My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)

[popular_elphie]

My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)#1

Posted: 5/14/07 at 7:08pm

My first BWW review post! I got back from New York yesterday and really enjoyed the shows I saw. This was my last vacation trip before moving to the city.

LEGALLY BLONDE - May 11, 8PM
The role of SERENA will be played by Tracy Jai Edwards
This was my second viewing of LEGALLY BLONDE, and I liked the show more the second time around. I'm a big fan of the movie, and though the musical's not as good, it's serviceable. The Greek Chorus is by far my favorite part of the show, and having an understudy for Serena was an interesting experience. I came in with an affinity to Tracy Jai, as she was my first Amber in HAIRSPRAY (and a brilliant one at that). She was a great Serena - not as satirical as Leslie plays her, but more of a very unintelligent girl.

The boys in this show are wonderful - I love Christian Borle and Andy Karl. "Legally Blonde" has to be my favorite number, with the beautiful singing between Laura and Christian.

We had really two intermissions because of the technical mishap at our show (glad everything turned out smoothly). A good show - not my favorite, but pretty good.

CURTAINS - May 12, 2PM
The role of AARON FOX will be played by MATT FARNSWORTH
The role of HARV FREMONT will be played by J. AUSTIN EYER
The role of SIDNEY BERNSTEIN will be played by JEROME VIVONA

My friend and I were trying for standing room, but as the show was sold out, we decided to splurge a bit and get "partial view" for 56.50. The only things we missed were the entrance of David Hyde Pierce and Sidney Bernstein. Good deal!

I'm very glad we saw this show. The second number, "What Kind of Man?", made me wary for what was next (didn't like it), but I didn't need to be worried. Matt Farnsworth, in for Jason Danieley, was absolutely amazing, and I was so surprised he wasn't regularly playing the role. His "I Miss the Music" was beautiful, and I didn't want him to stop singing! Jerome Vivona was fine as Sidney (kind of a boring role). Karen Ziemba (thank you gumbo - I always get those two mixed up) was wonderful as Georgia, and David Hyde Pierce was pretty good as the Detective. Jill Paice annoyed me to DEATH as Niki Harris, but I think her character is supposed to be that way. I can't take that type of flighty light voiced character. Debra Monk was wonderful as Carmen Bernstein, and Megan Sikora was wonderful as her daughter, Bambi (love the line about how she got her name). And a nod to Michael X. Martin as stage manager Johnny. Represent, All Shook Up!.

I recommend seeing this show, especially for families - there is one curse word towards the beginning, but that's it. A great old time show. And I want a zip up hoodie.

JOURNEY'S END - May 12, 8PM
FULL CAST (Hooray)
Wow is really all I have to say about this show. First of all, the Belasco is a wonderful home for it - small and warm (and nice seats!). The colors of the curtain even blend in with the theater.

The set is beautifully intricate for being small. The floor is gravely and has a mud puddle (which I was splashed with, being first row on the aisle). The lighting on stage is very minimal, and it works.

Hugh Dancy broke my heart as Stanhope, especially in his first scene with the absolutely brilliant Boyd Gaines (both deserve some sort of award). Raleigh, played by Stark Sands, was a cute and sweet fellow who becomes jaded by war. Jefferson Mays is fantastic with his small part. I was completely immersed in the story, and loved it (although I'm mentioning specific actors, everyone in this cast is absolutely amazing and they all deserve recognition). At the end, I was almost bawling, which is pretty rare as I almost never cry at shows. I didn't want to give a standing ovation because I was crying too much and I'm not much of a pretty crier. I was still bawling when the house lights came up.

This was my favorite show of the trip, and one of the most amazing theater experiences I've ever had. I cannot believe it's not selling out nightly. Rush tickets are $20 for the first row, a perfect view.

See this show, now.


:) Thank you for reading.
Updated On: 5/14/07 at 07:08 PM

[jordangirl]

re: My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)#2

Posted: 5/14/07 at 7:12pm

Is rush student or general? And when the box office opens? I may try to see it Saturday...continue the depressing streak from this past weekend. LOL.

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

[shesamarshmallow]

re: My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)#2

Posted: 5/14/07 at 7:20pm

Ugh, 21% attendance and <100k gross this week. ALL I ask in life is that Journey's End holds out until May 27th. Please, theater gods, please! I want to see it so badly!

broadwayunderstudies.com - most underrated performers on broadway

[gumbo2]

re: My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)#3

Posted: 5/14/07 at 10:20pm

Totally agree about Matt Farnsworth. His voice was absolutely beautiful, definitely the strongest singing voice in the cast...and though I love Jason Danieley's voice, I'm not sure how he could be better in the role. Unfortunately I was not as big a fan of the entire production.

Thanks for the reviews but FYI, I think you meant Karen Ziemba as Georgia, not Debra Monk.

[theminutepast]

re: My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)#4

Posted: 5/14/07 at 10:42pm

What was the technical mishap at Legally Blonde?

[popular_elphie]

re: My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)#5

Posted: 5/14/07 at 11:41pm

As the dorm room was coming out in "Chip on My Shoulder", it caught on to a piece of either metal or paper on the side of the stage that was hanging up, and dragged it down. It went pretty much for Laura's head, but the set caught its fall. Laura just stood there for a couple of seconds, and a stagehand told Christian and Laura to get off stage. The curtain went down for about 5 minutes, and the scene continued after they fixed the problem.

[Shakespearean]

re: My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)#6

Posted: 5/15/07 at 12:21pm

Was the dog ok?

[Shakespearean]

re: My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)#7

Posted: 5/15/07 at 12:21pm

Was the dog ok?

[wicked_mimi]

re: My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)#8

Posted: 5/16/07 at 2:30pm

I don't believe the dog was on stage at the time... it was when she was still in her bunny costume coming back from the party. All you heard was this massive ripping sound and one of the lighted pillar-esque things on the side of the stage began to fall. It was quite interesting...

[Dover]

re: My First BWW Reviews: Blonde, Curtains, and Journey's End (May 11-12)#9

Posted: 5/16/07 at 10:43pm

I can't believe Journey's End is doing so poorly. What an amazing show. Yeah, it's depressing as hell, but sometimes you just have to see something because it's great theatre.