My Vacation to New York in Review

[Mattbrain]

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.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 7:50pm

great reviews Mattbrain!
i also really enjoyed THE COLOR PURPLE and THE WEDDING SINGER (they're my 2 favorite shows)
thanks for the JERSEY BOYS heads-up: my family was trying to get tickets for this, and really wanted to see this, but will all the cursing and such...my parents could just go see it. might have a better chance of getting 2 tickets rather than 4 anyway!
:)
glad you had fun!

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 7:54pm

Thank you for these reviews. I am glad you could see such great shows.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 7:55pm

Matt- I think we were at the same Wedding Singer performance. Were you there Sunday?

Here is my review of Wedding Singer (as well as the other shows I saw)
Wedding Singer review and others

[alicia_11212]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 7:59pm

Glad to hear (read?) that you had such a great time!

I was happy to see a review for these shows, as I'm going to see "Color Purple" in September, and am curious what people think of it. As for the other two shows.. well, I'm interested in hearing about them as well (there's just not enough days or cash to see 'em all!) I may see Wedding Singer if they have rush/ TKTS available. Not sure, I haven't checked those out yet. In addition to TCP, I'm gonna see Drowsy and Wicked, and I'm super-excited about B'way on B'way (first time!!) Woo hoo!

[kate2]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 8:55pm

alicia, The Wedding Singer has rush, and it has also been on TKTS. Getting tickets should be pretty easy! :)

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 9:11pm

Great choices of shows!

[days_of_inspiration]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 9:44pm

I'm really curious about The Color Purple. And Jersey Boys is really good.

[admanrich]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 9:56pm

Sounds like a great time! I loved Color Purple and Wedding Singer. Amy Spanger was incredible, she stole the show for me.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 10:06pm

I'm really shocked Lynch was out.

[admanrich]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 10:11pm

I think it was scheduled.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 6:07pm

Thanks for posting your reviews. I loved "The Color Purple" and wish I had seen "The Wedding Singer" on my last trip to NYC. I love the OBCR. I have to agree with you about Felicia P. Fields. I saw Beth Leavel in "Drowsy" and she was great, but Fields just blew me away! I really think Fields should have gotten the Tony.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 6:15pm

Glad you enjoyed your trip! I'm not sure why you would think that there's a possibility of JLY pulling a 'disappearing act' a la WJH. Very different actors with backgrounds that are probably polar opposites. :)

[rebels]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 12:05am

Your vacation sounded awesome! Thanks for the interesting reviews on these great shows!
Jersey Boys Blog

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 12:48am

Great reviews.

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?

Personally, I thought the Tony belonged to Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, but I would have given it to Beth Leavel before Felicia P. Fields. Have you seen DROWSY?

Mister is a thankless role, which is one of the reasons I believe Kingsley Leggs was left out at awards season.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 7:51am

No, I have not seen The Drowsy Chaperone. When I do, I will give my opinion. But I stand by my belief that Felicia P. Fields was amazing.

And Mister is by no means a thankless role.