NYCC Grand Hotel- Page 8

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 1:54am

Handsomely staged with some haunting melodies and effective ensemble work. It is the book that disappoints somewhat but overall a very enjoyable evening.

I was so saddened to read that two of the male leads in the original production were struggling with AIDS and one went into pulminary arrest while recording the cast album and died. Brings tears to my eyes.

[ELP]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 11:28am

Wayman_Wong said: "''James Snyder hasn’t truly had any opportunity to really “shine” in a show (and yes, I’m counting CRY-BABY, which I thought was awful and nobody really saw).''

I couldn't disagree more. I loved ''Cry-Baby'' so much that I saw it 5 times. It was a riot, and Snyder was wonderful, especially doing ''Girl, Can I Kiss You (With Tongue'' ) and leading the prison gang in ''A Little Upset'' (see shortened version from the 2008 Tonys). ''Cry-Baby'' had a phenomenal cast that included Elizabeth Stanley and the comic geniuses of Christopher J. Hanke and Alli Mauzey.

Snyder also shone in ''If/Then,'' opposite Idina Menzel, and his moving ''Hey, Kid'' solo was sort of a modern-day version of the ''Soliloquy'' from ''Carousel.'' Speaking of which, he played Billy Bigelow at Goodspeed at 2012, and just listen to the snippets of HIS ''Soliloquy'' (on the highlights tape, at 4:17). No offense to Joshua Henry, but I wish Snyder were starring in the current Broadway revival. I don't think I've heard any guy sing it more powerfully.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZEIPmSdeks"

Mr. Snyder was excellent as the Baron and most assuredly has "leading man" qualities; looks, voice, etc. I was especially moved by his "Love Can't Happen". So beautifully sung! An impressive tenor he is...  

I do hope this shows transfers!!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 12:01pm

I've been listening to the Grand Hotel cast recording for years, and always assumed it would just be the production that was not meant to be. I figured I would never get the chance to see it, and would just have that gorgeous recording and a few YouTube videos to keep me happy. I was beyond excited when they announced the show as part of this season of Encores!, and I cannot believe what a production this turned out to be. (I started crying as soon as the orchestra started, and had to will myself to not cry during the entire show.)

I have to echo every ounce of praise heaped on the cast in the posts before mine. I wish I could've seen this production more than once, and I would love seeing a revival (preferably with the same cast) in the very near future.

I also know it's unlikely we'll get a cast recording of this production, since the OBCR is basically complete, but I would not mind having James Snyder's "Love Can't Happen" to add to my collection.

[little_sally]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 12:03pm

I had a great time last night, even though I did have some qualms with the staging and direction. Regardless, the cast was on fire. James Snyder proved that he is way too good for shows like Cry-Baby and In Transit and should be a bigger star. And as always, Brandon Uranowitz stole the show.

Between this and Brigadoon, Encores! has provided my two favorite musicals of this season.

[morosco]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 12:33pm

My favorite moment from Tommy Tune's original staging.  The moment when the orchestra stopped playing and all you could hear was the dancer's footsteps.  It was a stunning moment.

Grand Hotel - Who Couldn't Dance With You

[raddersons]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 5:05pm

Grand Hotel. Here we go. I know this is after it's closed but I wanted to consolidate my thoughts. 

It was a pretty great night. There were so many moments where I was really blown away. We’ll Take a Glass, The Jimmys, I Want To Go To Hollywood, Love Can’t Happen, the Bolero dance, among others. I was cheering and clapping and grinning during all of those moments. The pace is pretty stellar, and it just flows seamlessly from one moment to the next. And the performances were outstanding – I was kind of surprised they were able to get so many pure talents in the room together for roles that they seem to have been made for. There's not nearly enough praise for the bartenders (The Jimmys) in this thread...They are where the show really started to kick off for me, and after that there were  plenty more moments of delight. James Snyder as the Baron managed to bring some character to a role that is easy to write off as “the straight man”, and I'm rather impressed by that fact. Brandon Uranowitz continues to amaze me with his talents. And Helene York got some of the biggest applause of the night. The whole thing is quite a marvel of talent and staging.

And then…there's the book. It’s all over the place and very heavy handed with its themes. It’s a Grand Hotel, but we’re so poor! The wall street stuff (“Everybody’s doing it! Everybody’s doing it!&rdquo was maddening (but it’s fine, because it’s 1928, and nothing can go wrong with the stock market, right?). It seems the gay plot(s?) was shoe-horned in just to seem edgy and relevant for the 80s. Every time Raffaela sang I thought “her again?”. Her character is entirely one-dimensional. Oh, and why does the Grand Hotel have a ghost/narrator? This isn't a ghost story.

It’s got all the makings of a great show, but there’s no soul. Ultimately, what was the point of the night? Some ballad singing and wonderful dancing and a jolly good time? That’s fine, but why pretend that you’re more than that when you’re really just empty? Millie is proof that an old-timey formula can work for modern audiences.

Then again, I’m much more finicky than most. I’d gladly see this revived over another jukebox. Roundabout should be producing this instead of John Lithgow storytime. Bravo to the production team.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 5:11pm

James Snyder was an outstanding Billy Bigelow at Goodspeed. As sexy as Michael Hayden, and he could really sing the role. His Soliloquy was amazing.