I saw two early previews within eight days of each other. In the first an unrehearsed Moye played Oscar. I was dead front row center and was getting such a kick out of being so close to the actors that I wasn't looking at the show as a whole. At the second preview, Gallagher was just returning from his illness. I had a seat further back and I thought that the show kind of dragged in the second act.
When I went back on May 31st, I had some fears that it would disappoint me again. But it didn't. It was a fun time for all. The biggest improvement to me was Oscar, now played by a healthy Gallagher with the bravado that I think the show called for.
The cast had tuned the show to get the most laughs. Even the "I have written a play" stuff worked. The audience, like Oscar, was waiting for the line, "I call it Life in ..." and singing along.
How good this show is may depend on the energy of the actors. At this Sunday matinee they were really high. The cast seemed to be enjoying itself as much as the audience. At the previews about half the audience stood until Kristin bowed, when most everyone else got up. On Sunday 95 percent of the audience was on their feet at the beginning of curtain calls not just applauding, but cheering.
Of course 20th Century will never be a huge hit because the "madcap" humor is not to everyone's taste. My father, a meat and potatoes man, would have gotten through twenty minutes and then gone home to watch the golf on TV. Then again, I know baby boomers will college degrees who still think that The Three Stooges were the height of comedy in the 20th century.
The score is also different. Due to its operetta-styled songs, none were really meant to be covered. The actors use them to sing dialog to each other.
Sorry that it got shut out of awards. Now it will just close quietly next month and put back in the attic for another thirty or forty years.
