NYC 7/9-7/12 Color Purple, Rent, Drowsy, Sweeney, and Spelling Bee
NYC 7/9-7/12 Color Purple, Rent, Drowsy, Sweeney, and Spelling Bee
#0NYC 7/9-7/12 Color Purple, Rent, Drowsy, Sweeney, and Spelling Bee
Posted: 7/15/06 at 4:06pm
Was in NYC this past week and thought I'd post some reviews.
"The Color Purple" Sunday night 7/9--This show is truly amazing! I love the movie and the book, and the show exceeded all of my expectations. LaChanze is truly astounding in her (well-deserved)Tony winning performance. Miss Celie is a wonderful character and LaChanze brings her to vivid life. "I'm Here," Miss Celie's song of affirmation and acceptance is a moment I will remember for years to come. Felicia P. Fields steals the show as Sophia. Her "Hell No!" brought down the house, but she also navigates Sophia's quieter moments exceptionally well. Unlike the film, the show does not gloss over or sanitize the lesbian elements of the novel. The duet ("What About Love")between Elisabeth Withers-Mendes' Shug and LaChanze's Miss Celie is a moving close to Act I. Kimberly Ann Harris, Virginia Woodruff, and Maia Nkenge Wilson are wonderful as the Church Ladies who seem to have something to say about everything or everyone. See this show!
"Rent" Monday night 7/10--As far as I'm concerned, "Rent" is in good shape. The current cast is young and energetic and was fun to watch. I especially liked Justin Johnston as Angel and Antonique Smith as Mimi. My friend, who saw the original B-way cast back in 1996, even commented that Smith sings Mimi better than Rubin-Vega. Robin De Jesus, who was featured in the movie "Camp," is one of the standouts in the ensemble. Ten years in, "Rent" is still worth the price of admission.
"The Drowsy Chaperone" Tuesday night 7/11--I loved this show! Though much has been made of Sutton's performance (and it is exceptional), the evening belongs to Bob Martin as Man in Chair. Anyone who worships musical theatre (like me) will see themselves in this wonderfully witty character. This was my first time seeing Sutton Foster and I was not disappointed. Her big number, "Show Off" is one of the highlights of the show. I also enjoyed Beth Leavel as the Drowsy Chaperone. Those looking for something colorful and clever should catch this wonderful show!
"Sweeney Todd" Wednesday Mat 7/12--I saw this show back in January and it has only gotten better! This has to be the best ensemble cast on Broadway, capably headed by Michael Cerveris and Patti LuPone. Along with LuPone and Cerveris, Manoel Felciano is also a standout. Some of the shows many wonderful moments include LuPone and Cerveris dueting on "Have a Little Priest," LuPone's "By the Sea," and Felciano and LuPone dueting on "Not While I'm Around." "Sweeney Todd" is proof that when you have a good show to start with, spectacle is not needed. See this show!
"The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee" Wednesday night 7/12--What a great close to my trip! "Spelling Bee" was just plain old fun! Like "Sweeney," this show has a great ensemble cast. Though most of the original Broadway cast is still with the show, I was very happy to see Barret Foa as Leaf Coneybear. What a great performer! Josh Gad makes a great William Barfee and Greg Stuhr is hilarious as Assistant Principal Douglas Panch. As for the original cast members, Jose Llana as Chip Tolentino brought down the house with "Chip's Lament" and Deborah S. Craig was particulary moving as Marcy Park, an overachiever who realizes there is more to life than being an overachiever.
As far as I'm concerned, the Broadway musical is in great shape!
Updated On: 7/15/06 at 04:06 PM
#1re: NYC 7/9-7/12 Reviews of
Posted: 7/15/06 at 4:13pmI can't believe that Barret Foa went on as Leaf! I'd love to hear more about his performance. Jose Llana is great as well. Great reviews.
So, that was the Drowsy Chaperone. Oh, I love it so much. I know it's not a perfect show...but it does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue. Ya know?
whatyouown223
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/4/05
#2re: NYC 7/9-7/12 Reviews of
Posted: 7/15/06 at 4:17pmI also saw Spelling Bee wednesday night. Barret was amazing, but very different than Jesse IMO. A good different, though.
SweetQintheLights
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
#3re: NYC 7/9-7/12 Reviews of
Posted: 7/15/06 at 4:22pm
Can someone give more of a thorough review of Barrett's performance please?
How was he different?
I just can't picture him being such a dork.
"How bout a little black dress?"~hannahshule
"I have a penis, not a vagina." ~munkustrap178
Updated On: 7/15/06 at 04:22 PM
whatyouown223
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/4/05
#4re: NYC 7/9-7/12 Reviews of
Posted: 7/15/06 at 4:27pmHe was much more quiet and shy than Jesse, not like a pre teen but almost like a 6 or 7 year old boy, but it worked really well. I thought he made you feel for the character a little more than Jesse did when he *SPOILER* got eliminated because he wasn't as...weird? I don't know it's sort of hard to explain, but either way, he was fantastic. His I'm Not That Smart was a little different, because he didn't use the puppet voice as much as Jesse did, but it still worked.
SweetQintheLights
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
#5re: NYC 7/9-7/12 Reviews of
Posted: 7/15/06 at 5:30pm
awww! He sounds absolutely adorable!
It's actaully odd that he didn't really use the puppet voice for "I'm not that smart" since he was in Q with puppets.
Edit: But he was dorky? I just can't see Barrett dorky and geeky...even as a character.
"How bout a little black dress?"~hannahshule
"I have a penis, not a vagina." ~munkustrap178
Updated On: 7/15/06 at 05:30 PM
whatyouown223
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/4/05
#6re: NYC 7/9-7/12 Reviews of
Posted: 7/15/06 at 7:06pmI wouldn't call him dorky...he didn't really play the character that way. Just...a little off? Very meek, but not dorky.
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