Munk revisits Q, PHANTOM, and BEAST

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 10:32pm

I thought I would just report on how these shows are looking these days - because as many of us know, shows that are successful financially soon loose all artistic merit (if any was to be found to begin with) - so I went out to check up on some shows. Here is my report - take from it what you will.

AVENUE Q: Surprisingly, all of the integrity that the show had when it first opened is still to be found. No, I didn't find Barrett Foa quite as charming or irresistable as Tartaglia, but the show has help up surprisingly well, and I was able to watch and enjoy the show as if I had never seen or heard it before - I had an excellent time. Ann Harada has a tendancy to swallow all of her lines and say them so fast with such an exaggerated accent that half of her jokes are lost - but still, just hearing that woman speak makes me laugh. It's in very good form, and it was very refreshing to see a cast of a show that has been running for a while still (atleast act like they) care night after night, making the experience for first time viewers just as enlightening and riotous as it was nearly three years ago.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: Well, well, well! I went into this show last night expecting the worst. The longer shows tend to run, the more sloppy and unkempt they become. I was exicted to see that Sandra Joseph (who has been playing Christine for 52 years) was out that night - and her understudy was utterly fantastic. The last time I had seen this show was over 10 years ago - and I saw Sandra Joseph, so I was glad to be seeing someone different. Yes, the sets, effects, and lighting are still kind of late-80's-enjoyably ghetto in their own right kind of good, but this show isn't the longest running show for no reason. The performances were generally, all around, fantastic - with the exception of Carlotta - a part with so much potential (that earned its originator a Tony award) was tossed to the dogs here, in a terribly flat (acting wise, never pitch wise) performance. It was obvious that the actress just didn't understand the role - but I will say that her voice is unbelievable. Howard McGillan was - I'm not even being dramatic here - BRILLIANT as the phantom. Just exquisite - I couldn't have been more pleased when leaving the show.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: Saw this tonight with my boyfriend - who is not a theatre person, but has always wanted to see this show. I gave him fair warning, but insisted that he see it for himself which, obviously, I encouraged. So I went along for the ride. Well, if you're all wondering why I'm posting this so early if I just attended the show this evening, it's because - to quote MEF regarding SWEET CHARITY, we fled the Lunt-Fontanne like Anatevka! Utterly, and brutally painful in every way imagineable. Even BROOKLYN and GOOD VIBRATIONS wasn't this painful to sit through. Ashley Brown is quite good - but she is surrounded by such dreck that she can never overcome what's around her. Steve Blanchard is STILL the beast, simply calling in his performance. He doesn't sing his music, he speaks it. It's quite evident that the only reason he's in this show is to pick up a paycheck. Last time I saw this show (in October), it was bad - but not this bad. A good note is that this time the ensemble didn't look like they wanted to all die through the various group numbers, but it just wasn't enough. I don't remember the scenery or costumes looking this flimsy, and there are literally zero special effects left in the show. This is, without a doubt, the worst show currently playing on Broadway. They either need to re-vamp, or just throw in the towel. I can't say enough terrible things about it - it was an awful experience.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 10:46pm

Who was the understudy Christine you saw?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 11:02pm

Susan Owen, who looks alarmingly like Rachel McAdams on stage...

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 11:17pm

Glad to see Howard McG's still doing well. He was my first Phantom (2001) and I have yet to see another Phantom who can play the part as effectively.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 11:59pm

Munk, would you say Beauty is worth seeing just for Ashley Brown? My friend works there and he absolutely adores how she sings "A Change in Me".

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 8:21am

I've been quoted! Woo-hoo!

I actually revisited Avenue Q not too long ago and share your sentiments. I found it as charming and heartfelt as I did when I first saw it off-Broadway almost 3 years ago.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 10:26am

did you see mark price as lefou? if so...how was he?

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 10:49am

It's so sad to hear about Beauty and the Beast. It is my favroite Disney movie and was my favorite movie for years as a kid, but something about the stage show just doesn't work. I've seen it twice on Broadway and a local production at the Walnut Theater in Philadelphia and, while enjoyable, something about the show just isn't working. It doesn't have the same magic as the movie, which is to be expected, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is I don't like. It's a little bit like the Wizard of Oz, wonderful movie, but I've yet to see a good stage production that has worked entirely.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 2:14pm

Quite honestly, "Beauty and the Beast" never appealed to me much. I liked Susan Egan on the cast CD, though. They need to do something as I have heard awful things about it for a long time.

[WholeLottaShakin]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 8:38pm

cathywellerstein, I saw the show just last night for Mark Price and he's terrific. His Lefou is so entertaining and fun to watch. I marvel how he can get through the entire show without a broken bone for the character does a lot of trips, falls and backward somersaults.

[Color and Light]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 8:47pm

I agree with TheQuibbler. I really wanted to like "Beauty and the Beast", because the Disney movie is one of my all time favorites. I just don't think the stage version has any spark to it, but maybe it had to do with the cast I saw. I went in with high hopes and came out thoroughly disappointed. It wasn't awful ... it was simply "blah".

But yay for Howard McGillin and Avenue Q!

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 8:48pm

I still think Phantom sucked when i saw it.

[andyf]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 9:45pm

If I hadn't been morbidly intrigued by Christy Carlson Romano's trainwreck (that being an understatement) of a performance, I probably would have ran out, too.

My friend dragged me to see the show to see CCR and I was horrified. The ensemble looked bored out of their minds (I'm not saying I blame them, personally I would have killed myself a long time ago if I had to convince people I enjoyed performing in that show night after night, but still...). Most notably, the guy who played the cake cutter in "Be Our Guest" was just plain ANGRY. He clearly hated life (again, not blaming, just pointing out) and was marking all the choreography. It was dreadful, but kind of entertaining.

Again, if CCR wasn't such a fascinating disaster, I would have ran out a lot sooner, but I just had to stick around and watch that train derail scene after scene after scene.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 10:14pm

I love it. I love hearing ya'll trash Beauty & The Beast, it cracks me up. I'm not being sarcastic.

"the guy who played the cake cutter in "Be Our Guest" was just plain ANGRY. He clearly hated life"
---> my eyes are watering, that is hilarious.

I saw the tour of B&TB back in the day when I was like 14 and I thought it was great, but at the time i was young and probably just wowed that the sets were moving on their own ha.

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 2/5/06 at 5:45pm

I really like B&TB, though I've never seen it on Broadway. I just think they should revamp it. They should do that for all shows, shouldn't they? I mean, I don't see how a person could convincingly play the same part for ages. Even I couldn't do that.

[jgph]

Posted: 2/5/06 at 5:59pm

'Even I couldn't do that'

Porrly chosen words or the indication of an ego the size of Bebe Neuwirth's mouth?



Updated On: 2/5/06 at 05:59 PM

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 2/5/06 at 7:41pm

Um, poorly chosen words, I guess. What I meant was that I would get bored of playing the same role for, like, ten years. Wouldn't anybody?
EDIT: Yeah, that did sound kind of egotistical. Sorry! :)

Updated On: 2/5/06 at 07:41 PM

[pab]

Posted: 2/5/06 at 8:12pm

I agree with DefyingEDCT. You couldn't pay me to go back and see Phantom.

Updated On: 2/5/06 at 08:12 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/5/06 at 10:24pm

No, sitting through BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is not worth it to see Ashley Brown. The girl has a good voice but come on, he's hardly stellar in the role. She's as good as someone can be as Belle. I wouldn't see that show again if someone paid me to, and I'm being completely honest.

When is the last time you guys saw PHANTOM? I found it to be wonderful.

[My Name in Lights]

Posted: 2/5/06 at 11:11pm

I had seen it years ago with Terrence Mann and Susan Egan and loved it. Saw it again with a new beast and I think still Susan Egan, and still enjoyed it. Both times it was still at The Palace. However, I saw B&B a few weeks ago and noticed it was missing some of the magic. Ashley Brown was good. Steve Blanchard was a disappointing beast. I agree that he spoke a lot of his songs, and I didn't care for the high signs or modern movements he used to appeal to the audience. He didn't have any of the original charm and romance that should be a part of the beast character. Also, sadly a lot of the show seems toned down, not as lavish. Be Our Guest was not the way I remember it.

Anyway, getting to the best part...and the main reason I went back to see it...MARK PRICE! Mark was absolutely terrific in a very physically demanding role. Can't say enough good things about this talented man. For those of you who would like to catch the show just to see him, he is only in it short term as a replacement.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/5/06 at 11:18pm

I too was enamored by the show at the Palace. Where it lacked in depth, it made up for it with the pure magic and the amazing original cast.

Even when it first moved to the Lunt, it was still okay.

I've seen this show basically once a year for the past four years, and each time it has gotten progressively worse.

When did fog start comning out of the champagne bottles rather than the sparklers?

[Anthony3]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 6:21pm

I thought the Phantom was the best I've seen. i saw it 5 times.in less than 1 year. I saw 3 guys play the phantom: David Gaschen (1), Hugh Panaro (2), and Howard Mcgillin (2). Howard McGillin is the best i've seen. He is so powerful and dramatic.

Sandra Joseph is amazing also.