My bullet-point thoughts on ALL MY SONS, EQUUS, BILLY ELLIOT, and SHREK

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 11:45pm

ALL MY SONS
- Dianne Weist was the best thing about the show.
- John Lithgow was the second best thing about the show.
- Patrick Wilson was very good.
- Katie Holmes was serviceable but very elementary in her acting. The moment when she falls down to her knees was laughable.
- Horrible decisions by the sound designer, allowed by the director. The underscoring didn't support the show at all. I'm a fan of using it, but the choices of music and the moments to bring that sound in became a distraction in many of the scenes.
- Projections were hard to read at moments. Especially the final projection of (SPOILER:) the people walking in the street.
- I love Danielle Ferland.
- This was my first exposure to the show. I expected (SPOILER:) the gunshot to happen but not at the moment it did. I think the (SPOILER:) use of a silent greek chorus, if you will, was nicely done at that moment; however I don't think the chorus worked ALL of the time. The train moment seemed out of place.
- Awards wise, I would give nods to Weist and Lithgow. Perhaps Wilson. Nothing else, I don't think.

EQUUS:
- This was my first exposure to this show as well. I heard the show was a 'thinking' play, but I wasn't expecting it to be THAT thought-provoking.
- The thing that stood out above all else was the direction. Brilliant. I loved the use of the space and the staging. The only artistic decision I disagree with is having an on-stage audience. I don't think it was appropriate. They distracted me during a few moments during the play.
- I saw Richard Griffiths' understudy, Bill Bruell. He was magnificent.
- Daniel Radcliffe made a strong stage debut (I assume it was). Especially in the final scene of Act I and the nude scene. HOWEVER he has this "ism" which is sounding angsty at times, vocally. To be expected because of his age, but it became annoying at times. I want to see him in another stage role and see how he does. This show could have been a 'one-hit wonder' performance, I feel. We'll see.
- Awards wise, I would give nods to the direction and the play for revival, sound design, and set design. Possibly also Radcliffe and Lighting.

BILLY ELLIOT
- The only exposure I had to this show beforehand was listening to the CD once and seeing a few YouTube clips of "Electricity" being performed in TV spots.
- This is one of the best shows I have seen in YEARS. The only other show I can remember loving as much was AVENUE Q.
- During the performance I cried, laughed, and gave standing ovations. I have only ever giving a mid-performance standing ovation once before, to Patti LuPone in GYPSY. I gave two today mid-show.
- The Billy I saw was David Alvarez. He was GREAT! The only slightly negative thing about him was I thought his tap to not be as strong as the rest of his performance.
- Gregory Jbara was ASTONISHING! This performance came by surprise. He puts so much heart into it. He's elevated what the role is on paper. He DEFINITELY deserves a Tony nod, if not the win. There is a moment when he cries and as I was sitting fifth row center, I was able to literally see the tears falling from his eyes onto the floor. The foundation of his character is one of a stereotype, but he took that and added on many layers. Kudos!
- I also loved Haydn Gwynne and Thommie Retter.
- The only disappointment I have with the show was the book. The spirit of the film came through, but structurally there are some issues. Especially in transitions. I also wanted to see Adult Billy make a return.
- "Expressing Yourself" was one of the unexpected highlights of the show. WOW! I genuinely enjoyed this number. Reminded me of the classic musical theatre songs.
- I want to see this again and again and again.
- I understand what they were going for with the curtain call, but I wish it was shorter so that they could do a traditional curtain call afterwards. When the cast all gathered center stage and called for Billy to rejoin them from the audience, a woman behind me mentioned to her husband something I was thinking -- "uh oh, it must be BCEFA donation time." Instead, they did the curtain call number which took the audience, including me, by surprise.
- I'd hand out the following Tony nods: best musical, best actor (the three Billys), featured actor (Jbara), featured actress (Haydn Gwynne), score, choreography, costumes, set, lighting, and sound.

SHREK
- The only exposure I had to this show was pictures of some of the characters. Otherwise I knew absolutely nothing about the show except for the plot from the film.
- The show was entertaining but otherwise I could have survived without seeing it. I was disappointed as this show has a strong message which is overshadowed by every other element of the production.
- The sets and costumes are top-notch.
- The inside jokes of the musical theatre references were delightful, but not hilarious.
- Brian D'Arcy James' voice surprises me every time I see him in a show. For some reason you just look at him and don't expect that sound to come out when he sings.
- The kids ate this show up. Especially when Shrek made a visit in the audience to stop the wedding. The children went NUTS!
- The entire time I felt like I was seeing a show at Universal Studios Theme Park. This is something I *never* felt seeing a Disney show, but with SHREK the feeling was prevailing.
- I wish Sutton Foster would do a show where her talent could shine as much as it did in Millie.
- Plot holes in the book. Not like anyone cares, I guess.
- Score is no masterpiece but serves the piece nicely. A small amount of songs were memorable.
- Awards wise, I would give nods to set, lights and costumes.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 11:47pm

There's no such thing as plot holes in a fairy tale.

Updated On: 12/19/08 at 11:47 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:20am

Plot holes?

And I'd give a Tony nod to James in a heartbeat. Great performance. I forgot I was watching someone act, if that makes sense. I think with all the make up and the costume you sort of forget that someone is in there, and you just sort of see this character, whereas as I watched Sutton Foster I just kept thinking "oh, Sutton."

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 6:29am

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[TBD2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 7:09am

This may well be the best review I've read on this board and could serve as a template for others. You present well thought out summaries with positive and negative critiques without resorting to snobbery or personal attacks. Kudos!

Things I've become bored with in "reviews":
5. Using a "review" as a soapbox to "stump" for [reviewers] favorite show.
4. Using obscure MT references to show off how witty and in-tune the reviewer is.
3. Lambasting shows over minute artistic disagreements or preference of the reviewer.
2. Demands for shows' closures and/or predictions of impending doom.
1. Top five lists.

Personally, I would like to see you review Spamalot, White Christmas, and South Pacific.

Updated On: 12/20/08 at 07:09 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 7:11am

Wow...what amazing notes on Billy. I can't wait to see it Christmas night.

I don't think i've ever given a mid show standing ovation!

Thanks for taking the time!

I wish I could catch All My Sons...LOVE Wiest and Lithgow.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:28am

Great job, Hook ! Could not agree with you more about "Billy Elliot" and "Shrek"- !!!!

I could see "BE" every night, and not get bored !!!

[legally_popular]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:56am

I loved the bullet-point reviews too.
I agree about pretty much everything you said about All My Sons, except the music. I thought it was a great attribute and added to the intensity of some scenes.

It’s obvious they only cast Katie because of how famous she is. “Serviceable” is a nice word. They should’ve just gotten someone better, someone who can actually act.

[sgv123]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 2:11pm

I agree with your Billy Elliot review. I will be seeing it for my 5th time next moth, and I cannot wait. The first 4 times I have seen the show there has been a mid show standing ovation. You are going to love it Dramamama611

[perfectliar]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 5:24pm

Where do people give a mid-show standing ovation in Billy Elliot? "Electricity?"

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 6:14pm

After "Solidarity" there was a partial standing ovation, after "Expressing Yourself" there was another one, and after "Electricity" there was a full standing ovation.

[lusciouslace]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 12:30am

Great reviews! I pretty much agree with everything about All My Sons, except I'm with legally_popular about the music. I actually really liked it and felt it added a lot. Lithgow and Weist took my breath away. I also really loved Patrick Wilson in this. Nobody really talks about him, but I thought he was fantastic. I was overall disappointed with Katie, I was hoping for more/better from her.

I wonder if the projections being hard to see had anything to do with where your seat was, because I found them to be very clear and easy to read.

Your reviews make me more interested in seeing the other shows. :)

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 12:58am

just saw all my sons today and i also agree with everything but your view on the music i liked it. it seemed to fit in fine to me. but as much as katie homes was a crappy actor i think it added to the performance for me because the show is set in the 20s or 30s? and i dont know but something about her crappy acting made it seem more like that time period.nothing against that time period or anything lol.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:01am

<< Where do people give a mid-show standing ovation in Billy Elliot? "Electricity?"
>>

Yep. Kiril got a standing O the other night after "Electricity"-