My week in Nyc. Show Reviews.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 10:34pm

Ok, lets get this started. So I went to NYC this past week. Loved every minuet of it. Wednesday night. Hair. Understudies - Claude - Paris Remillard: Crissy - Briana Carlson-Goodman. I was kinda bummed that I didn't get to see Gavin. Apparently he has injured his ancle (via usher) and won't be back for a while. Briana was absolutely amazing. Though I havn't seen Allison Case, after seeing Briana, I'm not too upset. Paris was Amazing in the role. Vocally he is as great as Gavin. The entire cast was amazing. Bryce waved at me, gave my friend a high five, and took my other friend's glasses durring the show. Sasha and Caissie were FEIRCE! However, my favorite of the night were Josh Lamon and Kacie Sheik. That being said, I don't get it. The house was sold out, but the show was...well...I just don't get it. At intermission I turned to my friends and asked what they thought. They were just as confused. I think this show has such a huge generation gap. I mean, It actually meant something to people back in the 70's, I just don't see how it can relate to anything today. My personal opinion. I honestly enjoyed it, it wasn't my favorite, and I probably won't see it again unless it gets a closing date notice.

Thursday night, Next to Normal. No understudies. May I say that I know that Alice Ripley is Bats**t crazy, but she was ON that night. Not once did I think she had any pitch issues. I knew a few of the songs ahead of time, and even some of the plot behind Gabe, but I was still shocked. The one thing I still can't get out of my mind is when Alice is singing "I love you as much as I can" to Jennifer, I could see JRS's reaction and it was heart breaking. The show was wonderful. I have always had an issue with Jennifer's voice on recordings (obc, youtube) but while hearing her live, they went away. I feel her voice is a lot less harsh live than on the recordings. I thought Kyle's Gabe was diffrent, but the entire time I was watching I could only think of Fyeiro, and not because he played Fyeiro in the past. Alice was electric. This is a must see, unfortunatly there were 2 rows that were completely empty.

Friday night, 9 to 5. Understudies - Judy Bernly - Gaelen Gilliland: Dick - Justin Patterson: Anita - Jennifer Balagna. First off, I actually only wanted to see this because a friend of mine is in the show. That being said, I loved it. I don't think it was best musical worthy, but it diserved a nomination. I laughed so hard durring a lot of the scenes. Allison Janney was a delight and was actually vocally fit for the role. Like with Jennifer, I felt her voice was a little less that luster. Her voice suited Violet, and her Violet was great. Gaelen as Judy was...well, I'm glad I got to see her. I asked Megan why SJB was out, she said she was sick, and that it was allergy season. Hope she gets better soon. I had seen video's of Gaelen as Judy and thought she had some shoe's to fill, and boy did she. I told her after the show that she was a hell of a Judy. Her "Get out, and Stay out" rivals the OBCR. I'm glad I got to see the show before it closed, and I will be taking my mom to the show in Nashville next year. :)

Saturday. The Toxic Avenger - Understudies - Melvin Ferd the Third - Nicholas Rodrigues. This show is SO funny. The White and Black guy were hysterical. Nancy Opel with split personalities was beyond funny. There is a joke that Diana says to Toxie about being gay. "I mean, if you are, we can stay home and watch american Idol" I was the first to laugh and she sent a death glare at me. It was wonderful. The show itself is so much fun. I definatly want to go again. Unfortunatly I TKTS'd it and had 2nd row...I felt it was too close.

Saturday night - Avenue Q. No Understudies. So I did not know that Rob McClure and Seth Rettberg were sharing the part of Princton/Rod. Anywho, this cast ROCKED! I didn't really like Nicholas Kohn as Brian, but then again I feel with that role you can only be great at it, or not so great. Ann Harada was pure genius. She stole every scene she was in. As well as Anika Larsen. I liked her Lucy better than her Kate. I feel this might just be me, but I feel that Christian Anderson is just walking though the motions. He seemed bored the entire time with Nikki. His Trechie was great, but Nikki was less than par. Danielle as Gary was hysterical. Jennifer is a treat no matter what. She's been donig the show for 6 years and still brings something new to it every night. The entire cast was wonderful, and after not seeing it for 3 years, it was still fresh. Glad I got to see it one last time.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 10:44pm

Hair was set in the 1960s. Not the 1970s.

[saveusmike]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 10:54pm

BBJ What do you mean they share the roles of Princeton?? When I went it was just Robert.

I dont really like Seth I saw him go on for Brian. And it made me miss Kohn

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 10:57pm

DCR - Didn't the show come out in the 70's?

saveusmike - Rob plays Princeton/Rod Mon, Tues, and Thur and Seth Fri-Sun apparently. Or so says my playbill.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 11:04pm

HAIR is set in 68.

[raggballad2]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 11:18pm

BwayBoundJoe, I was at HAIR right next to you! I was on the aisle on the other side, next to your friend who got his glasses taken by Bryce!

I also saw Toxic, and totally agree that it's hilarious. If you go again, rush it! They have student rush, and when I went, I got 2 tickets at half hour, row K, center Orch for $25, great view! They do check for ID though.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 11:23pm

NO WAY!!!! Nice!

[afaye11]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 11:29pm

I think that Princeton/Rod schedule was just for this week, as Rob McClure got married this Sunday, so he was probably out of the show for the weekend.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 8:53am

A generation gap for Hair? Considering just as much of the repeat audience is UNDER 30 and MANY are college and HS kids, I don't see how that could be. It's ok that you didn't connect with it, but it's NOT a generational thing. I was only FIVE when Hair came out....so it's definitely not MY generation either....and I love it.

Sounds like you had a great week, though. I thought Toxie was hysterical as well.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 11:04am

HAIR is set in 1968, but the musical premiered in 1973, so the OP is right about the original audience in the '70s.

However, I am way too young to have been around when HAIR originally debuted and I adore this revival. I find it incredibly exciting, powerful, meaningful, and most of all, relevant. In 1968, the U.S. was engaged in a foreign war that many of its citizens did not agree with, oil prices were going up and the economy was going down, and there were an unprecedented number of young people becoming active in politics. Sound familiar? There was even talk about reinstating the draft for the war in Iraq!

I really don't understand how you can say that the issues in HAIR have no relevance to today.

[sgv123]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 12:05pm

Opening night of the original production was in 1968. The off Broadway premiere was in 1967 (I think). I found alot to relate to, and I am in college.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 12:10pm

Oh, you're right. 1968. It closed in 1973. Whoops.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 12:11pm

"HAIR is set in 1968, but the musical premiered in 1973, so the OP is right about the original audience in the '70s. "


No, Hair opened on broadway in 1968 and closed in 1972.

I don't see a generational gap at all. I think the show is bringing the generations together!

[steven22]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 12:23pm

I don't understand Rob and Seth sharing the role...

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 1:11pm

Oy.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 4:16pm

As I said...it was my personal opinion. I found it fun, but I didn't relate to it.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 4:52pm

How would you rate the shows from 1 to 10?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 5:04pm

Bway Joe --

I don't think anyone is begrudging your opinion of it not working for "you". I think they are just trying to show you that the reason for that is NOT a generational thing, that's all.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 5:17pm

BwayBoundJoe. What I do when I am seeing a show that I am not familiar with or don't know a lot about its subject matter is to research it a bit. Just a thought. You may have enjoyed it more if you had. (And maybe you did. I don't know.)

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 5:39pm

If anyone from the Hair cast took my glasses they'd get thrown down to the floor.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 5:43pm

I think part of the reason is that I've seen the movie (and loved it) and with most shows, if I see the movie before, I hate the show, if I see the show before, I hate the movie. Idk, it's just not my cup of tea.

As far as rating, I don't do 1-10's. There's nothing to base them on. I enjoyed all of them and would see all of them again, including hair. I'm saddened that both 9 to 5 and Avenue Q are closing because both were such fun.