My Brief Broadway (and Off) Reviews

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 12:09pm

Since there were so many shows in such little time, I'm just briefly including my thoughts. I'll expand if anyone wants to know something in particular:

A Chorus Line **** (Fresh performances and faithful staging/choreography make this revival worth seeing, though Charlotte D'Amboise just didn't hit the mark for me)

Curtains ***1/2 (Liked it much more than I expected, though it's really Hyde Pierce's show; I'm afraid it's likely to close when he leaves)

Legally Blonde ***1/2 (Fun, infectious and delightful; deserves to run for years)

Les Miserables *** (if you have already seen the original staging, then Lea Salonga and Chip Zien are the best reason to see this particular revival, though Ann Harada, whom I adored in Avenue Q, is terribly miscast; rest of the cast was very uneven, but I am a devoted fan of the show, so I wanted to see it again)

Mary Poppins **** (pleasant surprise as I hated the film; the design and performances lifted this show above some of the others)

Spamalot *** (had I seen Marin Mazzie, I probably would have rated it higher, but the cast just wasn't that strong, especially after having seen the original in the Chicago tryout)

Spring Awakening **1/2 (I get that it's something new and different and I liked some of the music, but the show really left me cold and somewhat confused; I think it's a brilliant show for teens and young college kids, but I've been having sex for many years and I just couldn't connect with the material or its earnest urgency)

Drowsy Chaperone **** (Much better than I anticipated)

Xanadu *** (Cute and fun, but as Jarico made painfully clear, if you are not a fan of the film, nor familiar with the soundtrack, you probably won't enjoy it that much; I liked it, but not as much as I had hoped)

Frost/Nixon ***** (Best show I saw and I urge everyone to attend if they have not yet seen it; I didn't know what to expect and I was absolutely riveted by the play and blown away by the performances; it was perfect)

The Fantasticks ****1/2 (An excellent production of an excellent show; see Tom Jones in the cast while you can; only a couple of weak moments kept this from getting five stars)

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 12:14pm

"if you are not a fan of the film, nor familiar with the soundtrack, you probably won't enjoy it that much"

I've gotta disagree. I had never SEEN the film and only knew a song or two in it and LOVE the show. Or maybe I'm weird.

And sadly, Frost/Nixon just closed. I wish I could have seen it again.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 12:21pm

I wish I could have seen Frost/Nixon. It looked great.

Glad you had a good trip.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 12:31pm

Nice Reviews on those shows ! I definitely agree with you with SA & F/N

J*
Updated On: 8/21/07 at 12:31 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 1:01pm

Wow, since I hadn't checked any of the recent Broadway news in a while, I had no idea Frost/Nixon closed. I'm glad I caught it when I did!

[pab]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 1:03pm

They are in the process of shoting the Frost/Nixon movie now.

Agree with you on SA.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 1:26pm

Maybe what you said is why I didn't "get" SA. I went. I saw. I'm SOOO glad I only spent $25 on the ticket. No desire to see it again.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 1:40pm

I've been having sex for many years and I just couldn't connect with the material or its earnest urgency

Thanks for my big laugh of the day, Mister Matt.