Posted: 12/28/16 at 1:24am
Seeing 8 shows on this trip. I'll try and post as they are fresh in my mind.
Yesterday I did something I've ALWAYS wanted to do: see the same show twice in one day. Of course I chose Phantom for this. It was my 64th and 65th time seeing the New York Phantom. I got to see two Christine's, otherwise the casting was the same. Let me tell you something. Rachel Eskenazi-Gold brought so much new energy to Christine. She even made Music of the Night thrilling to watch. Now don't get me wrong. I love me some MOTN, but not because it's thrilling. But Rachel just knew how to wrestle every last emotion out of every word every movement in that song. It was legendary. Ali was probably a stronger singer but she was quite a let down to see after the boundless energy of Rachel. I thought that I might get a little bored with the show during the second performance but it actually flew by. I'm glad I finally did it.
This afternoon I saw Chicago (same perf that Romam was at). I am quite partial to Charlotte and/or Bianca as Roxie. I enjoyed Dylis but her singing was not strong enough for me. She also played Roxie with kind of a child, baby-doll voice and that didn't work when she had to get rude and insulting to Billy Flynn. I didn't believe the same character could do both. A non-Leslie Stifleman conductor was a rare treat too. The family next to me sang along at parts, took pictures of each scene, and then asked me to get up and move instead of jamming along with the band after the show. Such a let down. By the time I had let them out, the orchestra was done. I have been labeled the "Theater Thug" by my friends for my aggressive way of dealing with bad behavior in theater but those days are over. I am no longer going to feel my blood pressure go up when a phone comes out and I am done with shushing people and all that.
Tonight I saw Hamilton. I saw the OBC 3 times and I've seen the Chicago cast 3 times. The show still packs a punch and I still got teary eyed all through act two. However, Josh Henry belongs on Broadway and BVD belongs in Chicago. Joshua's Burr far surpasses Brandon's in every way. The only good thing I could say about Brandon's performance tonight was he got a ton of laughs for his comedic timing and goofy line readings. I thought perhaps he was saving his energy for Room where it Happens but let's just say that Brandon should change the lyrics to "i kinda want to be in the room where it happens but no big deal if I'm not." Nicholas Christopher as GW was terrific. A strong singer who stopped the show with GW's signature departing song. Loved Mandy. Jordan Fisher as Laurens/Philip was phenomenal. He should have been in the OBC. He added so much depth and life to the role. And man oh man the Lord blessed him, as was obvious while he was leaning backwards (after he was shot) and revealed his ummm "blessing" to the audience. Sorry if that was inappropriate but yikes somebody get that guy some tighter underwear or something. There were some wonky parts to the show. During the Seabury song, a button popped off his costume and went rolling around the stage. I found it funny all these ensemble members walked past it at the end of the scene and finally Bramdon just walked across the stage and grabbed it. Them when they were bringing out GW's desk, they knocked some of the candlesticks, etc over. As Philip Hamilton's deathbed moved upstage along the turntable, it was actually half on and half off it so it scraped along and kind of ruined the moment. Javier has this look on his face like "do I move it or just keep acting sad ". Seth Stewart was abyssal as TJ Just awful. He acted as if he were a script prompter and his job was just to read lines to cue the other actors . I cannot imagine what made the powers that be at Hamiltom think that he is right for TJ. Sooooooo much of the humor and "shade" of the role is gone The TJ in Chicago is not that great either, but he is far better than Seth. He either refuses to do the role similar to Daveed or he thinks that a minimalist approach is somehow fresh. But TJ is supposed to be this conniving villain and with Seth, all you get is a laid back dude-bro.
I was was surprised to see so many white faces onstage tonight. Especially among the women. Is Hamilton having trouble finding black actors?
Updated On: 12/28/16 at 01:24 AM
