Posted: 4/10/19 at 6:27pm
I saw four shows in five days, and it was a bit of a return to old favorites with one new one. I adore Santino Fontana, Rob McClure and Patrick Page, but I’d seen TOOTSIE in Chicago, saw the mainly negative reviews of BEETLEJUICE, and listened to the score from HADESTOWN and wasn’t interested. I momentarily thought about KING KONG since I’m a huge fan of the original 1933 film and the Peter Jackson remake, but didn’t want to spend the money when the puppet is the best part. So I stuck with the tried and true.
The one exception was THE CHER SHOW, and wow, I loved it. Not a perfect show, but I enjoyed it from start to finish. I’m not gaga for Cher and haven’t followed her career that closely. Her songs are part of the soundtrack of my college years so I enjoyed the score. Block is clearly a lock on getting the statuette in June. I went to this show like PRISCILLA… Have a couple cocktails, have fun, and get caught up in the energy of the show. It worked for me…and the older couples on either side of me, according to our intermission conversations. (One was sharing a flask of vodka through Act 1 so that likely helped.) Seriously though, it was a fun show. Plus I always love seeing my Chorus Boy Crush, Charlie Williams on stage (and in red tights for the Napoleon number…wowzer). And he was working the BC/EFA bucket afterward so I was glad for the opportunity to chat with him. Apologies to the Neil Simon custodian crew who had to mop up my drool. His Southern charm was authentic. Love him.
I revisited MORMON and PHANTOM and both are in great shape. However, it seemed like both casts were not as engaging as when I’ve seen the shows before. I preferred Nic Rouleau as Elder Price (I never saw Rannels). Dave Thomas Brown didn’t stand out from the rest of the white shirted missionaries. Cody Jamison Strand was a bit too … what’s the word … squeaky? Found him sort of annoying actually.
For PHANTOM, the cast was fine, but really nothing exceptional, sort of what one would expect for casting for a 30-year old show. The show though shows no sign of its age in terms of sets, costumes and lighting. The chandelier drop didn’t illicit any oh’s or ah’s as it has done on the four times I’ve seen the show before. The only significant audience response is the reveal to the Masquerade staircase. Even a former Phan like me got a little lump in my throat when the curtain swept away.
The fourth show was the final performance of KINKY BOOTS. What an electrifying and exciting performance. My third time seeing it, and the first time I’d ever been to a Broadway closing show. I thought the mezz was going to collapse: it was clearly bounding up and down as we were all on our feet during Raise You Up and the curtain call. As noted in the other thread, no speeches, but how fun to see Jerry, Harvey, Cindy, Stephen, Daryl, and Hal on stage. In fact I helped Stephen with the paper towels in the men's lounge at Intermission, but didn't realize it was him until I saw him on stage! LOL I love this show and it’s message and being there last Sunday will long remain in my memory.
Updated On: 4/10/19 at 06:27 PM
