#1
Posted: 3/8/08 at 6:16pm
A first-rate production of a might-fine warhorse, featuring two of the most uncharismatic leads I've ever seen.
That said, it was the perfect show to see this rainy afternoon. From the moment the pit opened up to reveal the 30-piece orchestra during the full 7-minute overture, I knew LCT had finally done something to live up to Piazza and Utopia.
Bartlett Sher's gorgeous production is any musical theater fan's dream come true. And LCT has spared no expense, allowing Michael Yergan, Catherine Zuber, and Donald Holder to create some of the most eye-catching, eye-popping, and attractive designs I've ever seen.
Kelli O'Hara has everything a musical theater star should - talent, good looks, a pretty voice, etc. (in no particular order) - but she doesn't have IT. She's a capable actress, no doubt about it, but she just doesn't radiate star power.
(I dare say, she's never had IT, either, and the chemistry came from her leading man.)
Because, normally, with a dynamo of a leading man, the chemistry can be hot (see: The Pajama Game), but Paulo Szot, as gorgeous a baritone as he has, is stiff as a board. He is a fine actor, accent a bit thick at times, but nothing remarkable.
Neither of them are miscast - they just don't have chemistry.
Matthew Morrison uses some odd choices as Cable (placing more emphasis on the character's illness than anything else), Danny Burstein is a bit too fey as Billis, and Loretta Ables Sayer is strong, if unremarkable as Bloody Mary.
Yet it was still satisfying. Very satisfying. And such a treat to hear such a glorious score played in all its glory. Go see it. It's worth it.
That said, it was the perfect show to see this rainy afternoon. From the moment the pit opened up to reveal the 30-piece orchestra during the full 7-minute overture, I knew LCT had finally done something to live up to Piazza and Utopia.
Bartlett Sher's gorgeous production is any musical theater fan's dream come true. And LCT has spared no expense, allowing Michael Yergan, Catherine Zuber, and Donald Holder to create some of the most eye-catching, eye-popping, and attractive designs I've ever seen.
Kelli O'Hara has everything a musical theater star should - talent, good looks, a pretty voice, etc. (in no particular order) - but she doesn't have IT. She's a capable actress, no doubt about it, but she just doesn't radiate star power.
(I dare say, she's never had IT, either, and the chemistry came from her leading man.)
Because, normally, with a dynamo of a leading man, the chemistry can be hot (see: The Pajama Game), but Paulo Szot, as gorgeous a baritone as he has, is stiff as a board. He is a fine actor, accent a bit thick at times, but nothing remarkable.
Neither of them are miscast - they just don't have chemistry.
Matthew Morrison uses some odd choices as Cable (placing more emphasis on the character's illness than anything else), Danny Burstein is a bit too fey as Billis, and Loretta Ables Sayer is strong, if unremarkable as Bloody Mary.
Yet it was still satisfying. Very satisfying. And such a treat to hear such a glorious score played in all its glory. Go see it. It's worth it.
