ON THE TOWN Reviews

I saw the show last night, and while I enjoyed it overall as much as Steven Suskin seems to have, I completely disagree with his assessment of Leslie Kritzer. I found it quite refreshing how brilliantly she managed to make Hildy a very "real" character while still getting all of the laughs (and singing the crap out of it.)

Most actresses in the role tend to go so over the top that it becomes almost like watching a cartoon (a prime example being the funny but ingenuine performance of Lea DeLaria in the last revival,) but the fact that Kritzer went in such a different direction when the easiest choice was to do otherwise speaks volumes for her talent.

Besides, as Suskin says himself, Andrea Martin is chewing scenery so grandiosely that I almost feel it would be too much to have the actress playing Hildy doing the same thing.

Kritzer is a genius musical comedienne who isn't afraid to go overboard when necessary, but she's really doing something special here. I hope the rest of the critics recognize and applaud that (as I expect they will.)

---

Updated On: 11/20/08 at 07:39 PM

AM New York is Very Positive (3 out of 4 Stars):

Do not judge the groundbreaking 1944 Broadway musical “On the Town” by its lame 1949 MGM movie version starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra.

Though its plot about three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in Manhattan remained the same, the bulk of Leonard Bernstein’s symphonic score (with lyrics and book by Adolph Green and Betty Comden) was mercilessly ripped out of the film, including the timeless ballads “Lonely Town,” “Lucky To Be Me” and “Some Other Time.”

Luckily, “On the Town” has been restored to its full theatrical glory in City Center Encores’ handsome concert production, which runs through Sunday. As directed by John Rando, it is also superior to the show’s 1998 flop Broadway revival. As always, the 30-person Encores orchestra, playing Bernstein’s original orchestrations, is wonderful...

http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/stage/blog/2008/11/theater_review_of_on_the_town.html

---

Updated On: 11/21/08 at 09:25 PM

Isherwood's preview:

The fleet’s in this weekend, at least on 55th Street, where a radiant production of “On the Town” has docked at City Center through Sunday. Hop aboard the celestial subway train of Leonard Bernstein’s piping, pumping, altogether transporting music — this was the first of his handful of Broadway shows — and you’ll be whisked back to a time when New York, New York, was a wonderland of pleasure, romance and hot fun.


Could merit a transfer.

LOVED it!

The music is just heaven, and I loved the staging and choreography.

Christian Borle has such stage presence, and Andrea Martin and Leslie Kritzer were fabulous.

The orchestra playing those fabulous tunes... loved it!

---

The New York Times is Positive:

The fleet’s in this weekend, at least on 55th Street, where a radiant production of “On the Town” has docked at City Center through Sunday. Hop aboard the celestial subway train of Leonard Bernstein’s piping, pumping, altogether transporting music — this was the first of his handful of Broadway shows — and you’ll be whisked back to a time when New York, New York, was a wonderland of pleasure, romance and hot fun. Especially if you were a sailor with 24 hours to fill and found comely company to join you.

What’s that? New York is still a wonderland of pleasure and hot fun? Maybe you haven’t been reading the headlines. A certain global financial crisis has folks looking for fire sales, not to mention anticipating the hard times and mean streets to come. Never mind that now. Let’s forget Wall Street and even Main Street for an evening, and spend a few hours on the Broadway of 1944 with a genial cast of singing sailors hitting the city like fireworks.

The Encores! production, directed by John Rando, is the contribution of this musicals-in-concert series to the citywide commemoration of Bernstein’s 90th birthday, spearheaded by Carnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic. The Encores! mission has always been to celebrate Broadway with the utmost integrity, and in this case the company honors Bernstein by performing all of the music in the score...

http://theater2.nytimes.com/2008/11/21/theater/reviews/21town.html

---

Updated On: 11/21/08 at 12:05 AM

Wow, Tony Yazbeck seems to be getting wonderful reviews. They should probably send him to Studio 54 right after he is done with his run at City Center.

---

REVIEW ROUND UP (SO FAR):

Rave
TheaterMania

Very Positive
Variety
The Associated Press
AM New York

Positive
The New York Times

---

I really wish I could see this. I have been starting to wonder lately if critics have anything nice to say anymore, but with this and Billy Elliot, I'm feeling better about the whole process. :O)

"I love ON THE TOWN, and I'm unhappy that I don't have the opportunity (or desire, quite frankly) to see this production. "

How bizarre. It's definetly my fave 1940s musical, and I'd love to see the concert staging--I'm most curious about the choreography and comparing the Robbins with the new stuff.

The last two revivals were monumental flops, I really don't see the show transferring, nor do I think it should. The greatness of Encores! is that they get to revive the kind of show that would not have a full blown mounting, they can get a brilliant cast, put on a good show, and give people the chance to see it for a weekend or whatnot.
If something like NO NO NANETTE didn't transfer, I don't see why this show would.

---

I agree, I'm not convinced a transfer would make much sense. That said it seems this concert production already has overpassed a problem of the last two revivals--where the choreography of such a dance heavy show was deemed disappointing.

Maybe I should start a new thread, but besides the brilliant 1960 recording, are there any cast recordings that are worth adding? I know JAY did one fo their complete recordings for it, but I'm not sure how much more music is left (though I know it's a music heavy show) and if it suffers from the weaknesses of many JAY complete recordings with ponderous tempos and acting.

You don't think the 1960 recording is (at least) decent? *shock*