#1
Posted: 8/14/06 at 7:38pm
I just came back from New York less than 45 minutes ago. I saw The Color Purple, Jersey Boys, and The Wedding Singer. Here's what I thought.
I went to The Color Purple expecting to enjoy LaChanze's standby, Kenita Miller. After hearing that she would be out that night, I thought, "Eh, so I'll sit through another understudy like in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. No biggy." I checked out the understudy plaque and the only roles understudied that night were the roles of Older Adam and Older Olivia. I would see LaChanze that night.
The show captivated me from the opening strains of the Overture to the final reprise of The Color Purple.
Despite having never seen the original movie or read the original novel, I was by no means lost. I was able to follow the story.
The cast was amazing.
The standouts were LaChanze, who proved that she deserved her Tony through her acting and singing abilities, Felica P. Fields, who, as Sofia, was robbed of the Tony, Elisabeth Withers Mendes, who was amazing as Shug Avery, and Kingsley Leggs, who truly fleshed out the role of Mister. How was he passed over for a Tony?
The sets were amazing and the music was truly beautiful. Did I mind that I'd already seen two other shows with a revolving stage? Hell, No!!!!!
Jersey Boys was truly amazing. A critic on the tourist channel in my hotel room said this was the feel-good musical of the year. That is a lie. Jersey Boys is a hard hitting look at the rise of the Four Seasons and the candid, even seedy look at how they got to the top. It was extremely gritty. This is not a show for children. If shows had ratings, this would get an R. It drops more F-bombs than any other show I've seen in my lifetime.
The men who play the Four Seasons are amazing. Christian Hoff was out that night but his understudy was amazing. John Lloyd Young was there that night as well. The minute he came out, he spent every moment successfully proving why he won the Tony. If this man pulls some kind of disappearing act a la Wilson Jermaine Heredia, I will be supremely pissed.
The Wedding Singer is not thought provoking or moving. It is simply a fun time at the theatre. I was pleased to see several lines from the movie reinstated into the show. Stephen Lynch and Laura Benanti were out that night but Tina Maddigan and Kevin Kern were astounding. Rita Gardner and Felicia Finley definitely made use of what few scenes they had. Amy Spanger and Matthew Saldivar lit up the stage proving that they were severely overlooked for Tonys, Amy, especially. Kevin Cahoon stole the show. Thankfully, I was able to get most of the 80s references. This show is so much fun.
It was the best trip to New York I'd ever had.
I went to The Color Purple expecting to enjoy LaChanze's standby, Kenita Miller. After hearing that she would be out that night, I thought, "Eh, so I'll sit through another understudy like in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. No biggy." I checked out the understudy plaque and the only roles understudied that night were the roles of Older Adam and Older Olivia. I would see LaChanze that night.
The show captivated me from the opening strains of the Overture to the final reprise of The Color Purple.
Despite having never seen the original movie or read the original novel, I was by no means lost. I was able to follow the story.
The cast was amazing.
The standouts were LaChanze, who proved that she deserved her Tony through her acting and singing abilities, Felica P. Fields, who, as Sofia, was robbed of the Tony, Elisabeth Withers Mendes, who was amazing as Shug Avery, and Kingsley Leggs, who truly fleshed out the role of Mister. How was he passed over for a Tony?
The sets were amazing and the music was truly beautiful. Did I mind that I'd already seen two other shows with a revolving stage? Hell, No!!!!!
Jersey Boys was truly amazing. A critic on the tourist channel in my hotel room said this was the feel-good musical of the year. That is a lie. Jersey Boys is a hard hitting look at the rise of the Four Seasons and the candid, even seedy look at how they got to the top. It was extremely gritty. This is not a show for children. If shows had ratings, this would get an R. It drops more F-bombs than any other show I've seen in my lifetime.
The men who play the Four Seasons are amazing. Christian Hoff was out that night but his understudy was amazing. John Lloyd Young was there that night as well. The minute he came out, he spent every moment successfully proving why he won the Tony. If this man pulls some kind of disappearing act a la Wilson Jermaine Heredia, I will be supremely pissed.
The Wedding Singer is not thought provoking or moving. It is simply a fun time at the theatre. I was pleased to see several lines from the movie reinstated into the show. Stephen Lynch and Laura Benanti were out that night but Tina Maddigan and Kevin Kern were astounding. Rita Gardner and Felicia Finley definitely made use of what few scenes they had. Amy Spanger and Matthew Saldivar lit up the stage proving that they were severely overlooked for Tonys, Amy, especially. Kevin Cahoon stole the show. Thankfully, I was able to get most of the 80s references. This show is so much fun.
It was the best trip to New York I'd ever had.
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you.
--Cartman: South Park
ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
