My Week In Reviews (Dear Edwina, Lansky, Shrek, and 3rd Story)

[BroadwaySomeday]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 4:47pm

MY week in reviewss...

First I got to see "Dear Edwina". I thought the cast was well intentioned but I must admit there enthusiasm reminded me of my Older Sister's time in "Up With People". What really holds this show together are the words and music by Goldrich and Heisler. A song that I am going to steal for an audition piece is "Sing Your Own Song". I paid $27 for this show and would actually go back and see it again as I really left the theater humming. I found the Darryl Roth Theater to be a terrific space.

Then I went to see Lansky in Previews. I am a fan of one-person shows when it gives an Actor a chance to have wings and really take you into the moment and their interpretation of what another character might say to them. One of my favorite one person vehicles is "I Am My Own Wife". I got to do a scene from this play my Senior year of college. Lansky isn't a particularly well constructed one person show, and the night I saw it two people were were talking loudly (a man and a woman) about what was wrong with the lead Actor (not loud enough, why isn't the light right on him, he keeps touching his shirt with a nervous tick). She sounded like the Mother from the Nanny. This was not the only unprofessional thing that happened at this theater. Before the show an elderly Gentleman was in front of me in the line. He was complaining to the box office about the placement of his seat and the fact that he had two hearing aids. The guy in the box office asked him a question and when he answered he said he wouldn't move his seat since he could obviously hear him. I didn't pay for my ticket and let the box office guy know I thought how he handled himself was really inappropriate. He threatened to not let me see the show as I was causing a ruckus. Now if you met me you would know that I am not a rabble rouser, and being new to NYC it takes a lot to get my dander up. I feel bad for the Actor (Mike Burstyn) who has to perform in a theater like this. No heat, no house staff, a box office manager with an attitude problem, technical staff who talk through the performance, and a not well constructed piece. He is trying his best in my opinion.

Then I saw Shrek. I love Sutton Foster and Brian Darcy James. However, this show has problems from the drop of the baton. Anything I write has been said on this board before. Why don't they bring "Beauty and the Beast" back. At least that show has songs we all know (and care to hear again).

My sleeper of the week was "The Third Story". I am a HUGE Charles Busch fan. I had heard so many negative things about this show before i saw it (i.e. Busch is playing one of his stable of characters that look like his other characters, the script doesn't feel complete, and that it is a period piece that has little relevance today). So I guess when you expect mediocrity and are actually faced with something fabulous you feel you have to scream it from the rooftops. Please try and see this play. Busch plays more than one part (which I wasn't expecting) and it proves his versatility as an Actor. The key to this piece (which I have to admit I have already seen again...and enjoyed it that much more on the second outing...is to pay attention. We have a job as an audience member and that is to follow the story closely and allow our imaginations to try and complete the story. The Director and Actors job is to keep us interested to allow us to take this journey with them. They do this in spades. This is not a thriller or a murder mystery like previous outings. it is part science fiction/part film noir/part peppery anecdotal 1950s glam meets gorey. I wetn for free the first time and then went back at a discount. I feel like I want to stretch myself as an Actor like Busch does. the supporting cast has amazing standouts especially in Sarah Rafferty. The icing on the proverbial cake here is Kathleen Turner. A testament to Busch's talent is his ability to hold his own against her. She is a living legend.