My thoughts on DAMN YANKEES

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:10am

Damn.

Damn, damn, damn.

File this one under "it looked good on paper." 2 B-list television actors (one with a well-deserved Tony, one with like 12 Emmys) in a glorified summerstock production at NY City Center.

A painfully slow production that showcases no reason for DAMN YANKEES to ever see the light of day again. Ended at 10:40, I felt every single minute. Using the original book, there's a lot of superfluous scenes and songs that could have been easily excessed, and John Rando's staging lacks the one thing the Washington Senators have: heart.

Some will say the show is dated, others will say "PAJAMA GAME was set at the exact same point in time but that wasn't dated." There's a difference - when a show gets a production where you can't take your eyes off the stage, it doesn't seem dated. When a show gets a lackluster production, you start finding the flaws and holes in the writing.

Very little charisma from the leads, but the ensemble does a helluva job showcasing why Bob Fosse has a place in the history books. John Selya was a standout, as the Mambo Dancer in the Act One closer "Who's Got the Pain (when they do the mambo)?." Also standing out where Megan Lawrence (when her microphone worked), Jimmy Smagula, and the team of Veanne Cox and Kathy Fitzgerald.

Sean Hayes doesn't have IT - the star quality, charm, or charisma to carry the show. If you're a Sean Hayes groupie, you certainly won't leave disappointed - he's doing the same shtick he's done for 10 years on Will & Grace - identical line deliveries, same physicality, lot of under the rug gay innuendo ("why does somebody need a WIFE?"). He does play a damn good piano during his major number in the 2nd Act, but he doesn't have the chops or voice to sell it.

I've always had a crush on Jane Krakowski. This doesn't show off anything. Fine dancer, fine singer, same part she's played over and over: the vamp.

Cheyenne Jackson did nothing for me (though the gentlemen and ladies around me started to sweat when he took his shirt off) and Randy Graff was fine.

I'll be happy to take the "it was the 2nd preview, give them a break," flack, but with an Encores! show, there are no 2nd previews. I didn't really go for Patti LuPone when I saw her Mamma Rose at City Center, either, at an early performance, but she had power. It was fun to watch her. You knew you were watching something special. And it wasn't forgettable.

DAMN YANKEES, unfortunately, was.



Updated On: 7/6/08 at 12:10 AM

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:14am

Thanks for posting your thoughts, Yankeefan.

I won't be able to catch this and have been interested in hearing people's reactions in the coming days.

I'm sorry you were let down.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:15am

That's too bad.

[IsolatingAge]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:17am

Thanks for the review.

Well... thank God I'm only paying $25 bucks to see it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:19am

Different opinions on ATC.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:21am

Fine by me. I'm only 1 voice in a sold out crowd. But WithoutaTrace was there, too (I saw him walk in). Interested in hearing what he thought!!
Updated On: 7/6/08 at 12:21 AM

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:23am

Ah damn. I did this in middle school and still have fond memories.

[jv92]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:23am

A few thoughts from someone who's seeing in next week and doesn't have high hopes AT ALL-
It doesn't even look good on paper! JANE KRAKOWSKI? SEAN HAYES? They're STARS? They play (in his case, played) second bananas on popular (in her case, brilliant) sitcoms. Patti LuPone is a star. Christine Ebersole is a star. Why can't City Center pick a show for one of them or a star of their magnitude (Audra, Donna Murphy, Donna McKechnie, Chita)?
It's not really worth reviving Damn Yankess anyway. There's never gonna be another Gwen. Sorry. The only two that can hold a candle to her are Chita and Donna McKechnie. I was hoping City Center would cast Donna as Lola as she's a lot more charming and sexy (at 60 something too!) than Jane or any kewpie doll cutie that would make a "typical Lola."
And we can see all of Fosse's choreography in the movie, with Gwen front and center (and her and Bob in the mambo number). And the score can be heard on the OBCR. And it is a good score worth hearing. And yes, the dances are great. And the story's amusing. But Bob and Gwen are gone. The spark's gone. The passion's gone. The magic's gone.
So Yankee, I'm not surprised with your reaction. I don't think I'm going to be pleased with it myself.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:25am

I'm curious how the critic's reviews will be. I don't know when is press night.
Updated On: 7/6/08 at 12:25 AM

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:26am

Funny you should say you didn't like it so much. I have never liked Damn Yankees and I still think it's weak as a show, but I thought it was a charming production of such a show. Do I need to see it revived on Broadway? No, but I did enjoy it. (I was at today's matinee)

I also, however, felt differently about Megan Lawrence- I thought she seemed to be trying too hard, but I thought Hayes was more charismatic than I expected. I enjoyed all of the performances over all. I loved both Cheyenne Jackson and Randy Graff, particularly any time they had to sing together. I thought Veanne Cox was the funniest part of the show. I was never a Krakowski fan before, and to be honest this didn't change that because she did (as YankeeFan said) the same thing she always does. Still, I enjoyed everyone else and without having enjoyed their performances I wouldn't have liked the show because Damn Yankees is not even remotely on my "loved" musicals list.


Edit: To sum up, basically I thoroughly enjoyed the production of a show I don't usually like.

Updated On: 7/6/08 at 12:26 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:27am

Is "Who's Got the Pain" the act one finale in the original script? I'm only familiar with the revival.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:29am

I don't feel quite as strongly as Yankee, but I too was underwhelmed.

Sean Hayes was playing Jack Macfarlane again. Fortunately that character works in the context of this show, but if you're hoping to see something different from him, you won't. Though he definitely does have some impressive piano chops.

Jane Krakowski is fine. You will see nothing new from her, but she was well cast (and looks amazing in those costumes!)

Cheyenne was just...there. His voice is gorgeous, as always, and no one looks better shirtless but other than that he was completely forgettable.

Megan Lawrence was definitely a stand out, but for some reason she reminded me a ton of Megan Mullally in this role. Randy Graff sang the hell out of the little material she is given. And P.J. Benjamin as Joe Boyd was one of my favorites of the evening. He obviously has little stage time but he grabs what he is given. His Goodbye, Old Girl was gorgeous and heart-breaking.

Overall it was a pretty bland production and a very dated show.

Updated On: 7/6/08 at 12:29 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:29am

Yeah. In the original script it is. I don't think Applegate banishes Lola in the original? Unless it happens somewhere else in the show.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:30am

The 1994 revival revised the material somewhat. Act 1 ends with "Who's Got the Pain." The 1994 production placed the scene at the top of the 2nd act.

Lola's not "banished," in this production, though he does turn her back into the "ugliest girl in Rhode Island." (Both Jane and Cheyenne broke character and spent a minute or so laughing after she delivered that line). The final scene is Applegate cursing on his knees that he lost Boyd's soul, Lola laughing, and Joe & Meg hugging and singing. Updated On: 7/6/08 at 12:30 AM

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:44am

Yankee, I know it's hard to believe, but I have NEVER seen Will and Grace. Along w/Bustopher, I have extremely fond memories of this show from about 45 yrs. ago when my Dad played Mr. Applegate in a community theater production...unbelievably, today I remember every line/lyric/dance move like it was the back of my hand! That's all I heard in the house for 2 months. Do you think everyone brings some sort of weird life experience to any show they see? I will probably be blinded by any inadequecies of the production, 'cause it's so deep in my childhood heart. Seeing it next Saturday.
I always try to go in with an open heart.
Anyone with similar prejudices for/against any particular shows?

[meredithchandler73]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:50am

I have never seen a production of DAMN YANKEES and have only seen bits of the movie. I knew the story of what happens and I had heard some of the original cast album and some of the revival album. I really like a lot of the music and "A Man Doesn't Know" is a song that can bring me to tears (and did this afternoon).

I had a good time. It wasn't a perfect show or a perfect production, but I enjoyed myself. I liked most of the performances (Cheyenne and Randy in particular). I thought Jane sang and danced well, but of course - she's not Gwen. I did think that Jane did an admirable job filling very large shoes. I thought Megan was playing Gladys from PAJAMA GAME again. I wanted a bit more from both Megan and Sean...and didn't get it.

By the way - was the laugh after "ugliest girl on Rhode Island" not scripted?

[IsolatingAge]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:52am

Anyone with similar prejudices for/against any particular shows?

I was in DY at my high school in February. Since I think I was unfairly not cast in a supporting role (the director told me to my face that it was because the other girl could tap dance) and I was in very few scenes and my school's drama program is extremely cliquey, I do not have extremely fond thoughts regarding Damn Yankees. But I loved the material and I loved singing it and dancing to it and that is the precise reason I bought tickets.

Also, I'll probably never want to see or listen to Phantom of the Opera. It may be the most fantastic show in the world, but I will always hate it for some inexplicable reason.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:53am

The hardest part with any Gwen role (especially Lola and Charity) is that the actress will always be compared to Gwen and will be expected to live up to her standard.

[BJC899]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:54am

The only thing that kept my attention tonight was the possibility of another set-piece falling!

I think that it lacks performers which know when to end a song. Every time it was a one person/duet, they just walked off stage without truly ending any song. Does that make sense? Also, the directing was horrible.

It is sad to say that it's worth it to see Cheyenne change his clothes on stage?


Updated On: 7/6/08 at 12:54 AM

[shh282]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:55am

I saw it for the matinee and I thought it was fantastic, personally. This is the first show I ever worked on as technical crew in high school so it's quite sentimental for me and I had really high expectations and I felt they were fulfilled.


oh, and Sean Hayes after the Matinee had lost his voice so that might explain any lack of energy from him .

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:58am

"By the way - was the laugh after "ugliest girl on Rhode Island" not scripted?"

I sort of thought it was since during the matinee they appeared the same way it sounds like YankeeFan was describing they were at the night show. Either way, it was really cute the way they laughed.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 12:58am

YankeeFan is 100% correct in saying that Sean Hayes is the weakest link in the show. He does the same old thing he does in Will & Grace (and the audience LOVED it), but I was hoping for a well-acted and well-sung performance. Well, I got neither. His piano playing in Act 2 was impressive, but he couldn't sing a note! Kind of disappointing...

That being said, I love this show and really enjoyed the rest of the production. Randy Graff was fantastic, as were Veanne Cox, John Selya, PJ Benjamin, and Megan Lawrence in their supporting roles.

Cheyenne Jackson was, well, Cheyenne Jackson. He sang well, looked great, but lacked a spark I thought. His best number was the duet with Randy Graff "Near To Me."

The star of the show, for me, was Jane Krakowski. I had no idea she could dance and move so well. She must have been practicing this for a LONG TIME. To keep up with John Selya (who was brilliant) in "Who's Got The Pain" is not easy to do! I also loved her "A Little Brains, A Little Talent" and "Whatever Lola Wants." She looked stunning in the costumes and gave the best acted performance of the three leads.

I will be interested to see how critics feel on this one, but if Sean Hayes gets rave reviews, I will be both shocked and disappointed. I enjoyed the show itself, but it should not transfer, in case you wanted to know my opinion on that. It is great for a 3-week summer run and nothing more. The audience tonight LOVED it, and I feel that most were there to see Sean Hayes. One girl at the stage door asked him to marry her and then said something like "I'll call you next week to plan the wedding." Some people are just insane...

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 1:01am

Does Sean Hayes take pics at the stage door? I wanna make a Will & Grace fanatic jealous. And does Jane take pics?

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 1:03am

ha, Megan Lawrence reminded me of Megan Mullally, too. and I really wish her mic was working more often. and Veanne Cox can basically do no wrong. too bad her part was on the smaller side.

my friend and I enjoyed the show a lot, but we both agreed that it lacked a lot of the energy that Gypsy had. and not necessarily onstage; Gypsy was, in Boyd Gaines' words, like a rock concert. Damn Yankees was cute and fun...but not a rock concert. but I also was half convinced there'd be no more Summer Stars shows after Gypsy, so... [and you ALL know they just made up some series name so they could have the excuse to have Patti do Gypsy.]

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 7/6/08 at 1:04am

Sean Hayes was in a huge rush at the stage door (and didn't even get to sign my program sadly). He did take a few pics quickly with a few insane fans, but he did not seem very friendly or chatty.

Jane was a doll. Took pictures and chatted and signed for everyone there. I adore her.