My heart belongs to Bobby

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/18/10 at 12:23am

...the wonderful Bobby Steggert that is! Just got back from "Yank!" tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think most of the cast has performed the piece at one time or another, and certainly didn't feel like a second preview this evening. Send in the critics and let the rave reviews pour out!

This cast is simply perfect. An ensemble of actors without a weak link. Ivan Hernandez is distractingly handsome, and has quite the voice to boot. I thought he captured the torment of being a closeted man very well without falling into melodrama.

Jeffry Denman has choreographed the piece with much flair and elan, and the two tap numbers are actual showstoppers! Andrew Durand and Tally Sessions are great as two other guys in the squad, and first act "Betty" number was a highlight for me.

Nancy Anderson plays a variety of women to marvelous effect. She goes through a number of dresses and wigs and knocks each look out of the park.

As others have noted though, the true heart of "Yank!" is the performance being given by Bobby Steggert. I truly believe he is proving himself to be one of the great stage actors of his generation, and I look forward to being able to hopefully watch his career progress through the years. Bobby is a very subtle and nuanced actor, and the York is the perfect small venue to see him shine. Like Norma Desmond he can kill you with just one look. His character arc from shy, awkward and uncertain to (spoiler I guess) being a proud gay man was heartfelt and heartbreaking. A man with talent beyond his years.

I really liked the score; the lyrics are intelligent and funny, and the melodies are a nice blend of pastiche with a modern twist. The book is was very natural, almost like I didn't even notice they were saying lines. The direction was very fluid and the time flew by.

I'm so pleased the York decided to give this show more life. Buy tickets to this one now as the York is small and this show will sell out once word of mouth begins to spread.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/18/10 at 12:33am

The worst part of the evening was Jim Morgan's pre-show speech.

The remainder of the evening was outstanding (minus a weird gas-mask ballet, which should be cut). Bobby, Ivan, Jeffry, and yes, even Nancy, were all perfect.

Buy your tickets now, while they are still available. I hope this sells out at the York and gets across the board rave reviews.

Congrats to all involved.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/18/10 at 12:40am

I forgot about the gask mask ballet! Yes, this was the only questionable moment. There is a dream ballet in act 2, which was beautifully danced by the two "dream" dancers, but in the middle of the ballet all these soldiers come in with gas masks on.

The men could have been just as menacing without the gas masks. It was a little too reminiscent of the gas mask waltz from Cry-Baby. After "Let's Get Some Air" I thought I would never see dancing gas masks again, but I guess I was wrong.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 7:43am

Thanks to the enthusiasm of the two of you regarding Yank, I went out and got a ticket for March 4. Although I'm presently taking a "break" so to speak from shows in NYC, supporting former Ragtime cast members isn't included in this break.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 8:15am

Thanks for your review. I'm going on Sunday and am even more excited after reading your post. As an aside, I thought that after Cry-Baby that we would never see gas masks used during a dance number ever again! This show is obviously going to be much more well received by the critics and audiences.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 8:49am

Yay! I'm so glad you two are going to see this wonderful production! I heard that they are almost completely sold out through previews, which is thrilling.

[myshikobit]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 8:58am

Yay Bobby! Let's spread the Frederick, Maryland love :) I really want to catch this, but probably won't make it up in time Glad this is going well though!

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 9:50am

So glad you guys love YANK! as I do. I saw the gas masks in the dream ballet in the first preview..But I was there last night too...and the gas masks in the dream ballet were gone!

Even among YANK! fans, the dream ballet is a point of contention. Some people really love it (raises hand) some people don't like it at all.

I've seen YANK! quite a few times...at NYMTF, at Gallery Players and now at the York. And always, Bobby is extraordinary. But last night was special. In his last confrontation, he dug deep and expressed raw pain like I've seldom seen on stage (the closet thing I can recall is Christine Ebersole's emotional state after "Another Winter in a Summer Town" in GREY GARDENS). In the monologue that follows, he is supposed to be calmer. But the pain carried over..his face was still wet with tears and during the most emotional line, his voice cracked and the tears flowed anew.....both onstage and in the audience. A friend of mine I took to the show could not leave his seat for a few moments he was sobbing so hard.

Updated On: 2/19/10 at 09:50 AM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 10:02am

TulitaPepsi- I started getting a little emotional just reading your review! Bobby really is something special in this show and I hope he will be rewarded when Drama Desks/Obies are handed out.

Glad to hear the gas masks are gone too! I was a big fan of the ballet, just happy to hear those masks hit the trail.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 10:21am

WMTRM, I actually liked the gas masks! :^)

But I still love the ballet. How wonderful is it to see an unabashedly romantic dance between two men?!

And yes...of all the "new breed" of Broadway performers, Bobby Steggert is someone very special. He's an extraordinary talent, and a very honest and open performer. From the start, the audience is in love with him. "I'd like to read you some"...

Updated On: 2/19/10 at 10:21 AM

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 10:26am

I totally agree about the pre show speech. What WAS that?!

And join the club. Bobby is so talented and gives such a heartfelt performance. Fantastic show.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 10:34am

OK, this may be a spoiler...but it may not be. YANK! fans will know what I'm talking about!

The bunk bed.

The audience holds its breath.

The biggest laugh of the night.

A knife in your heart.

(OK, I'll say nothing more)

Updated On: 2/19/10 at 10:34 AM

[GatorNY]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 11:09am

Ok...now I REALLY can't wait for Sunday! So glad I got my tickets a while back.

[notabb]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 11:17am

Without a doubt Bobby Steggert is the heart and soul of YANK. I'm going back this sunday

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 12:02pm

I was on my phone and couldn't post more, but glad about the gas masks. That was just odd to me.

I thought the ballet was completely gorgeous. And Bobby did fine with the tapping even though he openly says "I can't dance!"

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 8:24am

I saw the show yesterday and thought it was fantastic. The book and score blended well, and the show moved at a nice pace. The choreography was great, too; I loved all of the tapping and the dream ballet.

I loved Steggert in RAGTIME (if you couldn't tell by my avatar), and thought he was amazing in YANK! He broke my heart in the best way possible -- I'll see him in anything now, he was that great. My heart now belongs to him too, and I suspect he'll end up with a few more before his run at the York concludes.
Updated On: 2/21/10 at 08:24 AM

[GatorNY]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 8:12pm

Add me to the list. As much as I loved everything about the recent Ragtime, he kept capturing my attention. Watching him and Mother at the end of the first act was just amazing. He has something that is truly extraordinary. I don't know if it can be taught...but I'm not an expert. Somehow, he makes his roles so personal. As good as everyone else is in YANK! (and Mr Hernandez acts and looks incredible and has a gorgeous voice), somehow, Bobby is just so real. He is my new HERO of musical theater. I'll see him in anything I possibly can. I'm logging on now to try to get another ticket.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 8:27pm

I loved Bobby's performance in Ragtime and couldn't keep my eyes off of him. He was 100% committed every time he was on stage. I look forward to seeing him in Yank in a couple of weeks.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 8:33pm

Just got a ticket to the final performance on 3/21!

[GatorNY]

Posted: 2/22/10 at 5:15pm

What are the chances that "Yank!" would get a cast recording...at some time. I would LOVE to hear some of these songs again.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/22/10 at 5:16pm

Do they sell rush tickets in advance like they do at the Public? If I were to go tomorrow to buy a rush seat for a show, say, in two weeks, could I do so?

[GatorNY]

Posted: 2/22/10 at 5:30pm

The York's website says that they only have student and senior rush

[GatorNY]

Posted: 2/22/10 at 5:32pm

It's so funny watching this thread as almost everyone has changed their avatar to a picture from the show...I know when I got home sunday it was the first thing I did on the computer! There are a lot of great images to choose from!
Well I just looked again and counted and it was only three of us...but it looked like more...then I realized that most of them were me...duh!

Updated On: 2/22/10 at 05:32 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/22/10 at 5:34pm

Yeah, sorry that's what I meant; student rush. Can you buy student rush seats in advance?

[GatorNY]

Posted: 2/22/10 at 5:38pm

It looks like you can. It says "for students, we offer rush prices without the rush. $20 during the week, and $30 on the weekend, regardless of the purchase date."