 7/28/07 at 11:41pm

OK first of all, I know...I know...all four shows are some of the most "tourist-y" shows out there. I went to New York July 24-July 27 with my mom, brother, and his fiancee...none of which are very theatre knowledgeable but do appreciate the shows and talent. So ONLY IF YOU WANT TO READ MY REVIEWS should you continue... :)


Tuesday(July 24) Evening: Mary Poppins - Front Mezz

Truly a delight to see. The New Amsterdam looks great. Ashley's vocal technique was impeccable that night. Her accent faded slightly but not enough to make a huge difference in the show. Gavin was fantastic, bringing that ol' Bert charm out in every scene. The production was great, no mishaps occured that I could see, and my family loved it. Ashley and Gavin were sincere and kind at the stagedoor making for a great first night


Wednesday Matinee: Legally Blonde - Front Orchestra

When I first saw the ad for this in NYC in January I laughed. My opinion of the show improved after getting the OBCR, although I still didn't expect much. It was actually a fantastic show. A lot of fun, hilarious, not very "deep" but was an enjoyable 2 1/2 hours. Poor Laura Bell, before her final note in "So Much Better" she gasped, takiing in little air. She went flat but took a breath in the middle of the fermata to correct it. She bounced back and finished the show out well. Had to go straight to dinner afterwards...no cast interaction


Wednesday Evening: Grease - Front Mezzanine

Walking up to the Brooks-Atkinson was INSANE. I read someones post on here from the night before regarding the large amount of tourists, this night was no exception. I felt Max and Laura put in a great effort (I think they have loads of talent personally) and did well with what they were handed. The fellow casting (Pink Ladies mostly) lent itself to Laura's role, making her younger image reflect her naive nature. The T-Birds (which I thought they were going to be the Burger Palace Boys?) were overall good. Ryan Binder as Doody gave me chills in "Magic Changes." Daniel Everidge (Roger) had a voice that beautifully blended with Binder's. Saldivar wasn't anything special unfortunately. Jenny Powers seemed bored herself in the first act but really picked it up encompassing all that is Rizzo in the second act (great "Worse things I could Do"!). None of the others really stood out but did their part and were believable. In the reviews from the first night someone said it was choreography 101 and I couldn't agree more. I was disappointed with Kathleen's choreography, recognizing many moves from the TV show (yes...i saw it). I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THIS IS ONLY IN PREVIEWS. I'm not trying to bash the show before it gets a chance. I just thought some individual talent was exceptional, but overall the show was not fantastic (not bad...but not great). The mob scene outside the stagedoor was insane. Max and Laura were incredibly grateful for everyone coming and took the time to sign many many playbills in addition to taking pictures. What I thought would be a horrid stage door experience wasn't too bad after all.


Thursday Evening: Beauty and the Beast - Front Orchestra

This was my third time seeing the show (total) and in the last year. The cast had a blast with this show, enjoying every second and leaving the audience with a joy that only truly magical live theatre can give. Steve was just enjoying himself so much...he even forgot Belle when he went to give her the library he was so...into it..Anneliese just stood there with her eyes closed. Anneliese had moments of acting brilliance in the first act. But overall, it seemed like something was off. Yes, she plays a more solemn Belle, but she just made me feel like she was bored, and I was in the second row. Her voice was good..she cheered on Lumiere (David DeVries) after Be Our Guest.

We rushed out to get a good spot outside the stagedoor. David was kind, Ann (Babette) was sweet, Glenn Rainey (Cogsworth) took his time, was kind, and loved interacting with the kids. Jeanne and Mary (Mrs. Potts and Madame de la Grande Bouche) were as kind as could be...taking the time to truly talk to us. Steve never came out of the stagedoor unfortunately. They said Anneliese had already left, making MANY little girls upset. After about half of the crowd dwindled, they said she was napping (???). We didn't buy it and stood around taking pictures outside the Lunt. Then about 10 minutes later (about 45 minutes after the first came out the stagedoor)signed very few playbills, was cold to my mom, and told little girls that she wasn't allowed to take pictures with them. Less than 2 minutes later she was in her car and off. It was an unfortunately disappointing experience. I felt so bad for all of those little girls just wanting to meet Belle.


Sorry the reviews were so long, I just thought I'd put them out there for anyone interested. Hope you all have a great rest of your weekend!



~Sarah

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 7/28/07 at 11:46pm

Glad you enjoyed yourself! That's too bad about Anneliese not signing for everyone anymore. She must have gotten tired of it. Hmmph

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 12:11am

What a very well-written review of each show. Thank you. I'm wondering about Anneliese and her not being allowed to take pictures. Am I reading too much into this? Who is forbidding her from taking pictures out of costume with young fans? I've never heard of such; any explanation would be greatly appreciated.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 12:26am

maybe she is just not feeling 100% and not wanting to. I mean she does not have to do anything she does not want to.

[yankees1253]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 12:29am

i am a seasonal theatregoer and live in the metro area.

i agree with grease...it was off, to mucb hype and i was bored about 98 percent of the time. i did take a pic with max and laura. my cousin is a stgehand so hes getting theur autographs for me on a playbill. by the way they need to change their stagedoor after the show is over....cause its weird how it is set up. even the crew cant get out my cousin said. i did see it awhile back at westchesterdinner theatre and i enjoyed twice as much.

yeah i saw legally blonde and it was fantasic,fun,and catchy..i did see it with my dad and he loved so i am going back with my mom for a mother/daughter time. by the way the cast is very gracious,sweethearts,nice and all at the stagedoor.

i did see beauty and the beast a long time ago,prob 1999 or close to that. i didnt know about stagedoor and plus i loved the show anyways. i am still saddened it closing.

i hope 2 see mary poppins in the near feature. which michael and jane did u see by the way??. thanks for th review of the show.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 1:17am

Very nice thoughts about what you saw..
You seem to have a great Love for Live Theatre and Performers.
Unfortunately Ms. Van Der Pol is not living up the clause in her contract to sign and greet her fans, But she us still very talented.
The Grease stage door fans are scarey and hopefully will thinout after the TV fanatics leave for the Summer and we see if Max and Laura live up to the hype.
Thanks again for your post.

[srgr8]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:50am

Thanks to you all for taking time to read my thoughts. I'm always looking to read reviews and am glad I could give you all something to read since you do the same for me.


Yankees 1253, I saw Legally Blonde with my mom and it was a fun mother/daughter show. I hope you enjoy it! Hopefully your seats aren't as close as ours (People on this board weren't kidding when they said it was high and close to the seating).


CurtainPullDowner, I agree...I hope the Grease stage door gets better. While most people were nice, we had about 250 to 300 people pushing me and my mom up into the baracades. We tried to get out and it took us almost 5 minutes, and we were like 4 rows of people from the front.

[tinkerscanne]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:06am

Thanks for the reviews.

I agree with your review of Anneleise's performance - and from what you shared about the stage door experience? Far from my own with Ashley Browne. Ashley was gracious, pleasant and took her time with each fan, siging Playbills and taking pictures. It's a shame that Anneliese isn't coming across that way...and she's the last Belle. Oh well... I hope all of those little girls go see Mary Poppins and get great stage door interaction from Ashley.

[Marissa2]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 11:29am

That's strange about Anneliese, as I've only heard good things about her at the stagedoor. My mom took my younger sister to see it last month, and Anneliese signed her Playbill and was very willing to take a picture with her.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 11:54am

I saw Legally Blonde this weekend too. There were a few shining moments, mostly from Orfeh. I thought Laura Belle Bundy just sort of faded in the background and did not command all that much attention. It was a cute show, but certainly not my cup of tea or something I will see again.

Glad you enjoyed it though.

Updated On: 7/29/07 at 11:54 AM

[srgr8]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:08pm

tinkerscanne,

I completely agree about Ashley Brown. After MP, she came out and was very sweet. She signed two playbills for me and took a picture as well. She attended to everyone. In fact, a family outside of BATB after Anneliese left said "We saw Ashley in BATB and she was far sweeter than that girl." I don't know what her reasonings were for not signing many playbills (I understand she doesn't have to), but theres no excuse for her attitude

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:13pm

You just reviewed the stage door in your "reviews" more than the actual show...

[srgr8]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:24pm

I'm not sure which show you are talking about Becoz, but i figured most people read many reviews on these show so I would give some comments (such as Ashley Brown's vocal technique) and then give information on stage door because i had some interesting encounters. I for one like to know information about stage doors i'm about to visit, I thought some others would too.

If there is a more specific topic of a show anyone would like more info on, I'd be happy to share

[yankees1253]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:27pm

srgr8- i am actually looking for tickets for Legally Blonde at ticketmaster today for shows around christmas time because i love the atomsphere. Laura Bell Bundy actually when i saw it was brillant and did take command on the stage. The whole cast is amazing.

[srgr8]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:36pm

Yankees,

I had a similar experience. She was very impressive. But I do agree with KChenowethfan as far as Orfeh was concerned...she had some fantastic moments!

[deck925]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:36pm

I feel that your experience with Anneliese is more the exception and not the rule, I met her after the show, and she was gracious and very down to earth. She attended to all the little kids there, taking pictures and signing playbills. Perhaps it was an off night, she took three pictures with my cousin and I because the flash on my camera is weird.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:38pm

Not to play Devil's Advocate or whatever here, but did anyone else read this (re: Beauty and the Beast stagedoor) and think- ok, they tried to tell people that she left, they wouldn't leave, they tried to tell people that she was staying but napping, they wouldn't leave, she obviously had someplace to go and didn't have time to do the stage door that night, so of course when people stick around after the stage door folks are trying to get people to leave, so that Anneliese can get to where she needs to be, well then of course people are gonna be all disappointed when she has to run right by them and leave...maybe the stage door staff need to become better liars or something, but it read to me like they tried to get people to clear out, so that she could leave, (without having to disappoint a bunch of people, because she couldn't stay), but people wouldn't leave, and then they're all disappointed when she can't stay.

And I don't mean 'you' the OP specifically, I just mean people at the stage door in general- if the stage door crew is trying to get people to leave, for whatever reason, then aren't you just setting up your own disappointment when you stick around? I doubt that the stage door crew of a Disney production likes to tell little 5 year old girls that Belle's not coming out tonight just for fun.

I did enjoy your Legally Blonde review, for the very reason that the first time I heard the words Legally Blonde: The Musical I too laughed...and I have now seen it basically once/month since it opened.

[srgr8]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 5:04pm

deck, i hope it was the exception...i'd much rather it have just been one night (even if it was the one i was there) than every night.

anakela, i see your point. although people did leave...only about 15 people remained from the 100 to 150 when she came out. I guess if the case was her needing to go somewhere as you were saying (which is def. probable), I would wonder why she just didn't exit through another door like steve blanchard did. but she did sign some so thats good. anyway, its over now...i wonder what tonight will be like for everyone at the SD..fans, actors, staff.

[belleNbeast]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 9:23pm

I wish it were the exception, but the more I read people's reviews, the more it sounds like Anneliese is a diva and the world's crappiest Belle ever! She absolutely behaved as though she was bored during the performance I saw and was jerky to people at the stage door. I understand everyone has a bad day, but she apparently has many... too many. I think it is her responsibility to put her attitude a side and cater a little bit to the people and families that paid hundreds of dollars to see her perform. Especially b/c she is closing the show. Nevermind that people that are simply her fans came to see her, but die-hard fans of BATB came too. It's a shame that my (and many others) last experience seeing my favorite show was ruined by her. I really believe that her DIVA-ness has infected the other performers... the whole show suffered.

I apologize if I come off offensive, but I'm just very disappointed in her performance and I'm disappointed in the people who cast her. How could they cast someone who portrays Belle as a grumpy character? GRR! Sure, she has an amazing voice, but that does not make the character!

I really do believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt, but Anneliese as Belle has too many strikes against her. She must have only been gracious during the beginning of her run as Belle. Too bad for me and many others. I can't wait to read what people thought of the final performance today. I hope she found it in her to put a smile on her face....

[tinkerscanne]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 11:56pm

belleNbeast,

I could not agree with you more! Out of the 4 Belles I saw on Broadway and the one I saw on the National Tour, Anneliese was the worst (and I honestly don't think she is that fabulous of a singer).

Some other Belles I would have loved to see for the closing of the show are Kerry Butler, Ashley Brown and Sarah Uriarte Berry. Now those gals were amazing in everything I've seen them in. (I did not see Kerry as Belle, but I'm sure she was awesome!)

I guess Disney was trying to bring in the audience with a gal from Disney Channel. At least Kristy Carslon Romano could sing and was a sweetie!

Oh well....wait about 10 years and I bet there will be a revival of BATB.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 12:14am

Or it could be like Les Mis and totally come back 2010. :)

[yankees1253]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 12:23am

there was an article when christy carlson romano came to the show as belle but not annaleise in our newspaper. by the way chrsity loved seeing her fans outside the stagedoor and the first night it was shocking and everything. but she got used to it. she had about 3 articles i wish i saved them.