My Trip to NYC, 12/21-12/25

[florida theatre kid]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 12:29am

I just returned after an amazing 5 days in New York. I was lucky enough to see four shows. Now, on with the reviews (this might be a little long.)

Thursday, December 21st, 8:00pm
THE WEDDING SINGER
Understudies: The roles usually played by Peter Kapetan were played by Kevin Kern.
This was the show I was most excited about seeing. For the past four months I had listened to the cast recording everyday and knew every word to every song, and the show did not disappoint at all. I absolutely loved it. The cast was perfect. Laura Benanti had great comic timing and the audience fell in love with her the second she stepped onto the stage. Felicia Finley and Amy Spanger were great as well, and extremely nice at the stage door. Rita Gardner had the audience in stitches as Rosie. Stephen Lynch was just as great as everyone says he is, as were Matthew, Kevin, and Richard.

The ensemble in this show has the most energy of any ensemble I have ever seen. Tracee Beazer makes the most of every chance she gets, and is hilarious as the Tina Turner impersonator. Ashley Amber was a killer dancer, and Robyn Hurder is just too cute for words. And Spencer Liff, how can you take your eyes off of him? Does that boy not just scream "Look at me!"? All the ensemble members came out and signed at the stagedoor, and talked to everybody. They couldn't have been nicer. Definately a top notch show that I am disappointed is closing.

Friday, Decemeber 22nd, 8:00 pm
A CHORUS LINE
Understudies: Cassie- Nadine Isenegger, Connie- Lisa Ho
This show was probably my favorite show of the whole trip. The dancing, the singing, the acting, everything was just phenomenal. Had you not told me Nadine Isenegger was an understudy, I would never have known. She seemed so natural in the role, and looked exactly like Charlotte. Her chemistry with Michael was great, and you really believed they had a past together. She was an awesome dancer as well. Mara Davi had an awesome voice that gave me chills during "At the Ballet." Heather Parcells, whose smile alone could light up the whole stage, portrayed the tall and lanky Judy wonderfully. The female standout for me was Jessica Lee Goldyn as Val. "Dance: Ten, Looks: Three" was one of the highlights of the show for me. She had such sass, a great voice, and was very funny.

My award for the night, however, goes to Jason Tam as Paul. God is he going to go places. His monologue after "Music and the Mirror" was so powerful, and put tears into several peoples eyes, including mine. He was really the only one who made me feel like I wasn't watching a show, but was really in his life, in the audition room. He shined way above all the males in the show. Truly a Tony-worthy performance. Unfortunately, I didn't get to wait at the stagedoor after A Chorus Line because of the freezing rain.

Saturday, December 23rd, 2:00 pm
LES MISERABLES
Understudies: Jean Valjean- Victor Hawks, Enjolras- Drew Sarich
This is a difficult show for me to review. I have so many mixed feelings about it, that I really can't collect all my thoughts. I'll start with some things I did not like. The sets disappointed me. This was my first time seeing Les Mis, so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but after hearing so much about how extravagant and great the sets were, I felt let down. The barricade looked cheesey, the gunshots sounded pitiful, and it all just looked cheap. The orchestra also wasn't as powerful as it sounds on the recordings either. The music is so brilliant, I wish the orchestra would have projected more. The costumes were nothing notable.

Now the good. Victor Hawks as Jean Valjean. WOW. Get him out of the ensemble, he was GREAT! His "Bring Him Home" gave me huge goosebumps and was the highlight of the show. It received the loudest/longest ovation of the afternoon, and I saw about 10 people who stood up clapping. His last note at the end...man was that amazing. Celia was another standout. "On My Own" also receievd a great applause, and her voice was georgous at every other part she sings (and she's beautiful in real life also, got to meet her at the stagedoor.) Drew Sarich was good in the role of Enjolras, but the character never grew on me. Gary Beach and Jenny Galloway got laughs at everything, Ali Ewoldt has a beautiful soaring soprano, and I really don't have much to say about Adam Jacobs. Nothing extraordinary but far from bad.

Now, onto Daphne. She wasn't horrible, she wasn't great, like many people have said, simply miscast. I have always loved her raspy voice, but it just does not work in the show. "I Dreamed a Dream" has always been my favorite song on the London Cast recording, and the song just doesn't work for her. As stated before, this was my first time seeing Les Mis, so I don't have anyone to compare her to. I'm not going to say she was bad, because I could tell she was working so hard and really wanted to give the best performance. At intermission she was the only thing people were talking about, and I'll just say I'm shocked at how harsh some people were on her performance. She was very nice at the stagedoor and signed for everybody. Standouts in the ensemble include Nikki Renee Daniels, Justin Bohon, Haviland Stillwell (beautiful!), and Q. Smith, who was filling in for Karen Elliot. Oh yeah and can't forget the kids, who were lead by the awesome and extremely talented Brian D'Addario, excellent! Overall, the show was well worth the $21.25 standing room ticket.

Sunday, December 24th, 2:00pm
Understudies: Full Cast
Disney, has once again succeeded in making yet another movie a magical stage production. And that's just was this show is, magical. Ashley Brown was the PERFECT fit for Mary Poppins. Her comic timing was wonderful, her voice suberb, and played Mary Poppins the way you would picture her in the book, different from Julie Andrews. She had the sarcastic/rude side to her, but she was much more believable than Julie Andrews as the nanny who was just there "until they didn't need her anymore." Definately deserves a Tony nomination come May. Gavin Lee also deserves a Tony nomination. He is charming, witty, and a great dancer. Rebecca Luker is amazing in the tiny role of Ms. Banks, just wish she had more stage time. The Banks children (played by Delaney Moro and Henry Hodges) were great in such challenging and demanding roles for kids their ages. The sets were astonishing. It will be interesting to see what the sets will look like when/if the show tours. The choreography was top notch as well. "Steppin' Time" has become one of my favorite production numbers I have ever seen. Just to warn you, this is Disney, so if you go to see Mary Poppins, be ready for lots of talking children, noisy drinks and candy wrappers, and crying babies. But it really is great to see how happy they are to be there.

Once again, this was another great trip to NYC.
Updated On: 12/26/06 at 12:29 AM

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 2:33am

Glad you enjoyed your trip

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 9:06am

Great reviews! I'm glad you had such a phenomenal trip!

[blueroses]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 9:17am

Wow, you worked in a lot of shows during your short stay! Glad you had fun. Your review of ACL makes me wish I would have seen Nadine Isenegger in the role instead...Charlotte was a big disappointment for me. I agree with you about Mara Davi. I thought she was, vocally, one of the standouts, along with Alisan Porter and Tony Yazbeck.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 9:27am

Glad you had fun! You saw three of my fave shows: LES MIZ, ACL and WS I saw them on my last trip.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 9:46am

I think you mean "Saturday, December 23" not 22

[florida theatre kid]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 10:05am

Whoops! Thanks DRSisLove!

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 10:16am

Glad you had a great time!

[Anthony3]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 10:57am

thanks for the reviews, sounds like you had fun!