"Millie" at NSMT in MA

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 11:35pm

When I saw "Millie" on Broadway a few years back, I found it enjoyable, not super, but fun, tuneful and lively. I liked the sets, costumes, choreography and cast. Kudisch, Creel and Harris were wonderful and Sutton was a knockout. Her "Gimmie Gimmie" was one of my most memorable moments in theatre. She threw her head back, belted to the rafters and was rewarded with an immediate standing ovation.
Tonight, at North Shore Music Theatre in MA, I thought to myself, "Well, there's 3 hours of my life i'll never get back." This was truly one of the most dissapointing nights at the theatre I can remember. Tonight was only the 2nd time in 15 years of theatregoing that I came very close to leaving at intermission. There is a sketch in the current version of "Forbidden Broadway" that teases that when you take away the costumes, sets and lighting that were at the Marquis, you don't have much of a show. Ah! How true that is. The score is bland. The story is downright rediculous and in this production, the choreography which was razor sharp on Broadway, consisted of repeating the Charleston over and over again in time to the music. Tempos were considerably slowed, and Milena Govich seemed too old and worldly for the part. You just didn't feel for her. Her "Gimmie Gimmie" seemed like just another song..not the showstopper it was in NY.

In supporting roles, Richard Roland as Trevor Graydon shone the most..the others ranged from slightly humorous to forgettable. More than anything, the show tonight made me appreciate the efforts of Foster, Kudish, Creel and Harris in the OBC. Their absense tonight made it crystal clear how weak this show really is.

Better luck next time...

Updated On: 5/7/05 at 11:35 PM

[Mythus]

Posted: 5/8/05 at 1:12am

It wasn't great. I liked it, but it definitely wasn't great. It didn't translate well to theatre-in-the-round. And that dress that Millie came out in, for her "This is 1922!" line? That is by far the ugliest dress I've ever seen. Yellow and purple? They tried to make it Art Deco/flapper and failed miserably.

[ShineOn]

Posted: 5/8/05 at 2:26am

I've been hearing nothing but terrible things... I'm seeing it next Friday. Oh, joy. Maybe I can sell my ticket.

[Mythus]

Posted: 5/8/05 at 3:17am

No, you should still see it, daisy. Not everything about it is bad. If I could, I'd go see the show again, to see the moment when Grayden breaks into "Ah! Sweet mystery of life!" and the song "Muqin", which are probably my two favorite parts of the show.

[meagan9848]

Posted: 5/8/05 at 3:57am

I live in Beverly...1 exit from NSMT. I think I've seen 4 shows there, (Joseph, Annie, Children of Eden, and A Christmas Carol) mainly because most of them suck...they usually have great talent with bad direction. I don't like the stage being in the round either...it makes scenery so difficult. It's so bland.

I might go to millie though...I fell asleep with it on Broadway but then got the music and really like it...I want to know how the story comes together...

[EganFan2]

Posted: 5/8/05 at 10:28am

That's too bad...Millie is pretty enjoyable, but if it's done right.

[hannahshule]

Posted: 5/8/05 at 10:41am

I saw Chicago there a few years ago with Debbie Gibson. It was actually pretty good, they made it work well with the Theater in the Round. I saw Millie last Saturday, and I must say, It could have been a lot better, but certainly a nice evening out with friends anyway.

[rent1988]

Posted: 5/8/05 at 10:54am

uh oh im seeing it at nsmt next week...

[eslgr8]

Posted: 5/8/05 at 11:30am

Battling Millie threads!!! The Equity tour ends, a theater in Massachusetts screws it up, and an arts high school in L.A. does it quite extraordinarily. Amazing coincidence at BWW.com!

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 5/8/05 at 1:19pm

It sounds like you have your battling "threads" yourself since you'e post this exact messaage on all the Millie threads.

Is there a cast list available?

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/8/05 at 2:18pm

Cast list and pics:

http://www.nsmt.org/calendar/showdetailpage.cfm?id_show=36440547